​LHENA Talks Speaker Series

LHENA Talks is a monthly speaker series that takes place on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 7 to 8 p.m. Each talk features a guest speaker and focuses on community issues of interest and is sponsored by a local business. LHENA Talks strives to bring together residents, businesses, and community members alike to foster a space for fruitful discussions while highlighting the amazing work being done in our communities. Interested in being a speaker or sponsor? Take a moment to fill out this form. ​​

LHENA Talks No. 2: Community Growth and Business Development With Morgan Luzier From the LynLake Business Association

This LHENA Talk was on July 28, 2021, with Morgan Luzier, the board co-chair of the LynLake Business Association. The talk focused on the work the LynLake Business Association and other community-based organizations are doing to help invigorate local businesses in Minneapolis. How can we create a safer and more vibrant commercial corridor in LynLake, Lowry Hill East and Uptown? How can our whole community — business owners, employees, clients, customers, patrons and residents — work together to create more connected, inviting and prosperous streets for everyone? Morgan Luzier answered these questions and explained what steps we can take now to spur business growth and development in our community. Morgan also took questions from the community.

Speaker: Morgan Luzier

The speaker for this LHENA Talk was Morgan Luzier, the board co-chair of the LynLake Business Association (LLBA) and a cofounder of Balance Fitness Studio, a business located in LynLake. LynLake is a vibrant neighborhood in Southwest Minneapolis that's a neighbor to the Wedge and Uptown. With the LynLake Business Association, Morgan advocates for small business, welcomes new businesses and residents, and looks for ways to work with the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County to create a safe, healthy, diverse, sustainable and economically abundant neighborhood. At Balance Fitness Studio, Morgan wears many hats and is at the heart of daily operations and the head creative genius, seeking new opportunities for sustainable growth. She is dedicated to building a fitness and wellness empire that supports her belief in community, personal responsibility, aesthetic beauty, and environmental stewardship.

Sponsor

The local business sponsor for our LHENA Talk With Morgan Luzier was the Jungle Theater in Minneapolis. The Jungle Theater is a neighborhood theater with a national impact. The Jungle Theater creates courageous theater that challenges, entertains, and sparks conversations by telling important stories based on relevant current issues. Founded in 1991, the Jungle is deeply rooted in the LynLake neighborhood and plays a vital role in the economic and cultural development of the area. This summer, the Jungle joined forces with the LynLake Business Association to present the 2021 LynLake Street Art Series. The festival will feature local muralists showcasing their work on LynLake, with live outdoor performances behind the Jungle.

More About This LHENA Talk

Other talking points in Morgan's LHENA Talk included:  
  • What impact she has seen on local businesses in Minneapolis through the LynLake Business Association?
  • Concern about coming to LynLake, Uptown and the Wedge. How do we alleviate these fears inside and outside our community and turn the fear into positive actions? How do we promote optimism and give people hope through pragmatic solutions?
  • Why it's important for all of us who live and work in the community to put politics aside to unite and focus on investing in our communities and supporting local businesses as we grapple with social pressures and change. How can the community support local businesses and help them thrive? 
  • How the LynLake Street Art Series can promote connection, healing, and commerce in the LynLake, Lowry Hill East, and Uptown neighborhoods. Can this revitalization of Southwest Minneapolis spread to other parts of the city? What other events, projects and initiatives could lead to more opportunities and create more positive and welcoming communities? What are other ideas fellow small business neighbors, clients, customers and patrons have for community building and economic development?
  • The power of art, healing and change. How can street art and murals make voices heard in a peaceful and positive way? How can visual art and performing art — storytelling, spoken word, music performances, theatrical pieces — provide an opportunity to do more than just heal through the celebration and joy of artistic expression? How can art advance real social change that benefits everyone in the community?
Learn more about the LynLake Art Series here.