Denise Butler’s Evolution from Corporate Dreams to Community Power

A little girl who turned her toys into briefcases became the community organizer Brooklyn Park needed most

Denise Butler still remembers the moment clearly—standing in her mother's heels and blazer, toy briefcase in hand, announcing to anyone who would listen: "I'm going to work." As a child, she didn't play with dolls or dream of being anything other than a businesswoman. Her childhood journal from Claire's was filled with detailed plans: she would be somebody's CEO by a certain age, following a perfectly…

JIIVE (Justice Impacted Individuals Voting Effectively) and their community partners, Zintkala Luta, Project Sweetie Pie, have been awarded a $3,000 Mini Grant from the University of Minnesota's …

Next Deadline for Spring Projects: March 15

The Kris Nelson Community-Based Research Program builds the power and capacity of community-based organizations to create social change through partnerships with the University of Minnesota. We match the research and technical needs of organizations with student research assistants to carry out community-defined and community-guided projects. CURA works with organizations selected for the program to create shared understanding and action based on the results.

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The Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) is thrilled to announce that its Neighborhood Leadership and Organizing program and Neighborhoods Now! training have received the Unsung Hero Award from the National Community-Based Organization Network (NCBON). 

The Unsung Hero Award serves to highlight the often unheralded accomplishments of community leaders who work…

The Center for Urban and Regional Affairs is excited to announce that CURA’s Senior Research Associate Dr. Brittany Lewis has been named the 2024 President's Community-Engaged Scholar. 

The University of Minnesota President's Community-Engaged Scholar Award recognizes one faculty or P&A researcher annually for exemplary engaged scholarship. The award recipients have demonstrated a longstanding academic career that embodies the University of Minnesota’s definition of public engagement. The President…

National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP) selected the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) at the University of Minnesota for the G. Thomas Kingsley Impact Award for their facilitation of the Anti-Displacement Work Group on the Blue Line Extension. CURA's efforts led to a unified vision and co-created recommendations with a broad range of stakeholders that center community interests and address the needs of corridor residents, businesses, and neighborhoods.

Read the full story on the NNIP…

In February, we announced that we would not be issuing an open call for projects this summer, in an effort to be more thoughtful and strategic about our work. Since then, we have spent time working to establish more equitable and flexible processes around our application process, project selection criteria, program evaluation, and communication with partners. Important changes to the program include:

• Year-Round Availability of Kris Nelson Application: We've opted to keep the Kris Nelson application open year-round, offering organizations greater flexibility in navigating the…

The City of Minneapolis faces a growing issue with vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties, particularly in areas like North Minneapolis. The City has committed to getting these properties back into functional usage, and in partnership with the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs’ (CURA) Kris Nelson Program, the North Minneapolis Promise Zone analyzed the City’s redevelopment process. Through a case-study and survey of West Broadway Avenue in North Minneapolis, it was found that numerous properties in the vicinity have…

In an effort to be more thoughtful and strategic about our work, we have decided not to issue an open call for summer Community-Based Research (CBR) projects with the Kris Nelson Program. This pause is not a standstill, but a deliberate step toward growth. We recognize the importance of taking this time to restructure our approach, seek feedback from past partners to evaluate the program's impact, and engage in thorough organizing and sharing of past projects. The summer will also be a period for forging…