Here are four new opportunities to participate in community right now:

Peace and Stability Trainings
Healing collective trauma, building resilience, and de-escalation skills trainings teach real world ways to calm ourselves and others, elicit collective action toward restoration, and regain peace. These are community goods. When we have these skills among us, we all enjoy the stronger peace.

We are encouraging everyone to take the Star Trauma and Building Resilience trainings (offered at pay-what-you-can rates) by the Minnesota Peace Building Institute:

STAR Lite Trauma Training
https://www.mnpeace.org/star-lite-training.html

Building Resilience Training
https://www.mnpeace.org/resilience-training.html

We are also exploring a custom de-escalation training session by the Conflict Resolution Center of Minnesota for the neighborhood. Email Sophie Nikitas (sophienikitas@gmail.com) if you have questions or want to stay informed about de-escalation.

De-escalation Training
http://crcminnesota.org

Our goal is to identify a few people throughout the neighborhood who have some of these skills, and some basic other skills like Narcan and CPR. Please email Sophie Nikitas (sophienikitas@gmail.com) if you have other safety skills such as these. We hope to create a neighborhood peace and safety map with it soon.

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Buddy System - Safety at Night
We've heard from some residents that they are feeling uneasy going out alone at night. To keep our neighborhood vibrant and active we would like to form a “buddy” support network of neighbors who will join those who might want company on a social-distanced dog walk or a trip home from a friend’s house. If you are interested in being part of this group, email Scott at outreach@thewedge.org.

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Creating an Educational Page
We are looking for a neighbor-volunteer to lead the creation of an educational webpage, a resource about past and present public safety in Minneapolis. If you are not comfortable coming to meetings but would still like to participate in LHENA public safety work, this could be your big chance to get involved. Email outreach@thewedge.org with the subject line 'Education' if interested.

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Our Lawn Concert Series is getting going!
We've got lawn space and musicians lining up. Contact outreach@thewedge.org to play or donate your lawn.

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The LHENA Board of Directors will convene on September 16th for its monthly meeting. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend this virtual meeting. 

The agenda will include a member vote to allocate community funds into an administrative contract to pay for staff, rent, engagement, and communications. The full context of this community vote can be viewed here. 

LHENA Board Meeting
Wednesday, September 16
6:30-8:30PM
Virtual

Zoom credentials: 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96790317118?pwd=T24xQnNSNjdJLzJ6ZTFOS04zSzkwdz09

Meeting ID: 967 9031 7118
Passcode: 903470

Subject: 2003 Aldrich Ave S
To: jacob.frey@minneapolismn.gov, lisa.bender@minneapolismn.gov
Cc: info@thewedge.org 

Mayor Frey and City Council President Bender,​​

The Wedge (the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood) proudly stands as a role-model for inclusive communities in Minneapolis and throughout the nation. For generations, we have held strong to our values of equity, fairness, and accessibility. We celebrate our rich history of being a community that brings together diverse voices, cultures, and means.

We hear these values echoed in the words of our City and State leaders. But the demise of 2003 Aldrich Avenue South is the quintessential example of those words falling short in action. At every step in this long 3-year process, the City has failed to protect 2003 and its residents. From the approval of inadequate shoring design at 2004 Lyndale, to the lack of housing support for residents upon evacuation, to inaction against the negligent parties to make right the damage incurred and the homes and history lost.

As such, I stand alongside my Wedge neighbors in demand of the following action items from the City of Minneapolis:
 

1.      We demand the city require RSRC Aldrich Inc to replace - at a minimum - the affordable housing that was lost: 25 units at 50% AMI rates.
2.      Furthermore, we call upon the City of Minneapolis to adopt policies and legislation that will protect these, and all other naturally-occurring affordable units in the City of Minneapolis in perpetuity. Toward this end, we demand the City Attorney review the conditions by which the malfeasance of Randolph Street Real Estate Capital at 2004 Lyndale enabled them to acquire 2003 Aldrich, and ensure proper changes are made to prevent this from ever happening again.
3.      We demand accountability from the City of Minneapolis for the lack of oversight during the construction of 2004 Lyndale. The taxpayers of this City rely on the effectiveness and integrity of our civic institutions (CPED, CCS, MDR, City Attorney, and City Council) in preserving our safety and our homes.
4.      We ask that City Council make public their commitment to the Wedge and the City Planning Commission withhold any building permits for 2003 Aldrich contingent upon the approval of the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood.
 

Sincerely,
(signature)

On Wednesday, September 16 the Wedge community will have the opportunity to vote on a proposed use of neighborhood funds. 

The Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association currently has $125,000 in un-contracted neighborhood funds that it would like to use for administrative purposes (staff, office, communications). In order to use these funds for this purpose, the community needs to give approval. If you are a LHENA member (Wedge resident, property/business owner), you are eligible to vote. To view the context of this community vote and official motion language, see the .pdf below.

To vote, join our public monthly board meeting on September 16. Details below. 

Questions? Email our executive director at paul@thewedge.org

LHENA Board Meeting
Wednesday, September 16
6:30-8:30pm
Virtual
Zoom credentials:

Topic: LHENA Board Meeting - September
Time: Sep 16, 2020 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96790317118?pwd=T24xQnNSNjdJLzJ6ZTFOS04zSzkwdz09

Meeting ID: 967 9031 7118
Passcode: 903470