HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thank you to everyone who commits their time, energy and talents to making North Minneapolis a better place. Here’s to another year of progress!

Get financially fit

From Debt to Assets: Four Cornerstones of Financial Literacy is a 4-class program held on Monday evenings from 6-9pm at NorthWay Community Trust. The free classes begin on January 14 with “Budgeting to Create Savings.” All those interested are invited to participate. The program is offered in partnership with WomenVenture. For more information or to sign up, call Shawna at WomenVenture, 651-646-3808.

Update on Early Childhood Development and Education

The North Minneapolis Early Care & Education Project (NMECEP) is hiring a new staff person to replace Mary Statler-Gulling who resigned in November. Steering committee members met December 17 to discuss progress to date and identify their next steps to connect with people who provide informal early care and education. The NMECEP will work with partners to host a community event for children and care providers in the first quarter of 2008. The Minneapolis Public Schools reported that children entering kindergarten in 2007 were more prepared for success than in the previous year and that racial gaps seemed to be decreasing. NorthWay will analyze the information for kindergarten students living on the Northside and provide a report in the near future. For more information, contact Allan Malkis, 612-521-4500.

Measuring for impact and success

NorthWay’s evaluation plan for its 2008-09 activities has been accepted by the NorthWest Area Foundation (NWAF) and will be implemented in 2008. The Evaluation Advisory Group (EAG) will meet in January to hear feedback on the plan from NWAF staff and an evaluation consultant. The EAG will help NorthWay identify a number of key measures to track in 2008 and suggest ways for sharing the information with the community. For more information, contact Allan Malkis, 612-521-4500.

Northside Marketing Task Force Board elects officers

The Northside Marketing Task Force board had its first meeting on December 5 and elected officers Jerry Moore, Chair; Donald Allen III, Vice Chair; Mark Bell, Secretary; and Lisa Mitchell, Treasurer. The board will meet monthly on the third Wednesday with the next meeting scheduled for January 16. The newly-elected Executive Committee will meet beforehand to plan the agenda and will consider holding a board retreat in January.

Leadership Training Program celebrates new graduates

Trainers and participants in the Northside Neighborhood Leadership Training Program recognized graduates’ success at a ceremony on December 6. A new 10-week session will start this month. Organizations are asked to submit names of potential participants, or interested individuals are encouraged to apply. For more information, contact Lance Knuckles at 612-521-4500.

Replication Collaborative to meet in January

The Manchester Bidwell Centers for Arts and Technology Replication Collaborative (NorthWay Community Trust, the SubZero Collective, the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Grassroots Public Policy Institute) will reconvene community leaders in mid-January to obtain feedback and direction on the next steps to assess and evaluate possible replication here in the North Minneapolis, with the intent to host a larger community meeting in early February. For more information, contact Lance Knuckles at 612-521-4500.