At Progressive Baptist Church
1505 Burns Avenue
Saint Paul Mark your calendar today and join us for this public gathering as we work together to create racially and economically just Minnesota. Invited guests include Governor Dayton and members of his Administration including Commissioners and Metropolitan Council Members, and other public officials.

Gretchen Vanderlinden-Wang traveled to Washington D.C. this month to represent ISAIAH and Minnesota at a national meeting of community organizing organizations.  The meeting was hosted by the national organization Center for Community Change (CCC).  CCC has launched the "Retirement Security" campaign to pressure Congress to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from any cuts.  CCC has recruited state organizations from key states (including ISAIAH in Minnesota) to help in the campaign.  At the November 16-17 meeting, Gretchen presented ISAIAH's accomplishments and heard the strategies of other states to influence their members of Congress.  She also participated in several powerful actions and attended a national press conference in which 10 elders gave their testimony about how Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid have helped them.  In the coming months, ISAIAH has much more work to do towards protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.  To find out how you can help, please see Gretchen!

THANK YOU to all Redeemer members who signed postcards to Senators Klobuchar and Franken!  These postcards were sent to the Senators to urge them to "keep the faith" and care for the most vulnerable Minnesotans by protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from any cuts.  These postcards will make a difference, especially for Senator Klobuchar, who has flip-flopped her position about whether or not she would support cutting these vital programs.  If you have any questions please see Gretchen.

At Progressive Baptist Church
1505 Burns Avenue
St. Paul Mark your calendar today and join us for this public gathering as we work together to create a racially and economically just Minnesota. Invited guests include Governor Dayton and members of his Administration including Commissioners and Metropolitan Council Members, and other public officials.

70 people were in attendance, mostly from Ward 1.  Since this event was very close to Election Day, it was valuable to see and hear all the major candidates’ responses to the questions.  The entire forum was videotaped and will be available.  If you are interested please contact a core team member.  Pastor Erlandson was the moderator, and it was held at Mt Olivet Baptist Church.  Questions ask by ISAIAH - 3rd Party Mediation for Foreclosure Property?  People displaced by the LRT project?  Construction goals for diversity commitments are not being met, how can the city provide leadership?  Ward One Candidates Melvin Carter, Antony Fernandez, and Johnny Howard Audience questions:  Funding of Living-At-Home Block Nurse programs, achievement gap in schools, property taxes, parking plan for Central Corridor.

Over 30 Redeemer members signed postcards to US Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Al Franken (D-MN).  The postcards asked the senators to keep our country’s promise to care for the oldest and poorest Minnesotans, and to reject any federal budget proposals that make cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Two members of Redeemer will participate on the Statewide Turnout Team.

Over 25 Redeemer Members attended - Our voices were heard!!!  Issues were Affordable Housing and Bank Foreclosures and the City’s leadership on these issues.

This fall the St. Paul Region of ISAIAH has been doing Research Visits.  The purpose of theses visit is to build relationships with public officials and challenge them to put Racial Equity into decisions so ALL people may benefit.  Redeemer has visited St Paul City Council members Dan Bostrom Ward 6 and Russ Stark Ward 4.  Also we have met with St. Paul School Superintendent Valeria Silva, Met Council District Representatives Jon Commers, and Harry Melander and County Commissioner, Janice Rettman.   Plans are still in the works for Council Member Melvin Carter in Ward 1 and Richard Kramer of the Met Council.

On September 17 ISAIAH hosted Leadership for Racially Equitable Schools with Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Minnesota Commissioner of Education.  Over a dozen School Superintendents pledged to be Champions for Racial Equity.  We are hopeful this group with deal with the graduation rates of minority students in their districts and make decisions that include ALL Students in schools.

• Jean Ayers, ISAIAH leaders has been apppointed by Governor Dayton as Assistant Commissioner of Health for the State of Minnesota.
  
• Pastor Erlandson has been meeting with HIA group and the St. Paul Pastors’ Group to create Health Community Policy.
  
• Brenda Cassellius has been appointed by Governor Dayton as the Commissioner of Education.  Ms. Cassellius has experience in closing achievement gaps in schools and raising graduation rates.

Inclusive Housing Do not give away all density as of right in the rezoning plan.  Provide a density bonus to developments that include affordable units along the Corridor.  Provide developments with grants, tax breaks, and loans in exchange for the provision of affordable housing. Create World Cultural Heritage District Promote cultural district in all branding and marketing efforts, rename stations to reflect cultural identities along the Corridor – including renaming the Dale station as “Historic Rondo,” create a Hmong Community Garden along the Corridor, and ensure that all station information is in multiple languages – all of which is detailed in the Central Corridor Development Strategy. One-to-One Replacement Plan for Affordable Units The rezoning plan should include a one-to-one replacement plan if an affordable unit (defined by bedrooms) is destroyed.  St. Paul has a Replacement Housing Policy (Chapter 93) requiring replacement of affordable rental units that are lost due to city-assisted projects.  This should be extended to private projects as well.  Additionally, an amendment to the ordinance to expand this requirement to include the light rail project would provide a means for mitigating impact on affordable units. Require Big developments to separately lease smaller retail space Developments over 100,000 square feet should lease space to retail space between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet.  Existing local businesses could move into these spaces as new buildings are constructed. Protect the Industrial Zones along the Corridor Manufacturing jobs are some of the higher paying jobs along the Corridor and jobs that are accessible to those with lower educational attainment.  Do not restrict the available land zoned industrial and revert back to pre-Overlay designations for Industrial use. Accessible Food Sources to Underserved Communities Attach to licensing of business that sell food and have the requirements needed to make fresh food available.  Write in to rezoning the use of unused lots for farmers markets, community gardens, and fresh produce vendors. In Christ, Irene Markley ISAIAH Core Team Chair at Redeemer

Any time you have a question or comment please don’t hesitate to contact a CORE team member, they are Bonnie Hughes, Rhynda Landt, Lyle & Myrna Nelson, Irene Markley and Pastor James Erlandson In Christ Irene

The Ending Domestic Violence task force of ISAIAH is concerned about keeping victims safer and holding offenders accountable.  Meetings are held at member churches on the first Saturday of each month.  Contact Mary Lou Knipe at 651-644-5493 for further information. As always your prayers are very important to our ISAIAH Core Team and events that we sponsor.  For more information contact a CORE Team member.  Remember, it is never too late to answer the call of God. In Christ, Irene Markley – ISAIAH Core Team CO-Chair