April 2021 E-News
A new and updated Neighborhood Guide was mailed out to residents!
Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc. (EPNI) was established in 1976 with a primary focus on renovating and building new housing. The focus of the organization has shifted over the years and our mission now centers on building community vitality by connecting and empowering neighbors. A Board of Directors comprised of residents and institutional representatives governs the organization. For more information on the current priorities, projects, and programs, visit www.elliotpark.org.
In this guide, you will find a snapshot of what is available to you as an Elliot Park Resident! Did you miss it in your mailbox? Check out the online version here.
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EPNI Calendar for April
Saturday, April 10th - Spring Clean-Up: 9:30-11:30AM • Elliot Park Rec Center
At least once a year, the community comes together to pick-up litter in the neighborhood. Typically, we collect over 30 large bags of trash and recycling. That's a lot of litter! We hope you will join for the spring clean-up event.
- Volunteer with us: Spring Clean-Up - Elliot Park Neighborhood
Monday, April 12th - Board of Directors Meeting: 6-7:30PM • via Zoom
The EPNI Board of Directors meetings monthly, on the 2nd Monday of the month, at 6 PM. Guests are welcome to attend and observe. If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] and request the Zoom meeting link.
Thursday, April 15th - Building, Land Use, and Housing (BLUH) Meeting: 6-7:30PM • via Zoom
Join your neighbors in advocating for development that fits our community needs. EPNI convenes the community at the Building, Land Use, and Housing (BLUH) meeting, where residents can review & give feedback on proposed changes to the neighborhood. Agenda will be posted ONE week prior to meeting.
- Register in advance for the BLUH Meeting
Tuesday, April 27th - Community Safety Meeting: 6-7PM • via Zoom
The Community Safety Committee meeting is moving to the last Tuesday of the month. If you want to share ideas or comments, please email [email protected].
Register here for the meeting: Community Safety Meeting
Monday, May 24th - EPNI Annual Meeting: 6-7:30PM • via Zoom
We can't wait to see you all at our 2021 Annual Meeting - Stay tuned for more info! Interested in running for the EPNI Board of Directors?
Find more information on the EPNI website site today!
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Our annual Spring Clean-Up is back on Saturday, April 10th!
Volunteer with us and brighten our community & making a difference in our neighborhood: Spring Clean-Up - Elliot Park Neighborhood on Saturday, April 10th, from 9:30 – 11:30 am. Meet at the Elliot Park Recreation Center (1000 East 14th Street) to check-in and pick-up supplies. Please wear a mask and bring gloves if you have them and we will provide trash & recycling bags and a limited number of gloves.
- Thank you for helping keep our neighborhood clean and beautiful!
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Join the EPNI Board of Directors!
EPNI is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors composed of at least 60% residents and no more than 40% organizations/businesses. The Board of Directors establishes the identity and direction of the organization, ensures necessary resources, and provides oversight. Each year, one-third (5) of the Board seats are up for election.
EPNI is seeking applicants for the 2021 Board of Directors elections which will be held in May. If you feel that you have good ideas, skills and energy to share to make EPNI an even stronger organization please consider serving on the EPNI Board of Directors and applying by April 12th, 2021!
Visit 2021 Board Elections our board elections on our site or call the EPNI office to learn more.
Why Should YOU Consider Serving?
As a new member, you will serve with a group of 14 other volunteers and staff members who work hard on behalf of our community. Joining the EPNI Board will connect you more tightly with our neighborhood and give you the chance to develop new skills.
By serving on the EPNI Board, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of our community. The EPNI Board of Directors sets the vision for the organization and allocates financial resources toward that vision. The EPNI Board meets once a month for most of the year. Board members also serve on EPNI committees and help with EPNI events and activities.
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Support the Chicago Ave Safety Initiative
EPNI in collaboration with an established task force, is working to address the persistent safety challenges along Chicago Avenue between 15th & 17th Street. The established task force consists of: Elliot Park Neighborhood, Inc., North Central University, Catholic Charities, Aeon, Old Town In Town Cooperative, residents and small businesses.
EPNI plans to hire a contracted safety patrol vendor for a period of four months in spring/summer of 2021 to address undesired behaviors including trespassing, vandalism and drug dealing. Our immediate goal is to ensure safety of residents, businesses, and visitors along this area of Chicago Avenue. Once the safety patrols are in place, we will work toward identifying sustainable long-term solutions to address the safety challenges.
How You Can Help
EPNI received a $10,000 grant from the City of Minneapolis Great Streets Business District program to support safety patrols over the period of four months. We are now seeking to raise an additional $30,000 to fully fund this work.
EPNI is accepting restricted donations for the safety patrol program. These restricted donations will only be used to address safety along the Chicago Avenue corridor between 15th & 17th Street. Donations are tax-deductible as tax laws allow.
To make a donation for this work, send a check payable to EPNI with a letter noting the intent to restrict the donation to the “Chicago Avenue Safety Patrols”. Checks can be mailed to EPNI, 810 S 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415.
You can also make a donation online, visit: elliotpark.org/patrols. Please note there is a 3% online processing deducted from your donation.
We would like to thank you for your support!
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Food Solutions Team Update
The EPNI Food Solutions Team has been hard at work, even through the pandemic, to connect with resources bringing fresh and affordable food to our neighborhood. In the last year they have successfully partnered with the Food Group and the Mobile Market, House of Charity, community owned co-ops, and others.
In partnership with the Food Group and the Mobile Market, the team hosted an outdoor market during the summer of 2020. We are currently working to bring the Mobile Market back to the neighborhood for summer of 2021. After the Mobile Market ended the team was able to connect with House of Charity to create a system of free food drop offs at a few buildings with the highest need. From both the Mobile Market and the House of Charity food drops they were able to better identify the community needs and wants.
The Food Solutions Team worked through 2020 under funding from a Headwaters Foundation for Justice grant. The team focused on researching potential partnerships for short term food resources, resulting in the recent work with The Food Group and House of Charity. The team connected with food co-ops and community owned stores in hopes of applying that knowledge in our own neighborhood. Now, the team recently applied for a grant from Perrigo Foundation to afford continued partnership with the Food Group and others, staff support, and work toward securing permanent access to fresh and affordable food in Elliot Park. Currently the team is working to identify potential locations in the neighborhood to support a store as well as creative alternatives that could become permanent features.
The Food Solutions team meets bi-monthly and is always looking for interested members. If you are interested in being a part of the work to bring fresh and affordable healthy foods to your neighborhood please visit elliotpark.org/foodsolutionssignup.
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35W@94 engagement survey now open!
The Minnesota Department of Transportation would like to hear from people who live, work and play near the 35W@94 project in south Minneapolis. Please take a few minutes to let them know how they are doing with community engagement and how to improve in this final year of the project.
Take our brief survey to share your thoughts on our community engagement efforts and improvements for this year. The Minnesota Department of Transportation look forward to hearing from you - Share your thoughts!
Click here for a translated survey in Spanish - Esta encuesta está disponible en Español
Click here for a translated survey in Somali - Daraasaddan waxaa lagu heli karaa af Soomaali
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State of Minnesota Discrimination Helpline
The State of Minnesota has a helpline for people facing discrimination. Discrimination based on someone’s race, ethnicity, religion or other protected class is prohibited. They want to hear from Minnesotans who experienced or witnessed discrimination or bias.
If you or anyone in your community faces discrimination, please call 1-833-454-0148 or complete this online form to report the incident.
The helpline is staffed 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Translation services are available and information about the helpline is available in 17 different languages on the State of Minnesota website.
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Free COVID-19 Tests Detect the Virus Even as Variants
The City of Minneapolis is offering free COVID-19 saliva tests and you do not need insurance for the test. Testing is encouraged and available to everyone, whether or not you have symptoms. It’s one of the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help prevent exposing your loved ones to the virus along with wearing masks correctly, keeping 6 feet from anyone you don’t live with and hand-washing.
Going back to school?
Testing is especially important now with people going back to school and because some of the recently found variants seem to spread more easily than the original strain – up to 70% more.
The State of Minnesota especially recommends people returning to school, sports or other extracurricular activities get tested, as well as everyone who lives with them. By getting them tested every two weeks through the end of the school year, the State hopes to keep schools and sports open.
Free COVID-19 tests sites are listed below: You can expect to get your test results in about 24 hours.
Minneapolis Public Schools Davis Center, 1250 West Broadway 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 20
Columbia Manor Golf Course, 3300 Central Ave. NE 4-7 p.m. Thursdays, March 25 and April 1, 8 and 15
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, 1301 10th Ave. N. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 27
Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 Second Ave. S. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends Visit the State’s COVID-19 testing webpage to register.
Native American Community Clinic, 1213 E. Franklin Ave. 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays Appointments required: Call 612-872-8086 to schedule an appointment.
Southside Community Health Services, 324 E. 35th St. 2-3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays Appointments required: Call 612-821-3548 to schedule an appointment. You can expect to get your test results in about two-three business days. Same day testing can be done for health care workers, first responders and essential workers.
Brooklyn Park Starlight Center 11 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends. Visit the State’s COVID-19 testing webpage to register.
Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport 7 a.m.-7 p.m. seven days a week. Visit the State’s COVID-19 testing webpage to register.
If you can’t attend one of these testing events, you can use this directory to find a testing location near you.
The State is also offering free at-home saliva tests. Any person in Minnesota can order a saliva test kit from the COVID-19 Test at Home program.
Resources
If you need medical care but don’t have health insurance, the Minnesota Department of Health offers resources to find low-cost health care or health insurance.
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Stay tuned to our Facebook page for news and fun historical facts!
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