Minneapolis, MN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing

Description: Minneapolis faces a housing affordability crisis, leaving older adults and others with few options. Mill City Church launched IMBY to showcase accessory dwelling units as a solution, hosting two demonstration events, furnishing a model unit for immersive experiences and producing a short documentary. The effort raised awareness and mobilized advocates to consider ADUs for housing diversity. "We didn't really think about our backyard in terms of being a potential solution... but now we're considering building an ADU and being a part of the solution," said one participant.

Minneapolis, MN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety

Description: To help people become less reliant on driving to get around, Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota hosted Bikeable Community Workshops in eight municipalities. Each workshop provided community leaders with resources to make their neighborhoods more accessible and bikeable. Participants included elected officials, city staff, local nonprofits and small business owners. Following the events, BikeMN team members provided on-the-ground technical assistance and expertise to the eight host communities. Participating community leaders and bicycle advocates also formed steering committees to work on bike-friendly community goals going forward.