The Metropolitan Council is following up on requests to build more racial equity into the $1.653 billion Southwest Light Rail Transit project. The Metropolitan Council published documents Monday that show how it will address transit service, land use, jobs, affordable housing and other issues raised in May by the Equity Commitments Coalition for SWLRT, a…

As outreach and engagement activities around the proposed North Minneapolis Greenway continue, residents weigh in on the positive and negative aspects of the concept. This article in the Star Tribune highlights some of the feedback from community members on the project. Read the article >

Last week, the Alliance along with 30 allied organizations, hosted a press conference calling the Metropolitan Council and Hennepin County to develop SWLRT with equity in mind. Allies urged the Met Council and other governmental agencies to develop a system that connects job seekers with employment opportunities along the SWLRT Corridor, improve career pathways to…

Southwest Light Rail Transit is currently being debated between several entities on issues ranging from alignment to its ability to help city residents who need transit the most. Along with this debate there has been an increased focus on equity. HIRE Minnesota has had the opportunity to weigh in on employment equity principles in these…

With new leadership now at Minneapolis City Hall, a coalition of locally based organizations, including the Organizing Apprenticeship Project, HIRE Minnesota and Hope Community, have developed a new racial and economic justice agenda for the city. Their dialogue at a recent community meeting reflected a new enthusiasm and optimism for success in “moving racial equity…

In an unprecedented act, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) agreed to contract with an Employment Assistance Firm (EAF) comprised of many diverse groups representing people of color in the Twin Cities region. This is a big deal. Find out why. Read more >

On Friday, August 23, HIRE Minnesota and dozens of its community partners attended a public meeting held by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA). We urged the MSFA to make immediate significant funding for the recruitment and training of people of color to work on the new Vikings Stadium. For nearly a year, the MSFA has been promising that they will…

Earlier this month the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, the governing body for the new Vikings Stadium, announced that it will follow state guidelines by committing to hire 32 percent people of color and 6 percent women for the stadium’s construction. It has also chosen Mortenson Construction to build the Vikings Stadium and meet the requirements…

Take a look at this article in the Twin Cities Daily Planet, which features the work of Joan Vanhala. Vanhala is a coalition organizer for the Alliance who works on equity and environmental issues surrounding light rail transit ways. Read the article >

Avi Viswanathan, HIRE Minnesota coalition organizer, speaks to infrastructure investment as a surefire solution to America’s job crisis in this Huffington Post article. The article points to Minnesota as an example of how infrastructure investment has significant potential to address both the important role government can play in creating new jobs and the critical need to connect…