MEDC MiPlace’s Post

Minneapolis and Saint Paul rank second and third only to Washington, D.C., on the Trust for Public Land’s annual assessment of parks in the nation’s 100 top cities. Did you know 99% of Minneapolis and Saint Paul residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park? That’s compared to the national average of 76%. Parks are amenities our region takes seriously, providing shade from the heat and offering space to play, relax and connect with community. Though the cities switched ranks this year, the park systems of Minneapolis and Saint Paul remain strong as ever.  https://lnkd.in/gvhuR8mW

Michigan Main Street (MMS) is focused on building strong places that attract people, investment and economic growth. The place-based approach to downtown revitalization encourages local community members to invest in their downtown district by volunteering, supporting downtown businesses, preserving historic resources and promoting downtown as the heart of the community. #MMS documents self-reported data and highlights from each of its local communities to compile annual reports demonstrating the impact of Main Street programming both at the local level and statewide. Main Street communities across the state totaled $9,639,829 in public investment from 2022-2023. That brings the total amount of public investment in #MiMainStreet communities to $146,697,645 since the program's inception in 2003. Dive into #MMS 2024 Edition Impact Reports to learn more about how Main Street programs are impacting Michigan: https://lnkd.in/gZG5b-Qp

The Urban Equity Collaborative is excited to start our second year of programming! For those of you who may be unfamiliar with our work or need a refresher, The Urban Equity Collaborative uses collaborative approaches to address a variety of Urban equity challenges. Our efforts are centered on: Advocate : Through partnerships, action, and engagement with communities, our team of community advocates and scholars work to highlight community work, power,and voice to create equitable solutions. Educate: We aim to educate through sharing information, resources, and producing knowledge and data. Our team holds expertise from a variety of disciplines. This knowledge is used to collaborate on issues of urban displacement and dispossession. Collaborate: The UEC strengthens community-based institutions, leaders, and organizing around critical issues of urban inequality through community-based research and policy action. Our committed team of scholars and community advocates uses collaborative processes to empower community members. Through strong partnerships and university resources, we aim to transform community based research.  By partnering with communities and scholars, we amplify local voices and prioritize community-based research.  As we enter our second year, exciting changes are on the horizon for our continued work empowering communities! For more information- visit https://lnkd.in/epFt_fBX

🏫🌟Whether you're starting a family or planning for the future, the quality of local schools is a crucial factor to consider: 1️⃣ Property Value: Homes in top-rated school districts often maintain higher resale values, making them a smart investment. 2️⃣ Community Quality: Good schools are a cornerstone of vibrant communities, often associated with lower crime rates and better amenities. 3️⃣ Educational Opportunities: Choosing a home in a district with strong schools ensures access to quality education, enriching your children's development and future prospects. 4️⃣ Long-Term Satisfaction: Living in a desirable school district can enhance your family's daily life and overall satisfaction with your home. 5️⃣ Future Planning: Even if you don't have school-aged children, the school district should be a key consideration for resale and community engagement. Investing in a home is about more than just the property—it's about investing in your family's future. Choose a district that supports educational excellence and watch your community and property value thrive! 📚💼 #SchoolDistrictsMatter #EducationalInvestment #RealEstateTips #FamilyFriendlyHomes #CommunityLiving #CinnyRealty #SmartBuyingChoices

Last semester, my project was born out of the question: what if neighborhood spaces were designed for connection? This topic has been on my mind recently because so many people say “your college years will be your best.” Yet I wondered how much of this was actually due to the college stage vs the livability of a campus where everything you need is a short walk away. With communities dominated by cars and the rise of urban sprawl, the average American is much more isolated than before. They have little-to-no community in the immediate vicinity and must drive everywhere to maintain social connection and community. I decided to tackle this isolation by reimagining a space many neighborhoods already have: the community center. Nbrhd Block is a product brand that reimagines community centers by providing adaptable alternatives tailored to the needs of the community. Neighbors can collaboratively build spaces by adding and customizing modules, ensuring the community center is a meaningful space to the entire neighborhood. By adding local public spaces, neighbors are essentially creating their own 15-minute city and establishing more community nearby (proven to have improvements for health and well-being).

Youth strive for cleaner, healthier neighborhoods. The Star News by Albert Fulche Efforts like cleaning the park follow the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles to deter criminal activity, drug use and vandalism, while creating a more family-friendly environment. SBY4C is bringing these issues to the attention of the local community to get additional resources and infrastructure in the park to make it more accessible. Making a positive community presence will increase safety for visitors so they can feel more comfortable using the area for running, biking, hiking, picnicking and other recreational activities. For parks, in particular, the CPTED approach aims to reduce feelings of isolation, maximize visibility, and limit areas of concealment. Park activation and social programming are also critical components of CPTED. As more people use parks, which serve as community gathering spaces, parks develop social capital that strengthens neighborhood ties, reduces crime, and makes people feel safer. TheNICP.com #CPTED #USCA https://lnkd.in/edumcNcP

I appreciate Wholespire sharing this story of a successful mini-grant project, but clearly outlining the challenges and bumps along the way. Implementation rarely goes as planned, and rural communities can face additional challenges. But also are the most creative. https://lnkd.in/e6EaxQ4s

Authentic partnerships and collaboration that wrap around the whole child is so key. Thank you Yasmin Trudeau and #JustineJadallah for coming down to ground level to hear and feel what that looks like. SoP Projects Tacoma Housing Authority School's Out Washington -YDST and Greentrike appreciate your time. We intentionally did not create an agenda, or scripts..just real talk right in the middle of programming happening in real time, young people, providers, and laughter all around us..doing what they do…that is the work. As youth development and Housing sector professionals, all we ask of our legislators is to come see it in action, we intersect in so many different ways! None of us can do this work in silo..period. I can give you a one sheet and talk about it all day, but when you come and see for yourself, that holds a different type of weight. I know you get this Sen. Trudeau and appreciate your championship of our 2024 proviso on the senate side, which has given us capacity building dollars to pilot the importance of school and community partnership with OSPI and helped to solidify being included in their decision package. None of us know what this next session is going to entail, there is a lot going on…but my mission is to ensure all policy makers in WA state understand the critical work of the youth development sector, and we can build together how to sustain funding for it from there. #The$hasnotleftthisearth #fundyouthdevelopment #comesee4yourself👏🏾 #wholesquadready🙌🏽

Education and learning come from social interactions, so how can schools create a real sense of community and connection inside and out? We explored how new school designs are fostering inclusive and engaged connections with their surrounding communities with landscape architect Marie-Eve Parent. Read how with the link in the comments. #Education #Design #Community #LandscapeArchitecture

Michigan Main Street (MMS) is focused on building strong places that attract people, investment, and economic growth. The place-based approach to downtown revitalization encourages local community members to invest in their downtown district by volunteering, supporting downtown businesses, preserving historic resources, and promoting downtown as the heart of the community. #MMS documents self-reported data and highlights from each of its local communities to compile annual reports demonstrating the impact of Main Street programming both at the local level and statewide. Main Street communities across the state totaled $17,485,873 in private investment from 2022-2023. That brings the total amount of private investment in #MiMainStreet communities to $424,613,279 since the program's inception in 2003. Dive into #MMS 2024 Edition Impact Reports to learn more about how Main Street programs are impacting Michigan: https://lnkd.in/gZG5b-Qp