Nokomis East Neighborhood Association

'Bridging Divides' on Jan. 12

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New year, new lens
Join NENA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to start your year off with a renewed commitment to our community. We are hosting a free, online event on Wednesday, Jan.12, 2022, from 6:30 pm. For more information and to register, visit nokomiseast.org.
Bridging Divides: Perspectives on Grit, Resiliency and The Four Commonalities. Humans are "hard-wired" to be with others who look, think, and act as they do. This tendency for group identification (referred to as "Group Identified Persons"—"GIP") permeates all aspects of day-to-day life. Things work until we encounter folks from other GIPS —people who constitute "Other." Indeed, we humans can make anyone "Other" if we work at it.
"Bridging Divides" empowers listeners to think differently relative to the divides in our lives. Some of that begins with thinking about our "exterior divides" created by skin color, country of origin, religion, LGBTQ status, political affiliation, and the myriad other things we use to group and label humans. As importantly, true bridging begins internally, honestly examining own "internal divides" that arise because of core fears, negative personal mantras, and black and white thinking.
Moreover, as we start a new year – 2022 very well may be pivotal – let us go forward with a new lens, a new sense of renewal and commitment to our community and social justice for all.
Join national speaker and human inclusivity trainer Ellie Krug, as she shows that humans really are far more alike than they are different. In fact, there's only "Us" rather than "Us" and "Them." Come, listen, and engage! We welcome you!

State of Our Neighborhood
On Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, at 6:30 p.m., hear from NENA, neighborhood leaders, and elected officials. This is your community and your time to get involved! For more information and to send in your questions before the event, visit nokomiseast.org. 2022 is shaping up to be another eventful year with the COVID-19 pandemic, economic distress, widespread food insecurity, and organizing against oppressive systems in our city. Along with many others, NENA has plans to make our neighborhood an even better, more vibrant community. Come to the seventh annual State of Our Neighborhood to learn more about the upcoming year from the perspectives of our elected officials and local government.
The meeting is free, online, and open to the public. NENA serves the neighborhoods of Keewaydin, Minnehaha, Morris Park, and Wenonah.
Format: We will host the annual event via Zoom. NENA will welcome each elected official and then break out into discussion rooms. A NENA Board member will host a community conversation with a single elected official. You will be able to visit multiple break-out rooms.

Help NENA Plan for future
The Board of Directors is spending the next few months collecting feedback from our community on how to right-size our organization and priorities. We hope you interacted with us at in-person events, and we will be offering online ways to engage with us at nokomiseast.org/planning/.
NENA will roll out the 2022-2024 Strategic Plan at our Annual Meeting in April 2022. You can also run for a seat on the NENA Board in April. Serving on the NENA Board is a great volunteering opportunity to connect to your community and build your leadership skills. Applications open in February.

Staying in Place grants
Make plans for a healthy and happy 2022 with NENA’s Staying in Place grant program through its nonprofit partner, Rebuilding Together Twin Cities.
Staying in Place Grants help vulnerable adults (lower-income households, seniors, residents living with a disability, and/or veterans) address outstanding housing maintenance issues. Rebuilding Together Twin Cities will provide access to needed funds to help these property owners living on fixed incomes make repairs to live safely in place with economic stability.
Offered Services:
1. Safe at Home: Provide home safety and fall prevention modifications and ramps for older adults and individuals living with a disability.
2. Home Repair: Provide volunteer-delivered repairs, including weatherizing, cleaning, installing flooring, patching and painting, siding, and landscaping, and timely contractor-delivered repair or replacement of essential systems, such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, outer envelope, and roofs.
For more information, call Rebuilding Together Twin Cities at (651) 776-4273.

Upcoming online meetings
01/27/2022: NENA Board of Directors at 6:30 p.m., Online
More at www.nokomiseast.org.

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