“We feel like one family in one place,” explained Munira when asked how living at Hope has changed her life. Munira grew up in Sudan and moved to the United States in 1999. She and her three young children have lived at Hope since 1995. Her eldest child, Fatima is 14 years old and for the past four years has spent most Saturday mornings with her peers at Hope’s Youth in the City mentoring program. Her young brother, Yaisin, age 9, looks forward to Learning in Community where he spends time reading and writing with a mentor alongside his friends. Munira also has been active at Hope and is a community leader in Hope’s tenant group that organizes activities to bring neighbors together. For Munira and her family Hope has been much more than a place to live. She says it’s a place where people care about one another and where she has built a real home for her family.
A Hope Timeline, 1977 - Present
| 1977 | Hope’s history begins with St. Joseph’s House at 2101 Portland Avenue where Hope provided emergency shelter to 10,000 women and children until 1996. |
| 1989 | Hope develops first common space on the Hope block, replacing an abandoned building with a children’s playground. First purchase of permanent rental housing on the Hope block. |
| 1994 | First major public investment in The Hope Block improves quality of existing housing and adds units. |
| 1995 | Youth Program begins |
| 1996 | Building housing with shared common spaces becomes a hallmark of Hope’s development strategy. First Franklin Avenue land purchased – later site of Children’s Village Center. |
| 1997 | Hope Listening About Jobs and Education. Over 350 people participated; leads to the Hope Learning Center. |
| 1998 | Local business owners and political leaders gather to promote redevelopment of Franklin Avenue. |
| 1999 | Hope Learning Center begins. Inspired interest in redevelopment of a long-neglected urban neighborhood by introducing Children’s Village Vision, an architectural vision for revitalization of 16 square blocks based on the Hope Block model. Continuing public/private partnership to purchase and rehabilitate or replace housing. |
| 1999–2000 | Hope Listening Project- “Community: Taking a Closer Look.” Over 300 adults and youth talk about what community means to them, and about their hopes and challenges |
| 2000 | Purchased land on second of four corners at Franklin and Portland, assuring Hope leadership in redevelopment of the intersection. Laid groundwork for Franklin Portland Gateway development partnership with Aeon |
| 2000–2001 | Hope Listening Project – Peavey Park Listening. 200 adults and youth talk about community and the future of the park which is a block from Hope Community. Park design emerged from Listening; accepted as Master Plan by Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. |
| 2001 | Purchase of 85-year old apartment building for single adults and small families. |
| 2004 | Completed Gateway Phase I, Children’s Village Center and Hope Community Court, beginning the transformation of the intersection and assuring Hope’s continuing presence and influence in the future. Phase I includes Hope headquarters and community center and Hope Community Court that includes 4 affordable ownership units. |
| 2003–2004 | Hope Listening Project – Community Conversations. 240 adults and youth dialogued about the future of their community. |
| 2006 | Completed Gateway Phase II, The Jourdain that includes a playground and minority-owned neighborhood grocery. New community-base literacy program for children ages 6-9 begins, Learning in Community. Youth programs expand – focus on leadership and learning. |
| 2007 | Over 1500 people gathered for a block party to celebrate Hope’s 30th Anniversary. Gateway Phase III, The Wellstone, Minnesota Green Communities award winner and demonstration project begins construction. Includes community space for Hope programs. New programs for adolescent and older youth emerge – Youth in the City, SPEAC (Sustainable Progress through Engaging Active Citizens), and Articulating Our Voices Now. The New York Times prints article, ““In Minneapolis: A Block Transformed.”:publications” |
| 2008 | Completed Gateway Phase III, The Wellstone. ““Hope Community Youth Listening Project and Report”:publications.” Over 200 youth from 24 community partners dialogued about their challenges, dreams and concerns. |
