From Challenges to Change: Building Safer Communities Together
Cultivating peace and safety alongside a community takes time. It’s been just over a year since NP held its celebratory open house at the Hub for Nonviolence & Safety. During this time, our Minneapolis staff has built relationships with many community members—from neighboring residents to youth to local business owners.
Community-Led Safety Initiatives
When the team first moved into the neighborhood, crime rates were high. There was almost a daily presence of police, ambulances, folks out in the bus stops under the influence of drugs, or using drugs.
Across all of our country programmes, NP takes a community-led approach. After noticing large amounts of liter, staff mobilized the community to help clean up the area. Getting the community involved in cleaning up the streets has allowed residents to take ownership of their environment.
Signs of Change: A Business Owner’s Perspective
Will Wallace, Senior Advisor of Community Peacebuilding, recently received some encouraging news from Alex, a restaurant owner at The Lowry Café, just down the street from the Hub. As they were talking, Alex shared, “Hey, you know, we’re going to be extending our hours here at the restaurant. Right now, we’re open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now, I might extend the hours from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. or even 9 o’clock.”
When Will asked him if he truly felt the area was safe now, Alex assuringly replied, "Oh, yeah, it's safe around here now.” This conversation was a much needed reminder that small, consistent efforts over time can transform communities.
The Power and Impact of Collective Action
Having a consistent presence in the community has been essential to this transformation. NP staff doesn’t just work at the Hub—they work alongside and with the community. Throughout the warmer months, NP hosted Coffee Mondays, in addition to nine community events featuring cookouts, games, and music. These events and encounters established trust and mutual respect.
Now, residents are actively maintaining a cleaner and safer space for all. Not only do parents worry less about their children’s safety at the nearby bus stops, but folks can wait for the bus without fear. The presence of police and emergency officials has significantly decreased, a testament to the positive shift in the neighborhood’s atmosphere.
But this evolution hasn’t been achieved alone. Other community-led organizations have played a crucial role in fostering safety, including Brothers EMpowered, Restoration Inc., and A Mother’s Love. Twin Cities Recovery Project has also played a role, by focusing on substance abuse prevention. Even Proverbs Christian Fellowship, the church across the street, has been involved, with the pastor and his wife playing an active role in the neighborhood’s renewal.
As business owners like Alex feel confident enough to extend their hours, it’s clear that these efforts are making major impacts. And as Will puts it, “It’s really been a collective effort in this neighborhood to bring about change.”
