Author Archives: vent

American Indian Community Development Corporation

The American Indian Community Development Corporation’s mission is to provide culturally unique initiatives, housing and entrepreneurial programs that will strengthen American Indian communities.

Address: 1508 East Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis MN 55404
Phone: 612-813-1610
website
You can find out more about our recent work by visiting our programs and services page

We are dedicated to providing culturally specific housing and supportive services in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. AICDC understands the special needs of American Indians and creates unique programs and projects that prepare the community’s most vulnerable people to find and maintain housing. Through major grants from the McKnight and Bush Foundation organizational capacity was strengthened and housing advocacy services were formed to address housing needs for homeless families.

Anishinabe Wakiagun (The People’s Home in the Ojibwe language) was the first AICDC housing development project. The planning for Wakiagun was launched in 1993 and is an example of our efforts to find creative ways to fill serious gaps in existing services.

Franklin Library

Franklin Community Library has been a gathering place for new immigrants and lifelong learners since 1914. In its early years it featured a large Scandinavian collection, as the community was heavily populated with newcomers from Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Today, the surrounding neighborhoods are home to people from all ethnicities and walks of life, including many who are learning English as a second language. To meet the needs of its diverse users, Franklin Library’s World Language collection focuses on materials in Somali and Spanish. Adult Learning materials and a large American Indian collection are also featured at Franklin. The library complex includes the Phillips Technology Center and the Franklin Learning Center, and a popular after-school homework help program.

Address: 1314 E. Franklin Ave. Minneapolis, 55404
Phone: 612.543.6925
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday – 12:00 to 8:00
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday – 10:00 to 6:00
website

Free Wireless Internet Available Here
Books, DVDs, CDs, magazines & more!
21 computers in Library, Homework Helper for K – High School

Franklin Learning Center
Monday 12-8, Tuesday – Thursday 9-3, Friday 10-6
Saturday Learning Circles 1:30 and 3:00
Adults 16 and over work on English skills, citizenship prep, GED/One on one tutoring.

Phillips Tech Center
Phillips Technology Center/class schedule available at Minneapolis Public Library website, or visit library/Open structured lab also available

Hope Community

Hope Community has a 31-year history of community connection in one of the most diverse and economically challenged areas in Minneapolis, MN. We began as a place for people to gather in community. Our original shelter and hospitality house was a respite from the isolation and pain of homelessness. When drugs and violence overwhelmed the neighborhood and others focused on the negatives, Hope took a stand for community and children. Over the last 10 years, we designed and built the two-square block Hope Campus in a neighborhood a mile south of downtown Minneapolis – a recognized model of affordable residential place making. We built our reputation as we built a living model, attracting investment and delivering on our commitments. Hope now owns and operates a thriving multi-cultural community in 126 low-income rental units.

The Hope Campus is a place where community is encouraged to happen through the creation of relational environments.
Flower gardens offer beauty and a sense of respectful caring, brightly colored playground equipment invites children to engage with one another, and sidewalks wind from house to house, playground to garden, picnic pavilion to indoor community and children’s rooms.

Address: 611 E Franklin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: 612-874-8867 | Fax: 612-874-8650
website

Building Sustainable Community
Relationships with area residents ground all our work. Our overriding goal is to revitalize community for the long-term, as culturally diverse, low-income residents develop roots and long-term stability. Each year Hope staff create opportunities that involve hundreds of youth and adults from many cultures. Hope’s Community Listening strategies have involved more than 1000 diverse adults and youth in dialogues about their community. Hope tenants and people from neighborhoods surrounding Hope participate in learning and leadership opportunities, activities for children, youth and families, and community and cultural events.

Our Neighborhood Demographics–
Hope Community is located in a neighborhood just south of downtown Minneapolis that has almost 20,000 residents and a long history of minority and immigrant residents including Native American and African American communities. About 70% of the residents are people of color–the increasingly diverse population includes many more Latino and African immigrants. The median income in the neighborhood is about a third of the median income for the metropolitan area.

Gentrification
In the neighborhood where Hope is working, there is clear evidence of gentrification dynamic (http://www.uncanny.net/~wetzel/gentry.htm) as developers become increasingly attracted to properties so close to downtown Minneapolis. According to a Minneapolis Star Tribune article, the area had the biggest percentage increase in median single-family home price between 1996 and 2001 in the metro area – a 134% increase. Current residents stated over and over in Hope’s listening sessions that they fear they will be completely displaced in the near future by housing they can’t afford. Low-income people of many cultures who are creating the future of this neighborhood tell us they want to stay in the neighborhood. Hope’s work to create affordable housing and our strong commitment to engaging the community will help make that possible.