Lake Street recovery coalition launches campaign promoting racial equity and community health

New REACH Twin Cities campaign to be led by the Lake Street Leadership Recovery Coalition

Posted Wednesday, May 26, 2021 6:14 pm

The Lake Street Leadership Recovery Coalition is a growing group of community-centered organizations, businesses and residents committed to working together to influence, amplify, and secure the resources that aid projects, initiatives, and partnerships necessary to support the recovery, healing and equitable development required along and near cultural corridors in South Minneapolis. Members include the AIA Minnesota; Center for Transformative Urban Design; City of Lakes Community Land Trust; Community Reinvestment Fund; Corcoran Neighborhood Association; Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District; Lake Street Council; Latino Economic Development Center; Local Initiatives Support Corporation Twin Cities; Minneapolis Consortium of Community Developers; Mortenson; Neighborhood Development Center; Pillsbury United Communities; Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association; and Seward Redesign.

The Lake Street Leadership Recovery Coalition today announced its new campaign to support equitable recovery across the Twin Cities following the civil uprising caused by the murder of George Floyd last summer. The REACH (Racial Equity and Community Health) Twin Cities campaign will aid communities as they rebuild while also addressing the racial inequities that have long existed in the Twin Cities.

“Putting equity at the center of our recovery efforts is an essential first step,” said Tabitha Montgomery, executive director of the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association and a member of the Lake Street Leadership Recovery Coalition. “It is the central way we can move forward meaningfully and start to heal and strengthen our community.”

The REACH campaign will focus on engaging with local communities across the Twin Cities to promote racial equity and community health while sharing key information about recovery efforts and programs, particularly ones that serve Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and those most impacted by the civil uprising. REACH Twin Cities will also collect community input on renewal plans and provide opportunities for people to get involved and help advocate for progress. Feedback will be collected through tools like the REACH issues poll. Specific results will be kept anonymous, but summary data will be shared publicly to help guide recovery efforts and ensure full accountability.

“Several Twin Cities communities suffered damage during the civil uprising sparked by George Floyd’s murder,” said Mihailo “Mike” Temali, founder & CEO at the Neighborhood Development Center and member of the Lake Street Leadership Recovery Coalition. “This campaign will be a resource for people across the metro to stay informed, share their input, and support actions that lead to greater community equity, health, and wellness.”

The REACH campaign is led by the Lake Street Leadership Recovery Coalition, which formed following the civil uprising following the murder of George Floyd. This public-private partnership is made up of community leaders, organizations, businesses, and funders who are committed to working together to support the recovery, healing, and equitable development in and near South Minneapolis.