The Neighborhood Advocate Jan. 17, 2012

7 Neighborhood Organizations steer toward a bright future

CNO Over the past year, seven neighborhood organizations in south Minneapolis have worked together to explore strategic partnership opportunities that will improve operating efficiencies and ensure long-term sustainability of the sector while improving the capacity to engage and build grassroots leadership.

The partnership is called the Southside United Neighborhoods Project (SUN Project) and the following neighborhood organizations, representing eleven neighborhoods, are participating: Bancroft Neighborhood Association, Bryant Neighborhood Organization, Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization, Corcoran Neighborhood Organization, Longfellow Community Council, Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association and Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association.

"By bringing together board and staff representatives from the seven neighborhood organizations, the SUN Project is facilitating discussions on how neighborhood organizations in our area can remain strong, reduce duplication of administrative functions and better share resources," said Shirley Yeoman, community coordinator for the Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association. “It is exciting to see these collaborative conversations taking place."

With generous support from the McKnight Foundation, the SUN Project has hired the Dendros Group to help guide the exploration and evaluation process. The organizational assessment period began in December 2011 and will conclude in the spring of 2012 with a set of recommendations for how the seven organizations can move forward more collaboratively. The recommendations will be presented to the seven organizations and the communities at-large for final approval.

"This initiative will build our capacity and ensure that residents have the opportunity to collectively address issues of importance long into the future," said Cynthia Frost, Board Member of the Corcoran Neighborhood Organization.

The SUN Project will assess the feasibility of strategic partnerships to address the following needs: a stronger collective voice regarding policy matters; elimination of duplicate administrative functions within the seven neighborhood organizations; and development of a proactive response to the changes in neighborhood funding sources and the needs of the communities.

Maintaining the unique identities of each of the neighborhoods is a top priority as the SUN Project moves forward.

"Each neighborhood recognizes the need for residents to identify and collectively address issues related to neighborhood improvement and supports capacity-building to undertake neighborhood improvement activities," said Andy Hestness, Board Member of the Bancroft Neighborhood Association.

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Jan. 19 meeting will focus on transportation improvements

At the next meeting of Corcoran's Land Use & Transp. / Housing committees, 6pm at CNO on Thursday, Jan. 19, Hennepin County will share news about efforts to improve pedestrian and bike crossings at 32nd and Hiawatha Avenue as well as connections to the Midtown Greenway along Hiawatha. Then, Midtown Greenway Coalition staff will share an update on a Metro Transit study examining future transit possibilities including a Greenway streetcar. Corcoran's Greenway Coalition liaison, Jane St. Clair, will have news to share from the Public Utilities Commission hearings about the high voltage routing decisions. All residents are invited. Learn more about the committee.

Get Your Garden GROWING Jan. 18

Don't be bummed by the cold snap -- think gardening! On Wednesday, January 18 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Corcoran Park (3334 20th Ave S), join Corcoran GROWS to plan individual and community gardens for 2012. Bring your favorite seed catalogs and a dessert to share. Corcoran GROWS recently launched 4 new Action Teams focused on neighbors' skills, interests, and passions, including: 1.) Growing, preserving, and sharing food, 2.) Renewable energy and energy efficiency, 3.) Local economy and skills for self-sufficiency, and 4.) Intergenerational learning and "Corcoran culture." Working together, Corcoran neighbors have the power to make our neighborhood more resilient, more local, and less dependent on a fossil fuel economy. Join the Transition!

The Ramsey Arts Magnet is moving to Folwell this fall

Of all the arts schools across the country considered for recognition, Minneapolis' own Ramsey School, Performing Arts Magnet, has been selected as the recipient of the Excellence in Arts Integration Award by the National Arts School Network. In the fall (for the 2012-13 school year) this arts magnet will move to the Folwell building at 3611 20th Ave S and become Folwell School, Performing Arts Magnet. It will remain an arts magnet serving students grades K-8. Families can call 612-668-4040 for more information, or attend the Folwell K-8 School Open House from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 3611 20th Ave S.

Summer Jobs for Youth – February 3 application deadline

The STEP-UP program provides summer job opportunities for teenagers. Applications for the City of Minneapolis STEP-UP Summer Jobs Program are now available. The STEP-UP summer jobs program is seeking motivated and reliable candidates with a positive attitude. STEP-UP is open to Minneapolis residents ages 14-21 that meet income guidelines and are not yet enrolled in college. STEP-UP recruits, trains and places youth in paid, professional summer jobs. Last summer nearly 2,000 students worked in jobs through STEP-UP.