“Free money” for down payments from new NeighborLIFT program in Minneapolis, St. Paul

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Free money — that’s what NeighborhoodLIFT Program Manager Kimberly Smith-Moore calls $15,000 in down payment assistance that’s being offered to eligible home buyers. The down payment assistance can be applied to a mortgage loan with any approved lender.The program is a partnership between Wells Fargo, NeighborWorks America, Neighborhood Housing Services in Minneapolis and Community Neighborhood Housing Services in St. Paul.Wells Fargo is investing $9 million — $7.2 million for the $15,000 down payment assistance grants; $650,000 for educational events, and Minneapolis and St. Paul each will get $575,000 for local hosting initiatives. The bank also has set a five-year lending goal of $1.2 billion in mortgage loans in Minneapolis and $700 million in St. Continue Reading

Krist Novoselic of FairVote—and Nirvana—speaks out about ranked choice voting

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Nirvana burst onto the scene in the 90s helping to pioneer grunge rock and striking a chord with the cultural zeitgeist, forever enshrining themselves as rock ‘n’ roll royalty. 21 years after releasing one of the greatest albums of all time, bassist Krist Novoselic has made his interest in political advocacy his new brand of punk rock. In 2008 he became the chair of FairVote: The Center for Voting and Democracy, a nonpartisan political advocacy group focused on changing the way elections are run in the United States to ensure that voters are accurately represented. Novoselic was invited to Minnesota to host an awareness fundraiser for FairVote on August 23 and I had a chance to sit down with him to discuss voting reform, how he’s been spending his time, and whether he’s still playing music.

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Are Minnesota schools supporting black students? Minnesota Alliance of Black School Educators hears parent, community distress.

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About 30 community members, including several former educators, attended the August 8 community public hearing sponsored by the Minnesota Alliance of Black School Educators.  Some expressed anger and disagreement with the effectiveness of current practices and strategies in Minneapolis Public Schools. They were confused as to how new programs would help and just how their involvement would increase effectiveness as they’ve not really been given the voice that MABSE is promising them.The August 8 hearing at the Minneapolis Urban League was hosted by Minneapolis Public Schools superintendent Bernadeia Johnson, Minnesota Department of Education commissioner Brenda Cassellius and MABSE president Francine Chakolis as speakers. As the Minneapolis Public School district is a member of the National Alliance of Black School Educators, Johnson spoke of the district’s connection and ongoing partnership with MABSE. The hearing was the first of three in a series titled “Reclaiming our Village from the Pipeline to the Penitentiary.”Community members at the meeting had a variety of connections with Minneapolis Public Schools. Continue Reading