December 2024 E-News

To request this information in another language or format, please contact [email protected]. Si aad u codsato foomkan oo qaab ama luqad kale ah, fadlan la xiriir [email protected]. Para solicitar esta información en otro idioma o formato, póngase en contacto con [email protected].

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else.” — Charles Dickens

EPNI December Calendar

To request interpreting services or accommodations for these events, please contact [email protected]. Si aad u codsato turjubaan ama waafajin, fadlan la xiriir [email protected]. Para solicitar servicios de interpretación o adaptaciones para estos actos, póngase en contacto con [email protected].

Please visit the EPNI web Calendar for event details & to RSVP! Also post and share our December Event Calendar flyer which is linked here and posted below. Flyer PDF

Wednesday, December 11th - Neighborhood Vitality & Land Use Joint Committees Meeting
6:30-8:00pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave., or participate via Zoom:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84231574529

ALL are welcome to the jointly meeting EPNI Neighborhood Vitality & Land Use Committees, to bring your ideas and and connect with your neighbors. This joint committee structure creates your "one-stop shop" for Elliot Park Neighborhood involvement with new and ongoing neighborhood projects in service to our shared Elliot Park community. At the December 11th meeting:

- The Neighborhood Vitality Committee will welcome guest presenters, Suzanne Tibbets-Young, who leads the Opioid Response Team at the City Department of Public Health, and Dr. Dziwe Ntaba, MD, who practices at the UMN - Riverside Emergency Room, to share a proposal inviting EPNI to partner in its current Opioid treatment outreach pilot program. The committee will share its latest updates on the Elliot Park Community Aid Fund activities and collaborative assistance efforts, in response to the 8/13/24 apartment fire at 1501 S. 11th Ave.  

- The Land Use & Transportation Committee will review and give input on current neighborhood development & infrastructure projects, including guest presenter, Erik J Fox, M.S. Ed., Assistant Parking Systems Manager with the City of Minneapolis, presenting on, and gathering feedback about proposed changes to the Critical Parking Program areas in Elliot Park. 

- The full EPNI Joint Committee meeting agenda will be available about a week in advance of the meeting. Bring your voice -- ALL are welcome! Questions or want to learn more? Contact [email protected] or call/text (612) 234-2280. See you there!

EPNI Board of Directors does not meet in December. Our next two regular meetings are being rescheduled for the 4th Monday of the month, on January 27th and February 24th, to avoid federal holiday conflicts with MLK Jr. Day and President's Day.

Do you have a suggestion or question for Elliot Park Neighborhood Inc.? Email [email protected] or text / call (612) 234-2280 and we will get back to you soon!

------------

December Community Calendar 

Tuesday, December 3rd - Community Chess Club, And Every Tuesday
5:00pm-7:00pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave.

Join neighbors in playing chess at a community chess club. For all ages and skill levels.

Wednesday, December 4th - Community Craft Night, Every Wednesday
3:00-5:00pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave.

Join us neighbors for a chance to connect with others in the community while enjoying some light snacks while enjoying crafting. Everyone is invited, please bring a friend!

Thursday, December 5th - Pathway to Legal Status Webinar
English 12pm, Spanish 2pm • Online

Webinars on Pathway to Legal Status for Immigrants. English version at noon, Spanish version at 2pm.

Thursday, December 5th - Elliot Park Homework Help, And Every Tuesday & Thursday
6:00-8:00pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave.

Parents, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Elliot Park Rec Center the MPRB hosts a homework help session for K-12 students for free. This is an opportunity for your child to receive any extra help that might need to succeed in the classroom.

Thursday, December 5th - Adult Computer Lab & Technology Help, And Every Tuesday & Thursday
6:00-8:00pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave.

Are you trying to learn technology and need assistance? Every Tuesday and Thursday evening MPRB is hosting an Adult Computer Lab & Technology Help. This is a great opportunity for people who haven't grown up using new technology or aren't accustomed to it have their questions answered.

Thursday, December 5th - Free Yoga Classes, & Every Thursday 12:10pm-1:00pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave.

Join Val of Olivine Yoga Thursdays for an accessible, inclusive, and free yoga class.

Friday, December 6th - Arabic Tutoring Drop In, And Every Friday 4:30pm-5:30pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave.

Learning Arabic and need some extra help? Every Friday MPRB hosts a Arabic Tutoring Drop In for those 13 and older.

Saturday, December 7th & Saturday, December 21st - Bingo at Elliot Rec Center
1:00-3:00pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave.

Thursday December 12th - Bob Ross Paint & Sip 6:00-8:00pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave.

Saturday, December 14 -Child Life Holiday Toy Drive 10am – 12pm • At Hennepin Healthcare Clinic & Specialty Center, 715 S. 8^th Street, Minneapolis

Play is a child’s work. It is how they learn, grow, and express themselves. Research shows that children who are allowed to play in the hospital environment heal faster. This season, spread joy with TOYS! Help distract our littlest patients from pain and other discomforts of hospitalization so they can heal and just be kids no matter where they are! Gift a toy or essential item from our Child Life wish list: hennepinhealthcare.org/wishlist and join us at our annual Child Life Holiday Toy Drive: hennepinhealthcare.org/toys

Sunday, December 15 - Nicollet Island Winter Market 10am – 4pm • At 40 Power Street, Minneapolis, MN

Monday, December 30th - Ward 6 City Councilmember Jamal Osman Community Office Hours • 3:00-4:00pm • At Lutunji's Palate, 1400 Park. Ave S. #1010

Come have a chat with your Ward 6 Councilmember Jamal Osman - The first & last Monday of each month, 3-4pm!

The Downtown Improvement District (DID) Community Calendar is your source downtown events & FREE fun! Check out the full Downtown Events Calendar HERE.

EPNI Updates

2024 Elliot Park Quick Resident Survey: 5 Questions, 10 Minutes --  Let YOUR Voice Be Heard - Survey HERE!

"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." – Margaret J. Wheatley

Your voice matters! We appreciate you taking a few minutes to let us know what's most important to you in the neighborhood, and ways you want to get connected and involved in Elliot Park! Click HERE to take the quick EPNI survey • af-Soomaliga. Thank you!

Elliot Park Community Aid Fund Updates

City & Community Updates

Voter survey from League of Women Voters / Hennepin County

During this post-election time, Hennepin County is administering a Post-Election Survey to learn about experiences that voters had at their polling locations or early vote centers. This survey is trying to identify barriers that residents may be facing. Here is the link for that survey

Hennepin.us/ge-survey 

Clean up on 11th Ave 11/25/2024 by First Precinct staff and Community

First Precinct staff led by Inspector Peterson and a collaborative Team comprised of Sentence to Serve, staff from Andrews Residence, Aeon, City Attorney’s Office, Elliot Park Neighborhood Inc., and New Life Properties picked up 12 bags of garbage and 4 Sharps containers of needle refuse on 11/25/2024. DID provided invaluable supply support to the Team of 22. The Team had an enjoyable time despite the brisk North Wind. As the afternoon progressed, several residents waited easily in the clean bus shelter and thanked the Team.  The focus area was 11^th Ave S from 14^th Street to 17^th Street.

Herc Incinerator Star Tribune Article

Hi Neighbors, check out this article by the Star Tribune on the Herc Incinerator Closing.

Trash or Cash - save money by reducing wasted food

If food waste was a country, it'd have the 3rd highest greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Reducing wasted food not only saves us money, it also helps the planet.

With the holiday season right around the corner, we want to share some tips to reduce wasted food.   

• Don’t over do it: Get an accurate headcount and so you can plan your holiday meals accordingly. Don’t over estimate the amount of food you will need. Use Save the Food's Guest-imator to help you plan accordingly. If you are assigning dishes for people to bring, let them know the number of people they will be serving so they can plan accordingly too.    
• Food Storage: Store your produce to maximize freshness. Did you know that most herbs last longer if you place them in a glass of water like cut flowers? To save herbs for later, you can freeze them in ice cube trays with olive oil or butter poured on top.  Take out a cube of rosemary and throw it in your turkey for Thanksgiving. Learn more great food storage tips from Hennepin County's Trash or Cash campaign.
• Leftovers: If you are hosting, ask your guests to bring their own containers to take leftovers home with them. Everyone will take you up on the opportunity to take home some stuffing and mashed potatoes! If you aren’t hosting, bring your own container with you to take leftovers home. The host will be grateful. 

Learn more about how reducing wasted food can help you save money

Resources for Unhoused People

Winter Gear Drive

Holiday Gear Drive

Christmas Joy is holding a Christmas Toy Drive. What's needed are new coats and toys for all ages.Christmas Joy is not a nonprofit organization, just community given by a family that is the Founder & Owner for many years that loves giving joy to community and families 

MPD Security Tips for the Holidays

Minneapolis Green Cost Share Program

We are excited to work with the Minneapolis Green Cost Share program, a project that helps our city be greener! The Green Cost Share program provides up to $14,000 in rebates to eligible homeowners in our neighborhood. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with your next project using the Minneapolis Green Cost Share program. Together, we can make Minneapolis a better place to live

Minneapolis Homes: Homebuyer & Home Improvement Opportunities

The city has resources available for home buying and home improvement. Including down payment assistance for specific homes and financing options to improve your house. For more information see the flyer above.

Elliot Park Playground & Park Improvements: Final Proposed Elliot Park Improvement Plans are now Available

 

Ongoing Updates: Thanks to everyone who weighed on upcoming improvements to Elliot Park’s playground and its east side. After reviewing all of the feedback on the three initial design concepts, the design team has has developed a final concept that features elements listed below.

Features Proposed for Final Design Concept for Elliot Park

• Brings activation, art, and amenities to the center of the park’s east side
• Park edges enhanced with ornamental fencing and landscaping
• Proposed flexible lawn or performance area for both formal events (concerts, movies) and informal activities and games (soccer warm up, catch, frisbee)
• patio and flexible sports plaza area near the recreation center, allows for indoor programming to be brought outside; could include striping for court games like pickleball or basketball, and/or flexible outdoor furniture
• splash pad replaces existing wading pool and is installed along with a patio near the existing basketball courts on the north side of the park
• New playground on south side of the park, closer to the building and parking, and more inclusive for all ages and abilities
• If the project budget allows, additional possibilities could include concrete paths that glow at night and community murals on the walls of the recreation center or basketball court

Click here to see the final design concept

Watch for updates when next steps are confirmed for this improvements project.

In the meantime, please share this with friends, co-workers and neighbors!

To view more information about the project, check out www.minneapolisparks.org/elliotpark and you can sign up to receive email updates through the Get Involved tab.

Volunteer Your Time and Talents with Hennepin Healthcare!

As a Level I Trauma center and healthcare safety net for our community, Hennepin Healthcare offers a broad range of volunteer experiences and opportunities. Choose from dozens of positions including behind the scenes work, greeting the public, working with children, supporting staff and assisting families. 

Volunteering at Hennepin Healthcare gives you the opportunity to work with our diverse community who visit our hospital and clinics. Your time and talents will help enhance the patient, family, and staff experience, as we strive to provide exceptional care without exception.

We offer volunteers flexible scheduling, free parking and welcome a range of experience.

Apply online: hennepinhealthcare.org/volunteer

Questions? Contact us at (612) 873-2512 or [email protected] 

EPNI Renter's Corner

HOMELINE

HOME Line provides free and low-cost legal, organizing, education, and advocacy services so that tenants throughout Minnesota can solve their own rental housing problems.

Have a question for HOME Line?

Call 612-728-5767
or email an attorney

311: Did You Know . . . ?

 Report rental issues to 311

Contact 311 to report rental housing issues or speak to a housing liaison. You can also track complaints online on the 311 property complaint dashboard.

Ongoing Notices & Opportunities:

Want a free ride & a cleaner bus stop?  Adopt-a-Stop!

WHAT: Individuals and groups can "adopt" a Metro Transit bus stop to help keep it clean and cared for, and alert Metro Transit staff to special maintenance needs and reporting vandalism or suspicious activity.  WHY: Help everyone have a safer ride experience and and get 10 free rides each month! HOW: Learn more and apply online for Metro Transit Adopt-A-Stop program HERE. Want to partner through EPNI to Adopt-a-Stop? Come talk about it at the Land Use & Transportation committee meeting, or contact us at [email protected] or text/call 612-234-2280.

Shop the Mobile Market!

The Twin Cities Mobile Market continues on Wednesdays! You can find the bus at 1515 Park Ave. All are welcome to stop by and shop. The market has beautiful and affordable produce, meat, dairy, bread, and more.

You can view the full schedule here on the Park Center Hi-Rise site. Sign up for text updates. To learn more about the Mobile Market, please visit thefoodgroupmn.org/twin-cities-mobile-market/.