Organizations in North MinneapolisBlock ClubsLet's start at the grass roots level. The block club is the fundamental building block (no pun intended) of community networking. Block clubs (and associated Neighborhood Watch Groups) are the most cost-effective way to promote the common good and provide for a safe environment for everyone. However, recent events in Cambridge Massachusetts demonstrate that it's essential for us to KNOW our neighbors before we try to protect them, so regular face-to-face meetings are important. Annual National Night Out (NNO) (which in 2009 is Tuesday, August 4) events are a excellent opportunities to meet and greet your neighbors. Most NNO events are organized and held at the block club level. The City of Minneapolis has general guidelines for the formation and operation of block clubs at http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/safe/blockclubs-home.asp. The area served by an individual block club is by default a single city block (one side of the street plus the houses across the alley on the next street over). However many block clubs encompass more than a single block and/or include both sides of a single street. To find out if your home is covered by an existing club you pretty much have to ask around. Some block clubs use Yahoo!® groups as a primary or supplemental form of communication. The block clubs we know of which use Yahoo!® groups are the following:
Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC)GMHC's mission is to preserve, improve and increase affordable housing for low and moderate income individuals and families, assist communities with housing revitalization as well as create and carryout demonstration projects. GHMC provides a wealth of information and some assistance to qualified groups and individuals. For more information, visit http://www.gmhchousing.org/. GLBT Northsiders Yahoo!® GroupThe GLBT community is thriving in North Minneapolis. More people are moving in every day, it seems. Get to know your GLBT neighbors! We have social events, interest groups (gardening, walking, biking), we participate in community activities like neighborhood cleanups, and we're open to new ideas for activities and community participation. We're hoping to foster a strong, cohesive GLBT presence in this newly re-discovered part of the Twin Cities while maintaining our ties to the community as a whole. GLBT Northsiders has over 70 members. For more information, visit the GLBT Northsiders Yahoo® Group. Camden LionsThe Northside's Camden Community has a Lion's Club which is part of Lions Clubs International. Like all Lions Clubs, the Camden Lions are a service organization whose mission is to make their communities a better place. For more information on the Camden Lions, visit http://www.camdenlions.org. Northside Arts CollectiveThe mission of the Northside Arts Collective is to unite, enrich, and advance the Northside communities through the arts. For more information on the Northside Arts Collective, visit http://www.nacarts.org/. Northside Neighborhood Housing Services of Minneapolis (Northside NHS)In the words of their web site, the mission of the Northside NHS is “To renew pride, promote and revitalize inner-city neighborhoods through the efforts of local residents, acting in concert within a public / private partnership; and by emphasizing safe, affordable housing through homeownership for low and moderate income individuals and families and under represented populations.” Their office at 1501 Dupont Avenue North in Old Highland is worth a visit just to see the beautiful old Victorian structure they've carefully repurposed from a single-family home. For more information on the Northside NHS, visit http://nnhousingnp.qwestoffice.net/. |