Little Earth Celebrates Fifty Years
By BEN HEATH
The residents of Little Earth are marking fifty years since the opening in 1973 of what is now the only Native-preference, Native-owned public housing development in the country. Covering over two square miles, Little Earth is a cornerstone of the Phillips neighborhood and an anchor of the Native community, with residents hailing from dozens of tribal nations. Its history is one of struggle, survivance, and accomplishment in the face of many challenges over the last half-century.
Once the site of the old South High School, the project began after the establishment of the Minneapolis Housing and Redevelopment Authority in 1958 and was funded in part by the Federal Model Cities program in 1966. Construction of 212 living units (apartments and townhouses) began in 1971. When the development opened in 1973, residents were plagued by issues caused by the original poor construction and the rubble left as infill around the site. Subsequent financial problems and tensions between residents and the management saw operations taken over by AIM (American Indian Movement) in 1975.… Read the rest “Little Earth Celebrates Fifty Years”
Updates on Clyde Bellecourt Urban Indigenous Legacy Funding
By CIRIEN SAADEH, The UpTake
The information included in this article was accurate at the time that this issue went to print. Things at the Minnesota State Legislature are moving quite quickly, as they usually do around this time, and they may have changed by the time the alley hits the streets.
An Urban Indigenous Legacy funding bill has been “laid over” to be possibly included in a senate capital investment omnibus bill. The bill, formally known in the Senate as Senate File 2009 was introduced on March 30 by co-author Senator Scott Dibble (DFL – District 61) at a meeting of the Senate Capital Investment Committee responsible for putting together that specific omnibus bill. According to Senator Dibble’s introductory comments, the Urban Indigenous Legacy Funding Initiative encapsulates 16 organizations across the Twin Cities focused on using community-centered approaches to respond to disparities and inequities in Indigenous communities.
The bill, if passed in its current form, would provide $136.4 million to those organizations for urgent repairs and renovations to the buildings housing these organizations.… Read the rest “Updates on Clyde Bellecourt Urban Indigenous Legacy Funding”
What’s Happening with MayDay?
By the Board of In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre
Reprinted with permission by HOBT, edited for length. Find the full announcement at https://hobt.org/home/mayday-released/.
In February 2023, the Board of In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (HOBT) decided to release MayDay Celebrations to the community. Following our announcement on March 15, 2023, future MayDay events or actions will be independently produced by community groups, and not part of official HOBT programming.
A BOARD DECISION
After years of evaluations and consultation with artists, staff, MayDay Council (MDC), and community members, the HOBT Board of Directors voted unanimously to release MayDay, as part of our responsibility to the long-term financial health of the organization and alignment with our shared values. This means MayDay will no longer be hosted by HOBT. This was a difficult decision to make.
ABOUT MAYDAY COUNCIL AND RE-IMAGINING MAYDAY:
In 2019, HOBT announced this would be the last MayDay-as-it-was, and that the organization would be taking time off from producing MayDay to reimagine ways this celebration could be more decentralized, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable.… Read the rest “What’s Happening with MayDay?”
