June 6, 2020 eNews

A Message from the ANA:

Last week, racial slurs were found on the skate park at Armatage Park. It’s unclear whether this was inspired by recent events surrounding the murder of George Floyd or if the timing was coincidental. Regardless, it was a despicable act and the ANA board fully condemns such cowardly and inhumane behavior. It is our hope that the perpetrators of this reprehensible act will have the courage to take a long, hard look at themselves and find the will to change.

We strive to be a community that is welcoming and supportive of all, particularly our neighbors who identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Color. We recognize the systems in our city that have long harmed communities of color and we as a neighborhood are committed to working toward equity.

Community Safety Updates

Register to Run for the ANA Board by June 8

Please consider running for the Armatage Neighborhood Association’s Board of Directors. Board members have a critical role in shaping our neighborhood nonprofit for years to come. These past weeks and months have reinforced how critical strong, local communities are.

Members of underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to run for the board, including renters, seniors, residents with disabilities, and residents who identify as LGBTQ or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and/or People of Color). Learn more about what’s involved and register to run by June 8 at armatage.org/2020boardelection/

Community Conversation: June 9

Tuesday, June 9
8:00-9:00pm
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/502813335

Please join us from 8:00-9:00pm this Tuesday, June 9 for an open conversation on how Armatage can learn from recent events and where we go from here to be more equitable and inclusive. (Our original topic for this month’s Happy Hour was brainstorming community projects that could be funded by a Mini Grant, but there is a lot to discuss and process after the last couple weeks in our community.)

Armatage Annual Meeting

Tuesday, June 16
7:00-8:30pm
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89815019195

Join your neighbors for a virtual Armatage Annual Meeting on Zoom. Connect with State Representative Jamie Long, City Council Member Linea Palmisano and County Commissioner Marion Greene who will each provide updates with time for questions, win a gift card to a local business, and hear board election results.

Online Board Election: June 9-16

This year’s Armatage Board Election will be held online from June 9 through June 16 at 7:30pm. All Armatage residents 18 years and older and designated business representatives are able to vote in the election through an online form that will be posted at armatage.org on June 9. Please see above for more details on running for election!

Armatage Neighborhood Art Journal

We need art more than ever. Please share pictures of what you and your family members have done to express yourselves creatively by June 30. We will assemble your submissions into a journal to document this moment of time in Armatage.

A free pdf of the art journal will available to download at armatage.org/art and we will possibly feature your submission in ANA communications about this project or in a future community mural. Check out submission guidelines and an awesome video about this project at armatage.org/art/


Emergency Rental Assistance Available

Hennepin County has extended its emergency rental assistance program to include residents of Minneapolis. Learn more and apply at https://www.hennepin.us/residents/human-services/emergency-rental-covid19 Please share widely!


Free Meals for Kids App & MPS Food Distribution Extended

Minneapolis Public Schools has extended their no-contact weekly food distribution program through at least July 24 and added a M-F free food distribution site at Longfellow Park. Boxes of food are free for all children 18 and under, whether they attend a MPS school or not. Check out the updated food distribution schedule here and see pick-up details, menu and heating instructions, and FAQs on the MPS free food distribution site here.

You can also download Hunger Impact Partners‘ Free Meals for Kids app on the App Store or Google Play to find and access free meals at nearly 400 schools and other sites across Minnesota for families and children in need.

Vote by Mail Information

Thinking about voting by mail this year? Sign up now to get Absentee ballots for the August primary and November general election mailed directly to you. Once you register to vote or check your voter registration, it takes just a couple minutes to request ballots. Your ballots will arrive approximately six weeks before each election with postage-paid envelopes for return.

Register to vote or update your registration here
Request an Absentee Ballot here


Donate Homemade Face Masks for Mask Drive Mondays

Minneapolis residents can deliver homemade masks to their local fire station from 10:00am-2:00pm every Monday beginning June 8 for Mask Drive Mondays.  Our closest fire stations are at 2810 W 50th St and 5410 Nicollet Ave S.

Please plan to stay 6 feet away from others when dropping off your donation. The City of Mpls will distribute the donated masks throughout Minneapolis to residents, organizations and businesses that are most in need.

Learn more about the Minneapolis Mask Ordinance here.

Help is Available

Check out our updated COVID-19 Resource Page for links to emergency rent assistance, unemployment, food shelves, maps of local businesses offering curbside pick-up, online kids’ activities, and details on our new indoor mask ordinance at https://armatage.org/covid19