Occupation: Marketing Promotions Manager Address: 3807 Zenith Ave. S. (55410) Neighborhood of Residence: Linden Hills Years in Neighborhood: 16 years Years in Minneapolis: 16 years Phone: 612-860-2526 E-Mail:devans3807@aol.com
How have your life experiences prepared you to be a neighborhood representative?
My service as a LHiNC board member and former board co-chair, founding member of Neighbors for Neighborhoods, volunteer coordinator of community projects, and an NRP Management Review Team (MRT) Representative has helped prepare me for serving on the Policy Board.
As the At-Large Neighborhood Representative, I have been an energetic and consistent advocate for neighborhoods. I have strongly supported and worked intensively to secure a revenue stream for NRP. I approach my work with energy, enthusiasm and follow through. I am a representative that you can count on!
A neighborhood representative is responsible for informing neighborhoods of concerns and opportunities, and encouraging them to become involved. I CONTINUE TO STRONGLY ADVOCATE FOR NRP FUNDS TO BE USED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD-IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES.
What do you consider to be the strengths and weaknesses of the NRP?
STRENGTHS:
Margaret Mead said "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has." Resident empowerment is the essence of NRP. Through NRP, residents have made giant strides in improving their neighborhoods and building a sense of community.
Neighborhood organization have used NRP funds to leverage more than a HALF BILLION ADDITIONAL DOLLARSÉ$500,000,000 of investment in our neighborhoods.
WEAKNESSES:
The uncertainty of future funding for NRP has generated volunteer frustration, burnout and excessive turnover. The full potential of NRP will only be realized when elected officials view NRP and neighborhoods as their partners and not as a funding source to balance their budgets.
How have you participated in your neighborhood organization and its NRP process?
I have co-chaired the LHiNC board and served on all of LHiNC's standing committees, chairing several of them. Since 1997, I have been editor of the Linden Hills Line. I helped to implement almost all of LHiNC's NRP projects, including the 44th St./PATH Project. I have secured extensive matching funds for neighborhood NRP dollars and worked closely with Public Works, the Park Board, the Library Board and the public schools.
I have served on the MRT; as the Protection Neighborhood Alternate, and most recently the At-Large Neighborhood Representative on the Policy Board; and on the Board's Focus Minneapolis Working Group, Nominating Committee and Bylaws Task Force. In my two years on the Policy Board, I have attended every Policy Board briefing and missed only one Policy Board meeting (because of the death of my sister). I take my responsibilities as your representative seriously.
How do you plan to maintain a relationship with the neighborhoods you would represent if elected?
Last year, I committed to communicating with neighborhoods regarding important Policy Board issues. Since then, I have met and worked with neighborhood staff, board members and neighborhood leaders from all neighborhood types. I will continue to inform neighborhoods of important NRP issues and be a source of support for neighborhoods during their Phase I Plan Review and their Phase II planning process. I will be readily available to neighborhood volunteers and staff and host meetings/events to disseminate and/or exchange information. I will continue to be your advocate on the Policy Board. As I have done this past year, I will continue to facilitate and elicit neighborhood responses to elected officials on the very important decisions being made regarding NRP's future and your neighborhood's funds.
Name one thing you would like to work on if elected.
There are several. I would work to:
1) Ensure that NRP funds are directed by neighborhoods and that the needs of the neighborhoods are strongly advocated at the Policy Board level.
2) ENSURE CONTINUED FUNDING OF NRP AND NEIGHBORHOODS. This can and must be done.
3) Prevent any new set asides that will reduce the dollars available in each neighborhood's Phase II allocation.
4) Eliminate NRP revenues as a basis for determining CPED fees.
Why are you running for a neighborhood representative seat on the Policy Board?
There is a lot of work yet to do to support the needs of neighborhoods at the Policy Board level. I have a deep respect for neighborhood volunteers. I am a strong and ever present advocate for neighborhoods and their investment of volunteer time and energy. As a Neighborhood Representative, I will be a constant reminder to the Policy Board that government is here to help meet the needs that residents cannot meet by themselves.
Please list any community-based organizations with which you are currently involved.
NRP Policy Board, At-Large Neighborhood Representative Linden Hills Neighborhood Council (LHiNC) Board Member & former Co-Chair LHiNC Communication Committee, Chair Linden Hills Line Newsletter, Editor Neighbors for Neighborhoods, Member Animal Humane Society, Foster Parent
Please list all current paid and unpaid affiliations.
Marketing Promotions Manager, HMT Marketing, Inc. All of the positions as noted in #7 above are unpaid.
