July 2018 Neighborhood Night Recap

Every month the Folwell Neighborhood Night hosts Neighborhood Night where residents come together to share a meal, get to know each other, and organize around the topics they care about. To learn more about this pilot program, click here.Below you will find the notes taken from the evening.July 16, 2018Folwell Park Community Center5:30-8:30pmFood: Hot dogs donated by a St. Paul church picnic, the rest of food purchased at Cub. Little food left over

• The evening started with folks eating and getting to know each other.
• We went over the room agreements. This is a social living document that we agree on in effort to create a safe space for everyone who is present. We bring the agreements every time and recommit to them and add if we need to as the group changes.
• The group did introductions answering the question, “What is your favorite thing to do at our park?” Here is a collection of the answers that will be given to our Park Commissioner and our staff at Folwell.
  • Walking the dog x 4, watch football games/sports x 3, see little kids have fun, play with my kids, ride my bike x 3, lay on a blanket and listen to jazz, taking walks by myself or kids x 4, living on the park, being at the community center x 2, park means community, run in the park.
• Ariah from Neighborhood Community Relations explained the “Open Space” and “Rule of Mobility” for the evening. This is the understanding that once you have sat down, you can move around. Get up and continue to get food and join different conversations. The evening is being designed to allow people to join efforts and conversations as they feel empowered to do so. To give people permission to join for dinner and leave. The evening was created to build relationships, share information, and organize around collective issues.
• We broke out into small groups around the committee’s. All committee’s were present, but not all met. Here are the notes from those small group conversations.
  • Policy and Civic Engagement - Josh Ney Chair: josh@folwell.org
    • Did not meet
    • Bylaw meeting on July 25 from 6-8pm
  • Finance Committee - Beryl Ann chair: berylann@folwell.org
    • Did not meet but gave an update on the Penn Ave Grant. This update will also be given at the Business Meeting. Folwell will be the fiscal agent for the $50,000 with contracts for the other partners. Folwell was awarded $4,000 to host six events on Penn. Plans are being made to organize those.
  • Communications Team - Debbie Tallen chair: debbie@folwell.org
    • Agenda: Gather input on what the communications team can do to reach a wider audience in our neighborhood, ensuring that our meetings and gatherings are representative of Folwell.
      • Thoughts: A text campaign to gather info in how people get their info from the FNA
      • Response form - tear off on Folwell Flyer mad lib style
      • Dani and Mikile to follow up with spotio positive engagements
      • Neighborhood Connector email
      • T-shirt ideas for connectors

• • • Next Steps:
      • Debbie set up an email for Neighborhood Connectors
      • Debbie and Nate to work Mikile and Dani in Follow up
      • Kathleen provide info about CLEAN day for Folwell email and FB
      • Joe to provide info on National Night Out to be included in Folwell email and FB
      • Debbie to update website with National Night Out info
  • Housing Team - Dani Tietjen Chair: danielle@folwell.org
    • Agenda:
      • update on Door Knockers, finalized block parties:
        • Tuesday July 1, 6-9pm Northside Boxing Club
        • Friday Aug. 10 6-9pm  Fremont Clinic Parking lot
        • Saturday Aug. 18, 1-4pm Fremont Market
      • Research hosting a Listening session for Landlords and Renters
      • Lawn signs: We’re here. We care
      • Funding for Security Systems rebate program, possibly 30%
    • Next Steps:
      • Each team member walked away with another neighborhood association to contact to research rebates
      • Beryl Ann contact Xcel Energy
      • Dani contact Center for Urban and Regional Affairs for list of Landlords
  • CLEAN team - Kathleen Asaco: clean@folwell.org
    • Clean Sweep July 21st
    • Adopt your block
    • Looking into more garbage cans on Lowry Ave
    • Want to identify areas that need help
    • Will be looking into adopt a drain, but the app and program is on hold through the city
  • Crime and Safety Team - Joe Bell: s.joseph@folwell.org
    • Agenda: Speed Bumps and bump outs (didn’t discuss this but instead focused on the crime issues on 36th and Penn)
    • Pastor Vikstrom from the church on Lowry and Oliver was approached by residents who are struggling with drug deals going on in front of their homes. There have been some meetings with the Police where increased police presence was requested. Residents haven’t seen a difference yet.
    • The group discussed ideas in how to address this.
    • Next Steps: Buzzy follow up with Pastor Vikstrom and our Inspector Bill
    • Host a meeting with police and residents to find a solution.
    • Crime and Safety to work on National Night Out with Communications team.
• All small groups reported back to the large group their next steps.
• North point also came and spoke about a grant they were awarded to address opioid addiction. Information was left with the board and at the community center.
• At the end the group that was left did a one word evaluation. This is how the group left the evening: Great, Hopeful, good, innovative, ready to go, optimistic energized, feel good, lots to do, it’s working, listen, processing.