Residents of Minneapolis, community groups, neighborhoods, and local government officials are gearing up for the 2025 City of Minneapolis Community Connections Conference. The event, slated for February 8th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center's first floor in Hall E, invites participants to register early online or in person on the day of the conference, as announced on City of Minneapolis bulletin.
This year's free event revolves around the theme “Participation is Power: Speak, Act, Grow,” emphasizing the importance of community engagement in decision-making processes. "Speak: Voice your opinion about important upcoming projects and decision-making," the City highlighted, along with encouragement to "Act: Take action by voting, joining a neighborhood organization board or a City appointed board," and "Grow: Learn skills and information you can use to improve your neighborhood, community, and life."
The conference will not only serve as a hub for more than 100 exhibits from various institutions but will also feature workshops, community dialogues, performances by local artists, a complimentary lunch, and a scavenger hunt. Additionally, visitors can take the opportunity to connect with city leaders and learn about a host of critical topics like contacting City Council, community project funding, immigration, renters' rights, and how to get involved with neighborhood organizations.
Nonprofits and public institutions looking to exhibit at the event, now have until January 12 to apply for space fitting this year's theme. The process is described as seeking "informative, fun, interactive exhibits," and the organizers have asserted that all exhibit spaces are free for qualifying organizations, as per the city's communication. Volunteer roles are also open for those wishing to contribute by spreading the word, welcoming guests, and assisting with various conference duties, for which bilingual volunteers are especially sought after.
Moreover, the Community Connections Conference is just one of many civic-engagement opportunities highlighted in the bulletin. For instance, the City informs about the Twin Cities monthly immigration forum scheduled for January 9, where topics such as federal immigration news and community updates are on the agenda. And for Minneapolis youth, spring and summer internship applications are now open, presenting a chance to gain valuable experience in public sectors like public health and emergency medical services.
The same bulletin also provides useful resources for Minneapolis residents, including the Hennepin County Fix-It Clinics for repairing everyday items, energy rebates up to $14,000 for home improvements, and information on the Minnesota Energy Assistance Program aimed at helping households maintain warmth during winter months. To avoid the woes of winter, residents are reminded to sign up for Minneapolis snow emergency alerts and get ahead of the game in staying informed about parking rules when snow hits the city.
