Sunday's Minneapolis Star Tribune featured the following front page article: Few Get A Path Out of Trouble. The article highlights the very different outcomes for two teens, one whose case goes through the traditional court system, and the other who goes through a restorative justice program. The article helps illustrate the difference restorative justice and related diversion programs can make in

Neighborhood organizations can play an important role in communication during crises. The Minneapolis City Council recently accepted the Hillard Heintze After-Incident report, an analysis of "City departments’ and assisting agencies’ responses to events occurring within the city directly following George Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020 and through June 3, 2020" (page 5). The report found, among

Nonprofit Quarterly shared this amusing video by New York's Human Services Council, "Everyone Deserves a Fair Slice." Is this the future of funding for neighborhood organizations in Minneapolis?

Many of us who worked as community organizers during the days of the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) were well versed in the concept of Asset Based Community Development, or ABCD. Asset Based Community Development is based on the simple idea that local assets are the basic building blocks of a sustainable community. This includes residents with skills, interest and local knowledge

Another important finding addressed in the Summary of Findings from the Neighborhoods 2020 Cafes was the expectation of participants that “all voices are heard & represented” in neighborhood organizations. This post discusses the issues around diversity on neighborhood organization boards. The City has routinely criticized neighborhood organization boards as not being diverse enough and not fully