Elliot Park Neighbor Support Fund
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THANK YOU, neighbors! So far, we've raised over $12,631 (including a very generous recent $5,000 anonymous donation!) to support at least 37 neighbors with small individual financial help grants, and delivered over 468 bags of groceries and supplies, and served another 481 households at our seven extra pop-up food distribution events, throughout the dark days of "Operation Metro Surge" and its aftermath.
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We also provided many of these neighbors with caring support and other community resource connection.
While the immediate harm of the federal enforcement surge has abated, the deep and serious direct impacts on our neighbors are lasting. We recognize both that the financial impacts caused by Operation Metro Surge continue for many; and that Operation Metro Surge only worsened existing layers of financial hardships for many neighbors, including food and housing insecurities, and broader economic hardships.
Therefore, we continue to maintain, raise and distribute funds to assist our neighbors through the Elliot Park Neighbor Support Fund, with a highly aligned purpose and similar guidelines as the original Fund created in February 2026, in response to Operation Metro Surge.
Neighbors facing financial hardships affecting basic needs can apply for a grant by contacting EPNI by text/phone at 612-234-2280 or email, at [email protected].
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The Elliot Park Neighbor Support Network provides direct, confidential aid to neighbors facing serious financial hardship. We connect neighbors who need help with neighbors who can give. Your donation covers food support, basic supplies and individual small grants for emergency financial support.
Any amount helps. Give what you can.
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How to prepare:
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Make a family plan
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Carry a know-your-rights card
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Keep immigration papers with you
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Talk to a lawyer about your options
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Attend a workshop or community session to learn how to handle an encounter—no matter your immigration status.
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Check out our "Rights & Resources" list for additional immigration rights, legal help and other resources.
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How/where to connect with immigration legal service providers:
• Wed 2-4PM at Careerforce at 777 E Lake St and virtually
• Friday 10-noon at Cedar Riverside Opportunity center and virtually
• Contact [email protected] to learn more
Together, we build a stronger, more welcoming Minneapolis.
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EPNI Renter's Corner
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Renter Support Funds
Apply for rent help:
The emergency assistance funds are specific to immigrant/impacted neighbors affected by immigration enforcement surge who are facing eviction.
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Accessing County Emergency Housing Funds
Minneapolis households seeking this emergency rental assistance can reach out to these organizations to start an application.
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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.
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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.
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Biweekly 2026 Food Distribution Schedule Every Wednesday mornings!
New Schedule: Food distribution every Wednesday of the Month:
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9:30am: Tickets, coffee & donuts, and warm welcome!
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9:30-11:30am/until supplies last: FREE groceries, from Jericho Road AND FREE lunch & hygiene supplies from Mobile Loaves (Only on 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesdays)!
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10:00-11:00am: Community Cooking Class with MPRB - Elliot Park!
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Join us -- Community Cooking Class, Every Wednesday morning!
Join your neighbors for a free community cooking class, featuring new recipes with healthy ingredients from the Food Distributions! Interested in co-leading a class with your favorite recipe? Contact Jessica at [email protected] or text/call us at 612-234-2280.
Every 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!
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Interested in donating or volunteering to support our Elliot Park Food Distribution efforts?
Drop off your non-perishable food donations (especially "grab & go" / no cook items, and canned goods, pasta, rice, etc.) to Elliot Park & Rec Center during open hours — every contribution helps feed our neighbors! And we’re always seeking volunteers to lend a hand. Click the button below to sign up!
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Elliot Park Neighborhood Grocery Survery
The Elliot Park Food Access Work Group works on improving both short-term and long-term food access in Elliot Park. Please take a moment to let us know what's most important to you and your family when it comes to getting groceries and food access in Elliot Park. Thank you!
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Help Tell Elliot Park's Story Through a Mural!
Share your feedback on the artwork HERE:
https://forms.gle/mqE3maMRtyBKUazi8
Elliot Park Neighborhood (EPNI) and North Central University are partnering on a community mural—and we want your input.
The Vision: Bold, vibrant designs that celebrate Elliot Park's history, diversity, and future—welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring.
The Canvas: Praise FM building (15th & Chicago Ave.), painted by NCU students and volunteers in Spring–Summer 2026.
Three local artists have submitted their work. Please share your thoughts via the short form above.
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EPNI July 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].as
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Wednesday, July 1st, July 15th, July 22nd, July 29th - Free Groceries, Cooking Class, Free Lunch & Hygiene Supplies
9:30am-11:30am (or until supplies last!) • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave. (during construction - 14th St. main entrance now open for this event!)
Join our free Grocery Distribution, Community Cooking Class (10:00-11:00am) weekly and pickup free bagged lunch + hygiene supplies on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th wednesday of the month.
This program is made possible by the EPNI Food Access Work Group, MPRB - Elliot Park, Jericho Road and Mobile Loaves!
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Wednesday, July 8th- EPNI Joint Committee Meeting
6:30pm - 8:00pm• At Elliot Park Rec Center 1000 E 14th St: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84231574529
ALL are welcome to the Joint EPNI Neighborhood Vitality & Land Use Committees meeting—bring your ideas and connect with your neighbors! This joint committee structure is your "one-stop shop" for involvement in new and ongoing projects serving our shared Elliot Park community.
Here is the proposed Weds. 7/8/26 EPNI Joint Committee meeting agenda:
 Snacks to share! Free childcare! Get to know your neighbors and get involved in Elliot Park neighborhood projects!
The Neighborhood Vitality Committee will host two guest presentations:
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Get your Home Energy questions answered from Scott Banac, Energy Auditor with the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) Home Energy Outreach Squad
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Hear from Board President, Toya López, on the latest updates on Elliot Park's PurpleAir monitor project.
The Land Use & Transportation Committee will share the latest updates about the upcoming Elliot Park and Franklin Steele improvements; and development projects, like updates on a pending Heritage Preservation Commission application for signage on reconstruction project at 905 Park Ave. S. and the proposed Aeon - Barnabas Apartments redevelopment project.
Bring your voice -- ALL are welcome! Questions or want to learn more? Contact [email protected] or call/text (612) 234-2280. See you there!
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Monday, July 20th - Mini Clean Up
6:00-7:30pm • At Elliot Park Rec Center, 1000 E. 14th Ave
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Join neighbors to work collectively on our food access goals, such as:
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Bring a Grocery Store or Co-op to Elliot Park
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Expand Food-sharing Community Gardens
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Continue to build our Food Distribution Program
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Free River-Themed Art Class – July 9
Join us and Juxtaposition Arts for a free 2-D art workshop inspired by the Mississippi River. All ages welcome.
Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Location: Carl W. Kroening Nature Center – North Mississippi Regional Park, 1900 N Mississippi Court, Minneapolis, MN 55430
Register at parkconnection.org/events/2026/07/09/tst or scan the QR code.
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35th Powderhorn Art Fair Set for August 1–2
Minneapolis – The Powderhorn Art Fair returns for its 35th year on Saturday and Sunday, August 1st & 2nd, from 10 AM to 5 PM daily in Powderhorn Park. The event is free to the public.
This year's fair features over 200 juried artists, 20 global food vendors, a Family Zone, and live DJ sets from KRSM Radio. Youth artists will receive mentorship from established professionals, and local artist Michael Hoyt is the featured collaborator.
The fair also supports the Renter Support Fund, which provides cash assistance to cost-burdened Minneapolis renters.
Visit www.powderhornartfair.com for more information.
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The Stevens Square Community Organization will be hosting our annual Red Hot Art Fest on July 18th from 1pm - 6pm in Stevens Square Park- All are invited to join our neighborhood for a day of art, music, and connection!
Applications are open now until June 16th for small artist vendors (tabling fee $20), local organizations (tabling fee $65), and performers small stipend of $50 - $100 will be paid) to join us in making this event a success!
More information and the application can be found on our website at stevenssquare.org/rha26.
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MPRB - Elliot Park & Recreation Center Events & Updates
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The Minneapolis Downtown Council's Community Calendar is your source for downtown events & FREE fun!
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The Downtown Improvement District is working to make downtown an even better place to live, work, shop, and visit. To help guide those efforts, they're asking residents of downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods to complete a brief survey about their experiences and ideas for the future.
Your feedback will help inform decisions about downtown improvements, events, public spaces, safety, transportation, and other priorities that affect our neighborhood. Whether you've lived here for years or recently moved in, your perspective is valuable.
The survey only takes a few minutes to complete, and every response helps ensure that residents' voices are represented.
Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mplsDIDresidentialinclusion
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 EPNI Updates
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Elliot Park Quick Resident Survey: 5 Questions, 10 Minutes -- Let YOUR Voice Be Heard - Survey HERE!
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"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!
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City and Community Updates
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Here & Gone: Commemorating ICE Abductions in MN is a crowd-sourced archival project documenting the signs and artwork installed at sites of ICE abductions in Minnesota. Since Operation Metro Surge began in late 2025, Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) has detained at least 4,000 people in Minnesota.
In response, community members have commemorated these sites with art and homemade signage. These spontaneous memorials–often made of paper, pen, or paint–are vulnerable to time and weather.
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Here & Gone aims to collect and map photos of these ephemeral memorials and organize them into a publicly available collection. The project seeks photo contributions of existing or past examples of how neighbors are marking sites of abductions across the state. Learn more, submit your photos, and explore the existing collection at our website: hereandgonemn.com.
For questions or to get in touch with the project team, please email [email protected]
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Minnesotans Can Feel Confident in the Safety of Our Elections!
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“As I said before the right to vote is the crown jewel of American Liberties, and we will not see
its luster diminished.” These were the words of President Ronald Reagan speaking to the nation on June 29, 1982 upon his signing of the 25-year extension of the Voting Rights Act. This act first became law in 1965 and required states to follow the 14th and 15th Amendments’ guarantee that the right to vote not be denied because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Our democracy is at its best when citizens across the United States cast their ballots during
election season. Whether the vote is for a school board member, state senator, or President of the United States, voting is our power to have our voices heard. We the people have the power to elect representatives to enact laws that match our needs and values.
State Laws Regulate Elections
Article 1, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution gives states the power to regulate “the times, places and manners of elections, though Congress can make or alter these regulations”… This means that the states run elections. When you cast your ballot at a polling place, the people working there are local government officials, your neighbors, friends, and family members hired to ensure a free, fair, and secure election where only registered U.S. citizens vote, and each vote is accurately counted.
While the federal government has passed laws like the Voting Rights Act to ensure greater
access to voting, it is the local government that administers the election process according to
the laws of each state. For example, some states, like Minnesota allow voter registration on
election day while other states require voters to register before election day. In Minnesota
local election officials in 87 counties administer elections following its state’s laws. Minnesota
State laws dictate how ballots are created, distributed, and safely stored. Its laws dictate how
ballot counting machines are purchased and tested before and after the elections to ensure
their accuracy. A comprehensive list of registered voters (voter rolls) is maintained by the
Minnesota’s Secretary of State office in collaboration with the counties.
Read More Here: lwvmpls.org/minnesotans-can-feel-confident-in-the-safety-of-our-elections/
Secretary of State Website in Spanish: https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/spanish
Secretary of State Website in Spanish: https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/somali
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 Volunteer with Welcome Services at Hennepin Healthcare!
Have weekday daytime availability? Join our team as a friendly face greeting
patients and visitors—offering directions, answering questions, and sharing
smiles.
Why volunteer?
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Be part of a caring, inclusive team
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Support patients and families
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Build communication skills
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Stay connected to your community
Get started: Visit https://www.hennepinhealthcare.org/volunteer/volunteer-hospital-program/ or email [email protected]
Let's make a difference—starting at the front door!
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Join a Blue Thumb Planting for Clean Water workshop this spring!
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In-person workshops across the Twin Cities metro offer expert guidance, hands-on support, and time for your questions. Spring topics include:
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Designing rain gardens & managing runoff
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Planting for pollinators with native plants
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Rain garden maintenance & long-term care
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Shoreline planting to protect lakes & rivers
$15 (sliding scale available).
Register: bluethumb.org/events
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Resources for Neighbors Facing Food Insecurity & Houselessness
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Community Safety Resources
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Public Safety Contacts
Have neighborhood safety questions? In 2026, Carla Nielson will continue to be the Crime Prevention Specialist in both Elliot Park Neighborhood and Cedar Riverside. She can be contacted at [email protected] or 612-919-8887 (phone during Mon-Fri regular business hours).
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Mary Krenzen Rockwood – Community Attorney | 612-427-4920 | [email protected]
Carla Nielson – Crime Prevention Specialist (29+ years with MPD) | 612-919-8887 | [email protected]
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Watch for signs of heat-related illness
It's been hot this week!
Young children, senior citizens and people who are sick or overweight are most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses during the summer heat. During extreme heat, your body works extra hard to maintain a normal temperature, which can lead to death.
When it’s hot, drink plenty of water, wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing, limit outdoor activities and exercise, and spend time in cooling centers or in air-conditioned buildings. Hennepin County maintains an interactive online map of places the public can go to get relief from the heat. These can help reduce your risk of heat-related illnesses.
Signs of heat exhaustion
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Heavy sweating
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Paleness
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Muscle cramps
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Fatigue
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Fast or weak pulse, dizziness, headache, fainting, nausea, and vomiting.
Signs of heat stroke
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Extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees F)
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Red, hot and dry skin with no sweat
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Rapid, strong pulse
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Dizziness, confusion or unconsciousness
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Continued Neighborhood Opportunities:
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Save on your Xcel bill – rent or own – with community solar.
Cooperative Energy Futures (Sabathani Community Center) offers a
Community Solar Garden Program. Priority for lower-income
households & SNAP/WIC/energy assistance/Medicaid participants.
Solar array at Abbott Northwestern (28th & Chicago).
Learn more at this link: https://www.cooperativeenergyfutures.com/community-solar-1
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The Green Cost Share program provides up to $14,000 in rebates to eligible homeowners in our neighborhood.
Interested? Contact us, then reach out to:
Minneapolis Health Department
[email protected] | 612-673-2301
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Want a free ride & a cleaner bus stop? Adopt-a-Stop!
WHAT: Individuals or groups "adopt" a Metro Transit bus stop — keep it clean,
report damage or suspicious activity.
WHY: A safer ride for everyone + 10 free rides each month!
HOW: Apply online for Metro Transit Adopt-a-Stop.
Partner with EPNI? Join the Land Use & Transportation committee meeting, or reach out: [email protected] | 612-234-2280
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311 – For all non-emergency City requests & info.
