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Featured Northside News Youth

Summer Youth Employment Opportunities

In the Cleveland Neighborhood, we want to make sure every young person that is interested in having a job has that opportunity. The Step-Up program is a great opportunity for students ages 14-21 to begin or continue their steps into the job world, build their resume, expand your skills, try new things and, of course, earn a little spending money. We’ll also be looking to hire a few students at CNA this summer and would love to have students from the neighborhood. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity. Sign up for STEP-UP Today!

If there are any teens on your block, please share this opportunity or let us know their address so we can get the word out to them.

Categories
Featured Northside News

Foreclosure Prevention Repair Grants – Due Feb 14

Are you at risk of foreclosure and struggling to make repairs your home needs? You may qualify for PPL’s Foreclosure Prevention Repair Grant. (All information from PPL’s website)

peelingpaint

What is it?

Some homeowners are faced with the tough choice of paying for repairs that would keep their home safe or making their monthly mortgage payment. PPL’s Foreclosure Prevention Repair Grants help homeowners make needed repairs, awarding up to $7,500 to address one distinct home repair, including:

  • Electrical, structural, or flooring problems
  • Leaking plumbing or roofing
  • Foundation repair
  • Siding, stucco, or other exterior enclosure issues
  • Mold removal
  • Bed bug extermination
  • Or another major health or safety repair

Do I qualify? Grantees must:

  • Own a home in a designated area of Minneapolis or St. Paul (see map at right for detail).
  • Make 80% or less of the household area median income ($64,400 for a family of four).
  • Have monthly housing costs that equal 40% or more of their monthly income.
  • Need a repair that costs more than 100% of their monthly income.
  • Have income sufficient to maintain housing costs once the repair is completed.
  • Meet, for free, with a PPL financial coach for grant approval.  Grantees may continue to meet with the financial coach for as long as they like.

How do I apply?

Please call 612.455.5221 for an application and more information. Applications are being accepted through February 14.

PPL’s Foreclosure Prevention Repair Grants are made possible by funding from Wells Fargo.

Foreclosure Prevention Repair Grants

Categories
Northside News

Coffee and Conversation with your Elected Officials

Local legislators Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, Rep. Raymond Dehn and Rep. Joe Mullery are holding a series of coffee and conversation breakfast tours with a number of local city council members and commissioners. The purpose of the meeting is to allow local residents a chance to meet one on one with their political leaders to talk about issues that affect them.

The meeting schedule for Saturday, February 8, 2014:

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at Cuppa Java – 400 Penn Ave S, Mpls.
With Sen. Champion, Rep. Raymond Dehn and Commissioner Linda Higgins

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at the Lowry Cafe – 2207 Lowry Ave N, Mpls.
With Sen. Champion, Rep. Joe Mullery and Commissioner Linda Higgins

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Emily’s F&M – 2124 44th Ave N, Mpls.
With Sen. Champion, Rep. Joe Mullery, Council President Barb Johnson and Commissioner Linda Higgins

The meeting schedule for Saturday, February 22, 2014:

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the Corner Coffee – 514 N 3rd St. #102, Mpls.
With Sen. Champion, Rep. Raymond Dehn, Commissioner Linda Higgins and Councilmember Jacob Frey

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Avenue Eatery – 1101 W. Broadway, Mpls.
With Sen. Champion, Rep. Raymond Dehn and Commissioner Linda Higgins

For more information regarding our town meetings, please call the office of Sen. Bobby Joe Champion at 651-296-9246.

coffee-champion

Categories
Northside News

Apply for Paint-A-Thon 2014 or Help a Neighbor

painter_on_scaffoldingDo you or a neighbor you know need help painting the exterior of their home or garage? Low-income seniors and people with physical disabilities are eligible to apply for the Metro Paint-A-Thon 2014 starting now. Applications are available here.

If you know of a neighbor on your block who you think might be interested in this opportunity, but aren’t comfortable sharing it with them, please contact the CNA office, 612-588-1155 and we’ll be happy to get in touch with them.

If you are interested in volunteering, you can sign-up to Volunteer with the Paint-A-Thon here.

Categories
Northside News

Small Business and Housing Resource Fair

aeda_fair_websiteslider

Asian Economic Development Association (AEDA) with our partner organizations are excited for the upcoming Small Business and Housing Resources Fair being held Saturday, January 18 from 10am-3pm at Hamline University’s Anderson Center (774 Snelling Ave N, St Paul 55104).
The fair is free and open to everyone. Interpreters will be available in Hmong, Lao, Vietnamese and Karen.
Vendors from the following areas will be represented:
– Business Support Services
– First-time Homebuyer Programs
– Affordable Housing Programs
– Business Lenders
– Mortgage Lenders
– Renter advocacy & support
– Legal services
– Social services
Workshops will be held throughout the fair on the following topics:
– Important Issues to Consider Before Opening a Business | John Flory, Latino Economic Development Center.
– Financial Planning for Small Businesses  |  Sai Thao, Neighborhood Development Center
– Becoming a Homeowner  |  Choua Que Her, Hmong American Partnership – to be held twice, once in English & once in Hmong
– Almost Zen-Like Business Planning  |  Victor Lee
– Homeownership & Legal Problems   |  Diane Dube, William Mitchell College of Law
– Minnesota Housing Mortgage Loan Programs  |  Ed Luna, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
– Owning a Franchise  |  Debra Stafford & Tou F. Lee
– Business Law for Beginners, Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses  |  Joe Levitt, Davis Law Office
– How to Read, Rebuild & Use Credit Responsibly | Phia Vue, Eastside Financial Center – to be held twice, once in English & once in Hmong
– Your Rights as a Renter  |  Matt Eichenlaub, HOMELine
– A Short Intro to Marketing and Branding  |  Kia Kehrer
Fair partnering organizations include CAPI USA, Karen Organization of Minnesota, India Association of Minnesota, Vietnamese American Business Association, and Hmong American Partnership. The Small Business & Housing Resources Fair is sponsored by the Family Housing Fund.
Categories
Northside News

Adult Classes at Laney

1236026_451217441659482_58662229_nYou asked and we worked with Minneapolis Community Education to provide a variety of offerings for community members at Lucy Craft Laney school in the evenings this winter and spring. You can sign-up and get scholarship information online here. Here’s the line up:

Academics
Writing Whirl
Add shape and flair to your writing in four sessions with exercises (exercise is good for you!) in language rhythms, audience identification, rewrites and edits, and precise language choice.  Enhance your abilities in writing story, memoir or blog.
Laney>4 Thursdays
February 20 >6:30-8:30 pm
>$34
Adults 55+
Health Care for Seniors
Are you or a loved one turning 65? Already there? How do the government programs work? What are parts A, B, C and D? What gets covered and what doesn’t, when to sign up and what does it mean to you? Long term care, nursing homes, the government spend down and the Partnership Act will also be discussed. There will be discussion about how the new Affordable Health Care for America Act affects seniors. Get information and the resources needed to help you make your decisions. This is a free class, but you must register.
Laney>1 Thursday
February 27 >6:00-7:30 pm
>Free

Computers & Technology
Web Blogging for Beginners
Most people who have access to the internet have viewed a blog at one point or another. Blogging, and the act of writing, can propel a business to the next level, be an outlet for an individual journey or be used to document experiences as funny or intense as they come. You will first learn how to start and maintain a blog, then discover how to take it to the next level with PR and monetizing strategies.  Your guide will be the blogger behind the famous blog PriorFatGirl.com, Jen Emmert.
Laney>5 Thursdays
February 6 >6:30-8:30 pm
>$50
Web Editing: HTML
Create and edit simple web pages with hyperlinks, graphics and colors using HTML5, the new standard. While HTML5 is still a work in progress, the latest releases of the major browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and IE) now support many of the new HTML5 elements. The previous version, HTML 4.01, came out in 1999 and the web has changed a lot since then. This is an introductory class that will focus on semantics (main structural blocks) and basic phrasing content (using styles) in an HTML5 web page.  Students should have some previous computer experience. Bring a flash drive to class for saving files.
Laney>4 Thursdays
February 27 >6:30-8:30 pm
>$42
Consumer & Business
Job Interview Techniques
Being interviewed is just as intimidating as interviewing someone.  In today’s business world, it can take interviewing for months before you land a job and on the flip side, it can take companies interviewing 20+ candidates to find the right one.  This class will help job candidates fine-tune their interview skills, polish their answers and be ready for the difficult questions.  It will also help those who are involved in interviewing.  You will improve your performance on either side of the questioning because we will focus on both being the interviewer and being interviewed for a better understanding of the whole process.
Laney>2 Thursdays
March 13 >6:30-8:30 pm
>$21
Social Security: Understanding It
Will Social Security be there for me?  How much can I expect to receive?  When should I apply for Social Security?  Learn about:  FRA=Full Retirement Age; File & Suspend; Spousal Benefits; gain insight as to when might be the best time for you to take your benefit, and more. This is a free class but you must register.
Laney>1 Monday
February 20 >6:00-7:30 pm
>Free

Real Estate
An Essential Guide to Buying Your Home
Want to get the best deal on your home? Not sure what direction to go first? Do you know there are zero and low down loans? Learn how to access government grants, and obtain first time buyer programs. Learn how to avoid the lemons and save thousands. Avoid the three mistakes most people make when buying a home. Instructor will walk you through step by step the best process for going about maximizing your money and having the lifestyle you want.

Laney>1 Thursday
March 20 >6:30-9:00 pm
>$21

 

Family
Help Your Child Do Better in School
When children struggle at school, parents want to be helpful, but often don’t know how to be effective with the time they have. Come learn many simple and easy “try this at home” strategies to help your child do better in school.  Parents often turn to tutors, at great expense, to do something they could do with just a little training. You will leave at the end of the fourth session confident that you will help your child do better in school! Class is free but you must pre-register.
Laney>4 Thursdays
February 6 >7:00-8:30 pm
>Free

Yoga & Mind/Body Practices
Yoga: Hatha
End your day mentally and physically balanced with gentle Hatha Yoga. Relieve tension while finding a deeper connection to the body through postures and breath. Each class will include practicing basic breath work and awareness combined with movement and stillness including Sun Salutations, standing postures, forward bends, twists and a brief meditation. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat and a blanket.
Laney>8 Thursdays
January 30 >6:00-7:00 pm
>$42

Categories
Northside News

Launching a Connector Academy in 2014

CartStarting in 2014, we are launching an innovative project to build up community leaders and empower residents to strengthen the community and their block through projects of their own. All residents will have a chance to participate or lead workshops during our Connector Academy. The workshops will cover a wide range of topics and skill-building of interest to community residents. You’ll then have an opportunity to join our Connector Lab and apply to receive a mini-grant to implement a community building project, activity or event that will strengthen your community. This project is made possible through a grant from the Bush Foundation.

Learn more about CNA and other Community Innovation grantees here and a little more about our tough competition here.

To learn more visit ClevelandNeighborhood.org or call 612-588-1155

Categories
Events Northside News

Donate to Live On The Drive Today!

If your inbox hasn’t already been inundated with requests for donations for Give To The Max Day it likely soon will be. There are many great organizations out there doing important work and we strongly encourage you to support those that you can. As the weather gets colder, we wanted to highlight one of the great events we put on each summer, Live On The Drive, a free summer concert series for the north Minneapolis community and neighbors each summer for the past six  years. Help us make 2014 the best summer series ever. Enjoy this Live on the Drive highlight video, feel the warmth, and consider donating for our 2014 Live on the Drive concert series.

fb cover

Categories
Northside News

Adult Community Education at Laney this Winter

1236026_451217441659482_58662229_nWe’re working with Community Education to ensure some high quality Adult Education classes of interest to Cleveland residents are available at Laney this year (Winter 2014, starting January). Vote for your favorite classes from the list below on our Facebook Poll.  Also, you could teach your own class!

HCE Classes that may be held at Laney, Winter 2014

 Writing Whirl

Add shape and flair to your writing in four two-hour sessions with exercises (exercise is good for you!) in language rhythms, audience identification, rewrites and edits, and precise language choice.  Enhance your abilities in writing story, memoir or blog.

Massage for Couples: Nurturing Massage

You are massaging the shoulders of someone you care for and you can feel the tension melting away under your hands.  As you breathe deep you feel your confidence grow by the minute.  Accepting guidance from the experienced workshop leader, you are finding a new connection with your nurturing capabilities.  When your turn to receive comes, you have a new-found trust in yourself and the person massaging your shoulders.  And your shoulders will become happier by the minute.  Bring your loved one and discover a new way to show your tenderness.  Only one person of the couple should register but both should come to class.  Two weeks, two hours a week.

Self-Massage for Stress Reduction

Everyone experiences tension, that nagging pain that just shows up.  You will learn how to skillfully relieve the pain and tension in your shoulders and arms.  By the end of the two-hour class you will be smiling with new skills and relaxation.

Web Editing: HTML

Create and edit simple web pages with hyperlinks, graphics and colors using HTML5, the new standard.  While HTML5 is still a work in progress, the latest releases of the major browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and IE) now support many of the new HTML5 elements.  The previous version, HTML 4.01, came out in 1999 and the web has changed a lot since then.  This is an introductory class that will focus on semantics (main structural blocks) and basic phrasing content (using styles) in an HTML5 web page in four two-hour sessions.  Students should have some previous computer experience.  Henry Community Education suggests bringing a flash drive to class for saving files.

Also possible, space permitting:  Zumba, Yoga, Hip Hop Dance

Help us inform Community Education which classes would be of most interest to our residents!

Categories
Northside News

Air Quality Study Needs Cleveland Volunteers

summa canisterThe city of Minneapolis is doing an Air Quality study and needs your help. They are looking for a few volunteers in each neighborhood to host a device (see image to right) that will collect air samples for a few days in November. By volunteering you’ll be helping us gain a clearer picture of the quality of the air in our neighborhood relative to the rest of Minneapolis and the state. Information about the study and who to contact below:

We are conducting a city wide air quality monitoring project for volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  We will be placing approximately 120 air samplers around the city to obtain sampling data for 77 different chemicals.  We are in need of volunteers who live in the City of Minneapolis to place air samplers at their place of residence. I am contacting your community organization in hopes that you can put word out about this project in your community. We have received great response so far and people are excited to learn more about air quality in their neighborhood.

Volunteers will need to have a location outside and off the ground where they could place the sampler (i.e. a porch, table, chair).  The sites cannot have people who may smoke near the sampler.  For example, the shared patio of an apartment complex would not be a good location. Attached you will find a picture of the sampler. We are using Summa canisters, which are stainless steel electropolished (or “summa” polished) passivated vessels used to collect a whole air sample. To collect a sample, the Summa canister valve is opened and the canister is locked in a designated area for a period of time (for our study, this is 72 hours) to allow the surrounding air to fill the canister and achieve a representative sample. The valve is closed before the canister is sent to a laboratory for analysis.

We will need volunteers to sign a consent form and attend a short demonstration before taking the sampler to their residence.  They will need to place the sampler outside of their residence November 4th– 7th and return it during regular business hours on November 8th to one of two locations in Minneapolis. Anyone who is interested please e-mail me by October 16th at jenni.lansing@minneapolismn.gov and include your residence address with zip code. As emails come in to us with prospective volunteers, we will be mapping the residence addresses. We will be selecting locations based upon our need to distribute the samplers evenly across the grids. Once we have completed this map, we will notify prospective volunteers by email to let them know if they have been selected to participate in the study.

Attached you will also find a map (PDF and jpeg formats) that includes our study areas and shows prospective volunteers that have already signed up. We will select two residential locations within each of the 34 zones for sampling. The attachments also include a Word document that you may distribute and a picture of the Summa canister. Please let me know if you would like to communicate with your community but need more time past the October 16th deadline.

Thank you,

Jenni

Jennifer Lansing

Environmental Services

250 South 4th St – Rm 414

Minneapolis, MN 55415

Office: 612-673-3023

Cell: 612-709-9977

Jenni.Lansing@minneapolismn.gov