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Spring has officially sprung and with it comes a fresh season full of new beginnings, exciting events, and community updates! From music summits and Earth Day cleanups to big wins like expanded artist spaces and in-office notary services, there’s something for everyone this month.
Whether you're rolling up your sleeves to volunteer, looking for ways to get involved in shaping city policies, or just want to know when yard waste gets picked up, I've got you covered. As always, I’m here for you and excited to connect, so don’t be a stranger. Swing by the office, drop me a note, or come say hi during Friday open office hours in the ward.
Let’s keep growing, building, and buzzing together, just don’t rake those leaves yet our pollinator pals need them!.
With gratitude,
LaTrisha Vetaw
Recruiting members for boards and commissions opens March 1. We’re looking for applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences representing the demographics of Minneapolis to strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting are available so all residents can participate.
Serving on City boards and commissions offers a direct way for residents to advise City leadership about topics important to them. This is a way to help make changes and improvements that impact your community.
Applications will be taken in March for the following boards and commissions:
- Advisory Committee on Aging
- Advisory Committee on Disabilities
- Advisory Committee on Housing
- Bicycle Advisory Committee
- Community Commission on Police Oversight (applications open until March 16)
- Homegrown Food Council
- Pedestrian Advisory Committee
- Public Health Advisory Committee
Recruiting for several of the spring boards and commissions has stayed open through April 20. We’re looking for applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences representing the demographics of Minneapolis to strengthen the work of the City. Translation and interpreting are available so all residents can participate.
This is a way to help make changes and improvements that affect your community. Serving on City boards and commissions offers a direct way for residents to advise City leadership about topics important to them. Apply by April 20 on the City website.
The 2025 season for Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling collection of leaves, brush and other yard trimmings starts the week of April 7. Customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curbs next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on their pickup day.
You can set yard waste out in a reusable container, compostable bags (paper or certified compostable plastic), or bundled with string or twine.
The City of Minneapolis is finishing up renovations to City Hall that improve accessibility and update workspaces while preserving the 130-year-old historic building. City offices have begun to return with the Office of Mayor moving to Room 330, City Hall, March 28.
The construction updated heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical systems. The third floor now features a new formal media room and more natural light, as the process uncovered many windows.
Meetings that use the Council Chamber will move back to City Hall over the next few months. For locations, check the meeting’s agenda. As departments move back to City Hall, find their locations in the contact section of each department’s webpage.
Come to the Minneapolis Music Summit for a day of community-building, celebrating and imagining the future of Minneapolis music. Whether you’re a musician or a promoter, working in management, recording, venues, studios or policy, and whatever your genre, you’re invited. This event is free.
Connect to resources, give feedback on policy ideas, and be a part of the conversation.
Minneapolis Music Summit 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 10 Green Room, 2923 Girard Ave. S.
The Minneapolis Music Summit is a partnership of the City of Minneapolis and Minnesota Independent Venue Alliance. Please RSVP, and watch the City website for updates.
The 2025 Earth Day cleanup is April 19. Join friends, family and neighbors in the largest community service event in Minneapolis, with more than 40 sites across the city’s park system.
Since the event began in 2008, more than 23,000 residents have removed more than 165,000 pounds of garbage.
Just drop in to volunteer. Choose a site and arrive at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 19. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will bring bags and gloves, and the City of Minneapolis will dispose of the trash you collect.
Protect our pollinators; do not rake your leaves yet
With the early warming up in our weather, some people may want to tidy and rake up their yards. But pollinators nest in the broken stems of plants and overwinter in leaf piles. To protect
them, please do not rake any leaves or clean up your yard until temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees.
Yard waste collection will begin the week of April 7.
The 2025 City of Minneapolis Trans Equity Summit has been scheduled for Monday, Aug. 11, at the McNamara Alumni Center. The theme for this year’s event is “Trans Equity and Intergenerational Power: Strengthening the Future by Honoring Our Past.”
The City of Minneapolis and partners are planning the all-day, free event that provides space to connect on social, legal and health issues important to the transgender community.
The summit will include breakout sessions, a job and resource fair and healing justice offerings. Space will be protected for community care and collective witnessing for trans and gender non-conforming neighbors.
The federal government has pulled back all of its COVID-19 funds. This means that City of Minneapolis work around vaccination clinics and immunization education is stopped. The impact on the community is substantial as we’re canceling the five free clinics in April and do not know the future of our vaccination services right now.
Impact
Decisions at the federal level are impacting lives in our community and hurting employees dedicated to making Minneapolis a healthy place to live.
In 2024, the Minneapolis Health Department partnered with community organizations to hold 87 vaccine clinics in underserved communities. The clinics provided more than 800 COVID-19 shots, more than 700 flu shots and more than 500 mpox shots.
The decision also impacts the immunization work of three Health Department employees. The City is evaluating all options. In the meantime, the three employees will remain on staff and be funded by other sources.
April is Youth Employment Month in Minnesota. Many young people looking for work struggle, but we can help. City of Minneapolis Employment & Training has programs and resources specifically for youths.
Minneapolis Youth Works is a year-round program for youth ages 14-24 with challenges to employment. The program provides support to finish school, get training in job skills and find or keep a job. Visit the City’s Youth Works page for full eligibility requirements and next steps. You can also fill out the interest form to have an employment coach contact you.
Severe Weather Awareness Week is coming, tornado drills April 10
Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 7-11. As part of the annual statewide tornado drill, Hennepin County will sound the outdoor warning sirens in Minneapolis at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Thursday, April 10.
The two drills are intended to cover times of day when you may be at work or out and about, and when you may be home with your family. Take advantage of the drills and Severe Weather Awareness Week. Practice your family's emergency procedures and prepare for weather-related hazards.
The Vibrant Storefronts pilot program is expanding to offer rental support for artist spaces in new parts of Loring Park, Downtown and Uptown. Bringing property owners and artists together ensures stable tenants for the owners and furnishes space for the local creative community.
The first three awardees from November have opened their doors in the Harmon Place Historic District: Black Business Enterprises, Blackbird Revolt and Pride Cultural Arts Center. The two remaining awardees will open this spring. The Vibrant Storefronts pilot is a part of Minneapolis 2040.
News of layoffs – federal workers, tech workers and others – have topped headlines recently. Unexpected job loss is tough for anyone, but there are resources to help. The Dislocated Worker program helps workers laid off through no fault of their own. This free program offers services including:
· Career planning and counseling
· Job search assistance
· Education and training support
· Help with your expenses around employment or training goals Visit the City of Minneapolis' dislocated worker webpage or contact staff at CareerForce for help finding a new job.
Hennepin County is hosting four events in 2025 for county residents to bring garden and household hazardous wastes.
Bring unwanted paints, stains, varnish, aerosol cans, gasoline, antifreeze, batteries (put tape over the ends), pesticides, and more to an upcoming event.
Mark your calendar for events happening near Minneapolis from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 2-3, June 27-28 and Aug. 8-9.
The 2025 season for Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling collection of leaves, brush and other yard trimmings has started. Customers can set properly prepared yard waste at their alleys or curbs next to their garbage carts by 6 a.m. on their pickup day.
You can set yard waste out in a reusable container, compostable bags (paper or certified compostable plastic), or bundled with string or twine. |
