Mission Statement
We are community builders co-creating enduring change toward a just society where every person has personal, social, and economic power. Our united system of programs, neighborhood centers, social enterprises, and partnerships connects individuals and their families across the region.
Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
In the past year, our organization has made a significant impact across various areas. In the area of People, we provided over 1,200 hours of wraparound support to 300+ Community Health clients, distributed 50,000+ meals to 10,000+ families, and supported 300+ women through sewing classes and advocacy programs for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
In the Place area, we engaged 8,250 people in neighborhood art programs, hosted basketball tournaments with 300+ attendees, and organized community events with a total attendance of 10,200+. Our North Market saw record sales, distributing over $400,000 in produce subsidies and increasing the average wage for hourly workers by $1.00/hr.
In terms of Prosperity, we facilitated educational and career development programs for 350+ youth, provided over $118,000 in tuition and wage payments to 16 participants in the Career Pathways program, and supported 18 charter schools benefiting more than 9,200 students.
In the Policy area, we advocated for 8+ bills in the State Legislative Session, conducted workshops on Ranked Choice Voting for 400+ people, and trained 29 new community reporters to increase local access to public meetings. Additionally, our collaboration with Hennepin County involved stipending 59 community members to provide insights on the "benefits cliff."
Current Goals
We’re doubling down and investing in our people—our neighbors and our community builders. The youth and elders and families that make our work possible. The staff and volunteers and partners who bring their lived and skilled experiences to the work.
We’re ramping up our investment in our places—committed to revitalizing our Minneapolis neighborhoods and creating vibrant gathering spaces for folks to call home. From our Creative Commons vision for an expanded Pillsbury House and Theater campus. To our community development corporation Justice Built Communities brimming with possibility in the seven sites on the Northside to be developed with, by, and for the community most proximate.
We’re celebrating and scaling our work across our centers, enterprises, and impact areas. Moving at the speed of community. We’re driving systems change from the frontlines of our food shelves to the halls of our state Capitol.
Community or Constituency Served
We serve the Black, Brown, Indigenous, immigrant, and working-class residents of Minneapolis striving to build better lives and communities for their families in spite of racism, poverty, and other systemic barriers.
Geographic Area Served
Priority neighborhoods include Cedar Riverside, Phillips, and Powderhorn in South Minneapolis and Near North and Webber-Camden in North Minneapolis.
