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Celebrating 90 years of Black journalistic excellence.
November 28 - December 4, 2024
Vol. 91
No. 18
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
Students shape Another Rondo in the works? Residents fear MnDOT’s Highway 252 conversion project youth agenda could have devastating effects on BIPOC communities By Cynthia Moothart Managing Editor
• Increasing student achievement. • Raising high school and bout 65 high post-secondary graduation rates. • Improving student attischool students from tudes toward learning, their across Minne- schools, and being positive, sota gathered active, contributing members at the Minnesota House of of their community. • Promoting greater underRepresentatives on Nov. 23 for the Catalyst for Systems standing that young people Change (CSC) changemakers can and should be encouraged program, an event designed to help make a positive differto empower young people to ence in their communities by shape the Minnesota youth combining classroom instrucagenda in 2025. tion with community service.
By Alexzia Shobe Staff Writer The Highway 252 conversion project has been in the planning stages for several years. One of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s current proposals calls for transforming the 7.5-mile stretch of the highway into a freeway, with new interchanges and expanded lanes to accommodate increasing traffic volumes. But as MnDOT releases its latest plans and reports, a cloud of concern looms over the project’s potential impact on surrounding neighborhoods. According to MnDOT’s project reports, change is necessary to address growing congestion in the area and improve travel times between the northern suburbs and downtown Minneapolis. Highway 252 is currently a four-lane highway that runs through several suburban communities. The stretch of road connects northern neighborhoods with downtown Minneapolis and is considered a critical
route for commuters. While this is a road well-traveled, it is also one of the most dangerous in the state. According to MnDOT, Highway 252 intersections have historically ranked in the top 10 for crashes. MnDOT has identified three goals for the project. First is to improve vehicle safety. Second, the agency aims to improve mobility and travel times. Third, the proposal prioritizes improving safety and mobility for walking, biking and rolling. On the surface, the project is presented as necessary to meet the demands of a growing metro area, and MnDOT has stressed the importance of long-term mobility. However, many residents and activists are concerned that the conversion could have devastating consequences, particularly for the communities that sit adjacent to Highway 252, which include predominantly Black, Latino, and immigrant neighborhoods. MnDOT’s current proposal calls for transforming a 7.5-mile Attorney and longtime stretch of the highway into a freeway, with new interchanges and Brooklyn Center resident expanded lanes to accommodate increasing traffic volumes. ■ See 252 on page 5 MnDOT
The Minnesota Paradox
Bridging Minnesota’s housing disparities Khalique Rogers Students, ages 16 to 24, • Strengthening communiwent beyond conversations ties by building stronger workto create action plans, includ- ing relationships among eduing drafting issue briefs, col- cators, parents, students, and laborating with legislators, and community members. With a bipartisan group of laying the groundwork for proposed legislation. Over the state legislators, this year’s addressed critiyears, CSC has successfully program worked with Minnesota youth cal topics such as youth and to help pass several pieces of family homelessness, mental legislation. health challenges, and afAmong them: Getting $20 fordable housing solutions. million allocated for youth and The students represented 24 family homelessness leading schools across suburban, rural to permanent housing. Secur- and urban communities, ining an additional $4 million cluding Apple Valley, Champlin for the Youth Build program Park, Coon Rapids, Eden Praithat teaches the construction rie, Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, trades in schools. And amend- St. Paul, Shakopee, Stillwater, ing a law to make grants up to Willmar and Woodbury. Partnering with a coali$100,000 available through MN Housing for schools to tion of currently and formerly purchase supplies and other homeless youth and families, resources required for building Catalyst for Systems Change homes through Youth Build. is working to dramatically re“We hope that the commu- duce youth and family homenity and young people can see lessness in Minnesota. their creativity and insights are “This is a chance for young valuable,” said people to lead Khalique Rogers, and be heard,” executive direcsaid Rogers, “We’re not who’s been actor of Catalyst for just teaching Systems Change. tive with the students about “We’re creating a group since youth-legislature he was 17 and policy. We’re agenda — and the was named exempowering needs are urgent.” ecutive director them to Since 1988, in September. shape it.” Catalyst for Sys“We’re not just teaching stutems Change has been “in dents about polthe difference-making busi- icy. We’re empowering them ness.” It works with educa- to shape it. To be proactive, tors, families, business people, not reactive, to crises.” Catalyst for Systems Change students, policymakers, and others concerned with mak- has provided grants and teching important, measurable nical assistance to Minnedifferences in young people’s sota schools and communities ■ See YOUTH on page 5 lives. This includes:
Minnesota is celebrated as one of the best places to live in the United States. And yet, research shows that Black Minnesotans are worse off here than in virtually every other state in the nation. This is the “Minnesota Paradox.” Over the next four weeks, the MSR will highlight individuals working to end major disparity areas at the root of the Minnesota Paradox. This week we feature Trent Bowman, vice president and community impact manager at Bremer Bank, who considers the challenges of achieving equity in homeownership. Once the series concludes, MSR will publish ongoing essays written by members of community groups working to build greater justice in the state.
Third in a six-part series By Tonya Jackman Hampton Contributing Writer innesota’s housing market reflects a complex tapestry of challenges and opportunities, particularly for communities striving to achieve stability and equity in homeownership. Racial disparities in homeownership rates in Minnesota rank among the worst in the nation: While 78% of white households in the state own their homes, only 31% of Black households are homeowners. Over the past two decades, the state has experienced significant shifts in housing affordability, access and disparities — underscoring the urgent need to reshape perceptions and systems to create a more inclusive future. “The most significant disparities in this state right now are between the homeownership rates for Black households and white households,” said Gabriela Norton, research manager for the Minnesota Housing Partnership. Trent Bowman, vice president and community impact manager at Bremer Bank, offers his 20 years of experience,
perspective, and advice to address these disparities. “Blacks and people of color should focus on consultation about homeownership first, and then the mortgage and lender applications. “We should also look for affordable housing in inner-city pocket neighborhoods. Once we’re in these neighborhoods, we should set the tone by being model homeowners, thereby influencing our neighbors to do the same, which will eventually improve the value and surroundings of the neighborhood.”
Trent Bowman
For your starter home or home of choice you may have to live in an initially less desired pocket area, but you can improve it based on how you maintain your lifestyle. You don’t want to “We need to focus on consultation just make the mortgage — you before application. Meet with want to improve neighborhoods by being willing to move someone who has your into them, change them, still do best interest and learn more.” your hobbies, and maintain a certain way of life.” Perceptions about certain With positive homeowner“From where I sit,” Bowman areas, shaped in part by media ship stories and intentional says, “there is talk that there narratives, play a significant efforts to address racial gaps, aren’t affordable homes, but role in how people approach Minnesota can pave the way the way I see it, there are. It’s housing. “I am not blaming the for equitable housing oppor- really about housing educa- media, but negative matters tunities and stronger commu- tion and location. People don’t in the city tend to be highly nities. A common narrative want to live in certain areas shared more than others,” suggests a scarcity of afford- based on their perception and Bowman says. able housing, but the reality rumors. “We need to not only measure is more nuanced. Affordabil“But I believe it boils down the negatives — let’s celebrate ity often hinges on education to knowledge and affordability. ■ See PARADOX on page 5 about housing, awareness about location, and lifestyle behaviors.