I’m proud to call Minneapolis home.
January was an exceedingly difficult month for our city and state, a time marked by heartbreak, fear, and immense strain on our community. Yet in the face of that pain, Minneapolis showed the world the best of our character. Through grassroots action, neighbors have shown up to help keep one another safe. Through donations of time, money, and expertise, people have stepped forward to meet basic needs with generosity and care. And thousands upon thousands have exercised our First Amendment rights, showing courage as we gathered with peaceful purpose to demand accountability and justice for those unjustly harmed by recent federal immigration enforcement actions.
I’m proud that our parks have been integral to these efforts. Parks have long nurtured democracy – they are where we gather, connect, grieve, organize, and draw strength from one another. These shared spaces are more than green places. They are vital parts of our civic life, and they have supported this community through some of its hardest moments.
This is collective work, and we at the Minneapolis Parks Foundation are fortunate to partner with many others who share our love for the parks and for the people who use them. From the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board to fellow nonprofits and to supporters like you, we are stronger together.
One important way we support this shared strength is through our People For Parks Fund grant program. Recognizing that we all do better when we all do better, we want to highlight a few past grantees that directly serve immigrant and refugee communities affected by recent enforcement actions and to invite you to support their work.
- Baztec Fishing & Outdoors – Providing bilingual fishing opportunities resources to underserved and underrepresented communities all over the state of Minnesota.
- Huellas Latinas – Connecting Latino communities to outdoor experiences in nature that provide well-being and belonging.
- Urban Bird Collective – Creating inclusive spaces that center BIPOC and the LGBTQIA+ communities in order to realize the benefits of being out in the natural environment while building birdwatching skills.
These organizations are doing essential work that aligns with our shared belief that parks and public spaces should be welcoming, safe, and life-affirming for everyone. I’m proud of the role the Minneapolis Parks Foundation plays in strengthening our parks and public spaces, and I’m grateful that we understand the power of partnership and collective action.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and support of these terrific organizations – and for everything else you are doing to sustain and uplift this great city.
Image Credit: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board