I'm curious about how the community activists on the ground in Minneapolis feel about the NRP program being held up as an international example? Also, can anyone update me on the future of the program?
I'm a little disappointed, that don't know more about the NRP program from my neighboring city. Any comments? ...."
Last evening I was reading Tim Erickson's post about the Minneapolis NRP being "held up as an international example" of citizen participation. During that time I received a call from Tony Scallon, (ex-City Council Member) to discuss the wonderful Charter school program he runs in Minneapolis. While talking to him about that program we also discussed his and my efforts several years ago to save the Community University Health Care Clinic (CUHCC Clinic) for the Phillips Community. I suddenly realized that this was the man, along with Peter McLaughlin, who was directly responsible for NRP. I was also struck by the comparison of this man with the politicians that have come to Minneapolis after him. His drive created Milwaukee Avenue, started the revitalization of Seward Neighborhood, saved CUHCC, created NRP, and now has created a wonderful educational institution for our disadvantaged inner-city children. Amazing how the quality of leadership has dropped in the City of Minneapolis.
I guess the old saying about getting no respect at home is certainly true for Minneapolis. NRP certainly is a good example of that. When visiting other "Empowerment Zone" cities around the country, or even cities that are held as models of "Planning" such as Portland and Vancouver, I am surprised to find that they uniformly envy Minneapolis for its NRP program. They present NRP as a shining example of how to build community and bring residents into the process of solving a city's problems more efficiently. They want to learn about how to bring its benefits to their own city.
When discussing their community based planning with the Vancouver Planning Department officials I was surprised to find that they were as eager to learn from me about NRP, as I was to learn about their carriage houses and urban planning. The amazing thing was that the secret of each city's success in their particular area was the same; community based solutions to community problems and that "Plan" being implemented citywide. The great difference was that Vancouver, B.C. officials knew their community based planning was the best on the continent; and were justifiably proud of it. Minneapolis officials on the other hand seem to feel threatened by NRP and the giving of power to communities. Amazing isn't it? People from Portland Oregon, Vancouver (and even one small town in Arkansas who called me) know about and want information on NRP to help their own cities.
Yet our own politicians have attempted to limit NRP, then kill it, and now attempt to raid it as if it were a slush fund to make up for their own shortcomings. Perhaps because some politicians feel threatened by it? I guess Minneapolis politicians just do not trust and respect Minneapolis residents. Perhaps Minneapolis residents should learn from this and not respect and trust and any politician who does not equally respect and trust them
Well there was a time when politicians did respect and TRUST the people. Tony Scallon at the City had a better idea, and Peter McLaughlin at the State worked to build a system that would harness the creative power of the people to solve community problems more efficiently by empowering those same people. Tony Scallon at the City and Peter McLaughlin then at the State Legislature both deserve tremendous credit for their creation of NRP. Certainly there were other people involved, but those two men were the driving forces behind the creation of what is both a national and international model of good and effective government. Their vision and work has empowered an entire city.
At a national conference on Empowerment Zones, the National Director said that the most important thing that a community received from the "Empowerment Zone" program was not the few million dollars, but the "Critical Planning" that it engaged in. Because of NRP Minneapolis has engaged in "Critically Planning" every community in the City of Minneapolis. That experience has of course "Empowered" the residents of Minneapolis to find creative solutions to their own community's problems. The experience has also been empowering because it has thoroughly demonstrated to residents that their solutions are far more useful and effective than any that city "officials" have to offer. They have learned to trust and respect their own hard work, it's too bad that many of our presently elected officials do not share that respect.
So the long answer to Tim is that yes NRP is still limping along. It continues to be the most effective use and investment of tax dollars in Minneapolis history. Those politicians that fear it have damaged it, but NRP continues to empower residents of Minneapolis. It is of course waiting for the time a new group of elected leaders will come along and who like Tony Scallon and Peter McLaughlin before them will trust and respect the residents of Minneapolis. NRP like democracy trusts the wisdom of the people. Like democracy it is not all that we would wish that it could be, but like democracy it is just the best thing around. We should remember that when Minneapolis residents go to the polls to exercise that democracy, and elect people who respect and trust them.
Jim Graham,
Ventura Village, Phillips Community, Sixth Ward of Minneapolis
"The people are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty."
- Thomas Jefferson
"There is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into babies, or revolution into minds".
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