The Central Corridor Equity Coalition requested research on the impacts of light rail transit on community change and displacement. This report is a summary of previous academic research on gentrification and light rail, followed by a census analysis comparing communities before and after light rail construction. This analysis reveals questionable ties between LRT and gentrification, but communities must still act to address concerns and prevent displacement. The next section describes tools and programs to prevent displacement, followed by a summary of advice from other communities.

While the Twin Cities is nationally recognized as having one of the best park systems in the nation, inequities exist in regards as to who can access and use these amenities. As the Above the Falls Regional Park is developed and Upper Harbor Terminal site redeveloped, it will be important that specific strategies are in place if these new amenities are meant to serve both the Northside community and populations historically underrepresented within the park system along with addressing any potential adverse impacts.

FamilyMeans applied for a Communiversity personnel grant through the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) to conduct an evaluation of their after school programs in Landfall. Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research (HACER) was contracted to conduct the assessment because of their long history and mission in providing advocacy and empowerment efforts through research to the Latino community in Minnesota.

Agriculture in Minnesota has, as in much of the country, been going through a tumultuous transition. The loss of the small farm is a common story, as is the tendency toward agricultural consolidation and a general loss of farmland due to development pressure. Amidst these changes, land use and agricultural preservation policies are also put in place at the State, county, township, and local levels. Some of these policies encourage development, some attempt to preserve farmland and succeed, and others attempt to preserve farmland but fall short.

Linguistic barriers, identification requirements, and cultural bias against formal banking institutions are all factors that reduce immigrant access to credit and other traditional banking services. Compared to others, Latinos are more likely to be without any connection to the formal banking sector and are 62% less likely to have any retirement savings. Throughout the United States, Latino community members have taken matters into their own hands and established fully bilingual credit unions.

Beginning in the summer of 2005 and into the following winter, the Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association (SENA) received a number of complaints related to graffiti. In most cases, concerned residents had been vandalized and subsequently took note of the extent of graffiti in the area. To address the problem, SENA formed a Graffiti Task Force in March, 2006. Initial meetings were dedicated to brainstorming potential solutions and gathering information. This report investigates the extent of the problem, and provides direction for future resident and SENA action addressing graffiti.

Abandoned houses are powerful symbols of urban decline. The level of investment needed to turn such properties around is generally greater than the market value of the property. Can local governnments afford to rehabilitate such houses? In 1997 a professor of housing and three graduate students examined St. Paul's Houses to Homes program, analyzing the fiscal benefits and costs of restoring abandoned homes to prepare them for resale.

Hope Community Inc., a non-profit subsidized housing developer located in Minneapolis,MN, works to build an inclusive,life-giving community by transforming relationships of fear into creative opportunities of mutual support. It's focus is to create a public community that will persist for the long-term, maintain the ability to deal with changing issues and be strong enough to consistently welcome and encourage new members and partnerships. Currently,Hope Community, Inc.