Elections, events, and programs highlight LCC annual meeting

Posted

By JAN WILLMS

Photos courtesy of the Longfellow Community Council

“There are some really interesting projects in the works this year,” said Executive Director Melanie Majors regarding the Longfellow Community Council (LCC). The organization held its annual “No Pie Charts—Only Pies” meeting Apr. 26, one of two membership meetings held per year.

LCC annual meeting 565_nThe other membership meeting (held in October) provides a buffet of dishes from local businesses and celebrates the work of LCC and highlights what is so special about the community.

The April 26 meeting featured a “potluck of pies” provided by attendees.

Majors explained that LCC raised $30,000 from the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County to fund a Rain Garden project. “This will feature 35 residents and five businesses that will receive site consultations, plants, and a crew to do the plantings, with a small contribution on the part of the residents and businesses,” Majors said. “The plantings will occur the week of June 20.”

She said that LCC also started a Business Support Network (BSN), in which the group’s communication resources will be used to better connect residents to local businesses.

“We will promote local businesses through stories about the owners and their work in the community,” she noted. She said LCC will showcase events and openings and share information with businesses on grant opportunities and community events, where businesses can table and promote their goods and services.

Majors added that LCC also sponsors semi-monthly Happy Hours at local bars and restaurants where residents can meet their neighbors and LCC staff to find out more about the work of the organization.

LCC annual meeting 397_nEvents planned for the year include the annual Garage Sale (June 10-11); the annual Summer Celebration (June 28); Share the Gorge Ice Cream Social (July 27); Chili Cook-off (Nov. 13) and a Winter Warming Party (date to be determined).

At the Apr. 26 meeting, the LCC Board of Directors was also elected. The board is made up of 15 seats representing neighborhoods, communities, at-large, and a business seat.

Scott Angus and Anna Sheppard were elected to represent the Cooper neighborhood; David Skarjune and Pat Smith for Longfellow; Patrick Santelli and Trevor Russell for Howe and Jesse Powell and Cathy Coon, representing Hiawatha.

Community representatives elected were Kevin Venerus, Melissa Erjavec, and Lisa Boyd.

Jeff Fisher was elected to represent the business seat.

At-large board members elected were Natalie Brown, DeWayne Townsend, and Alex Vitrella.

LCC annual meeting 240_nAlthough long-running legislative meetings did not provide an opportunity for elected officials Patricia Torres Ray and Peter McLaughlin to speak, Ward 12 Council member Andrew Johnson and Ward 2 Council member Cam Gordon filled in for them. State Rep. Jim Davney also stopped by.

During the Resource Fair, designed to introduce the public to various businesses and organizations, Johnson held office hours.

Majors said the current LCC Board had spent a significant amount of time in 2015 working on visioning and strategic planning. “Through that process, the Board decided that the original Mission Statement of LCC was very wordy and difficult for people to remember and recite,” she said. The new Mission Statement adopted is: “To improve the well-being of our diverse community through engagement, involvement, and empowerment.”

LCC annual meeting 592_n“This refined statement is more concise and does not include the names of each neighborhood because we consider ourselves to be one community,” Majors stated.

Majors described several LCC committees that are currently active. The River Gorge Committee is designed to protect and promote the River Gorge through activities, programs, and events that engage community residents. The Environment Committee promotes the greening of the neighborhood and reviews and funds environmentally focused program/project requests. The Community Connections Committee was formed to build strong intergenerational, multicultural, safe neighborhoods through community owners. “This committee also reviews and funds programs/projects that engage community residents,” Majors said.

Majors said the Neighborhood Development and Transportation Committee works to advance and guide economic development and redevelopment in the greater Longfellow community. It also monitors and provides input for street and bike route projects.

Also reviewed at the Apr. 26 meeting was the Seward Longfellow Restorative Justice Project, a partnership that has been a part of LCC for years because of the valuable work done in the community, according to Majors. “There is no other organization that works with young offenders to help them connect to the community and address the impact of their offenses,” she noted.

Majors described another partnership between East Lake Library and an organization called Learning Dreams that is a part of LCC. “Volunteers are used to connect with kids and their families outside of the classroom, and their goal is to help children and their families to realize their dreams through alternative learning resources,” Majors said. Anna Sheppard, the librarian from East Lake, was in attendance to provide information on the activities being planned for the 2016 Open Streets Event.

“LCC’s annual membership meetings are one of the many ways that we engage the community,” Majors explained. “At each meeting we are seeing new faces, hearing updates from elected officials, sharing food and fun, showcasing local organizations and businesses through the Resource Fairs and touting our accomplishments as a community.”

“Our greatest challenges are also our greatest opportunities,” she continued. “There are approximately 16 development projects in progress or in the planning process. Our business community is booming, and Minnehaha Ave. is in the last stage of reconstruction.”

Majors said LCC wants to ensure that community members can be a part of sustaining and growing “this incredibly vibrant community.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here