The South Uptown Board of Directors met this week and selected officers for the organization. Katy Briggs is the new President and Scott Moss has taken on the role of Vice President. Newly-elected Board Members will fill other leadership roles. Gretchen Sieger is the Secretary, Joel Chechik is the Treasurer and Rachel Starcher is the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion officer. Attend the next South Uptown Neighborhood Meeting on October 18 to meet the new Board.
Fall Clean Up is Saturday, October 8
South Uptown Fall Clean Up
Saturday, October 8, 10AM- Noon
Bryant Square Park- 3101 Bryant Ave S.
Come out to help your neighbors pick up litter around the community ensuring it doesn’t end up in our lakes and rivers. Stop by the park anytime that morning to pick up gloves and trash bags and get an assigned area to pick up trash. This is an easy way to make a difference and the more people involved the bigger impact we have. Bring your friends and family for a morning of community service!!
Welcome 2022/ 2023 South Uptown Board of Directors
The South Uptown Board election has ended and the results are in… Welcome to the following new Board Members:
Jerome Chateau
Joel Chechik
Jenna Egan
Phil Qualy
Gretchen Sieger
Rachel Starcher
They will be joining Board Members Katy Briggs, Hannah Friel and Scott Moss who are finishing out the remainder of their 2-year terms. The new Board will meet in the coming weeks to select officers for the upcoming year and get acquainted.
Jerome Chateau
Joel Chechik
Jenna Egan
Phil Qualy
Gretchen Sieger
Rachel Starcher
Vote for the South Uptown Board of Directors
It’s that time of year again to vote for representatives to serve on the South Uptown Neighborhood Association Board of Directors. The online election begins about 7PM on Tuesday, September 20 during the South Uptown Annual Meeting. Email info@southuptown.org to get the Zoom meeting link for the Annual Meeting where each candidate will introduce themselves. The online election closes at Noon on Wednesday, September 21.
View the Candidate Profile document: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59e133d3f7e0ab03b64d8616/t/6323c27eac85bf0169b2842d/1663287937959/BoardCandidateProfiles+2022.pages.pdf
Vote here using the online ballot (* This link will become active around 7PM on September 20): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1F490w8xkjSveJ9GmcuwYiMic25-d-fEdVdx7BS-6shA/closedform
Meet the 2022 South Uptown Board of Director Candidates
Seven neighbors have put themselves forward as candidates for the South Uptown Board of Directors. There are six open Board seats, so an election will take place starting about 7PM on Tuesday, September 20 during the South Uptown Annual Meeting. Additional candidates will have the opportunity to be nominated and added to the ballot during that meeting. The election will then be open through 12:00PM on Wednesday, September 21. Check out the list of candidates and more information in this Candidate Profile document.
Consider Running for the South Uptown Board of Directors
The South Uptown Annual Meeting is coming up on Tuesday, September 20, and there will be 6 open Board seats up for election. Consider becoming a candidate to get more involved with the community. Board Members oversee the South Uptown nonprofit, work on improvement projects and attend meetings to address neighborhood issues. The South Uptown organization is especially keen to recruit people of color, renters and women to the Board in order to reflect the demographics of the neighborhood. If interested, please fill out this short Application Form that will be used to create a Candidate Profile document for the election.
Get Up to $500 for Home Security Upgrades!
The South Uptown Neighborhood Association is once again offering grants for residents to make home security upgrades including lighting, home security cameras and upgraded locks and doors. Grants of up to $500 are available as a 1:1 match. Funds are limited and applications are processed on a first come, first served basis. Check out the Program Guidelines and apply here.
2022 Bryant Square Park Concert Series extended into August
Concerts at the Bryant Square Park amphitheater have been extended another week into August! Enjoy a wide variety of musical genres including rock, pop, hip-hop, jazz, and more on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:30 - 8 PM through August 11. Check out the updated schedule here.
NRP Plan Modification Vote at August 16 South Uptown Meeting
During the August 16 South Uptown Neighborhood Meeting, community members will be asked to approve a proposed NRP Plan Modification to support administrative expenses of the organization over the next few years. The reallocation will supplement yearly City funding expected from the Neighborhoods 2020 Program that pays for office, insurance, staff supplies and other administrative costs. The City funding was reduced by nearly 30% in 2022 creating a challenge to sustain the capacity of the organization in the coming years.
Proposed NRP Plan Modification
Reallocate all $187,252 from NRP Strategy 3.1.5 Cycle of Life Housing to Strategy 11.1 Implementation: Office & Staff Support. The funding will support administrative costs over the coming years as the organization ramps up fundraising efforts. See more details about the proposed Plan Modification here.
25th Annual South Uptown Garden Tour
Saturday, June 25, 10:00AM- 12:00PM
Meeting Location: On Saturday, we will meet at Dunn Bros Coffee (3348 Hennepin Ave) at 10AM
Monday, June 27, 6:30- 8:30PM
Meeting Location: On Monday, we will meet at 5 Watt Coffee (3350 Lyndale Ave S.) at 6:30PM
Join the free neighborhood walking tour of fabulous South Uptown gardens! We’ll walk together along the route meeting other garden and landscape lovers.
Click here to see the routes for Saturday and Monday.
2022 Bryant Square Park Concert Schedule Release
Summer concerts return to the Bryant Square Park amphitheater starting Tuesday, June 7, 6:30- 8:00PM. Performances continue most Tuesdays and Thursdays through August 4 with a wide variety of musical genres including rock, pop, hip-hop, jazz, and more. Check out the full schedule here.
Earth Day Clean Up -> Rescheduled to Saturday, April 30
Earth Day Clean Up - Rescheduled
Saturday, April 30, 9:30 AM- Noon
Bryant Square Park Recreation Center
(3101 Bryant Ave S.)
We need you, your friends and family and your neighbors to pick up all the litter blowing around the neighborhood! Show up anytime that morning to the park to get free gloves, trash bags, snacks and directions. Together we can make South Uptown a cleaner place keeping trash out of our lakes and rivers. Please join us!
Recycle Food Scraps & Get a Free Starter Kit!
South Uptown is offering free “starter kits” to encourage neighbors to recycle food scraps, compostable products and other organic items. The kits include a choice from 3 bin options, compostable bags and resource materials. It is an easy way too reduce the amount of household waste going into the landfill. Register here.
Visit the Organics Recycling page on the South Uptown website for more info and links to resources: https://southuptown.org/organics
Organics Recycling Made Easy Workshop
Thu, March 31, 7 pm Online
Register here
Do you need help getting started recycling food scraps and compostable items in your house? Or, are you already doing it, but losing motivation? Join the free workshop to learn tips and tricks to make recycling organics easy and convenient.
South Uptown Chili Fest - 7-day online fundraiser Feb. 21 - 27
South Uptown Chili Fest
February 21- 27, 2022
A 7-day online fundraiser for the Joyce Uptown Food Shelf
We cannot gather this year to share delicious chili, but South Uptown folks can still help neighbors experiencing food insecurity through the Chili Fest fundraiser.
Donate here.
Contributions to the Food Shelf are doubled due to a challenge grant from the South Uptown Neighborhood Association with the first $1,000 of donations being matched dollar for dollar. Your donation will amplify the impact, Making sure our neighbors do not go hungry.
Supply Drive at Joyce Uptown Food Shelf (3041 Fremont Ave S.)
Sunday, February 27, 1:00- 2:00PM
Fill the van with these most needed items:
Diapers (All sizes) & wipes
Tampons & pads
Toothbrushes & toothpaste
For more info contact info@southuptown.org.
Organics Recycling Made Easy Workshop
Organics Recycling Made Easy Workshop
Thursday, March 31 7PM Online
Register here
Join us as we share all the tips and tricks for simplifying organics recycling in your home. Whether you’ve already got a green bin, have been considering getting one or utilize drop off sites, we’ve got you covered. Andrea Siegel is a Hennepin County Master Recycler/ Composter and her goal is to simplify the organics recycling process, motivate you to stay committed and provide solutions for those who are ready to give up. She will also tie your individual actions to the larger picture of climate change. This event is sponsored by the Tangletown and South Uptown Neighborhood Associations with support from a Hennepin County Green Partners Grant.
Up to 40 attendees will have the chance to win either a countertop or freezer compost bin as an incentive to get participants to start recycling organics or continue to do more.
Consider Becoming a Member of the South Uptown Board of Directors
There is currently one vacancy on the 9-member South Uptown Board of Directors, and the organization is hoping to fill it at an upcoming Neighborhood Meeting. The individual would fill the Board term that extends until September 2023. All South Uptown residents, business owners and property owners (18+) are considered members and eligible to join the Board. However, the Board is hoping to fill the vacancy with a neighbor who represents the demographics of the neighborhood including renters, women and people of color. Please contact info@southuptown.org for more info, or use this link to the Board application.
Luminary Skating Party at Bryant Square is January 8
Luminary Skating Party
Saturday, January 8, 5-7PM
Bryant Square Park (3101 Bryant Ave S.)
Come out to skate with your neighbors surrounded by hundreds of luminary lanterns on Saturday! Stay warm with bonfires and hot chocolate. Bring your skates or borrow a pair from the Bryant Square warming room skate library.
We still need volunteers to help put out and take down luminaries, tend bonfires and serve hot chocolate during the event. Please sign up here: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/746991681591972090/true#/invitation
1/5 South Uptown Meeting features Proposed Condo at 3554 Girard
South Uptown Land Use & Transportation Committee
Wednesday, January 5, 7PM on Zoom
* Email info@southuptown.org for meeting link.
Tim and Jen Pearson are planning to replace their home at 3554 Girard with a 4-story, 4-unit condo building, and they will present plans during the January 5 South Uptown Land Use & Transportation Committee meeting. The building would have a lobby and 6 enclosed parking stalls on the ground floor with the four condo units above. The project requires a Comprehensive Plan amendment and rezoning from “Residential 2” to Residential 4” to move forward. Please join the online meeting to find out more.
Meet Newly-Elected Representatives on Nov. 17
South Uptown Neighborhood Meeting
Wednesday, November 17, 7PM Online
(Note: date change from 11/16)
Email info@southuptown.org for Zoom link.
Featured Guest Speakers
Aisha Chughtai, 10th Ward City Council Member-Elect
Cathy Abene, 6th Park District Commissioner-Elect
The newly-elected representatives for the City Council 10th Ward and 6th Park District will join the meeting to introduce themselves and discuss their priorities. Please log on to learn more and ask questions.
Also on the Agenda...
South Uptown Bylaw Revisions
Board of Director Vacancy
Bryant Square Park Update
View the full Agenda here
The South Uptown Board will be filling a Board vacancy, and the organization hopes to recruit people of color, renters and women to fill it to better reflect the neighborhood's population. Board Members oversee the nonprofit South Uptown organization while attending monthly meetings and working on projects. The candidate would serve out the remainder of a two-year term through September 2023. Complete this online application if interested.
All South Uptown residents, business owners and property owners (18+) are considered members and encouraged to attend. We strive to make meetings fun, friendly and interesting. Please join us!
Give to the Max Day is Coming November 18
Please support the South Uptown Neighborhood Association on Give to the Max Day as we work to create a safe, equitable and connected community. Consider a donation of $10, $25 or more to fund community events like the Chili Fest, Earth Day Clean Up, Garden Tour, and Summer Concert Series at Bryant Square Park. Your contribution will help keep South Uptown vibrant and connected during these challenging times. https://www.givemn.org/organization/South-Uptown-Neighborhood-Association
