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North Minneapolis Vacant Housing Research During 2011 the Foundation supported a research project of the Folwell Center for Urban Initiatives that examined the impact of vacant homes in North Minneapolis. The recently concluded study created a new tool (Housing Market Index) to assist all entities and individuals interested in investing in North Minneapolis. A link to the full report follows:
2011 Fall Volunteer Project On September 30, 2011, approximately 80 employees from Pohlad-owned companies along with residents and community members joined together for a volunteer project in North Minneapolis. Forty-seven homes in the Jordan, Folwell and Webber-Camden neighborhoods received exterior improvements such as new cement walkways, landscaping, painting, tree work and retaining walls. Many of these areas were affected by the May 2011 tornado, and the goal was to help restore the homes back to pre-tornado conditions. Residents and volunteers worked hard to make some big changes happen in a short amount of time. Thanks to everyone who helped! Video of the volunteer project Minnesota Spokesman Recorder Article North Minneapolis What happens when philanthropic efforts are concentrated in one small geographic area? Neighbors come together to build a stronger community, neighborhoods receive needed facelifts, positive activities and jobs for youth increase, commercial real estate is improved and local businesses are established. Beginning in 2008, the Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation made a three-year commitment to North Minneapolis, an area suffering from decades of disinvestment, high unemployment, visible crime, significant mortgage fraud, high foreclosure rates, poverty and crime, and a lack of private investment. Despite these challenges, the area also had important strengths, including resilient residents, great creativity and significant diversity. Knowing that a different approach was needed, the Foundation’s work began by getting to know the residents of the Jordan Neighborhood of North Minneapolis, learning what they wanted, and working with them to realize those changes. To date, some of the projects the Foundation has been involved in include:
Economic Crisis Initiative The Great Recession that began during the fall of 2008 brought with it a flood of need. Small businesses couldn’t cover expenses and were eliminating jobs. Capital sources evaporated as businesses struggled to keep the doors open or make necessary investments. Nonprofit organizations faced huge increases in service demand at a time of ebbing contributions. Families that lost one or more incomes could no longer make ends meet. Mortgage fraud and home foreclosures decimated some Twin Cities neighborhoods. As owners of businesses affected by the financial crisis, Jim, Bob and Bill Pohlad were already well aware of the effects of the downturn. On a cold day early in 2009, Jim expressed concern over the loss of jobs at a local nonprofit, saying, “We need to do something to help because there will be more job losses.” This marked the beginning of the Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation’s Economic Crisis Initiative – a commitment to provide financial support to Minnesota small businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals in need or capable of helping stabilize a neighborhood. Working with and through nonprofit organizations, the family assembled a plan with three goals: retain jobs at small businesses; ensure critical services at nonprofits; and improve neighborhoods hardest hit by the housing crisis. After a few weeks of planning, the Initiative launched in April 2009, backed by a $20 million commitment from the Foundation. |
North Minneapolis Housing Market Index Report