Minneapolis Welcomes All

Our city fosters inclusion, safety, and respect for everyone, regardless of immigration status. We provide resources and support so all residents—including immigrants—can thrive.

In the City of Minneapolis, we know that many are impacted by immigration developments and many are committed to welcoming and fostering a sense of belonging for residents born outside of the United States. Working together has never been more important than now.

🔹 The City does not enforce federal immigration laws.
🔹 We stand with all residents, born in the U.S. or elsewhere.                                    🔹 The City of Minneapolis has an ordinance that states it will not operate programs for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws.

Know Your Rights & Resources:
✅ Immigrant Law Center of MN – Know Your Rights
✅ Volunteer Lawyers Network – Immigration Preparedness
✅ MN Education Equity – Safe Schools Toolkit
✅ Welcoming America – Resource Collection

Together, we build a stronger, more welcoming Minneapolis.

Additional Resources & Rights

🔹 Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid:

• Know Your Rights
• We Have Rights

🛑 Red Cards / Tarjetas Rojas

Everyone in the U.S. has constitutional rights, regardless of immigration status. These cards help people assert their rights in various situations.
➡️ Learn more at ILRC.org: https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas

📌 Learn more: Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs

Immigrant and Refugee Affairs community office hours

The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) hosts community office hours at the South Minneapolis CareerForce Center at 777 E. Lake Street. You can stop by on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 – 4 p.m.

Check the OIRA events calendar in case of cancellations and holidays.

📅 Immigrant & Refugee Affairs Calendar
Stay updated on City-hosted meetings and events:
➡️ View calendar here

Minneapolis remains committed to protecting and supporting all residents.

December Food Distribution Schedule

• Weds. Dec. 3rd: 10:00-11:00am: Cooking Class; 10:30-11:30am Mobile Loaves lunch & hygiene supplies (or until supplies last)
• Weds. Dec. 10th: 9:30-11:30am free grocery distribution (or until supplies last)
• Tues. Dec. 16th: 2:00-4:00pm: final free grocery distribution of the year, along with winter coats/clothes, hot meal & community resources at Elliot Park Winter Warmth & Resource Day event (details above!)
• NOTE: Due to the winter holidays, the Elliot Park Food Distribution program will be on break until resuming with the new winter schedule on Weds. January 7, 2026!

New Winter Schedule for Wednesday Food Distributions Resumes Weds. Jan 7th!

Join us -- Community Cooking Class, 1st/3rd/5th Wednesday mornings!

Join your neighbors for a free community cooking class, featuring new recipes with healthy ingredients from the Food Distributions!

1st/3rd/(5th) Wednesdays: Join the cooking class from 10-11am, and stay for lunch together. You can try out the new meal you cooked, as well as a free lunch from Mobile Loaves (11am-noon)! 

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NEW Winter 2026 Schedule: ALL 3 Food Distribution offerings together on the 1st/3rd/(5th) Wednesdays, starting Weds. Jan. 7th:

• 9:30am: Tickets, coffee & donuts, and warm welcome! 
• 10:00-11:30am/until supplies last: FREE groceries, from Jericho Road! 
• 10:00-11:00am: Community Cooking Class!
• 10:30am-11:30am/until supplies last: FREE lunch & hygiene supplies from Mobile Loaves! 

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Saturday, December 6th - Metro Transit - Metro E Line Grand Opening Celebration • 10:00am-2:00pm • At Minneapolis College, 1415 Hennepin Avenue S.

• 10 a.m. | Ribbon cutting & media event
• 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Community celebration at Minneapolis College, featuring family activities & entertainment, kids art table, photo station, Metro Transit mascot Skip Traffic! & community outreach booths

Monday, December 8th - 3000 Acts of Kindness event • 9:00am-3:00pm • At Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd. Ave. S.

Guests who attend our annual 3000 Acts of Kindness event are treated to lunch, complementary hair cuts, new coats, hats, boots, toiletry kits, access to over 80 social service agencies and so much more!

Tuesday, December 9th - City Budget Public Hearing • 6:05pm • At Public Service Center, 250 Fourth St. S., Room 350

Give your feedback on Mayor Jacob Frey’s recommended 2026 City budget. There is another upcoming public hearing for people to provide feedback on Mayor Jacob Frey’s recommended 2026 City budget. The City Council will vote on adopting the budget following the hearing.

Learn how to participate in public hearings.

Comments can also be submitted at the City’s website.

Visit the City’s website to learn more about the mayor’s recommended 2026 budget, details of the 2025-2026 adopted budget, quick facts, an explainer video and more.

Thursday, December 11th - 2025 Hennepin Healthcare Annual Meeting • 11:30am-12:30pm • In person, at Hennepin County Government Center, Room A-24 Board Room 300 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487-0240, or virtual: hennepinhealthcare.org/annualmeeting

Hennepin Healthcare looks forward to sharing an update on our Community Health Needs Assessment implementation plan, the safety net care we provide for the state of Minnesota, and a look at future plans. Register to attend in person HERE (security is located on the skyway level, in the A tower. After security, take the elevator to the 24th floor); OR Register to attend online HERE via Teams. 

Saturday, December 13th - Citizenship workshop in recognition of Human Rights Day and International Migrants Day • 11:00am-2:00pm • Location provided with registration: Sign up online

December 10 is Human Rights Day, and December 18 is International Migrants Day.

Human Rights Day honors the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an international treaty that recognizes the rights we all hold as humans. International Migrants Day marks the date that the United National General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and their Families, enshrining into international law the link between migration and fundamental human rights. The United States has signed both of these important international agreements.

This year, in recognition of Human Rights Day and International Migrants Day, the City of Minneapolis is partnering with the City of St. Paul to host a citizenship workshop. Attendees can learn about citizenship rights, the citizenship application process and what it means to be a naturalized US citizen. 

For questions please call 612-673-3129 or visit the City of Minneapolis Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs website.

Sunday, December 14th - Child Life Holiday Toy Drive • 10:00am-12:00pm • At Hennepin HealthCare Clinic & Specialty Center, 715 S. 8th St. (pull up in circle drive) 

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

 Elliot Park Neighborhood Dave & Buster's Fundraiser

🎮 Get ready for nonstop arcade action at Dave & Buster’s! 50% of every Power Card purchased through our fundraising page will be donated to Elliot Park Neighborhood! Redeem anytime at any participating Dave & Buster’s location for endless gaming fun with family and friends. Level up your next outing and support a great cause: grouprai.se/davebusters54215s

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!

Follow this link for a larger graphic.

Follow this link for a larger graphic.

Warm Weather Rules Are In Effect - Get Protection from Heat Shut-Offs

The Cold Weather Rule is now in effect. The Cold Weather Rule means that if you can’t pay your home heat bill, your heat can’t be shut off Oct. 1-April 30. If you get a notice about disconnecting your primary heat source, make sure to immediately contact the utility and set up a payment plan.

Find resources on the State of Minnesota website. This information is available in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali.

Minimum heat requirements

Rental property owners must have heating systems that work properly and safely. They must be able to keep the indoor temperature at:

• 65°F from Sept. 15 - 30
• 68°F from Oct. 1 - April 30
• 65°F from May 1 – 15

What to do when the heat isn’t working

• If your heat isn’t working, notify the property owner or manager right away.
• If they don’t take steps to fix it immediately, call 311 or 612-673-3000 to report it. 311 is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
• Outside of 311 hours, call 911 to report low heat or no heat.

The 311 agent or 911 dispatcher will take your contact information, and an inspector will contact you to visit your rental unit as soon as possible. From Sept. 15 to May 15, there is always an inspector on call to help renters with no or low heat.

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.

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 is the remote access point for ALL non-emergency info & service requests

You can call 311 to:

• Report and get resolution to problems, and follow up on the status of issues

* Remember - there are power in numbers. If a number of affected neighbors call 311 about the same issue, it may speed up response time.

• Find out about City services
• Get other city-related information

It's easy and accessible! Ways to contact 311:

• Call 311 / TTY: 612-263-6850: Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm
• Email: [email protected] 
• Text 311 or get the 311 mobile app 

If you need immediate emergency assistance, contact 911.

Want to read more about 311? Check out resources provided by the city

311 Website: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/departments/311/

View flyer from city in different languages. English, Spanish, Somali, Hmong

Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF) is a local energy cooperative housed in South Minneapolis at the Sabathani Community Center.

They are collaborating with various neighborhood organizations and community-based organizations to spread the word about their Community Solar Garden (CSG) Program that saves you money on your Xcel bill, while building community-member owned
renewable energy infrastructure. We give priority to community members with lower incomes or that participate in programs like SNAP, WIC, energy assistance and Medicaid.

Our community-member owned CSG program allows community members, whether you rent or own, to share the benefits of the solar array we are building on the parking canopy at Abbott Northwestern Hospital at 28th and Chicago.

Learn more at this link: https://www.cooperativeenergyfutures.com/community-solar-1

Homebuyer & Home Improvement Opportunities

Click link for larger graphic of image below

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.

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.

Green Cost Share Contact Info:

Minneapolis Health Department, [email protected], 612-673-2301

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/.