Board Meets for Annual Retreat/Orientation

The District 1 Board of Directors, with its two new directors, met at Culvers Restaurant on April 25 to discuss their roles and talk about their visions of our neighborhoods. This meeting is an opportunity to clarify responsibilities, learn about the structure and processes of the organization, and to have time to get to know fellow board members a bit better.

This year, we also had a presentation from a group of UMN Humphrey Institute students who have been researching the impact of immigrant populations on the neighborhood. With all the vacancies within our business district, we are interested to understand better how we can attract small business owners who may also be members of our immigrant communities. One thing we recognize, and that we have heard repeatedly from residents is that our business district lacks all kinds of diversity - too many fast food restaurants (or restaurants generally), and not enough retail or destination businesses. We have a very ethnically diverse neighborhood, but we lack a similar diversity in our businesses.

But how do we attract such business diversity when we are a neighborhood organization rather than a business association? Laura, Liz and Darrinn are developing some recommendations for us. And we need to look at the new census data to see if we can discern trends in our population - understanding these can help us do our job better.

When the final report is finished, we will post it on our website.

Next month, it is back to business and a regular community-oriented board meeting. We will be hearing from representatives of the Gateway Corridor and listening to YOU. Mark your calendars now - May 23 at 6:30p (location TBD shortly...).

Thanks to Doug and the crew at Culvers for their hospitality this month!