Welcome to the Elliot Park Board: Meet Your 2026 EPNI Board Members
The Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc. (EPNI) is excited to introduce the newly elected members of the 2026 EPNI Board of Directors. All of the following individuals were elected to serve on the board.
Residential Board Members
Norm Kimball (he/him), Resident
”As an Elliot Park resident and recently appointed Chairman of the Runnstone Resident Council, I'm motivated to be another set of eyes in our evolving neighborhood. Also being involved with the Board can grant me the opportunity to better help my neighborhood in addition to my neighbors here in Runnstone with resources, information, and support that they could definitely appreciate. I'm just a concerned guy in the neighborhood looking to connect and give back to the neighborhood that has been a part of my Brain Injury recovery journey. Again, thank you for the opportunity."
Glen Johnson (he/him), Resident
"I currently serve on the EPNI board and am looking forward to serving for one final year. We have work to do with the budget, more neighborhood engagement, and running the Land Use and Transportation committee."
Peter Smith, Resident
”As a resident of Elliot Park, I've worked with members of the Elliot Park community on a variety of Food Access initiatives. I want to continue this work as we seek to migrate food from a perceived privilege to a human right. We share in the responsibility of ending food insecurity in our community and I look forward to working with others on this objective."
Kjell Thompson, Resident
"I am an Elliot Park resident and I love my neighborhood – I enjoy being helpful, involved and [want to] live in a place where people can be safe and included."
Organizational Board Members
Amran Abdi (Aeon, Resident Connector)
"I work for Aeon which serves a lot of properties in the Elliot Park neighborhood. I care about building a strong, connected, and welcoming Elliot Park community where residents feel heard, respected, and supported. I care about the quality of our neighborhood, the safety and well-being of residents, and making sure community members have opportunities to be involved in decisions that affect where they live.
I want to serve on the Elliot Park Board because I believe I can bring a resident-focused perspective, a willingness to listen, and a commitment to working collaboratively with others. I want to help create positive communication between residents, neighborhood organizations, businesses, and community partners.
I also care about making sure residents know about available resources and opportunities and feel comfortable speaking up about their concerns and ideas. I believe serving on the board would give me an opportunity to contribute my time, experience, and perspective while learning from other residents.
Most importantly, I want to be part of making Elliot Park a neighborhood where neighbors feel connected, valued, and proud to call home."
Junail Freeman Anderson (Twin Cities Our House Union, 810 S. 7th St.)
“My name is Junail Freeman-Anderson. I'm homeless, and I'm the Founder of the Twin Cities Unhoused Union. I organize with unhoused people in Minneapolis and St. Paul — because nobody should have to live the way I've had to live.
I fought for the Shelter Bill of Rights at the Capitol. I run a weekly group at the downtown library. Right now I'm working to build the Practice House, a 100-unit building to get our people off the streets before winter.
I ran for the Elliot Park board because this is my community, and I want a seat at the table where decisions get made about our neighborhood. I'll bring the voices of people who don't usually get heard in rooms like that one.”
Shantel Cook (Jericho Road)
"I am interested in serving on the EPNI Board of Directors because I have already had the opportunity to work alongside EPNI as an organizational partner of Jericho Road Elliot Park, providing resources and support to the food distribution outreach and its staff. Through that experience, I have gained a greater appreciation for the work EPNI is doing in the community and the importance of strong partnerships in creating meaningful impact.
When I was invited to consider serving on the Board, I took the opportunity seriously because I see it as a natural extension of the work I am already doing in the community. I would be honored to bring my leadership experience, community connections, organizational skills, and passion for developing people and strengthening communities to EPNI.
I also see this as an opportunity to listen, learn, and collaborate with other leaders while contributing to an organization whose work directly impacts individuals and families. I believe my experiences in leadership development, social services, financial services, and community engagement would allow me to contribute a valuable perspective to the Board."
Anthony ("Tony") Smith (Aeon, Resident Connector)
”Having worked in this community for the last four years, I’ve seen how much our parks matter to people’s daily lives. I want to help make them safer, more welcoming, and shaped by the voices of the neighbors who use them.”
