ALLIANCE FOR METROPOLITAN STABILITY

REGIONAL EQUITY PROJECT: THROUGH THE REGIONAL EQUITY PROJECT, THE ALLIANCE BUILDS AND CONVENES COALITIONS THAT ADVANCE EQUITY IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION. THIS WORK INCLUDES: - THE BUSINESS RESOURCE COLLECTIVE, AN INTENTIONAL, COMMUNITY-LED SPACE TO PLAN FOR BIPOC-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS RECOVER AND RESILIENCE. THIS WORK EMERGED AFTER THE COVID PANDEMIC, THE UPRISING OF 202, AND THE ENSUING CHALLENGES FOR SMALL, BIPOC-OWNED BUSINESSES. IN 2023, WE DEVELOPED AND ADVOCATED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT PACKAGE TO BRING STATE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BIPOC SMALL BUSINESS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA, WITH ATTENTION TO CRAFTING LANGUAGE THAT ALLOWS FOR INVESTMENT IN MICROBUSINESSES, HOME-BASED BUSINESSES, CREATIVE BUSINESSES AND OTHER STRUCTURES COMMON IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON SHIFTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS POLICY AT THE LOCAL, COUNTY, AND STATE LEVELS TO BENEFITS THE BIPOC SMALL BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM, INCLUDING TARGETING STATE INVESTMENTS. - THE ALLIANCE CONVENES AN EQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES & SCORECARD PRACTITIONERS TABLE FORMED OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN USING THIS TOOL TO HELP RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL REPAIR PAST HARMS AND CONTRIBUTE TO A STRONGER, MORE INCLUSIVE, AND THRIVING COMMUNITY. THIS TOOL PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK TO RECLAIM POWER AND ENSURE THAT DEVELOPMENT IS NOT ISOLATED PROJECTS BUT RATHER BECOMES AN INTEGRAL PIECE OF A COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO CREATE WEALTH, OPPORTUNITY, AND LIVABILITY FOR HISTORICALLY AND SYSTEMICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. IN 2023, THE ALLIANCE CONVENED MULTIPLE GATHERINGS OF THE SCORECARD PRACTITIONERS GROUP AND PRODUCED FOUR PUBLICATIONS SUMMARIZING LESSONS LEARNED FROM A SYMPOSIUM HELD FOR PRACTITIONERS IN LATE 2022. WE ALSO PRESENTED THE TOOL AT FOUR NATIONAL AND FOUR TWIN CITIES-BASED CONVENINGS.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: THE ALLIANCE CONVENES AND CONTRIBUTES TO SEVERAL COALITIONS THAT CREATE PATHWAYS TO HOUSING STABILITY AND HOUSING JUSTICE FOR LOW-WEALTH AND BIPOC PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2023 INCLUDE: - THE ALLIANCE CONVENES THE HOUSING JUSTICE LEAGUE, A COALITION ADVANCING TENANT PROTECTION POLICIES IN MINNEAPOLIS. WE'RE WORKING TO BUILD THE POLITICAL WILL TO PASS A TENANT OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE ORDINANCE THAT WOULD GIVE TENANTS FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL WHEN A MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTY IS MADE AVAILABLE FOR SALE. THIS IS A PROVEN WEALTH-BUILDING PROGRAM WITH THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE BUILDING CAPACITY FOR RENTERS TO BECOME INDIVIDUAL OR COOPERATIVE OWNERS OF RENTAL PROPERTIES. - WITH LOCAL PARTNERS, THE ALLIANCE DEVELOPED A GRANTMAKING PROCESS TO FUND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ORGANIZE AND ENGAGE TENANTS AROUND HOUSING STABILITY. THE HOUSING STABILITY GRANT PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO FUND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ROOTED IN AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITIES MOST IMPACTED BY HOUSING INEQUITY AND WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH HOMELESSNESS AND/OR HOUSING INSECURITY. OUR GOAL WAS TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO HOUSING STABILITY AND ADVANCE SYSTEMS CHANGE FOR HOUSING JUSTICE, AND WE DISTRIBUTED GRANTS TO EIGHT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN 2023.