Scheduled meetings in 2010: February 18, April 8

Ogichidaakweg Digital Art exhibit

To download the logo to your computer right click (control click on Macintosh) on the graphic and select “Save Link to Disk” from the pop-up menu.

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.

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.

Tuesday, Thursday – 12:00 to 8:00
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday – 10:00 to 6:00
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

Franklin Learning Center/Adults 16 and over work on English skills, citizenship prep, GED/One on one tutoring.  Phillips Technology Center/class schedule available at Minneapolis Public Library website, or visit library/Open structured lab also available

Phillips Tech Center

Your project is delivered within days from placing your order. Say you need your project in a super hurry? … JUST LET US KNOW! Our customer service representative will work with you to deliver your project on time and well within budget.

Funky folding? … Crazy Diecuts? … Unique paper requirement? We have a staff second to none when it comes to experience. Let us handle your project to completion without worry.

2001 chicago avenue • minneapolis, minnesota • 55404

612.874.8829

In 2004, PPL directly served nearly 7,000 people through our interconnected programs.

PPL’s mission is to assist lower-income individuals and families to work toward self-sufficiency by providing housing, jobs and training. We create opportunities for growth through several integrated programs:

• Affordable Housing –Rental and Ownership
• Jobs and Employment Readiness Training
• Personal & Community Support Services
• Youth Development

Founded in 1972, PPL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping lower-income families develop the tools they need to achieve self-sufficiency. PPL ’s earliest activities were devoted to increasing the supply of affordable, quality housing as a stabilizing force in the inner city neighborhoods of Minneapolis.

Today, PPL recognizes and responds to the multiple challenges faced by our community as low-income people strive for self-sufficiency. During the past 32 years, PPL has grown to be one of the most trusted affordable-housing, employment, job-training and human-service organizations in the Twin Cities. Our entrepreneurial approach gets things done, frugally and efficiently. Careful growth has enabled PPL to become a strong, stable organization with the capacity to address current concerns and trends in our communities. PPL creates opportunities for low-income families through comprehensive, integrated programs. PPL’s programs directly served more than 6,800 men, women and children in 2003 —an all-time record for the organization—and our affordable rental-housing portfolio increased to 660 units.

Every day at PPL, people’s lives are changed for the better; they are empowered and encouraged to hope for a brighter, stable future.

• Dedicated to creating and maintaining affordable housing for rental and ownership, PPL has completed more than 1300 affordable housing units located in Minneapolis and St. Paul neighborhoods and inner-ring suburbs.
• Through our job programs and businesses, thousands of adults have advanced their skills to become contributing members of the community, among them, immigrants, men and women leaving prison, and others who are economically disadvantaged. Many have received training and gone on to work for employers such as Abbott Northwestern Hospital and US Bank.
• PPL’s Self-Sufficiency Program provides support to families, typically single parents, designed to help them gain greater self-reliance and leave dependence on public assistance behind. Education programs provide children and youth with quality learning environment and relationships with caring adults tutor/mentors.

Guiding the organization’s growth and current programs is the motto: “Give me a fish and I eat for a day; teach me to fish and I eat for a lifetime”. This expresses our commitment to the values of a strong work ethic, personal accountability and responsibility, and the participation of the disenfranchised in their own growth toward self-sufficiency. These values reinforce our mission, which is to assist lower income individuals and families to work toward self-sufficiency by providing housing, jobs and training.

PPL works cooperatively and creatively with community and neighborhood groups, businesses, civic organizations, government agencies, other non-profits, colleges and universities. Our work is based on a set of reciprocal expectations: That the families and individuals we serve to work toward a productive lifestyle and that those who have “made it” help others reach their goals. In this way, PPL exists as a critical bridge between those who can help and those who benefit from support. The organization is well managed and fiscally strong through the efforts of thousands, by way of gifts, grants, volunteer time and in-kind donations.

Geographic area served: PPL serves low-income families of Minneapolis and St. Paul, concentrating on the communities of Phillips, Central and Near North in Minneapolis, and Thomas-Dale (Selby) and Summit-University in St. Paul. PPL has increased involvement in the suburban communities of St. Louis Park, New Hope and Richfield.

Population served: PPL’s participants are individuals and families whose incomes are low and who live in distressed neighborhoods. They are generally in need of jobs, housing and/or support services. A majority receives public assistance.   A demographic sampling of PPL participants follows:

Women	58%
Men	42%
African American	64%
Somali/African	13%
Caucasian	8%
American Indian	8%
Asian American	3%
Chicano/Latino	4%

PPL, 1035 E. Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404-2920

(612) 455-5100 FAX 455-510

Den Norske Lutherske Mindekirke
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church (ELCA), Minneapolis, Minnesota

Mindekirken’s Mission:

• To serve as a spiritual center for the Scandinavian American Community, worshiping in both Norwegian and English.
• To be a warm and inviting place for visitors and members alike, where people join in fellowship across different ages and cultural backgrounds. – To encourage activities such as Leiv Eriksson International Festival, Syttende Mai Celebration, concerts, festive dinners and language classes.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716

The first retail operation of the Franklin Street Bakery opened in October of 1998 in the Marketplace of Dayton’s (now Macy’s) flagship store in downtown Minneapolis. In the spring of 2001, our popular line of made-to-order personal gourmet pizzas were introduced and became an instant hit to an eager public.

Open: Monday thru Friday, 7am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 2pm, Sunday 8am to 12pm

1020 E Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404
General Administrative/Wholesale Inquiries: (612) 871-3109, Retail Store/Retail Orders: (612) 879-5730, Fax: (612) 871-3286