HomeMy WebLinkAboutOS Narrative_CommunityBenefitExhibits_EngagementReportUpdated June 14, 2022
City of Brooklyn Center
Community Development Director
Attn: Ms. Meg McMahan
6301 Shingle Creek Parkway
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
Ms. Meg McMahan,
Alatus LLC (“Alatus”), Project for Pride in Living (“PPL”), and Resurrecting Faith
World Ministries (“RFWM”), together the Development Sponsors, are pleased to present the
following formal land use approval package application for the proposed redevelopment parcels
located at 2500 CO and 5900 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430. The
proposed project, Opportunity Site –Phase #1, will encompass a significant area of the land on
tax parcels PID #0211821240019 and PID #0211821240019, both current ly owned by the City
of Brooklyn Center Economic Development Authority.More specifically, the total size of this
Phase #1 is approximately 16 acres divided as follows:
Alatus Market Rate & Mixed Use Multi-family –5.09 acres
PPL and RFWM Family &Workforce Housing –3.09 acres
Entrepreneur Market Plaza -.71 acres
Resurrecting Faith World Ministries Event Center –1.87 acres
Outlot –5.02 acres
A tremendous amount of work by various stakeholders in the community and region have
participated in creating this proposed development concept and we are all excited to be moving
this revolutionary project forward -thus far the outcomes have been outstanding.
In order to fulfill the established criteria for such a substantial submission, the applicant
will discuss nine components related to the entire scope of the Opportunity Site –Phase #1
development proposal:
Infrastructure Plan:
Opportunity Site –Phase #1 has significant infrastructure improvements and investments
that will be occurring in and around the area. Due to unique engineering circumstances of the
Shingle Creek & West Mississippi Watershed Management District, the creation of large
volumed stormwater facilities is required in order to adequately provide drainage services for the
to-be developed parcels. These facilities will generally rest to the east of the proposed housing
and commercial development footprint and will be integrated with pedestrian and way-finding
improvements to improve the beautification of these parcels in general.When the project is
completed, Opportunity Site –Phase #1 will occupy approximately 20% of the value of the to-
be-built stormwater retention facility, with the other approximately 80% coming from to-be-
developed Opportunity Site Phases.
The proposed development will also require an outlot, Outlot A, to be established,
constructed,and maintained by the Development Sponsors and affiliated entities. This outlot,
that will be approximately 5.02 acres in size,will encompass the interior site circulation for
vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists, as well as any other shared multi -modal experiences,and
will also serve to construct shared parking facilities for guests and residents alike in the form of
on-street parking. Beneath these various transit ways will also be various utilities including
stormwater, sewer, electricity, and fiber utilities. Various easements will need to be established
in order to appropriately integrate these spaces into the larger community and ensure that
adequate maintenance is completed at all times.
While Opportunity Site –Phase #1 contemplates the progressive components of a transit
oriented development site (“TOD”), it is also crucially important to consider current transit and
vehicular considerations. Below is a brief parking analysis based on the estimated residential use
rates and the contemplated demand for the commercial and retail spaces. On the whole, the
proposed development has a slight surplus of parking which will be available in the event of
significant need for overflow parking:
Stormwater:
The proposed Opportunity Site –Phase #1 stormwater management systems will consist
of man-made infrastructure collecting and routing stormwater volumes into a to-be-constructed
regional stormwater park that will be located on the east side of the proposed development (as
seen below and in attached slides). This regional stormwater park will be handling rate control
and water quality, among other things, in order to meet the stated criteria of both the City of
Brooklyn Center and Shingle Creek and West Mississippi Watershed District. The to-be-
constructed regional system, that will be a part of the infrastructure development for this master
project, will also handle future stormwater management needs as the remainder of the
Opportunity Site continues to be redeveloped from its existing uses.Stormwater plans are
attached for each site as a whole with appropriate calculations for integration into the larger
regional stormwater system this is being created.
Phased Plan & Housing Plan:
As the Opportunity Site –Phase #1 is currently considered, it would consist of six phases
(A, B, C, D, E and F), with the first phase to commence being larger than the second through
sixth phases. The first phase, A,would consist of Alatus –Multifamily Housing 1 (Site 1),
Entrepreneur Market (Site 1),and RFWM –Event Center (Site 2), and a significant component
of the site’s infrastructure components, as previously discussed.
The first phase of development:Opportunity Site –Phase #1A will consist of:
278 market-rate rental units –Alatus Multifamily Housing 1 (Site 1)with 395 structured
parking stalls (1.42 parking stall/unit ratio)
This will consist of studios, alcoves, 1 BDR, 2 BDR, 3 BDR, and 4 BDR
units, some furnished and with co-living amenities and lease structures for
more affordable, urban living options
20,012 sqft –Entrepreneur Marketplace (“EMP”)(part of Site 1)–Owned by the City of
Brooklyn Center (discussed further in the Commercial & Retail Plan section)
26,478 sqft –RFWM –Event Center &Social Care Facility (Site 2)(discussed further in
the Commercial & Retail Plan section)
It is anticipated that the first phase (A)development component will encompass approximately
50%of the total development activities and costs that will take place. It should be noted that
Phases #1A,Phase #1B, and Phase #1C will consist of a blend of rental housing opportunities for
a diverse spectrum of community members, much of the infrastructure for the development,and
also will incorporate public spaces for inclusive business organization and growth training, as
facilitated by the City of Brooklyn Center’s EMP.
The second phase of development:Opportunity Site –Phase #1B will consist of:
o 60 Low Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) units –PPL & RFWM –Family
Housing (Site 4)
This will consist of studios, alcoves, 1 BDR, 2 BDR, 3 BDR, and 4 BDR
units; 75% of the total units will be greater than or equal to 2 BDR units
16 units at 30% AMI (27% of units)
44 units at 50% AMI (73% of units)
In this second phase,all of the rental housing developed, will be affordable to those at or below
50% AMI and with generally unit types greater than or equal to 2 BDRs.
The third phase of development:Opportunity Site –Phase #1C will consist of:
205 mixed-income rental units –Alatus Multifamily Housing 2 (Site 3)with 290
structured parking stalls (1.41 parking stall/unit ratio)
This will consist of studios, alcoves, 1 BDR, 2 BDR, 3 BDR, and 4 BDR
units, some furnished and with co-living amenities and lease structures for
more affordable, urban living options
41 units at 60% area median income (“AMI”) (20% of units)
41 units at 80% AMI (20% of units)
Note that 40% of the housing in this phase will be at or below 80%.It is anticipated that from
commencement of Phase #1A to the completion of Phase #1C will take approximately 3 years.
The fourth phase of development:Opportunity Site –Phase #1D will consist of:
o 70 LIHTC rental units –PPL & RFWM –Family & Workforce Housing (Site 5)
This will consist of studios, alcoves, 1 BDR, 2 BDR, 3 BDR, and 4 BDR
units; 50% of the total units will be greater than or equal to 2 BDR units
19 units at 30% AMI (27% of units)
51 units at 50% AMI (73% of units)
In this fourth phase,once again,all of the rental housing developed, will be affordable to those at
or below 50% AMI and with generally unit types greater than or equal to 2 BDRs.
The fifth phase and sixth phase of development:Opportunity Site –Phases 1E and 1F will
consist of another 130 LIHTC rental units with details to be decided at a later date.
In summary, the first six (A –F)phases of the Opportunity Site –Phase #1 will consist of:
743 multifamily housing rental units
342 multifamily housing rental units which will have a designated affordability at or
below 80% AMI or 56% of the total proposed multifamily housing development for the
Opportunity Site –Phase #1
260 of those 342 multifamily housing rental units will have a designated affordability at
or below 50% AMI or 42% of the total proposed multifamily housing development for
the Opportunity Site –Phase #1
20,012 sqft –Entrepreneur Market –Owned by the City of Brooklyn Center (discussed
further in the Commercial & Retail plan section)
26,478 sqft –RFWM –Event Center & Social Care Facility (discussed further in the
Commercial & Retail plan section)
Various public infrastructure facilities, plazas, pavilions, walking trails and spaces, and
integration with existing transit infrastructure
Every phase will include components beneficial to the community –the total monetary
value of those community benefits equates to approximately $22.6 million.
Commercial & Retail Plan:
The Opportunity Site –Phase #1 has been carefully crafted and through a diverse set of
engagement efforts throughout the Brooklyn Center community, a thoughtful and impactful
preliminary retail and commercial plan has been included for the proposed development. It will
consist of two major offerings:
RFWM Event Center & Social Care Facility –the Opportunity Site –Phase #1A will
contain a full service,locally owned,Event Center that will exist to host events and
services within the community.
o The vison for the RFWM Event Center & Social Care Facility Center is to,“[. . .]
exceed the expectations of our clients and diverse community by giving them a
beautiful Culturally Based Gathering experience as well as Event Space for all
their types of Special Events. In order to achieve our vision we will have the
required coordination and planning expertise for all types of events, with
professional and competent staff that will help make the events of our clients a
memorable one.”
o Furthermore, the RFWM Event Center & Social Care Facility has been
established with a Campus Style Development, encompassing the following
features:
Affordable Housing –sponsored by RFWM, PPL, and Alatus
Event Center –The Gathering Place
24-Hour Child Care Facility
Barber / Beautification Suites
Therapy & Counseling Offices (Serving All Mental Health Clients)
o A brief overview of the businesses residing within the RFWM Event Center and
Social Care Facility are as follows:
The Gathering Place
The Gathering Place is an event center that offers unique and personalized
services to all our clients, domestic and corporate. Our event hours of
operation are from 7am to 1am. Our non-event staff work hours are from
7am to 5pm Monday through Friday. We will have a max of 7 employees
during our office hours and require one parking space for each employee.
As for catering and various event services, street parking will be available,
and the designated Event Center staff spots will be available outside of
working hours.
Faith Academy (24-Hour Childcare Center)
Faith Academy is a 24-hour childcare facility and will be open Monday
through Saturday. The center will have a max of 7 staff within the 24-hour
time frame, with seven spots designated to those staff during working
hours. In addition, we will have three spots designated for parent pickup
and drop-off.
Lewis Family Wellness and Barber Suites
Lewis Family Wellness, a therapy office, will have operating hours from
8am to 8pm. Our Barber Suites will have working hours from 6am to 6pm.
Both businesses will have available street parking that surrounds the
building.
o The outcomes of the RFWM Event Center & Social Care Facility are as such:
To gather a diverse community together in a safe and pleasurable environment.
To unify a diversified community with services and entertainment.
To meet the affordable housing needs of the Brooklyn Center community.
To provide an affordable and excellent 24-hour child care facility for the
Brooklyn Center community.
To provide affordable services in the campus style community
development.
Brooklyn Center Entrepreneurship Market Strategy –Entrepreneur Market Plaza
o Acer Inc. and NEOO Partners Inc. have completed a significant amount of
strategic diligence, engagement and review in crafting a business plan for the
proposed Entrepreneur Market Plaza.
o Entrepreneur Market Plaza (“EMP”)Space Description:
“The Entrepreneur Market Plaza space is a community-led vibrant global
marketplace that provides an immersive experience for communities to
discover and support BIPOC business in the community. We create
different economic opportunities for entrepreneurs to seed their businesses
in a thriving environment that is progressive and sustainable . Our mission
is to provide local BIPOC businesses the opportunity to create a cultural
experience that is innovative, supportive, and inclusive to the
communities. Our Entrepreneur Market Plaza marketplace is located at
the intersection of Hwy 10 & Shingle Creek in Brooklyn Center.”–pg. #8
–City of Brooklyn Center Entrepreneur Market Project
o Three significant take-aways from the City of Brooklyn Center EMP document
which was completed on May 31st, 2021 –pg. #5 –6 of reference document:
“By investing in small minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, the
Entrepreneurship Market Plaza could positively impact job creation for
BIPOC residents.”
“There is a robust innovation and small business support ecosystem in the
region that could support the Entrepreneurship Market Plaza.”
“A general incubator format that provides a variety of services ranging
from ideation to intensive incubation is the best approach for Brooklyn
Center businesses.”
o The Development Sponsors, as well as NEOO Partners, Acer Inc. and Design by
Melo are still pursuing the proper and final execution of this building and its
business plan and there will be forthcoming engagement with stakeholders to
bring this business plan to fruition.
Green Sustainability Plan:
Integration of District & Regional Stormwater Systems –Opportunity Site –Phase #1
will feature a fully integrated sustainable stormwater system tied into the greater
Shingle Creek & West Mississippi Watershed Management District using both
natural resources and man-made infrastructure to facilitate stormwater management
and stormwater runoff. The site, once demolished and redeveloped,will be a
dramatic improvement in overall permeability.
Sustainable HVAC Systems –Each residential building in the proposed development
will feature a fully centralized heating and cooling system known as a variable
refrigerant flow (“VRF”) heat pump system. VRF systems balance heating and
cooling needs throughout the building, versus a residential unit-only system –this
results in an approximately 30% reduction in electricity consumption, minimal
natural gas consumption, and an overall reduction in resident utility billings for a
given period by about 30%.
Exploring Integration of Geothermal Heating Sources –In addition to a centralized
VRF heating and cooling system, the Development Sponsors will be exploring the
possibility of geothermal water sourced heating and cooling that would be used to
provide the input to the heating and cooling systems –this would virtually reduce the
consumption of all natural gases and fossil fuels to an extremely small amount, if any ,
when paired with other sustainable building systems that are proposed
Installation of Rooftop Solar Array Systems –all residential and commercial
buildings with feasible rooftop surface areas will install commercial rooftop solar
arrays for on-site electricity generation. For the multi-family residential buildings,
most rooftop solar array installations will power approximately 50% of the electricity
consumed on-site.
Installation of Wireless Home Monitoring Systems for Residents –the installation of
wireless thermostats and in-unit home monitoring systems will further reduce power
consumption in units and allow for residents to balance their heating and cooling
needs more appropriately when at,and away from,home.
Installation of Real Time Energy Monitoring Systems –Reduce Power Usage &
Water Usage –a majority of the residential multifamily units will have real time
energy consumption monitoring happening on-site which will reduce spikes in
electricity consumption and inform decisions regarding on-site potable water use as
well as recognize if any water is being lost through leaks in municipal water utility
systems
Integration of Transit & Shared Multi-Modal Systems –the location of the
Opportunity Site –Phase #1 and its adjacency to a major retail center with grocer and
retail offerings allows residents of the proposed development to conveniently
eliminate many last-mile trips with the help of shared multi-modal offerings on-site
and other shared offerings. The Development Sponsors will be actively working to
integrate autonomous circulator vehicles to allow for easy to-and-from to Shingle
Creek Crossings free of charge. Additionally, a majority of the structured parking
stalls in all multifamily residential buildings will have or be readied for electric
vehicle charging.
Planned Social Impact / Social Benefits Plan & Community Benefits Agreement:
The Development Sponsors, the City of Brooklyn Center, and other stakeholders
assisting with the Opportunity Site –Phase #1 have engaged in extensive community discussions
and have especially focused on speaking with segments of the community that are often left
under-represented in large community real estate development discussions. As a result of the
thorough processes and procedures that were utilized, the development plan and proposal has
seen significant advances and improvements consisting of a more diverse and representative
development sponsor team, re-orientation of the proposed housing units and EMP, and additional
event, health, and wellness offerings for the entire community of Brooklyn Center and the
residents of this community.Please see the attached enclosure labeled “Community Benefits
Schedule”, in addition to the materials submitted in the applicants PUD application,which
outline the additional various community benefit components of the master plan that are planned.
Additionally, the submission of these materials for the project Land Use Application
materials will kickoff a process with the Citizen Advisory Task force, culminating in the
agreement of development components for this proposed master development that will be
memorialized in a development agreement or similar document that will live with the project.
For further engagement efforts and discussion, please refer to the enclosed “Pilot Opportunity
Site Engagement Report” that was completed in the first quarter of 2022.
Plans for Parks & Greenspace:
We recognize that what will set this place apart and make it a place unique to Brooklyn
Center are the public spaces that weave everything together.This is true at a broader scale as the
larger overall redevelopment becomes a regional center for living,working, and playing and it’s
true all the way down to a hyper local scale in the spaces we create within the first phase of
development.At the edge of our site are 2 unique larger parks with varied emphases on
stormwater and/or recreation and play while within our site there are numerous opportunities to
create moments within the landscape, places to stop and rest and interact with the outdoors.
Three Rivers Park District:
Just north of this Opportunity Site Phase #1 will be a 3.5 acre park owned and managed by the
Three Rivers Park District.With over 27,000 acres under it’s control in the Twin Cities Metro,
this organization’s mission is t o promote environmental stewardship through recreation and
education in a natural resources-based park system.Since 1957, this organization has provided
places for communities to be active and provides wonderful programs to promote interaction and
learning about our natural surroundings.This will be one of Three Rivers Park Districts first
investments into Brooklyn Center as well as one of their first investments into a first ring
metropolitan suburb.
Our belief is that each of these interactive, outdoor spaces are unique opportunities to help
people stop and connect with each other and with their surroundings and that no detail is not
worthy of this task.It’s these moments and the materials that create the unique spaces that will
make important places while this part of the world is transformed into its next important version
of itself.
Public & Private Financing:
The Development Sponsors have been working hand-in-hand with local agencies, private
lenders, construction companies, architects, engineers, and other real estate stakeholders to
developing a preliminary project financing model and proforma encompassing all of the items
enumerated above. Here is a brief roll-up that can be discussed in more detail as the project
progresses through the necessary approvals.It should be noted that due to the current
inflationary environment, partnered with tremendous volatility in financial markets, we expect
these values to change but this is our reasonable estimate of project costs and subsidy at this
time.
The Development Sponsors, as well as the additional stakeholders, and all affiliated
parties are looking forward to kicking off the formal entitlement process, further engaging in
efforts to make the EMP a tangible asset for the City of Brooklyn Center, and ultimately
providing a spectrum of residential and commercial development that is inclusive and accessible
for a wide range of people from various walks of life.
Lastly, we appreciate the City of Brooklyn Center’s reconsideration of this application
and we have also enclosed a memo from BKV Group addressing each of the previously
transmitted comments related to the incomplete application filed on May 10th, 2022.
Sincerely,
Chris Osmundson
Director of Development –Alatus LLC
(C): 612.201.8487
cbosmundson@alatusllc.com
Enclosures:
Community Benefits Schedule
BKV Group –City Staff Memo Response
Community Comment Integration Diagrams
“Brooklyn Center Entreneurship Market Strategy –Opportunity Site –Phase I”–completed
by NEOO Partners and Acer Inc.
“Pilot Opportunity Site Engagement Report”–completed by NEOO Partners
Code Name (Per Legend)SF Total Costs Costs %
CG-1 Entrepreneur Market 20,000 7,500,000$33.1%
CG-3 24 - hour Child Care Center 5,200 2,314,651$10.2%
CG-4 Outdoor Play Area 1,900 845,738$3.7%
CG-5 Therapy Suites 3,100 1,379,888$6.1%
CG-6 Regional Stormwater Mgmt System 74,200 1,611,000$7.1%
CG-7 Public ROW - Shingle Creek to John Martin Dr 68,400 1,000,000$4.4%
CG-8 Street Lighting 65 total lights 485,500$2.1%
GS-1 Public Park And Trail System 222,900 1,000,000$4.4%
GS-2 Public Park 7,000 315,000$1.4%
GS-3 Entreprenuer Market Plaza 12,000 660,000$2.9%
GS-4 Community Flex Street 34,700 2,082,000$9.2%
GS-5 Public Plaza 3,700 166,500$0.7%
HS-1 60 Affordable Housing Units -NA
HS-2 70 Affordable Housing Units -NA
HS-3 287 Market Housing Units -NA
HS-4 200 Mixed-Income Units -NA
PA-1 Public Art Opportunity -1,500,000$
TR-1 Connection to Shingle Creek Regional Trail 12,300 922,500$4.1%
TR-2 Connection to Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge 11,300 847,500$3.7%
TR-3 Access to Public Transit --$
TR-4 Public Bike Parking --$
Total 22,630,277$100.0%
Opportunity Site - Phase #1 (A, B, C, D, E, F)
75.00$
75.00$
4.49$
45.00$
55.00$
60.00$
45.00$
445.13$
21.71$
14.62$
7,469.23$
Community Benefits Schedule (Per PUD Application)
Costs PSF or Unit
375.00$
445.13$
445.13$
35%
11%
4%7%
8%
5%
2%
5%
1%
3%
10%
1%
4%
4%
Community Benefit -$ Composition
Entrepreneur Market
24 - hour Child Care Center
Outdoor Play Area
Therapy Suites
Regional Stormwater Mgmt System
Public ROW - Shingle Creek to John Martin Dr
Street Lighting
Public Park And Trail System
Public Park
Entreprenuer Market Plaza
Community Flex Street
Public Plaza
Connection to Shingle Creek Regional Trail
Connection to Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge
WHAT WE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY: Inclusive gathering places and open spaces
BROOKLYN CENTER, MN | 2344.03 | 05/10/2022
Pilot Site Program Includes:
•Entrepreneur Market Plaza
•Flex Street
•Stormwater Park
•Three Rivers Park
•RFWM Event Center
•Trail & Sidewalk Connections to
existing community assets.
Opportunity Site Master Plan
WHAT WE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY: Inclusive gathering places and open spaces
Pilot Site Program Includes:
•Trail & Sidewalk Connections to
existing community assets.
Opportunity Site Master Plan
BROOKLYN CENTER, MN | 2344.03 | 05/10/2022
WHAT WE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY:A housing spectrum that is more representative of Community standards.
Pilot Site Program Includes:
•250 Affordable Housing Units
•205 Mixed Income Units
•278 Market Rate Units
Opportunity Site Master Plan
BROOKLYN CENTER, MN | 2344.03 | 05/10/2022
Pilot Site Includes:
•Entrepreneur Market to be
owned and programmed via
community stakeholders,
City of Brooklyn Center and
Citizen Advisory Task Force.
WHAT WE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY:Local Community business focus and integration of underserved residents.
Opportunity Site Master Plan
BROOKLYN CENTER, MN | 2344.03 | 05/10/2022
Pilot Site Program Includes:
•24-hour childcare center.
WHAT WE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY:Need for more childcare options.
Opportunity Site Master Plan
BROOKLYN CENTER, MN | 2344.03 | 05/10/2022
Pilot Site Includes:
•Stormwater strategies that are intended
to be experienced through integrated
landscape design, trails and places to
gather.
•Onsite renewable and alternative energy
sources.
•High efficiency building systems.
WHAT WE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY:What is the stormwater management strategy and alternative energy strategies?
Opportunity Site Master Plan
BROOKLYN CENTER, MN | 2344.03 | 05/10/2022
Contents
Brooklyn Center Opportunity Site � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 4
Community Engagement Management � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5
Process of Selection � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 5
Community Outreach and Engagement Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6
Reporting and Presentation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6
Engagement Strategy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 7
Description of Community Partners’ Activities Outcomes and Objectives � � 8
Project Management Meeting Type � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 10
Resources Provided � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12
Summary of Community Engagement Activities � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12
About Our Community Partners � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13
MN Zej Zog � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13
MIND � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15
Minnesota African United � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 16
Minnesota African Coalition (MAC) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 17
LIBRA � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18
Brooklyn Bridge Youth Alliance � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 19
Community Make-Up � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20
The Hmong in Brooklyn Center � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20
MIND � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20
Minnesota Africans United � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21
Minnesota African Coalition � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21
LIBA � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22
Brooklyn Bridge Youth Alliance � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 22
Engagement Activities and Feedback � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23
MN ZEG ZOG � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23
Door-Knocking � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23
Responses – Door-Knocking � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 24
Translated OS Documents � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 25
Culturally Specific Events � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 25
Social Media Outreach � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 28
Business Interviews � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 28
Observations/Closing Comments � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 29
MIND � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 29
Focus Groups � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 29
Survey Responses � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 30
Minnesota Africans United � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31
Focus Groups � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 31
Minnesota African Coalition � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 33
Door-Knocking � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 34
Focus Groups � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 35
Town Hall Meetings � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 36
Social Media Report � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 37
LIBA � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 38
Focus Group � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 38
Technical Assistance Activities � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 39
Brooklyn Bridge Youth Alliance � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 40
CHALLENGES � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 49
MN ZEG ZOG � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 49
MIND � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 49
Minnesota African United � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 50
Minnesota African Coalition � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 50
LIBA � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 51
Brooklyn Bridge Youth Alliance � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 51
APPENDIX � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 4
BROOKLYN CENTER OPPORTUNITY SITE
The Brooklyn Center Opportunity Site is an approximately 80-acre area the City of Brooklyn Center (“the
City”) has identified for redevelopment as part of the Becoming Brooklyn Center Initiative—a collection
of related activities that make progress toward the City’s vision of a thriving, diverse, safe, and inclusive
community�
The goals of the Opportunity Site are to create a downtown center and signature destination that offers
green space, is well maintained, and has appropriate amenities that will drive the City’s future economic
growth, serving the entire community that calls Brooklyn Center home�
The City elected to implement the Becoming Brooklyn Center Initiative through the development of the
Opportunity Site Pilot Project� The project consists of a proposed development for approximately 15 acres
of the Opportunity Site� The Pilot Project’s Development Team is led by Alatus, the development company
working in partnership with Project for Pride in Living and Resurrecting Faith World Ministries� The proposed
plan for the Pilot Project includes a mix of housing, small business incubator space, and community
amenities such as an event center, public plaza, and public art�
The City created a pool of qualified Community Partners to lead and implement a variety of community
engagement activities that will gather feedback and participation from target demographic groups in the
Brooklyn Center community to respond to the Pilot Development Project in the City’s Opportunity Site�
Community Partners have led a wide variety of community engagement activities� The community feedback
gathered through the engagement work led by the selected Community Partners will inform and shape
the Pilot Project in a way that is authentically inclusive and representative of local community voices in the
City� This engagement work around the Pilot Project will also inform and shape the community benefits
requested from future public and private investments and a Community Benefits Plan, which will outline
how the Opportunity Site as a whole can achieve identified metrics that will support local community
thriving�
Increased tax base
Benefit to community schools
New parks and recreation amenities
Increased shopping, dining, and entertainment options
More housing options
Spaces for local businesses
Water quality improvements to Shingle Creek
Additional benefits are intended to include:
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGEMENT
NEOO Partners was selected to manage the community engagement process
for the Brooklyn Center Pilot Opportunity Site� NEOO was tasked with developing
an engagement process that was inclusive, representative of community
voices, and collaborative, with a goal to interweave community inputs into
the final development program and design� NEOO Partners was also tasked
with identifying qualified community partners to carry out engagement
activities for the Brooklyn Center Opportunity Site, outlining and coordinating
the engagement process and providing guidance on best practices�
Additionally, NEOO Partners was charged with managing the budget and other
administrative duties�
As a firm that understands the intricacies of diverse communities combined
with barriers that may exist due to culture, language, trust, and accessibility,
NEOO Partners sought to develop a process that removed barriers and opened
opportunities to learn from each other�
The premise was to identify community organizations in the Brooklyn Center community with a history
of engaging the public in various issues that are affecting the community� From previous engagement
attempts, NEOO learned that there was a level of distrust among certain community members due to
misunderstandings, miscommunication, and a lack of engagement� To reverse the apathy in previous
engagements, NEOO Partners and the City felt it necessary to have a process led by trusted community
leaders�
NEOO Partners worked with the City to develop a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit community
partners to participate in the engagement process� Working with the client, NEOO Partners identified
more than 20 community groups in the Brooklyn Center community and reached out directly to solicit
participation� The RFQ was distributed on the City’s website, on social media pages, and to local places of
worship and schools�
The RFQ included information about the 15-acre pilot site, a description of community and engagement
services needed, consulting services, reporting and presentation, key dates, and evaluation criteria�
Process of Selection
5
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 6
The ideal Community Partner was required to have the skills, experience, and existing relationships to help
build relationships between the City and the most impacted target groups that have been historically
marginalized and left out of traditional community engagement and public planning processes� In their role,
the Community Partners were responsible for gathering input and feedback from a variety of community,
public, private, and nonprofit voices and stakeholders through methods such as the following:
The selected Community Partner was tasked with developing specific community engagement strategies
that are culturally appropriate for the group being represented, including the following:
The Community Partner was required to provide regular updates to City staff, the City’s Community
Engagement Manager, and the Pilot Project Development Team through periodic check-in meetings, and
provide reports and summary information related to the nature, timing, and methods of engagement as
requested� The Community Partner will also deliver summaries of the stakeholder feedback it gathers from
meetings, interviews, surveys, or other methods of community engagement�
The RFQ was released in spring 2021� Approximately 15 community organizations submitted their qualifications�
NEOO Partners reviewed each submission and interviewed each community member to better understand
their qualifications�
Community Outreach and Engagement Services
Consulting Services
Reporting and Presentation
Organizing, hosting, and facilitating community conversations
Convening interviews and focus groups
Conducting online, paper, and in-person surveys
Using translation and/or interpretive services in targeted languages such as Spanish, Somali,
Hmong, and West Africa Pidgin
Create an engagement plan that can be effectively executed and documented
Oversee and implement the community engagement plan related to the specific target group
Record and analyze community input and recommendations and develop a report of findings
Develop and support communication plans by creating key messaging; developing flyers, mailers,
and other written communications; and advertising using print, social media, press, radio, and
other outlets
The results of reviewing the submissions and interviews revealed that a number of organizations were
heavily skilled in one or more of the areas and lacked engagement skills in another area� NEOO released
a second proposal that encouraged combining teams that met the necessary criteria in order to carry
out complete engagement activities� Teams were to be skilled in door-knocking, facilitating town halls
and focus groups, and distributing and collecting surveys� The teams were asked to submit a budget that
was equivalent to the engagement tasks they were to perform� Many of the community organizations
combined into teams� There were seven submittals and represented communities across the African
diaspora, the Hmong community, business groups, and youth groups� The cumulative budget request
was $423,000� Working with the community partners, NEOO Partners was able to right size the cumulative
budget to $300,000� Each community group was tasked with engagement activities that represented the
skills of their teams� Some of the community partners only performed door-knocking, while others did a
combination of town hall meetings, focus groups, and door-knocking� The average size of the contract was
approximately $33,000�
Community Partners were selected to lead and implement a variety of community engagement activities
that resulted in feedback and participation from target demographic groups in the Brooklyn Center
community regarding the Opportunity Site Pilot Project� Community Partners were given the autonomy to
carry out engagement activities that best fit the needs of their communities� For example, some community
partners were tasked with door-knocking� The approach to door-knocking varied greatly among community
partners� Some community partners set up one-on-one meetings with community members to discuss
the survey and then completed it on their behalf, sometimes virtually and other times face to face� Others
canvassed neighborhoods and randomly knocked on doors� The goal was to not create a one-size-fits-all
engagement activity� Below is a chart that describes the activities, outcomes, and hours allocated for each
Community Partner�
Engagement Strategy
Brooklyn Center Opportunity Site 7
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 8
#
Community
Partner
Name
Activities Docket Number
# of Hours
Allocated
for Staff &
Leadership
1 MN Zen Zog
1� Door-knocking (200)
2� Material translation
services
3� Town hall session (3)
4� Cultural event
tagalongs (3)
5� Social media post
and ads (12)
6� Asian business focus
group (50)
1� Reach 200 addresses door to door
2� Translate all public materials into
Hmong
3� Host three culturally specific town hall
sessions
4� Attend up to three cultural events to
share information about the project
5� Reach 50,000 through social media
targeted ads
6� Conduct business focus group
interviews with 25 Asian businesses
7� Translation
8� Food
500
2 LIBA
1� Business roundtable
– town hall session
(2)
2� Business technical
assistance (10) (prep
for opportunities)
1� Convene 50 business leaders to
discuss the Opportunity Site and
engage in ways for them to be
included economically (3)
2� Provide technical assistance
(preparation) to 10 businesses (30
hours each) for opportunities with the
Opportunity Site
350
3 MAC
1� Door-knocking
(1,000)
2� Town hall session (4)
3� Culturally specific
community
meetings (6)
1� Reach 1,000 people door to door
2� Conduct 4 large cross-cultural
town hall meetings
3� Conduct 8 culturally specific
focus groups
4� Reach 50,000 through social
media
500
4 MAU Focus groups (12)Conduct 12 focus groups in the MAU
community 95
Description of Community Partners’ Activities Outcomes and Objectives
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 9
5 ACER
1� Door-knocking (200)
2� Material translation
services
3� Town hall session (3)
4� Cultural event
tagalongs (3)
5� Social media post
and ads (12)
6� Asian business focus
group (50)
1� Manage the day-to-day of the
Community Task Force
2� Select Community Task Force
3� Provide written report for all
engagement to City Council
4� Provide written community benefits
plan back to City Council
350
6 BBA
1� Business roundtable
– town hall session
(2)
2� Business technical
assistance (10) (prep
for opportunities)
1� Conduct 20 youth focus groups with
high school students who live in
Brooklyn Center
2� Reach 400 youth who live in the City
of Brooklyn Center
350
7 Task Force
1� Door-knocking
(1,000)
2� Town hall session (4)
3� Culturally specific
community
meetings (6)
1� Task force to review community
engagement materials collected
2� Provide recommendations
and framework for community
benefits agreement
355
8 NEOO
1� Engagement
manager of entire
framework
2� Quality control
3� Technical assistance
to community
partners
4� General community
engagement city-
wide
1� General supervision
2� Door-knocking 300 residents
3� Project meeting attendance across
all community partners
4� Finalize graphic report for council
approval
5� Negotiate community benefits
agreement with Development Team
6� Reach 100,000 people on social media
65
Total 2565
Total sans
NEOO 2500
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 10
Representatives from each of the seven community organizations met collectively with the Project
Engagement Manager and the City Planning Director� While only one member from each community group
was required to attend the meetings, the meetings were often made up of the leaders and support staff� The
average meeting had 25 participants� The meetings were held monthly and served as an opportunity for
community partners to provide feedback on their engagement activities� During the Community Partners’
meetings, each community organization reported their successes and challenges� Those with challenges
were provided with advice from the engagement manager and other community partners on how to
address the challenges they faced�
The most requested assistance was for how to increase community participation� COVID-19 impacted
traditional engagement activities such as in-person meetings� Suggestions included increasing the use
of social media to advertise for events, posting on the City’s website, sending email blasts to existing list
serves, and partnering with other community events� Virtual meetings were the leading type of engagement
activities� However, organizations such as MN Zeg Zo held cultural and social events they felt would garner
more engagement than virtual meetings� At these events they set up tables to collect surveys as part of
the sign-in process or to receive event swag� Food and gift cards were also used to incentivize attendance
among many of the groups�
As the project progressed, two recurring themes arose that Community Partners were hearing in the
community� Community members across the City had concerns regarding safety and ownership of assets
in the final development, particularly around the incubator space�
During the September 2021 community meeting, the Brooklyn Center Chief of Police and a community
police officer joined the Community Partners’ meetings to solicit concerns about safety� Many of the
Community Partners expressed that having a closer relationship with the police department could help
curtail criminal activity and called for a safety plan to address installing more lighting and cameras and
promoting relationship building between the community and the police department�
During the October 2021 Community Partners’ meeting, a discussion was held on the need for the incubator
space and interest in owning space� The Community Partners wanted to better understand how they could
own space� Representatives from the Alatus team were present to hear their interests, but no discussion
was held regarding next steps� However, a second phase of engagement activities has been planned that
will solicit comments from Community Partners on the design of the space� The incubator engagement
process for design will begin in February 2022�
Community Partner Meeting
Project Management Meeting Type
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 11
The Task Force was devised to develop a community benefits plan utilizing the input gathered during the
community partner engagement activities� The community benefits plan is an agreement between the
City and the community that reflects what the community and City government mutually desire to see
developed at the Opportunity Site� The plan is meant to serve as not only a policy document for future
development but also a contractual agreement between the citizens and the City government to ensure
that the plan does not deviate from its original intent�
The Task Force is made up of 12 members from the community� Applications to serve on the Task Force went
through ACER, a local community-centered organization that worked hand-in-hand with the Task Force�
Alatus is the chosen developer for the first phase of the Opportunity Site� As a priority for the City, input from
community engagement activities would be used to inform the program and design of the Opportunity
Site� The Development Team met monthly with the Community Partners to hear feedback received from
engagement activities and demonstrate how their input was being used in the development�
Input from community engagement informed the development in several ways� The development will
provide opportunities for new, affordable housing for Brooklyn Center residents so they won’t be displaced�
In our selection for a general contractor (GC), the utilization of BIPOC GCs, subs, and labor is a high priority
for us, and our track record in this regard is very good� Our residents frequently don’t have access to cars
and certainly don’t have multiple cars, so public transit and walkability are high priorities for us as well� The
proximity and availability of child- and family-friendly amenity spaces are also of value, and the design
includes many of those, including multiple opportunities for public art� That said, ownership and the wealth-
building opportunity that presents should probably be incorporated into the next phase of the development�
We are listening�
The original plan for affordable housing was affordable housing�
Meeting with Task Force
Meeting with the Development Team
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 12
The community engagement technique that was employed was designed to gather feedback from the
community using trusted community leaders who already had existing relationships with the community�
In a community as diverse as Brooklyn Center with more than xxx ethnic groups, it was important to the City
to remove any barriers that could have prevented input gathered, including barriers regarding information
about the Opportunity Site, lack of real estate development knowledge among the community partners, and
technical assistance� The community engagement manager worked hand-in-hand to provide assistance
through the following:
The Community Partners took part in various engagement activities, including door-knocking, focus
groups, virtual and in-person town hall meetings, and surveys� Despite the engagement technique, a
recurring theme was found throughout the community� Each community expressed a high level of need for
affordable housing, home ownership opportunities, safety, incubator space, cultural and outdoor space,
more international market spaces particularly for food, and art reflective of their diverse community�
Collectively, the Community Partners engaged nearly 2,000 Brooklyn Center residents and more than 60
businesses� The following report details their engagement activities and provides community feedback
regarding desired community benefits, concerns, and opportunities�
Resources Provided
Summary of Community Engagement Activities
One-on-one meetings
Guides of what to focus on
Background information about the project
Meetings with the Development Team
Depository with examples
Peer-to-peer support (community partners were encouraged to share their best practices with
each other, and many used what was shared)�
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 13
ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
MN Zej Zog empowers the Hmong community by nurturing the Hmong language, healing through the arts
and wellness, and education across generations�
MN Zej Zog grew out of extended grassroots efforts over the last decade
and finally turned our passionate work into a nonprofit in 2020� The board
at MN Zej Zog is 90% Hmong-led, made up of dedicated educators,
parents, and youth leaders� Our grassroots network has more than 200
Hmong professionals and has impacted more than 10,000 Hmong people
across the United States for the last decade� Our collaborations among
six primarily volunteer-based programs emerged in response to direct
calls from Hmong youth, parents, and educators for resources related
to Hmong language revitalization through Hmong language and culture
education (National Coalition of Hmong Language Educators), Hmong
arts and cultural education (Voice and Power with the Arts), Hmong
youth leadership and power-building (C�L�I�M�B� Youth Program), Hmong
community mental health and wellness education (Project Tshav Ntuj),
Hmong MN Educators Support (MN Hmong Educators Coalition), and our
most recent initiative (Making the Brooklyns Our Home)� The thread that
connects these efforts is recognition of the power and impact of Hmong
language and culture revitalization and sustainability in recognizing and
healing the mental and emotional impacts of intergenerational traumas
experienced by the Hmong community’s survival of genocide, family
separations through refugee displacements, and socioeconomic and
racial barriers experienced as multilingual immigrant people of color in
the United States�
MN Zej Zog’s primary concern is bringing Hmong community visions for
social transformation to life by supporting community-driven initiatives
and leveraging the extensive social fabric of the Hmong community to
organize, communicate, teach, and strengthen in ways that support
Hmong language and cultural knowledge, hope, healing, and
mental-emotional wellness�
What We Do
at MN Zej Zog
MN Zej Zog
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 14
Some of our 2021 activities to create social transformational changes
this year include national and local initiatives—arts and healing sessions,
virtual Hmong film showing, healthy eating at the Brooklyn Center Thursday
Farmers’ Market, virtual kwv txhiaj/lug txhaj class, national professional
development training on Hmong Ethnic Studies and Hmong Leng/Ntsuab
curriculum, collaboration with the City of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn
Park to make the Brooklyns more like home to the Hmong people, Hmong
New Year celebration in Brooklyn Park, QPR training, a virtual mental health
concert, and more�
Furthermore, MN Zej Zog’s community organizing efforts leverage the
commitments shown across the community, led by Hmong community
member leaders who have long-standing relationships with and
investment from youth, parents, and educators to shift narratives
and make changes to the fabric of inequality and harms the Hmong
community has experienced since being settled as refugees in the United
States� Nonetheless, the connecting thread of these is the role of language
revitalization and reclaiming cultural knowledge� Not only is bilingualism
and intercultural knowledge kept strong in the community, they also
create space to recognize the mental health impacts of intergenerational
trauma in the community because Hmong educators and parents are
the first line for identifying warning signs and efforts to self-medicate�
When MN Zej Zog was approached with the task of taking on this project,
our hearts knew it was the right thing� With the large number of our board
living in the Brooklyns or having made Brooklyn Center their homes in the
past, we had a strong commitment with ties to the City and knew the rich
assets of the Hmong-American and Asian-American communities that
reside in Brooklyn Center�
Our Whys
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 15
MIND
The Minnesota Institute for Nigerian Development (MIND) represents all Nigerians in the state of Minnesota�
While it is common to see other organizations in the Nigerian community, they represent different ethnic
groups� The country of Nigeria is made up of more than 250 languages and dialects, so it is not surprising to
see organizations represent some of those ethnic groups� However, MIND is the umbrella organization that
represents all Nigerians with all its ethnic groups� It is estimated that 15,000–20,000 Nigerians call Minnesota
home� About a third of this population live, work, play, or have businesses in Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn
Park� We as a community interact with both cities due to their proximity�
Because of the number of Nigerians who reside in Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park, many activities are
hosted there, be it sports tournaments, parties, or shopping� Our culture, tradition, and way of life dictate
that we gravitate to where our people are� The Brooks, as we call Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center, have
a vibrant Nigerian community� Perhaps this is one reason we partnered with Brooklyn Center to facilitate
and engage our Nigerian community in the development of the proposed Opportunity Site� With this new
development, we believe that more of our Nigerian families will move to live, work, or have a business in
Brooklyn Center�
Nigeria is a country of cultural, ethnic, and religious complexities� It is the harem of natural and human
resources with vegetation that is very diverse and inhabitants who number more than 200 million and
speak well over 500 languages and dialects� Abroad, it seems as though the only thing connecting people
of this great country is their common passport as Nigerians� It became very apparent, therefore, that these
people must connect in this foreign land, especially because others (governments and other parastatals)
see us as one people from the same continent, same country, and same race� We also noticed that many
Nigerian organizations were springing up based on their ethnic or tribal lineage, making it almost impossible
for us as people from the same country to come together as one�
Further, this division was causing a rift between us, a rift that was defined by ethnic and religious undertones�
Nigerians were getting further and further apart as the need for us to come together became more and
more imperative� At the start of the 1980s, a group of well-meaning Nigerians who were eager to bring
all Nigerians of different creeds and languages under one umbrella in Minnesota came together to form
what is now known as the Minnesota Institute for Nigerian Development (MIND)� The organization became
the great connector and unifier of all Nigerians, friends of Nigerians, and their affiliates in Minnesota� Giving
the organization a name like “institute” for development makes it all the more important to see it also as a
learning institution where we learn more about one another, our language, our cultures, our norms, and our
traditions, and to support the growth and development of all Nigerians�
Minnesota Institute for Nigerian Development
MIND’s Objectives and Reasons for Participating in the Opportunity Site Project
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 16
This umbrella organization for all Nigerians then became the unifier and also the clearing house for
everything Nigerian� MIND is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1988 and officially registered
with the state of Minnesota in 1994� The organization now draws its membership from all Nigerian ethnic and
cultural groups living in Minnesota� Membership could be individual or representative of other subcultural
organizations� Although membership is open to every Nigerian in Minnesota, the organization draws from
the community that comprises academia, educators, physicians, nurses, entrepreneurs, administrators,
and, of course, college students, to mention a few� The organization’s members have laudable human
capital and experiences they pull together to tackle community challenges as they arise�
Its purpose is defined through its mission and vision statements� Its mission is to provide a platform that
allows Nigerians and other groups to become productive citizens culturally and economically� Its vision is
to be the umbrella organization for Nigerians in Minnesota that fosters unity through social, educational,
and economic development�
Minnesota Africans United was started in 2017 after several years of seeing that support, education, and
empowerment were needed in the African immigrant community in Minnesota� Our first meeting brought
leaders from 26 African countries to discuss the importance of an umbrella organization that would work to
represent the needs of the 54 countries represented in Minnesota and strengthen their communities� These
leaders brought knowledge and energy to help build this organization for Africans who now call Minnesota
home�
Soon after, Minnesota Africans United was created� It is an umbrella organization for African immigrants in
the state� As the organization has grown, it has become a unifying force for African immigrants, centering
on closing the many racial inequity gaps that burden the state such as housing stability, workforce, and
economic development, which is the engine of wealth building for our community� Our work is simple: we
create opportunities for African immigrants to succeed in life through local and national partnerships� It is
our goal to unite and bring prosperity to African immigrants in Minnesota by helping close the opportunity
gap, provide small business development opportunities, cultivate and develop African leaders in the
community, maintain cultural traditions, and leverage resources to improve Minnesota as a whole�
We are interested in working on the Opportunity Site because we know there are thousands of African
immigrants who live in Brooklyn Center, and we want to make sure their voices are heard� Our ultimate goal
is to engage the community so everyone will understand there will be a place that will offer opportunity in
Brooklyn Center that may lead to jobs, business startups, housing development, enjoyment, and networking�
Minnesota Africans United
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 17
We started the Minnesota African Coalition to close the communication and resource gap between
our community and the rest of Americans� We believe that building the capacity of African immigrant
businesses and nonprofit organizations will position our community to utilize the opportunities available to
them to live the American dream�
Minnesota African Coalition (MAC)
Become the development and empowerment tool for every Minnesotan, especially African
immigrants, to live a fulfilling and satisfying life in the United States�
Represent a collection of various minority as well as immigrant-owned enterprises from the
African diaspora�
Support African organizations in Minnesota through the Africa Resource Center (ARC), improve
the life of every African in this great state, and empower us to contribute our full potential to the
community development where we reside�
Our mission is to:
MAC has evolved to be a reliable partner with the City of Brooklyn Center and a fierce advocate of the
marginalized communities in the city� MAC has hands-on experience working with African immigrant
community groups that have been historically marginalized and left out of traditional community
engagement and public planning processes� We have built trust with these communities through
continuous collaboration and interactions with community organizations, businesses, individuals, troubled
youths, concerned mothers, single moms, leaders, and involvement in small and big community-based
projects�
We have partnered with church leaders, community-based group leaders, and other nonprofit organization
leaders in the African immigrant communities to reach out to the underserved and underprivileged
members of these communities� In this project, MAC collaborated with OLM, Mwanyagetinge, and Paadio
for the deliverables�
We have participated in volunteering for the Opportunity Site in the past two years� We volunteered
extensively in the drafting of the Master Plan and made considerable input to shape the outcomes� We
believe that underrepresented communities should have adequate access and opportunity to participate
in life-changing developments such as the Opportunity Site� We not only participated in the project but
also were instrumental in bringing in other organizations to team up and do this project� That helped the
City reduce duplication and redundancy�
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 18
The Liberian Business Association in the diaspora was founded to aid, counsel, assist, and protect the
interests of small and micro businesses while working to preserve free competitive enterprise� We engage in
advocacy, partnerships, and projects that promote entrepreneurship, build business capacities, and foster
dialogues on economic development and private sector issues and challenges with the goal of promoting
solutions and best practices that lead to sustained economic growth and private sector empowerment�
LIBA works with minority businesses, especially African immigrant small and micro businesses
nationwide� The African immigrant community is an emerging community in the northwest suburbs,
and many LIBA members are African immigrant businesses� Brooklyn Center is home to many of these
businesses� For example, the 3300 building on County Road 10, the 5701 building, and the 5901 building are
host to most of the African immigrant businesses� Apart from the businesses with office spaces, the retail
businesses stand to benefit from the Opportunity Site Project since most of the spaces in those buildings
were not meant for the kind of retail currently there�
LIBA was started in 2007 in Maryland� The Liberian immigrant population began to increase in both the DMV
area and Minnesota� A small group of Liberian business owners came together to form an association to
do three things: identify all Liberian-owned businesses in the diaspora, share resources and best practices
among members, and leverage the collective potential�
From 2007 to 2015, the association struggled to identify resources to carry on its work� In 2016, the leadership
decided to reconvene and reestablish its headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the same objectives
and focus� The difference this time was that Minnesota hosted the largest concentration of Liberians in the
diaspora�
Although Liberians were the largest African immigrant community in the northwest suburb, LIBA recognized
the need to open its doors to other African immigrant and minority business communities� Though LIBA still
maintains the name, the association is open to all minority businesses in the country�
The mission of LIBA is to aid, counsel, assist, and protect the interests of small and micro businesses while
working to preserve free competitive enterprise� We engage in advocacy, partnerships, and projects that
promote entrepreneurship; build business capacities; and foster dialogues on economic development and
private sector issues and challenges, with the goal of promoting solutions and best practices that lead to
sustained economic growth and private sector empowerment�
LIBA’s goal of working with the City of Brooklyn Center regarding the Opportunity Site is simple: LIBA believes
in the process and understands the benefits this opportunity brings to both the City and the business
community� When asked by the City to do the promotional video, LIBA Executive Director Jackson George
agreed and produced what is now the video the City is using to promote the project�
LIBA enjoys a partnership with the City and sees the City as the fair and equitable partner� This project is rich
with LIBA participation�
LIBA
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 19
The Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth (BBAY) is a quasi-governmental intermediary organization formed
in 2013 by nine public partners that serve youth in Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center� Much of our youth
engagement work is shaped by your Youth and Community Engagement Policy and our efforts in assessing
and evaluating the needs of young people in Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park� Our interest in this work
stems from the large potential impact that development can have for youth in our communities� We were
also invited by the City of Brooklyn Center to engage with youth populations within Brooklyn Center to
further inform the development of the proposed Brooklyn Center Downtown Masterplan�
This work was a direct continuation from previous engagement efforts completed by the BBAY during the
Fall of 2019 where we asked the central question, “What do you want to see in Brooklyn Center in 2040
that would help you reach your fullest potential, stay in Brooklyn Center and build an awesome city?” The
following list below were four major themes that emerged from those initial efforts�
During our time with these students, we silently noticed a disconnect between their uninhibited desire
for development that included retail and corporate eating options and their strong importance around
affordable and expanded housing for community members� We realized that these students were
uninformed around the potential housing inequities that can arise from development� To address this
potential issue for this iteration of engagement, we shifted our approach to focus on community- and
relationship-building with the youth we were engaging with� This was partly so we could have more time
with youth to inform students on the potential impacts of development (both negative and positive), but
also to understand our youth community-members at a deeper level beyond going to them and asking
about their opinions on the proposed masterplan� We wanted to be able to build a foundation of trust and
belonging as it was important to us that they felt received, seen, and comfortable�
Our engagement with youth was made possible through strong partnerships with Brooklyn Center
Community Schools Independent School District 286� Special thanks to Dr� Constance Robinson, Longkee
Vang, Megan Custer, Andrea Guinn, Lauren Fairlie, Angel Smaller, Jacqueline Hayden, Choua Lee, and other
staff at both the Brooklyn Center Early College Academy and Brooklyn Center Secondary School for enabling
us to do successful outreach� Alongside that strong partnership was the strong work from our summer
youth interns, Shreya Bika (Champlin Park Senior High), Kai Johnson (Brooklyn Center Secondary School),
Joana Enriquez Lopez (Brooklyn Center Secondary School), and Mercy Nyamao (Osseo Senior High) who
helped with initial outreach and designof the engagement approach� Lastly, special thanks to Community
Mediation and Restorative Services (CMRS) for providing meaningful training in healing and community
circles�
Brooklyn Bridge Youth Alliance
Investing more funds into schools and education
Expanded Retail and Entertainment Options
Affordable housing opportunities and expanded housing
Community Spaces for Youth and Families to bond
2019 Themes:
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 20
COMMUNITY MAKE-UP
In the mid-1970s to the late 1980s, several hundred Hmong families settled in Minnesota throughout the
St� Paul and Minneapolis areas� The Hmong families who settled in Minneapolis primarily lived in North
Minneapolis in the projects or Section 8 housing� Many Hmong households consisted of multi-generational
members along with both immediate and extended families� They did this to help save money and
help each other get ahead� Over the last two decades, many Hmong families were in search of better
neighborhoods to raise their families as families moved up in socioeconomic status and/or the City of
Minneapolis no longer met their social and community needs� These needs caused many families to move
into the Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park areas in the late 1990s since the homes were affordable and
rambler homes met the needs of one-level living spaces� Today many families who moved to the area
more than 20 years ago still reside in Brooklyn Center� Currently, the City of Brooklyn Center has an Asian
population of 16%; we believe Hmong is the majority ethnicity represented in that total population�
The approximately 15,000–20,000 Nigerians in Minnesota seem to be gravitating to the Brooks as a viable
option for housing, shopping, and business destination� As a result, it is our humble ambition to be part
of this wonderful and potentially rewarding endeavor to work on the Opportunity Site� It will not only be
beneficial for Nigerians in Brooklyn Center but it will also draw more Nigerians to this very warm, welcoming
City that many are already calling home�
The Hmong in Brooklyn Center
MIND
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 21
Minnesota Africans United is focused on engagement with the African immigrant community in Brooklyn
Center� According to national data, there are roughly 8,700 black or African American residents who live in
Brooklyn Center; we expect a third of those are African immigrants� Liberians, Kenyans, Nigerians, Somalis,
Guineas, Ethiopians, Ghanians, and Gambians are the most represented African countries in Brooklyn Center�
These individuals are well-established in Brooklyn Center, and many own their homes, small businesses,
and restaurants� Many are devoted to their religion, representing Catholics, Muslims, Pentecostals, and non-
denominational groups� Many work in healthcare and hold a variety of positions� Others are entrepreneurs�
They like to socialize and attend or host events focused on their traditional cultures through food, dance,
and entertainment� Many speak their African dialect in their households and in public among themselves�
Many speak broken English, thus creating a language barrier with other cultures in the community� Many
enjoy sharing about their lives on social media� Their preferred social media app is WhatsApp, and they
have many friends and family groups on the app� They are proud of their children� They value family, eating
together, and sharing with one another� It is often known that these communities engage and support each
other first� Children call those who are older their aunties and uncles, whether they are blood related or not�
Our Opportunity Site engagement in Brooklyn Center focused on the African immigrant community�
According to Census�gov, blacks make up almost a third of the entire population of the City at 29%� Although
we do not have an exact number of African immigrant population in this mix, we believe it is substantial�
In our remarkable survey for the Opportunity Site, out of 85 respondents, 23�5% identified as African American,
22�2% as whites, 20% as African immigrants, 20% as Liberians, and 10% as blacks�
Minnesota Africans United
Minnesota African Coalition
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 22
African immigrants like to socialize and use any opportunity to throw parties such as birthdays, naming
ceremonies, baby showers, wake keeping, and weddings� They send for parents who visit from Africa,
fundraise, and plan anything you can think of� That is why there was strong interest in the Opportunity Site�
The average income of blacks in the City is $36,000, which is substantially less than white income in the City�
From the work of NEOO Partners and ACER Inc� on the Brooklyn Center Entrepreneurship Market Strategy,
“more than 50% of the occupied units paying rent in Brooklyn Center pay 30% or greater of their housing
income on rent�” That is why the Opportunity Site is so important since it will provide housing choices that are
affordable and accessible to low-income renters� Another important characteristic of African immigrants
is the desire to own houses� From our online survey, door-knocking, focus groups, and town hall meetings,
it was a recurring theme—how to own a house in the Opportunity Site� Although the Opportunity Site Pilot
Project does not include housing development for ownership, it is important for the City to incorporate a
home ownership model in the context of the development plan in the Opportunity Site�
The Liberian community has over 40,000 Liberians in the state of Minnesota and approximately 150
businesses in the LIBA network� Within the LIBA network Africans speak over 300 languages including 16
Liberian languages, Over 78 Nigerian languages, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Togo, Guinea�
Brooklyn Center is rich in diversity especially amongst cities in the state of Minnesota, with more than 55% of
its population of 33,700 comprised of residents of Color (US Census, 2020)� This is enriched further with the
youth population of 9,700, where 70% of youth under the ages of 18 are youth of Color (American Community
Survey, 2014)� Many of these youth are first-generation or second-generation students who may also speak
other languages at home such as Oromo, Swahili, Somali, Spanish, Hmong, Lao, Vietnamese
LIBRA
Brooklyn Bridge Youth Alliance
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 23
ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND FEEDBACK
In homes that did not open doors but were home to residents who were not home, we left Opportunity Site
materials with translations and information on how they can follow up with our organization if needed� With
COVID-19, we know that some families are hesitant to open doors to strangers who are wearing masks�
From October 16 to November 6, 2021, from the fall weather to colder November temperatures, our team
of three staff walked through the streets of Brooklyn Center to speak to 216 Hmong households, with a 60%
success rate of speaking to residents� We had strategies in place to ensure that we hit the numbers needed
in the time frame given� We learned that the majority of Hmong resided in the Brooklyn Boulevard and 63rd
corridor of Brooklyn Center� Here’s what we asked adults we spoke to who ranged in age from their 20s to
their 60s:
MN ZEG ZOG
Door Knocking
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 24
Responses – Door-Knocking
99% of residents have not heard about the Opportunity Site (OS)
95% positive feedback about the OS; excitement for the new development
Some worry about:
Excitement about:
Retirement: Hard for working class parents to see when they can retire, but most likely they will
retire near their children or in the South where the temperatures are warmer�
Many are long-time residents who are going nowhere because Brooklyn Center is home; however,
they would like the City to make improvements and investments by developing and having
opportunities for engagement, including:
1� Safety in the City and how to keep up with safety with the new downtown
2� Affordable housing may increase possible rise in crimes from inner city
3� Traffic control – residents were worried that the streets are currently not big enough to
sustain the projected traffic and wondered what the City’s plans are for this
1� The opportunities for home business owners to thrive and own their own business� How will
the OS impact current businesses?
2� Event center – needs of the diverse community in a space large enough to fit friends,
families, and community; love the idea of allowing caterers from the community
3� Opportunities for the Hmong in St� Paul who need affordable housing so they can move to
Brooklyn Center
4� Possible new and more diverse retail shops and restaurants that are more representative
of the residents of Brooklyn Center
1� Positive relationships with law enforcement
2� Workshops offered by the City to help homeowners with programs, loans, and potential
hazards (mold, asbestos, etc�)
3� A large percentage of elementary age students in Hmong charter schools and their
parents would like local school districts to offer Hmong language programming from K–12
to meet their needs
4� Senior housing specific for cultural groups, whether they are different cultural groups
in different corners of the same level space or different levels with specific cultural
groups, then a multi-cultural space for all to convene and share their similarities to build
community
5� Asks: 99% of residents ask for an international market square where diverse food and
cultural vendors are welcomed and supported
Please feel free to share both of these translated OS documents�
It took a lot of hard work to translate academic vocabulary that
did not exist in the Hmong language� As always, when sending
out translated materials, make sure to include both language
documents� Here’s the link to the Hmong OS translated documents:
Hmong final: Meeting in a Box and Hmong final: OS One-Pager
With more than two decades of engaging with the community,
we knew we had to be strategic about how to engage the
Hmong community at events� With the help of our Hmong youths
and artists from the community, we were able to bring out 300+
people to two events we created to bring the community together
and inform the Hmong community about the Opportunity Site�
We also were part of two other events to share the OS with the
community: Arts in Autumn, the Hmong New Year at the Brooklyn
Park Community Activities Center; and the Opportunity Site
Community Meeting� Pictures speak a thousand words�
Our first event in the community was the Arts in Autumn where we
tabled at Palmer Lake Park to share about our organization and
spread important information about the OS project� We met local
community members who did not know much about the OS and
were interested in learning more�
The Center Mash Up was to kick off the excitement of introducing the Opportunity Site to the Hmong
Community� Lilly Vue, our youth intern, shared her experience that cold, fall evening, talking to local folks
about the Opportunity Site� Lilly remembers that day like it was yesterday� It was an amazing turnout� Many
students and their families arrived even though it was extremely cold� Lilly was nervous, but the more she
spoke about the Opportunity Site, the more excited she became� Although the evening was cold, Lilly felt
warm talking to folks� The amazed expression on people’s faces when Lilly mentioned the Opportunity Site
was rewarding� Lilly recalls asking a family who stopped by the booth if they were from Brooklyn Center� The
Family replied yes� After explaining the Opportunity Site, the family was extremely shocked and amazed� The
family stated, “Wow! We live in Brooklyn Center and haven’t even heard about this place� We are excited to
see the outcome� Thank you for the information�” Lilly felt incredible that day as she educated the Brooklyn
Center Hmong community about the Opportunity Site�
Translated OS Documents
Culturally Specific Events
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 25
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 26
The event showcase started with an Opportunity Site excitement
over a book release and a hip-hop break dance show performance
with out-of-state and local performances all in one� CCX News
stopped by to capture the excitement�
Our next stop was the Hmong New Year in Brooklyn Park, hosted
by MN Zej Zog and the City of Brooklyn Park� We had a table for
attendees to stop by to learn more about the Opportunity Site�
Lilly Vue remembers a memorable conversation with a Hmong
man� Every time someone came up to Lilly, they asked, “What is
the Opportunity Site?” But this man said, “It’s wonderful what you
guys are doing�” Lilly asked him, “Are you from Brooklyn Center?
Have you heard about the Opportunity Site?” The man answered
yes and then showed Lilly his work badge� He worked for the City of
Brooklyn Center� Lilly was amazed and surprised to see someone
from the City supporting MNZZ� Lilly felt even more confident
seeing how much support MNZZ has�
It was a fun-filled night to remember� In addition to the tabling, the Hmong New Year show lineup featured
279ONLINE students who narrated a skit in the Hmong language, weaving in a Hmong family speaking to
Lilly about the OS and later fatality battles from COVID-19 inspired by true stories� Four days after the Hmong
New Year, MN Zej Zog hosted a Thanksgiving Bingo afternoon with a chance to engage about the OS�
Although it was a smaller turnout compared to the other events, there was time for deeper discussions that
were meaningful and fruitful� When asked what is missing from Brooklyn Center that could potentially be
included in the OS, participants shared the importance of having great diverse food that is easily accessible
instead of driving to St� Paul�
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 27
One participant expressed, “It’s important we not only have a
Hmong village similar to St� Paul but something more diverse to
meet the needs of the city�” The importance of having senior living
spaces that reflect the community also surfaced as a need to
prepare for the elders and make them feel at home instead of
going all the way to St� Paul for the senior day programs� Donations
of gift prizes were made possible by private donations�
In response to the need of the Hmong community to get information about the OS in various formats, we
worked with the developers in collaboration with 3HmongTV to carry out a segment about the OS so the
Hmong community can learn more about it� Hmong elders are more engaged via YouTube, so this platform
also works for them�
An article will be published in the Sahan Journal about MN Zej Zog’s experience, along with other perspectives
on the OS by Katelyn Vang, a journalism student at the University of Minnesota� Look for it in the near future�
Finally, we invited residents to a community OS event on December 8 at the Brooklyn Center Community
Center� One local business entrepreneur learned how that could impact her business and the potential to
grow her business with the new OS development� Unfortunately, we were not able to host our last community
event due to multiple postponements and cancellations at the last minute�
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 28
Though the goal was to reach 50,000 in a targeted audience through our social media outreach, we have
reached about 15,000 people� Note that this was during the height of the Facebook ad interruption� We
struggled with figuring out why some ads were not posted or did not reach as many audiences�
With the busyness of the fall, we found it hard to conduct focus groups with local Asian businesses� Instead,
we strategized to do what will work for the community� Our first set of businesses was local farmers� On a
brisk Saturday morning, our team headed to the Saturday farmers’ market to speak to vendors, many of
whom are elders who farm for their mental health and live locally in Brooklyn Center� Some come from as
far as St� Paul to do business� Some of the vendors have been there since the opening of the market, while
others are newer there�
When asked by more than a dozen Hmong farmers to see if they have heard of the Opportunity Site, the
farmers said it was all new to them� While some were excited about the Opportunity Site and what potential
it could mean for business opportunities, others were more concerned about the financial impact on their
businesses� One farmer shared how he and many others left the Minneapolis Farmers’ Market because of
multiple costs associated with parking, space fees, bathrooms, and so on� It wasn’t feasible anymore, so he
came to do business at the Sun Foods Farmers’ Market instead� If the OS has a farmers’ market space, the
fees must be low so the farmers can make ends meet� In addition, bathrooms are a must� Furthermore, an
all-season farmers’ market is a must to provide fresh farm produce to local residents�
We spoke to a dozen local Asian businesses in Brooklyn Center� A vast majority of the business owners
were interested in what OS could bring to their business and wondered if existing businesses would get
the first chance at new opportunities that come from the new developments� They felt that OS could drive
more business for them, which would, in turn, increase revenue and possibly bring new brick-and-mortar
opportunities as well� As exciting as that may sound to business owners, the price point was also a major
concern� They felt the new development would mean automatic increases in taxes, along with increased
cost of goods� Nonetheless, businesses felt the new development is an exciting opportunity and is greatly
needed since the City currently feels run down�
Social Media Outreach
Business Interviews
Participating in the OS community engagement was a rewarding project that MN Zej Zog is proud to be
part of� Engaging with community members through grassroots efforts such as door-knocking required a
lot of planning and boots-to-the-ground work� The direct contact with local residents was both refreshing
and very eye-opening, particularly in how residents truly feel about living in Brooklyn Center and their
desires to see the City evolve so they can continue to remain residents of Brooklyn Center� Residents are
vested in this City and are eager to see the City grow�
Observations/Closing Comments
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 29
MN Zej Zog is honored to have been selected as a partner with the City of Brooklyn Center to serve and
engage the Hmong community about the upcoming changes and new developments� We felt that the
City’s willingness, desire, and commitment to connect with community members shows their good faith
in truly creating something that represents the voices of the different and unique residents of Brooklyn
Center� We believe the efforts put into this initiative by the City as well as other local agencies will make the
Opportunity Site a success if plans are followed through on as promised�
Attendance at events:
Focus group discussions and community engagement were adopted for the gathering of data collection�
First, two focus groups were held virtually� For each one there was a PowerPoint presentation detailing
what the Brooklyn Center Opportunity Site is all about and what the participants were expected to do� After
each presentation, participants asked some questions and made some comments, ranging from what
the Opportunity Site is all about to how affordable the housing project will be to concerns about the fate
of small businesses� A link to the online questionnaire was posted, requesting participants to click, respond
to the items to the best of their ability and knowledge, and summit� Eleven and seven people, respectively,
participated in the first and second focus group discussion activities� Eight participants completed and
submitted their questionnaires�
Due to the low turnout in the focus group discussion events, we decided to focus on community engagement
events� Fortunately, the Brooklyn Center community had a Halloween celebration event at the time of this
study� As a result, we subscribed to a stand during this event� With a synopsis of the Opportunity Site and
a flyer with QR code, we made a series of “curbside” presentations to small groups and individuals as
they visited our stand or as we intercepted them at the main event registration tables� After the short
presentations, participants were advised to scan the code, follow the link, complete it, and submit the
survey� With evidence of submission displayed on the participants’ phone screen, they were instantly
rewarded with a gift card� There were two of these events—on Halloween and Black Friday�
MIND
Focus Group
MN Zeg Zog
Other Community Events
1� Mash Up with OS: 310 people
2� Hmong BINGO with OS: 8 people
3� Dec Parent Meeting at New Millennium Academy Hmong Charter School was canceled
twice (in Nov and Dec)
1� Arts in Autumn: 35 people
2� Hmong New Year: 250 people
3� OS Meeting in BP: 3 people
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 30
A total of 101 participants completed and submitted the questionnaire� Among the respondents, 75�1% stated
that they live in Brooklyn Center compared to 26�9% who said they do not live in the City� On the other hand,
79�6% said they do not have a business in the City compared to 20�4% who said otherwise� Also, 63�4% were
black or African American, 23�8% were white, 8�9% were Asian, 3% were American Indian or Alaskan, and 1%
indicated six other categories�
In responding to items relating to the residential needs of the community, 35 (34�7%), 42 (42�6%), and 24
(23�8%) indicated that their household size is between 1–2, 3–4, and 5and above, respectively� Also, 37
(36�6%), 60 (59�4%), and 4 (4%) further indicated that the number of bedrooms that will meet their needs
are 1–2 bedroom, 3–5 bedrooms, and 5 and above, respectively� An overwhelming majority, 83, (82�2%),
stated that it is important that every member of their household has his or her own bedroom� Among the
respondents, 48�5% agreed that the present cost of housing in Brooklyn Center is affordable as opposed to
30�7% who disagreed and 20�8% who were undecided� In contrast, 59�4% agreed that the housing cost in the
City was expensive, while 22�8% disagreed, and 20�8% had no opinion on that�
For the issue relating to the economic developmental needs of the community, among other things, 50
(49�5%) said there is enough places to shop for everyday needs, while 30 (29�7%) said there is hardly enough,
and 21 (20�8%) said there is not enough places to shop for everyday needs� On how the Opportunity Site can
support local businesses, 52 (51�5%), 46 (45�5%), and 39 (38�6%) said the City can support small businesses
by creating small business opportunities, providing small business soft loans, and providing affordable
stalls, respectively� Also, the overwhelming majority, 84 (83�2%) prefer childcare facilities to be located in
their neighborhood�
On parks and open space needs, 76 (75�2%), 23 (22�8%), and 6 (5�9%) said it is very important, important, and
not important, respectively, to have parks in their neighborhood� The overwhelming majority agreed that is
important to have a space for their pets as well as community gardens�
On community benefit, 92 (91�1%) of the respondents considered it very important or important to establish
a unique cultural identity� Similarly, 97 (96%) of the respondents consider it very important or important
to have ethnic businesses in the City� The same number, 97 (96%), of respondents had the same opinion
about having a cultural center in Brooklyn Center� Finally, the overwhelming majority of the respondents
agreed that there is enough transportation in the City and also agree that it is very important or important
to residents of the City�
Survey Responses
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 31
The work we did for the project started with a WhatsApp group� We created it for individuals, families, and
businesses of African immigrants who live in Brooklyn Center� We uploaded updates about meetings and
activities, and collected opinions and feedback on the project� It was also through this group that we sent
out surveys� We used this group as a way to engage others to join the Opportunity Site Project�
Minnesota Africans United
On October 18, our subcontractors Off the Blue Couch and Peace Global Health Foundation hosted a
Facebook Live event for all who live, work, worship, and play in Brooklyn Center to discuss the Opportunity
Site� There were 24 attendees, and the feedback we received was that African businesses in Brooklyn Center
deserve an opportunity to prosper, and the site is that opportunity�
https://www�facebook�com/111109707258226/videos/466851021706200/
On October 26, our subcontractor Ignite Business Investment Groups hosted a Zoom virtual information
session to discuss the site� The session was informational based on how the project may support small
business owners� We discussed how our community could help fulfill the City’s mission to address everyone’s
needs� The group meeting was so large (25 attendees) and the time so limited that not everyone had
a chance to speak� Those who were able to speak gave feedback on supporting financial literacy and
planning, as well as home ownership opportunities that this project may be able to offer� Moving forward,
Ignite Business Investment Groups will work with ACER (African Career, Education, and Resources) to develop
a survey for all attendees�
On October 27, our subcontractor Triumph Graphics hosted an in-person event at the Brooklyn Center
Community Center� This event focused on entrepreneurs, small business owners, residents of the city, and
children—all who love or are connected to the arts� There were four attendees at our October event� We
discussed opportunities for arts at the site� Feedback we received is that the City should build an area
where people of all ages can engage in different forms of art at a reasonable cost� The pictures and
images represented at the site should be diverse and include African immigrants� Art is an important
component in the lives of African immigrants, so ways to partner with the community are welcomed� We
also discussed a co-area for entrepreneurs and artists to work together for economic development� From
this event, we realized that hosting in-person events is still challenging for our community due to COVID-19
and safety measures� However, we will create a survey to send to those who did not show up and provide
more information about the new site�
On November 6, our subcontractor, a Brooklyn Center community member, hosted a virtual Zoom information
session to discuss the site� Eleven business members joined the group and discussed how financial literacy
and cash flow can help businesses grow through the use of the incubator� We also discussed that the
incubator should provide opportunities to teach and train those who do not have financial literacy and are
struggling with their finances�
Focus Groups
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 32
This messaging is important for city members and should not be focused only on businesspeople but rather
on the whole community so everyone can benefit� African community members could provide cultural
insurance by putting their own shares in people’s businesses, which will take African immigrants to come to
this space� We also discussed how people can grow their assets without running a business; therefore, this
space should be open for all� We learned that a challenge for community members is that grandparents
are not great at being involved in the community, but this space may allow generations to come together�
Another challenge is that we should try to refrain from hosting events on the weekends because these
are holy days for various African cultures� One of our guests was from KJTV and shared that we can use
KJTV to promote this project so other residents of Brooklyn Center can voice their opinions on this project�
It was also brought up that the development site can be used as a place to heal and improve mental
health for our community� Also, large and small spaces for the building were recommended so a variety of
organizations and people can utilize the correct space� Attached is the marketing flyer for the event�
On November 11, our subcontractor Peace Global Health Foundation hosted a Facebook Live event for
all who live, work, worship, and play in Brooklyn Center to discuss the Opportunity Site� There were XXX
attendees� (attach Facebook link)�
On November 13, our subcontractor Multicultural Kids Network hosted a virtual information session about
the Opportunity Site� There were nine attendees, and the feedback we heard was that kids should have a
place they call home that teaches them their culture�
In December and January, a group of nine African immigrants associated with the Opportunity Site Project
took some time to go door-knocking in the community� COVID-19 and Omicron made this difficult as
people were hesitant to have in-person conversations, regardless of mask protection� We were still able
to connect with more than 100 homes� We did door-knocking in apartment complexes, individual homes,
commercial homes, and businesses� During our conversations, we discussed the Opportunity Site and
asked for feedback� We also hung flyers around our community and on doors of apartment complexes
and businesses to share information about the project�
The feedback we received from attendees and the number of attendees were mostly outlined in the
description of each event above� Additional feedback we received from door-knocking was that there were
several refugees who are hopeful that there will be healing through the arts represented in the Opportunity
Site� This is important to them because of their past trauma and difficult life they lived prior to coming to
Brooklyn Center� Responses also included the need of family homes to accommodate larger-sized families
(4–6 bedrooms)� Health and wellness were big components discussed; families were hoping for a gym and
weight room that would be available for all ages, including those with disabilities� Because some of these
families are already living in poverty or depressed communities, this Opportunity Site would be a place
where they could come to get fulfilled and be safe� Finally, feedback was given that this was the first time in
many families’ histories in Brooklyn Center that they felt heard and cared about, and that their opinions and
interests were valid in the decision-making process� They hope to continue to be involved as the project
moves forward�
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 33
The channels we used to solicit feedback were focus groups, surveys, town hall meetings, door-knocking,
and social media� At the beginning of the project, organization leaders and contractors gathered together
to discuss their individual plans on how to execute the job as contained in the contract� Our target was
community members who would not usually show up at City-organized meetings or events� Our drive was
to give every resident of the City a chance for their voice to be heard� Our strategy was to target church
services, church events, and other activities to locate those who are associated with the City of Brooklyn
Center and engage them�
Getting members familiarized with the Brooklyn Center Opportunity Site Project was important in order to
get direct feedback from the community about what they want to see developed in the project� That also
helped us connect better with more community members�
Door-knocking provided us the opportunity to physically go out into the Brooklyn Center community and
speak directly to residents� People were encouraged to attend town hall meetings to gain more insight and
actively participate in the development project� Door-knocking essentially served the same purpose as
town hall meetings except it was a one-on-one experience that was personal and enriching�
We created and posted social media flyers regarding the Brooklyn Center Opportunity Site via MAC’s
Facebook, community WhatsApp pages, MAC’s website, and Community Instagram platforms� The
Opportunity Site Explainer Video ad ran on Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, MAC’s website, Paadio website,
and community social media platforms�
We understand that other organizations contracted for the same projects are doing some of the same
things we are doing, so we decided to engage and ask different questions that will provide more value to the
overall engagement efforts� The Opportunity Site resulted from tax incentives provided to investors who will
invest their capital gains and hold them for more than 10 years without paying taxes on them to the IRS� The
Brooklyn Center Opportunity Zone qualifies as one of the economically distressed communities designed
to attract new investments, which, under certain conditions, receive this preferential tax treatment� On this
premise, we focused on how low-income residents can directly and indirectly benefit from investments in
the Opportunity Site�
Minnesota African Coalition
Door-knocking
Focus group meetings (in person and virtual)
Town hall meeting (in person and virtual)
Online survey
Social media
We engaged the residents of Brooklyn Center through:
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 34
We knocked on the doors of 1,205 residents and shared information
about the Opportunity Site and specifically the Pilot Project� For
those who were willing, we asked their feedback and encouraged
them to attend our town hall meetings� We also encouraged
them to attend City Council meetings and engage with the
City’s actions and policies, which will enhance citizen education,
enlightenment, and participation�
We printed photo-quality flyers with a QR code for them to keep
and scan anytime to:
Door-Knocking
Participate in the Opportunity Site survey
Get updates on Opportunity Site engagement
A greater number of those who live in apartments indicated interest in buying from the
Opportunity Site, and others generally indicated interest to rent from the development�
The general consensus from renters show that rents are increasing beyond their incomes based
on their responses to the questions we asked them�
In some neighborhoods, a good number of those we visited have not heard about the Opportunity
Site development plan� It gave us the opportunity to get to the basics of the Opportunity Site and
the value it will bring to the City and residents alike�
They were enthusiastic about the Opportunity Site, and a good number of them indicated they
would participate in town hall meetings�
They were excited to hear that the Opportunity Site would provide affordable apartments�
They were concerned about whether low-income families will be given first priority to apply for
affordable apartments�
They were concerned about having access to the business incubator center since they may need
financial and other resources to start a business or scale�
Outcomes from Door-Knocking
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 35
We conducted six focus group meetings� Four were in person, and
two were virtual�
Almost half of them had not heard about the Opportunity Site
development plan�
We focused on their understanding of the Opportunity Site and
how they can be involved from the planning stage to occupancy,
emphasizing the short, mid, and long terms of the project�
We asked participants what change they want to see in their community� We wanted to make sure these
groups’ voices are heard since they make up a substantial part of the City’s population� Participants wanted
to see rent-to-own opportunities and access to different spaces and resources in their community rather
than having to commute to other cities for their needs� People wanted communal spaces for kids and
families such as parks, community centers, daycares, small businesses, education, and affordable housing,
which were just some of their interests in the Opportunity Site development�
Focus Groups
Meeting Outcome
1� They were concerned that a lot of immigrants
and BIPOC community members may not have
the resources to pursue the kind of ownership the
Opportunity Site provides�
2� There were suggestions of better career
opportunities and strong support for small
businesses so they can develop the resources
needed for property ownership�
3� There is a strong need to educate the residents
on property ownership and resources available
for them to prepare ahead of time�
For those who are not familiar with the Opportunity Site planning, there is a need for ongoing
education and discussions to bring them up to date with the Site planning and development�
Generally, there was enthusiasm from attendees about learning which ways residents and
community members could actively and directly participate in contributing to the Opportunity Site
development�
There was a strong desire to have a piece of ownership of some kind in the Opportunity Site
development:
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 36
The goal of the town hall meeting was to share information on the
Opportunity Site development and the current pilot development�
We conducted three town hall meetings in person with a total of
108 attendees� We conducted a virtual meeting with a 1,600-person
reach� The attendees were highly engaged and interactive and
asked a lot of questions�
A highlight in one of the meetings was three men who said they are real estate investors and asked
questions about how they can directly invest in the Opportunity Site� We referred them to EDA and the
council for direct conversation on investing in Opportunity Site development or City properties�
For those who live in apartments, they have a strong desire to buy houses in the new development,
although some of them asked if there would be support for them as houses are becoming less
affordable�
There is great enthusiasm for the community event center� Some wanted to know if they could bring
in their own food and even alcohol� There was a lot of excitement and energy around the event
center�
There is strong support from attendees for local businesses, and many of them advocated for equity
to support BIPOC businesses to grow in the incubator space in order to start reducing the wealth
gaps�
Town Hall Meetings
Home ownership or renting in the Opportunity Site – which do you prefer?
What does having a community gathering space mean to you?
How can the Opportunity Site support local businesses?
Some of the themes we discussed include:
There was a desire among attendees to continue widespread awareness about the Opportunity
Site development, as well as increasing community participation in the early stages of
development� Some of them called themselves Opportunity Site Ambassadors�
Some participants shared the lack of black contractors and handymen in Brooklyn Center who
could provide their services in developing the Opportunity Site and voiced the urgency to train
those who are willing to fill in the gaps�
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 37
Attendees asked about elaborate plans that would ensure that a safe, comfortable, and friendly
environment would be established for the community and its residents�
Some of the questions were:
1� How will the City continue to engage the residents when this current engagement ends?
2� For self-driven individuals, how and where do they plug in to actively participate in the
development of the Site?
3� What is in it for me?
We created and posted social media flyers regarding the Brooklyn Center Opportunity Site via MAC’s
Facebook, Community WhatsApp pages, MAC and Community Instagram platforms�
The Opportunity Site Explainer Video ad ran on Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, MAC’s website, Paadio
website, and community social media platforms� We reached 70,000+ for the duration of the engagement
from Facebook ads targeting Brooklyn Center and the surrounding communities�
We created two variations of explainer videos that aired on MAC’s website and partner’s website for the
duration of the engagement and throughout the engagement period� The video has a voice-over by African
immigrant youths and young adults highlighting the importance of the Opportunity Site for the multiple
generations of the African immigrant community in Brooklyn Center and surrounding communities� The
explainer is also inviting the African immigrant population to participate in the decision-making process of
the Brooklyn Center Opportunity Site�
We also did a Facebook Live broadcast with a panel discussing the benefits of the Brooklyn Center
Opportunity Site� The broadcast will feature members of the African immigrant communities who educated
the rest of the communities on the benefits of the Opportunity Site� Facebook Live broadcasts were featured
on several partners’ social media pages� It reached 1,600 on the MAC Facebook page�
We updated our partners’ websites with the explainer videos, which will keep running even after the
engagement contract has ended�
Opportunity Site Video Link
Social Media Report
There was a wide concern among attendees about understanding how Brooklyn Center residents
will be directly affected and/or benefit from the Opportunity Site development�
1� Participants were skeptical that the sentiments of immigrant and BIPOC members of the
community would be considered�
2� Participants were concerned about how immigrant and BIPOC members of the City would
be impacted by this huge development that will redefine Brooklyn Center�
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 38
LIBA conducted four focus group meetings with the intent to share, distribute, and gather information and
feedback� Three of those meetings were held at the Brooklyn Center Community Center at 6301 Shingle
Creek Parkway on November 3, 10, and 17, 2021, and the fourth was held at the LIBA office at 6248 Lakeland
Avenue North in Brooklyn Park at its general meeting on November 18, 2021�
LIBA used three approaches to gather information and feedback from small and micro businesses� The
strategy employed included town hall style meetings, door-knocking, and one-on-one technical assistance
and education on the impact the project will have on small and micro businesses, especially for the
immigrant community�
Surveys are not the best way to gather information from the African immigrant community� Notwithstanding,
some members of the community did participate� There is still a lot of work to be done to educate and
share information about the project�
LIBA conducted four focus group meetings to inform, share, and gather information from business owners�
Presenters at the meetings included Alatus, Project for Pride in Living (PPL), and Resurrecting Faith World
Ministries� The City of Brooklyn Park staff was there to answer questions� Many of the questions and concerns
included:
LIBA
Focus Group
What is the Opportunity Site Project?
What are the benefits this project brings to small and micro businesses?
How was selection conducted in bringing the parties to the table?
How was the initial survey conducted, and how was it conducted around small and micro
businesses?
How much is the project going to cost?
Who is paying for the project?
Will the retail and business areas be affordable?
Would businesses be able to own commercial space in the Opportunity Site?
Will the structure of residential be inclusive of retail spaces?
How many spaces will be created for small and micro businesses?
How will the selection be made as to who qualifies to be in that space?
Will funds be provided to businesses to prepare them to acquire these spaces?
Will the developers contract with minority businesses in the project?
Is the City putting money into this project?
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 39
How much does the project cost?
Is the City going to manage the property or outsource the management of the property?
#BUSINESS NAME BUSINESS ADDRESS BUSINESS TYPE
1 IFRI, LLC 5615 Brooklyn Blvd� #200, Brooklyn Center, MN 5542 S-Corp
2 More of Liberia, LLC 3300 County Rd 10 #201 Brooklyn Center, MN 55429 Sole Proprietorship
3 House Royals D'Afrique
Boutique 5901 Brooklyn Blvd� # 1146, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 Sole Proprietorship
4 Moneyline Group Corp�5901 Brooklyn Blvd� # 207, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 C-Corp
5 Cavalla Travel & Tour 5701 Shingle Creek Parkway #325 Brooklyn Center, MN
55428
Limited Liability
Company
6 Vee Event Décor 1400 57th Ave� N� Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 Sole Proprietorship
7 Taye Service Corporation 5901 Brooklyn Blvd� # 207, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 C-Corp
8 Car World, LLC 6500 Brooklyn Blvd� #207, Brooklyn Center, MN 55429 S-Corp
9 SA & Associates, LLC 3300 County Rd 10 Ste� 512i Brooklyn Center, MN 55429 S-Corp
10 Nissi Investment Group 5901 Brooklyn Blvd� #114B Brooklyn Center, MN 55429 Sole Proprietorship
11 Nuda Distributors LLC 3300 County Rd 10 STE� 500 I, Brooklyn Center Limited Liability
Company
12 0127739 98-10 577A 12/28/2001
13 0205067 00-01 704 5/24/2002
14 0206057 98-17 217 6/10/2002
15 0218110 99-23 094 12/16/2002
16 0308538 94-22 139 5/6/2003
The businesses listed below were provided technical assistance in micro loans and were informed about
the Opportunity Site� They were provided all the necessary information�
Technical Assistance Activities
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 40
#DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES # OF PARTICIPANTS
1 1st Focus Group Meeting 15 Participants
2 2nd Focus Group Meeting 18 Participants
3 3rd Focus Group Meeting 20 Participants
LIBA Monthly Business Meeting 19 Participants
4 3 Flyers Developed 750 Flyers distributed
5 WhatsApp Information Distribution 250 Contacts 10 times distributed
6 Constant Contact Information Sharing 1,000 Contacts 3 times distributed
7 LIBA Newsletter Electronic 1,000 Contacts
8 LIBA Newsletter Hard Copy 500 Contacts
9 LIBA Internal Email Distribution 250 Distributed 3 times
10 Door-Knocking to Businesses Over 100
Brooklyn Bridge Youth Alliance
From our history of engagement and partnership with community, we have learned that the best work
comes in partnership with those that we are engaging with� To this effort, we hired four youth interns
from the community to help in designing our outreach and engagement plan as well as the delivery of
information based on their experience on understanding and learning about the proposed Brooklyn Center
Downtown Masterplan�
Interns studied the proposed masterplan and created a collaborative presentation to report back how
they understood the plan and would explain it to others� Then we prepared a curriculum of learning
on the historical impacts that development has had on Black and Brown communities in MN and the
greater United States� This included learnings on gentrification and displacement and the strength
of community engagement to bring about renewal, healing, and progress� From that, we designed an
iterative engagement model that was about being able to deliver information to youth and learning from
them while simultaneously building relationships with cohorts of students that were recruited at Brooklyn
Center Highschool and Brooklyn Center Early College Academy� Ultimately, we wanted youth to be able to
provide feedback on the proposed Masterplan while also understanding their values as it relates to their
community at present and in the future�
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 41
Pre-engagement:
training youth interns
and co-design of
an engagement
strategy
Community-building
circle session
Info session on
Masterplan
Impacts of
development
Feedback:
Consensus-building
and focused
conversations
Post-engagement -
building network and
linking opportunities
Engagement model for Brooklyn Center Community Development Youth Engagement
The interns were also trained in a facilitation method called Youth-as-Facilitative-Leaders Training (YFL)
that teaches on how to facilitate focused conversations and large group consensus-building� This training
was given with the anticipation of having them assist in facilitating engagement sessions with youth in the
schools, but due to numerous challenges that resulted in conflicting schedules, school workload, and other
activities, this was not possible� To finish off their internship at the BBAY, they helped initiate recruitment for
the first cohort of students�
Overall, recruitment and outreach involved extensive partnership from Brooklyn Center Community
Schools (BCCS)� Brooklyn Center Highschool allowed our Youth Engagement Specialist to regularly teach
an extra-curricular class to the first cohort of students� From there, we were also able to recruit students
during after-school programming to form a second and third cohort of mostly ninth graders to participate
in virtual sessions� A fourth cohort was formed with the aid of Brooklyn Center Early College Academy
(ECA), which is the alternative-learning center for BCCS� We were able to do hybrid sessions for the fourth
cohort allowing for in-person and virtual engagement� Cohorts 1 and 4 underwent a consensus-building
workshop, while cohorts 2 and 3 shared their feedback through a facilitated focused conversation� In total
fifty-three students across four cohorts were recruited across different modes and mediums� Each cohort
experienced the aforementioned engagement model split up into a multitude of sessions based on the
amount of time we had available with each group� For example, the first cohort that was taught during
class was only available on Tuesdays and Thursdays for one hour each day�
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 42
We were committed to meeting with them at least one of those days each week from October – December�
Because we knew we had more time with this cohort, we were intentional with spreading out the material�
For other cohorts, these students were recruited and voluntarily participated rather than being enrolled in
a class� This meant that we had less time with them, and we needed to be concise and intentional with the
sessions we had� We did not want to start a cohort with the intention of having youth undergo a multiple-
week long curriculum only to see students unable to attend each consecutive week� Instead, we had fewer
overall sessions that were longer in length to capture the attention of students while also allowing us to
continue to build relationships and learn what we needed to learn�
Overall, the process for outreach relational in nature� It was important to us that we went directly to where
we knew students were� As we recruited, we focused on learning about who each individual student was
and for them to get a glimpse of who we were so that when they entered the larger shared spaces, they
would be able to make meaningful connections to us as facilitators and the content that we wanted to
share� This was key to the success in engagement�
For the engagement model listed above, much of the level-setting and community-building happened
during the loose community-circles where we were able to build relationships with the young people in the
space and learn about how they viewed their community and their city� From that, students were given a
high-level presentation on the proposed Brooklyn Center Downtown Masterplan and an overview of the
first phase of development� We also taught students about gentrification, displacement, and the impacts
of development so they could fairly participate in providing feedback� The finale of each cohort session
was gathering feedback either through building consensus or having focused conversations on the overall
information using the YFL method� To present the findings, we consolidated common themes from the
feedback gathered across four different cohorts�
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 43
Brooklyn Center High School Brooklyn Center Early College Academy
31 22
Male Female
22 31
Live in Brooklyn Center Live outside of Brooklyn Center
36 17
9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade
18 6 9 20
Community Involved
Fifty-three students from Brooklyn Center Community School District were engaged� Below are the
demographic data�
This is a representative visualization of race across all cohorts� The total number listed in the above pie
chart exceeds the total number of participants because some youth identified as mixed race�
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 44
In total, thirteen engagement sessions were conducted across four different cohorts with fifty-three
students� Below is the consolidated feedback from building consensus with groups and facilitating focused
conversations as well as some feedback youth provided during the initial community-building sessions on
their overall feelings towards living in Brooklyn Center� Note that consensus building workshops are designed
to intentionally capture all voices, thoughts, and opinions� While some findings may appear contradictory,
they represent a variety of youth and their current realities and future aspirations�
We began the session with building community, which involves understanding how youth felt in relation
to themselves and their city� This was done to level-set with each cohort while simultaneously building
a relationship with them� Each group was asked these questions during their community-building circle
session and encouraged to have free-flowing conversations� Below are some specific quotes from youth
who contributed responses that seemed shared amongst members of their cohorts�
Youth Feedback
Student Relationship to the City
“It makes you feel like you’re something and not nothing�”
“It’s sometimes scary but when you’re seen or heard, it feels validating�”
“It feels like you actually matter to people and your opinions matter�”
“Being seen or heard is one thing, but accountability matters�”
“I like the diversity of different people in Brooklyn Center�”
“I like that I see people take action when change is needed�”
“I really like the community and the people in Brooklyn Center� It feels like a tight-knit
community�”
“When one of us succeeds, it feels like we all succeed�”
“This school (referring to the BC Early College Academy) is a great impression for what
Brooklyn Center is all about� It feels like one close community�”
“I want to see people and things – like live music – happen in the streets�”
“I don’t like the crime� How do we invest in community to reduce crime rates?”
“Roads are crappy”
“There are a lot of empty spaces and lots”
“Everything is so far from where we want to be (when asked to clarify, they mentioned
stores, entertainment, movies, sports)�”
1� What does it feel like to be seen or heard?
2� What do you like about your city?
3� What do you not like or want to see changed?
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 45
“No spaces or activities to hang-out with friends or family”
“We are always pit as the underdog in comparison to other youth in other cities�”
“Yes, I can see myself living here as an adult, but I don’t see myself having a career here� It’s
never been shown to us how we can do that�”
“Yes, my family is here and I would want to stay close to them�”
“No, I am leaving Brooklyn Center as soon as I can�”
“I don’t have any attachment to this city so I don’t see myself staying here as an adult�”
“More activities for youth and families�”
“Recreational and community center to play sports and do other activities�”
“Natural green spaces to study and be at peace�”
“More stuff to do inside even during winter�”
“Cultural exhibitions of the diversity in the city�”
“Festivals, live-music, community get-togethers”
“Help students get good jobs�”
“Student-life is dominated by schools� If teachers and schools don’t make personal
connections or promote positive environments to their students, this will reflect on how
students view their community�”
4� Do you see Brooklyn Center as a place you want to stay in or have a career?
5� What would make you stay in this city to feel like you belong?
1� Community-centered approached designed to bring people and families together�
Consensus-building and focused-conversations feedback was gathered between what youth felt were
strengths of the plan and what they feel like was missing/what they want to see added�
By far the aspect of the masterplan that was identified as a strength most frequently was the community-
centered design that was illustrated in the document� One phrase that often came up was that this, “will
bring community together�” Youth believe this will encourage community-members to engage with each
other and build relationships in ways that were not available before and especially now during the ongoing
COVID-19 Pandemic� We were fully transparent on the City’s decision to involve community partners to
engage with Brooklyn Center residents as an extension to this plan� As reflected in some of the individual
answers, youth were appreciative that they were being involved as community members in helping inform
direction of development�
Overall Strengths of Proposed Downtown Masterplan
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 46
2� Walkable and bikeable area with activities replace space that currently has no use�
5� Expanded housing for affordable living�
6� Green spaces and added parks for youth and families to enjoy�
3� Emphasis on small-business development for economic growth of local business owners with the
potential for job creation for youth and adults�
4� Centralized services makes it more accessible for folks with transportation barriers and reduces
financial burden attached with commuting�
Youth took notice at the intention to create larger physical spaces for people to be able get from one
place to another� They specifically cited and mentioned larger sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes and trails,
and hubs of transportation for people to be able to access the proposed Downtown area� An attraction to
them was the potential of having a circulator constantly running through the downtown area� Alongside
that, students identified that this central area could boost the value of surrounding areas that include their
schools� Youth in Brooklyn Center are not ignorant of the large empty lots that occupy much of the spaces
in their city and think that this downtown area will make their city look better while adding some much-
needed services and entertainment�
Many youth appreciated the intentionality of the masterplan in recognizing the diverse family units and
households that exists in Brooklyn Center� They liked that 30% of new housing will be allocated as affordable
for any prospective family or individual�
Youth were impressed and fascinated by the potential expansion of green spaces and recreational
activities that would be available to them should the developers and City go forward with what has been
proposed� Youth liked the idea of being able to kayak and swim outside locally� Alongside the added park
benefits were the potential for winter activities for residents during the winter season� These potential
features interested youth who owned pets�
Other strengths that were listed individually include the stormwater draining system, more accessibility for
pet owners�
Youth identified the incubation and development of small businesses as a strength� They see this as an
opportunity for teens and young adults to get easier access to jobs with many of them excited at the
possibility of being future entrepreneurs�
Many youth that were engaged do not have a car or a license� They also recognize that Brooklyn Center
has less than surrounding cities, and when they want to do something, they need to go outside the city�
Youth mentioned that the added Downtown area would allow them to stay in the city if they needed certain
services or wanted to hang out, and with the added transportation options, it will be easier for them to get
there� One student mentioned that this will save their parents money on gas because they will no longer
have to go out of the city to go to the store or see a movie�
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1� An intentional plan focused on the public safety of residents and their well-being�
2� Essential businesses and spaces related to health, basic needs, and other specialized services for
people from all backgrounds�
3� Strong efforts by the city to prevent gentrification and displacement of current residents�
4� Affordable recreation, entertainment, and public art�
We recognize that some of the feedback from youth listed below may already be represented in the
Downtown Masterplan but may not have been clear or may be work in other city departments� This feedback
suggests that these items should be included in master plans and will ultimately impact the success of the
development�
In an age of social media, youth are fully aware of the instances of police brutality that have happened within
the Twin Cities and in their City of Brooklyn Center� They want to feel seen and safe, not criminalized� They
want community to be engaged in the public safety discussions� For some cohorts, we asked them, “what
is the single-most important thing you would want the city and developers to consider when implementing
this masterplan?” and many of them pointed to having a safer city so they could go outside and hang out
with friends� Some identified the uncertain feelings of safety during the protests following the police killing
of Daunte Wright in April 2021�
Alongside this notion of public safety is the well-being of community as a whole� They want to see clinics
that focus on teen health and wellbeing� Youth specifically cited the Teen Annex Clinic as an example� Other
spaces they would like to see are spaces for youth who are part of the LGBTQIA community where youth
and individuals can go for support or additional resources� Youth also specifically point at the population of
people who are homeless� They would like to see a shelter here in Brooklyn Center or some added supports
that address root issues to the problem of homelessness�
Many youth that we engaged with were not familiar with the terms, “displacement,” or “gentrification,”
but were familiar with the impacts that Top Golf had on surrounding areas� Some youths were residents
at Melrose Gates Apartments and saw rent prices increase when the adjacent Top Golf came into town�
While most youth saw the intentional allotment of 30% of all housing to be affordable as a strength to
the masterplan, some were also concerned with the use of area median income to exaggerate the real
affordability for current Brooklyn Center residents� Youth want to see clear effort and communication by the
city that shows that current residents will still have a place in Brooklyn Center when development happens
near their neighborhoods�
Youth love sports and art� They want to see a community and recreation center where they can play
basketball, volleyball, and other activities� This is something that isn’t always available to them when the
winter season comes� Alongside that, youth want to see art and they want to have access to more activities
that allow them to explore their creative side� Youth would also like to see color in the streets� This may
mean more public art installations that may include murals and wall-paintings� They want live music and
other recreational options that are not just limited to shopping and restaurants�
“What is missing?” from the proposed Downtown Masterplan
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5� Environmentally friendly plan that focuses on clean building, clean streets, and clean water�
6� Development that leads to improved community education�
Youth were receptive to the added infrastructure for intentional stormwater draining, but they want to see
the city development also incorporate sustainable building practices when it comes to construction� They
want added efforts to prevent littering from residents, and they especially want to see efforts to clean
current water sources in Brooklyn Center such as Shingle Creek, especially if the proposed aquatic activities
such as swimming and kayaking are to be implemented in the city development�
Youth are aware of the differences in academic experiences that they have in comparison to their peers
in other cities� They hope that this new development will change that� They want to see their school district
be engaged more in the direction of development� They hope that this leads to improved community
education via more school funding to allow for more opportunities for young people�
Other Concerns include wondering how this will be paid for? How will this impact the physical location of
our school?
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CHALLENGES
MN ZEG ZOG
MIND
There were several challenges we faced in order to meet this objective� We realized that contacting 50,000
people is more than the population of Brooklyn Center� It also meant that in order to contact 50,000 people,
we are targeting everyone who is not Hmong as well� As a result, we targeted our ads to reach the Hmong
population in Brooklyn Center� Additionally, the lack of personnel, COVID-19 restrictions, and the cold weather
played a factor in reaching our target audience� We believe that given additional resources and time, we
could have made a bigger impact�
Like any other project, the organization faces some challenges in engaging the community in the survey
and questionnaire� These can be categorized as follows: time, language barrier, how members and the
participants should be adequately compensated, location where target population can be connected,
and operational factors such as how many people can be mobilized to be part of the project and how
members would be trained to approach the participants�
Time is important, and as the saying goes, time is money� The first obstacle is to find the time that would
be convenient for many of our members to meet� Regular meetings are required instead of the normal
monthly meetings� Since the project has to be completed within a given time, regular meetings are needed
for strategic planning, proper discussion, and outstanding results� However, many of our members are
working class, and most of them are professionals working different shifts at different locations�
To overcome this challenge, the executive members of the organization decided to meet online once a
week prior to involving the general populace, usually in the evenings when most people are home from
work� It was at these meetings that most of the decisions were made and the standard sets� An online
engagement platform was used� Questionnaires were developed, and flyers were created and posted on
various WhatsApp platforms specifying a date and time for the online survey� Members were paid, and
every participant received a gift card�
We needed to overcome the language barrier� Apart from English, which is the official language, many of
our members speak and understand other languages that are the same or similar to what many of the
residents speak� Therefore, it’s easy for our members and other participants to engage with the community
without having to hire a third party to interpret for some segments of the society who are struggling with
the English language� We addressed location and how target populations were connected�
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To ensure that every segment of the society is reached, some members of the community were
hired—young, old, students, professionals, and parents� Training on how to approach people and politely
request them to complete the questionnaire was done, adequate monetary compensation was provided,
and every participant was awarded a gift card� Members were encouraged to visit grocery stores, malls, and
religious houses, preferably in the evenings and on weekends� These are the places where different people
from different backgrounds, beliefs, and genders were engaged� With all the planning and arrangements
in place, it was no surprise that the feedback was huge, and the project was very successful�
Minnesota African United
Minnesota African Coalition
Over the course of the project, we ran into some challenges� The biggest challenge was around COVID-19�
When meeting in person, it was important that we all wore masks and socially distanced� This was difficult to
have conversations with these barriers� We also wanted to ensure cleanliness, so having hand sanitizer on
hand was crucial� Another challenge was that we originally wanted to do door-knocking after each event;
however, the weather played a huge factor in this (cold weather, volunteers not having proper outside
gear, etc�)� A final challenge was that the dates on which we were expecting to do some of our events
conflicted with dates our community already had commitments on—whether for school, religion, work, or
family� We were able to overcome all of them by pivoting and doing the best we could to meet the project
goals and support our community�
The biggest challenge was the COVID-19 pandemic that made it difficult for people to meet face to face�
Traditionally, African immigrants like face-to-face meetings� The pandemic drastically reduced meetings
in person and get-togethers for our constituents� We mitigated this by meeting residents at places such
as churches and vaccination centers� We also braced the pandemic by conducting town hall meetings
and focus group meetings in person, because not everyone has access to computers for online meetings�
Another issue was hesitancy by some residents who were skeptical that the engagement was a
smokescreen and their opinions did not matter� We assured them that the City and the City Council were
solidly behind this project� We encouraged them to sign up for updates on the Opportunity Site, reach out
to EDA and the council, and attend other meetings the City will be organizing to keep the residents informed
on the developments of the Site� It was also very challenging to bring together four organizations to execute
a short-term project like this one� It impacted our speed and execution because we kept meeting and
communicating to carry everyone along� Although it was difficult, the good side of it was a great opportunity
to work together� Generally, African organizations do not bind together to execute a project like this, which
we are working on to do better� We are celebrating this milestone of working successfully together�
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Another challenge was COVID-19� All four group leaders were infected by the virus at some point during this
engagement� Currently, one of the group leaders is down with COVID-19� We had other members helping
out to get the work done�
Stemming from work completed in 2019, the BBAY recognized a disconnect between what young people
shared what they would like to see in future developments (such as expanded corporate retail and
restaurant options), and the possible impacts of gentrification and displacement from those new additions
to the city� For this iteration of engagement, we wanted to make sure that while we were sharing the
proposed Masterplan, we were also teaching youth a high-level overview of the impacts that development
has historically had on communities of color in Minnesota and the United States� Alongside that additional
consideration was the intentional effort to create a space that promoted community-building to better
understand how young people felt about the City of Brooklyn Center and their relationship to it� Important
to note is the similarities that we found when engaging with youth that were reflected in this work and the
work done in 2019�
Like any other community engagement, there were challenges in engaging the small and micro business
community� Some of the challenges included but were not limited to the following:
Business owners were concerned that after the project is completed, big businesses will come
from the outside and take over the spaces�
Some were concerned that not enough information had been provided to the community
concerning the project�
Others were concerned that the project might displace their businesses�
Many small and micro businesses are run by one or two persons� Those owners wear many caps in
running the daily operations� Many of them did not have the time during business hours to chart or
participate in surveys, although they were very interested in the process�
The African immigrant business community is unique in that many of the owners are struggling to
maintain their businesses, and many have evening or night jobs to help sustain their families and
could not fully participate in focus groups meetings�
Some of the businesses did not understand the Opportunity Site concept and needed more time
to comprehend the concept� For many, it was the first time they had heard about the Opportunity
Site Project in Brooklyn Center�
The weather and COVID-19 presented some challenges in getting business owners to come to the
meetings�
LIBA
Brooklyn Bridge Youth Alliance
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To reiterate, the six major strengths on the Masterplan include:
Below are the six major themes of what they felt was missing, needs clarification, or to be included:
Community-centered approached designed to bring people and families together�
Walkable and bikeable area with activities and space that otherwise have no use�
Emphasis on small-business development for economic growth of local business owners with the
potential for job creation for youth and adults�
Centralized services make it more accessible for folks with transportation barriers and reduces
financial burden attached with commuting�
Expanded housing for affordable living�
Green spaces and added parks for youth and families to enjoy
An intentional plan or consideration that focuses on the public safety of residents and their well-
being�
Essential businesses and spaces related to health, basic needs, and other specialized services for
people from all backgrounds�
Strong efforts by the city to prevent gentrification and displacement of current residents
Affordable recreation, entertainment, and public art�
Environmentally friendly plan that focuses on clean building, clean streets, and clean water�
Development that leads to improved community education�
While we were able to receive a lot of strong feedback for the Downtown Masterplan, we also uncovered a
lot of unanticipated learnings about how youth view, engage, and interact with their city and community as
they provided holistic answers that were not addressed or considered during the drafting of the Masterplan�
This includes identifying some root issues that the City will need to address� Below are some of those key
findings and questions for consideration�
Moving the community forward and together: It was clear to us that youth were very excited by the
potential development, and they were impressed by the overall presentation of the Masterplan� From our
conversations with young people, we often heard that there were no spaces in Brooklyn Center for youth to
be able to gather, hangout, and be themselves� They see this potential downtown area as a remedy to this
problem that is so commonly felt amongst their peers� They identified a lot of the above strengths because
young people want beautiful spaces that allow for cultural, artistic, and physical expression, not empty
spaces and lots that remain unused� As they received this information, we challenged them to also view it
as young adults who will soon be entering adulthood� From their responses, we could see how important
community was to them as they all universally felt that this new downtown development was something
that could truly bring people together in ways that they have not been able to experience in their time living
in Brooklyn Center�
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This was significant to us, because in our initial community-building sessions, we observed a polarizing
dynamic of feelings that youth had towards Brooklyn Center� Youth came off as almost jaded about living
in Brooklyn Center� They had little attachment to the city itself but were warm and appreciative towards the
people who lived in this city� That was where their sense of pride lay� These young people saw the diversity
of people in this city as a richness but also recognized the lack of opportunities and services that existed
for them�
Gap in engagement between existing city-assets and community: The feeling of having less opportunities
were partly since young people were just unaware of the services that were available to them� This first
came apparent as we conducted community-building sessions and later as we gathered feedback on
what was missing from the overall Master plan� Youth were telling us that they want to specifically see
things like skate parks, bigger parks, trails, study spaces, and jobs for young people� This was something
that occurred in all cohorts, and we asked them if they were aware of what was available to them� Most
had no idea that Centennial Park even existed or what BrookLynk was, and many have never even stepped
foot into Brookdale Library� Aside from the feedback youth were providing, young people were showing us
that there were so many gaps of engagement between youth and families and the public institutions that
serve them� This subliminal message kept emerging as we learned more about what they felt was missing
from the overall Masterplan, and we saw it as a reflection to all the things that youth need but have not
been receiving regardless of if they already exist in the community or not�
Public safety implementation into overall Masterplan: As we look at some of what young people identified
as missing from the Masterplan, the most frequent concern was regarding public safety� Young people
want to be able to freely be themselves in community gathering spaces and enjoy new services that were
built for them and their families� They don’t want to feel criminalized or profiled� With new development, there
will most certainly be areas with more foot traffic from current residents, new residents, and visitors� Youth
were concerned and want to see a public safety plan that focuses and centers the community, because
they also want to feel safe� Additionally, youth identified the feelings of uncertainty due to instances of
police brutality in Brooklyn Center and surrounding areas� Some mentioned how unsafe they felt during the
protests and law enforcement response following the police killing of Daunte Wright in April 2021�
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Direct and intentional efforts to prevent inequitable impacts of development: Youth also need reassurance
from their city that they and their families still have a place here when this development finishes� What they
want to see more of is stronger efforts to combat potential displacement of current residents� Youth feel
pride in the people that live here, and we know that the city does too� They want the focus of development
and expanded housing to be in the context of Brooklyn Center and not the regional Twin Cities�
School, city, and community partnership: Youth are also focused on how this impacts their schooling�
One young person saw the downtown area super-imposed on the Opportunity Site and recognized that
their school (BC Early College Academy) was in the middle of that area� They asked if it was going to be
torn down, and we did not have an answer for them� Students want to see more partnership between their
school district and the city, and if there is partnership, they want transparency on this partnership� We
explained to them that this development can have potentially positive impacts to funding for their school
district through increased tax base, but beyond that youth were not sure how this specifically benefits
their schools or their families� This was crucial to them and was missing from the Masterplan� Perhaps this
is something to be explored during the creation of the Community-Benefits Agreement on how current
residents and students are directly benefited from this development�
As important as the feedback that was provided by young people, what was just as crucial that we learned
from this work is the need for a community development approach that is also intentional in the investments
of human and social capital� We recognize that the creation of a Masterplan is traditionally focused on
considerations for a built environment, but to our understanding, it is also a dynamic guiding document
that also considers how community and residents interact with the development that ensures the growth
and development of the entire community� If the Masterplan is to be fully inclusive of what community
wants, then this is specifically what young have shared that they need�
As we finish this iteration of work, we strongly encourage the city and the development team to address
some of the key questions that we uncovered from this work�
Young people want to feel confident, safe, seen, and respected� What are ways the city can see
this feedback as an opportunity to address public safety concerns that were expressed by young
people now and how can this be implemented in the overall development later?
How can we as public institutions change how we engage with each other and our families to
ensure that they are aware that these parks, services, and career development supports exist for
them and how do we make sure that these efforts are maintained when new services arise from
development?
Lastly, we want to express the importance in putting current residents first� As development is
planned and implemented, how can we make sure that our current residents stay engaged, seen,
cared for, so that they stay in the city and further enrich our community with their talents?
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 55
APPENDIX
MAC Engagement Online Survey Report
More Outreach Needed to Inform All Residents about Opportunity
Site Development
In the final report, 85 people filled out the survey� At the beginning of the survey, we asked only those who
are connected to the City to fill out the survey�
Based on the sample of those who filled out the survey, the results show that a quarter of them have not
even heard about the Opportunity Site�
Only one person who did not live, work, or do business in Brooklyn Center filled out the form, which was
excellent sampling�
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Engagement Enthusiasm Scale
We asked the respondents if they would attend Town Hall meetings�
We got similar results when we asked if they would participate in a focus group meeting�
That shows the high level of enthusiasm of the sample of residents we asked to participate in the Opportunity
Site discussion�
41% said yes
22% said maybe
35% said no
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The Value of the Community Center to the Residents
To measure the residents’ interest on the community center and how valuable it is to them, we asked them,
and 98% said it is valuable to them�
Resident’s Desire to Own a Piece of the Opportunity Site
A strong theme that emerged throughout our engagement efforts with residents was property ownership�
We decided to test this in our online survey, and below is the result� This is important information for the
stakeholders in the Opportunity Site planning to consider�
Explore ownership models that are feasible for those who are interested in participating�
EDA, the City Council, and community-based organizations should intensify efforts to build a
sustainable support system in order for residents to acquire resources to actively compete in the
ownership piece of the Opportunity Site since this is a long-term development�
It is noteworthy that 22% of the respondents had white European roots, yet they voted for the BIPOC
ownership of the event center�
Pilot Opportunity Site Enagagement Report 58
About 99% of the respondents wanted the Opportunity Site to support the economic development of the
City of Brooklyn Center� Only one voted no� Below is the result�
Property Ownership and the City’s Resiliency
We gauged the interest of sampled residents in buying or renting in the Opportunity Site, and 47% indicated
an interest to buy, 25% indicated an interest to rent, and 28% have no interest to buy or rent� That indicates
a strong interest by the participants in continuing to call Brooklyn Center home�
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Distribution of Races Who Responded
African Americans – 24%
White Europeans – 22%
African Immigrants – 20%
Liberians – 20%
Blacks – 9%
Kenyans – 2�5%
Gender breakdown of those who took the survey�
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