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For Louis King, the power of the Alliance is simple. “Frankly, the name says it all: We come together and get things done.” In 1996, just two years after the Alliance was established, King started building something big: a community-based vocational training and job placement program in North Minneapolis. But the success of Summit Academy OIC bumped up against the ceiling of structural and systemic racism: Even with the best education, his graduates weren’t being hired for the construction jobs that provide living wages.

While the decision hasn’t changed, the conversation has shifted. Last week, the members of the Metropolitan Council once again heard from the General Manager of Metro Transit on the essentially final determination to eliminate 24-hour service of the Green Line on weekdays. But, in the weeks since the proposal was first floated, community leaders have…

This commentary was originally published by the Pioneer Press on May 7 and is re-posted here with the author’s permission. By Kadra Abdi From housing to public transit, the Metropolitan Council is uniquely positioned to influence the quality of life for residents across the Twin Cities. To guide that vital work, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz…

In neighborhood debates about new housing development, the simplified battle of the yard signs and bumper stickers boils down to NIMBYs and YIMBYs — Not In My Backyard and Yes In My Backyard. At that surface level, the dividing line is often density, with NIMBYs opposing increased traffic and building heights while YIMBYs preach the…

For thousands of Minnesota residents from Liberia, the clock is ticking. Come March 31, 2020, their ability to live and work in the communities they call home could come to an abrupt end. Organizers and community leaders with African Career, Education and Resource Inc (ACER) are mobilizing to make sure families in the northwest suburbs of…

As the Minneapolis City Council prepares to vote on a Memorandum of Understanding with the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, the Alliance submitted a letter to city council members and Mayor Jacob Frey opposing privatization of any MPHA properties. Read the full letter below.  The Alliance is a coalition of community-based organizations and advocacy groups in…

This month, Metro Transit made public an already near-final decision to eliminate 24-hour service on the Green Line light rail starting later this year. Last night, members of the Met Council’s Equity Advisory Committee (EAC) raised significant concerns about the process and impact of that decision. Outlining a number of “Service Developments,” Metro Transit shared…

At our March 2019 Actualizing Equity event, newly elected Richfield Mayor Maria Regan Gonzalez, Brooklyn Park City Councilmember Wynfred Russell and Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley joined us to discuss their impetus for running and approaches to policymaking.

Just last month, a new report from Wilder Research confirmed that the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Twin Cities grew by 9 percent from 2015 to 2018 — and the number of unsheltered homeless spiked by a staggering 93 percent. Many of our community members with these urgent housing challenges find shelter on public…

The Alliance partnered with more than a dozen community-centered local organizations to create the Equitable Development Principles & Scorecard, which helps communities ensure that the principles and practices of equitable development, environmental justice, and affordability are available to all residents. Intended to be a living document, adapted by communities to meet their needs, this case…