The 2010 B.L.E.N.D. Award is proudly sponsored by the following Neighborhoods: Armatage, East Harriet Farmstead, Fulton, Kingfield, Linden Hills, Lynnhurst, Tangletown, and Windom. The participating Neighborhood Associations and Councils are issuing a call for submissions for the 2010 B.L.E.N.D. AWARD, which recognizes builders, architects, designers, and property owners whose projects respect existing neighborhood design aesthetics. We have also included Landscape projects as a submission category this year and are looking forward to having submissions in that category. The submission deadline is Friday, July 30th, 2009 5:00 p.m.

Eligible projects include new buildings, renovation or additions to existing buildings, and landscape projects that have been completed since July 1, 2005; projects must be located within the boundaries of the participating southwest neighborhoods. A jury of design professionals and neighborhood residents will select projects to be awarded. Recipients of the 2010 B.L.E.N.D. Award will be announced the week of August 16, 2010.

BLEND stands for Buildings and Landscapes Enhancing the Neighborhood through Design. “The name and the award represent the residents’ recognition of interest in their neighborhood and encouragement of progress while balancing a need for compatibility,” said Phil Rader, AIA, an architect on the Fulton Neighborhood Association’s Zoning Committee.

The B.L.E.N.D. AWARD was featured in the 2010 Minneapolis/St. Paul Home Tour. See their website www.MSPhomeTour.com. You can read the feature article at http://msphometour.com/files/2010_Home_Tour_Pg14.pdf

If you have a remodel, addition, new home, or landscape project completed within the last 5 years and your project is located in a Southwest Minneapolis neighborhood, please consider submitting this year Details of participating neighborhoods, project categories, mailing instructions, eligibility, and submission guidelines can be found on the BLEND Award web site www.blendaward.org -or- by contacting Phil Rader prader@philrader.com.

The Building Blocks awards are given to block clubs that are the city’s most active and effective. Two Kingfield block clubs are among the eleven chosen for the awards this year: 4200 Garfield and West-of-King block clubs. 

To read more about these great Kingfield blocks, click on “read more”.

4200 Block of Garfield Avenue South Block Club, Kingfield neighborhood

The 4200 block of Garfield Avenue South does not have an official “block leader,” but has many involved neighbors with traditions and gatherings that go back decades. Block members have frequent contact with one another through weekly, monthly and annual events including National Night Out parties, potluck dinners, Saturday morning coffees, and poker nights. The block club even awards new neighbors a travelling painting of “Mrs. Garfield” that remains in the new neighbor’s possession until the next house on the block changes hands. Residents also work with the 5^th precinct on neighborhood safety issues including vandalism, drug dealing, excessive speeding and other suspicious activity.

West-of-King Block Clubs, King Field neighborhood

The West-of-King Block Clubs is a developing group involving nine blocks from Nicollet Avenue South to Wentworth Avenue South, and East 40^th Street to East 43^rd Street. The club is led by Mary and Michael Vanderford, Linda Madson, Chris DeParde, and Rosie Novak, and began as response to shootings, drug dealing and a murder in the neighborhood in 2008. Since the block club formed in September 2008, it has held meetings with neighbors, Mayor Rybak, Council Member Elizabeth Glidden, the Minneapolis Police Department and other leaders to work constructively on what could be done about the crime in the area. The group is working to fill gaps in neighborhood leadership, build phone trees, re-create block maps, start an evening walking group, and research how it can support youth programs at King Park.  

• Steve Jevning is the founder and director of Leonardo’s Basement. Leonardo’s Basement is an innovative educational organization for children and their families. They create imaginative learning environments where girls and boys ages 6 to 16 design and build their creative ideas, mixing art, science and technology. They also provide exciting building experiences for over 600 children a year and introduce our programs to thousands more at neighborhood and community events.
• Park Ave Youth and Family Services: The mission of Park Avenue Youth & Family Services is to build up and support urban youth and families in the Minneapolis community. They do this primarily through programs, partnerships and advocacy, in the Central, Powderhorn and Phillips neighborhoods.
• Ms. Catherine Williams: Ms. Williams is a longtime community activist, serving as an Election Judge for the City of Minneapolis for over 20 plus years. She is an active member and volunteer at the Sabathani Senior Center and Park Elder Center Breakfast Club. Ms. Williams is an active member of Minneapolis Chapter of AARP and has volunteered and worked on several political campaigns including Former State Representative Neva Walker. Ms Williams was one of the first African American Supervisors for Hennepin County’s Juvenile Probation office. Ms. Williams is one of the community’s unsung heroes. We congratulate on her service to the 8th Ward and the City of Minneapolis.
• Ceola Lazo- In 2008 Was among 1,000 Educators Nationwide Honored by OfficeMax During ‘A Day Made Better’ — One of Largest National Grassroots School Advocacy Campaigns in History
In 2008 Ceola took 40 5th-grade students — many of whom come from low-income households — on the inaugural trip last year. “Most had never been out of the city, had never been to see things or go on a vacation,” wrote Lazo in a narrative about the experience. In addition Mrs. Lazo served as president of the Town Oaks Townhome Association for the past four years.
• Stephanie Ball-Bailey! Always an advocate for children and anyone needing help she has been a guiding Angel for thousands within this community. Many young women and men can attest and proclaim her unyielding faith in them when they lacked confidence in themselves that help them through a myriad of insurmountable problems.

In an effort continue the positive influence Stephanie always exhibited in the community we have created the Stephanie Ball- Bailey Youth Leadership Award. This award will be presented annually to young persons or individuals and/or organizations working on behalf of youth in the 8th Ward.
• Stephanie Ball Bailey Award Winners for 2008 are:
Shonda Allen
Ashley Coleman

Elizabeth Glidden welcomes questions and comments at (612) 673-2208 or elizabeth.glidden@ci.minneapolis.mn.us