Our Projects

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Youth  planted and maintained flowers and baskets to be displayed at Minneapolis businesses  that were damaged during the fires and  looting. The flowers are meant to brighten up our city, and offer hope to our small business community. In addition, it is both intuitive and scientifically known that adding elements of nature, like flowers, promotes well-being.  "The Power of the Flower" as we like to say, can aid in healing our community by: 

• Generating Happiness
• Accelerating the Healing Process
• Benefiting the Environment
• Nourishing Concentration and Memory. 
• Promoting Health and Recreation

The Real Minneapolis was able to secure a convenient location at Chicago and Lake Street for Minneapolis youth to plant and maintain their own garden. We are paying Community teenagers $14.50 an hour throughout the summer to spearhead the garden and mentor the younger kids!  We believe giving youth skills and seeds is giving them much more than a meal! Evidence suggests there are several key benefits related to youth gardens, including:

• Encouraging them to eat healthier. 
• Providing engaging, moderate exercise. 
• Building a sense of confidence and independence.
• Positively impacting mood & psychological well-being.

The  Real Minneapolis has teamed up with "Marty the Sign Guy". Our Youth Team will be visiting In•Signity and learning how to build creative signs and sculpture pieces for their youth garden! Young people are great entrepreneurs. Not to mention they are our future community  builders, business owners, public servants, and families. Young people can sometimes be hard to engage depending on  how you approach them. 

We have found that they need to be passionate and genuinely interested in a project and it helps when they can visualize the outcome. Marty to the rescue! 

Stay tuned for some really fun stuff...

FRESH PRODUCE FOR ALL

The  Real Minneapolis is working with local farmers and organizations to  provide a Farmer's Market outside of Phelps Community Center during  their existing food shelf times. Visitors can cruise through the market outside to select fresh farm-grown seasonal vegetables and fruit, and  non-perishables inside the building. We will follow all COVID-19 safety  protocols.

Before eating, always take time to thank the food. 

All plants are our brothers and sisters. They talk to us and if we listen, we can hear them. – Arapaho

In honor of George Floyd, the mission of Intersection of Hope started in an effort to create a safe, sustainable, sacred space for the healing, recovery, and growth of the community surrounding George Floyd Avenue. 

Nearly $12K of our GoFundMe donations have gone toward the CANDO (Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization), tents and shelter needs, security and first aid, sanitation and hygiene, miscellaneous supplies, small business support, and varies food providers.

The  process of helping maintain the Memorial has been organic. There has been no planning, and as of now we are only getting by with volunteer help and limited financial support from the community.

THE BROOM IS A SYMBOL

Immediately following the looting and fires after the murder of George  Floyd, one of our teammates created an event for Facebook friends to  clean up the rubbish. 

By that Friday 5/27, 80,000 people were reached in a single day -- demonstrating the true spirit of the Minneapolis community:  love and kindness. For 5 days, 300-500 people showed up with brooms and  garbage bags in tow to take action.

"Grab the broom of anger and drive off the beast of fear."     - Zora Neale Hurston