The NAZ has lots to report

Payne Lake Community Partners awarded NorthWay Community Trust $20,000 to support the work of the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), a collaborative project working to guarantee opportunities, support and education for all children growing up in designated "Achievement Zones" in North Minneapolis, and the work of the NAZ Project Coordinator, Michelle Palo.

On May 27, NAZ members and Zone families will attend the Minneapolis Foundation's Minnesota Meeting event on "Working Together: Organizing Our Communities to Support Student Success." The program will be presented by Geoffrey Canada, leader of the Harlem Children's Zone, the transformative program that serves as the model and inspires the work of the NAZ.

On May 30 from 11 am - 1 pm., the NAZ will have its official community launch at the GO! Northside 5K Run/Walk & Finish Line Festival held at the newly renovated YMCA, 1711 W. Broadway Ave.

Fourteen people recently completed training and an orientation to the NAZ, and started door-knocking in the Zone to connect with families and invite them to the May 30 launch event.

The NAZ is facilitated by NorthWay and the Peace Foundation. For more information, visit online, email the Project Coordinator Michelle Palo or call 612-709-4856.

Northside Comprehensive Development partners meet to plan area's future

Fifteen community partners meet monthly to focus on building sustainable communities on the Northside. At the April 16 meeting at Northway Community Trust, partners heard presentations on the Capri Theatre district project, North Branch Library Restoration Project and Hawthorn Crossings public plaza.

The Capri is undertaking the Capri Theatre Renaissance Campaign, a major capital campaign project, seeking $1.6 million in the first phase to pay for acquisition, construction and programming costs. Predevelopment costs were supported in part by a LISC development loan pool guaranteed by a $200,000 NorthWay investment. The full vision will cost between $9 and $12 million.

The Library renovation project and Hawthorn Crossings redevelopment are at different stages and both are looking at a two- to three-year window for development. EMERGE, co-developer of 1101 W. Broadway, is assembling financing for development of the Emerson Avenue library, which has been closed since 1977. Approximately 40% of the financing has been raised for the project.

A presentation on the NAZ will be featured at the May 21 meeting. The group is scheduled to meet for two to three more months to develop a consensus and determine next steps.

For more information or to be added to an email list on community development, email Wesley Walker, NorthWay Executive Director, or call 612-521-4500.