Greater Minnesota Housing Fund (GMHF) is a nonprofit, affordable housing intermediary and certified community development financial institution (CDFI). Their mission is to invest in affordable housing and sustainable development to strengthen communities in greater Minnesota and ensure that everyone has a safe, suitable, and economical place to call home. GMHF was launched in 1996 in …
Living Cities works with the world’s largest foundations and financial institutions to build a new type of urban practice that addresses both physical and human capital issues, from affordable housing creation along transit corridors, education reform, and youth recidivism, designed to improve the lives of low-income people. Living Cities selected Minneapolis/St. Paul’s Corridors of Opportunity …
The Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) is working to ensure that all children in a geographic “Zone” of North Minneapolis graduate from high school ready for college. NAZ takes a two-generation approach, working directly with children and with their parents, supporting parents to stabilize housing and careers and to become leaders in the community who drive …
The Corporation for Supportive Housing (CHS) aims to advance housing solutions that improve the lives of the most vulnerable people, maximize public resources, and build strong, healthy communities across the country. They do this by educating and empowering housing industry players, lending to potential homebuyers, collaborating with developers to find innovative housing solutions, and advocating …
The Wetlands Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring the wetland resources of the Midwest to improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and reduce flood damage. Their work combines two basic strategies: restore more wetlands and strive to innovate fundamental changes in how we finance large-scale wetland restoration. Their projects are based …
American Rivers combines national advocacy with field work in key river basins to protect rivers, restore damaged rivers, and conserve clean water for people and nature. To do this, they build partnerships and work closely with local river advocates, businesses and agriculture interests, recreation groups, and others to forge solutions. In the Upper Mississippi River, …
In 2007, then 13-year-old Alec Loorz was inspired to join the burgeoning climate change movement but had difficulty gaining a foothold due to his youth and perceived inexperience. So, he took matters into his own hands, created his own slide deck, and started talking about it… and talking about it. He’s now spoken to over …
The Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood (SPPN) is a community-wide initiative to provide the academic and social supports children need to succeed in school and in life. The neighborhood is a 250-square block area in the heart of St. Paul’s historic Frogtown and Summit-University neighborhoods. Nearly 80 percent of SPPN’s residents are of color – with …
Located in the scenic St. Croix River Valley, Franconia Sculpture Park is a nonprofit arts organization operating a 43-acre outdoor sculpture park, active artist residency, and community arts programming. The park is free and open to the public 365 days a year, with over 100 sculptures created by artists-in-residence. Franconia awards competitive fellowships and internships …
Working along a developmental continuum from pre-kindergarten to grade 3, McKnight seeks to increase the percentage of successful third grade readers in the Twin Cities. With related project support from McKnight, Brooklyn Center Independent School District #286 is creating a new literacy framework, within its comprehensive system of literacy education. Brooklyn Center’s framework will include …