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SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER
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Rondo Exchange: Connecting Past, Present, and Prosperity
We are excited to share updates on the progress of our Small Business Incubator, now named the Rondo Exchange: Connecting Past, Present, and Prosperity. This name reflects our deep commitment to honoring the rich history of Rondo while creating pathways for future prosperity through entrepreneurial growth.

Application Status and Encouragement to Apply
Applications for the incubator are currently under review, and we anticipate reaching out to applicants again soon. If you’ve already applied, thank you for your interest! For those who haven’t yet, we encourage businesses in areas like retail, service, and creative industries to apply. The application is still open, and we’re seeking businesses that align with our vision of community wealth-building and prosperity. To apply, click here.

Upcoming Information Session
We will soon be hosting an information session to provide comprehensive updates and answer any questions potential applicants may have. Stay tuned for more details! We will provide updates in our newsletter and on social media (profiles linked below). 

Location and Construction Updates
Located at 856 Selby Avenue, the Rondo Exchange is currently under construction and on track to be completed this month! We are eager to share more updates in the coming weeks as we prepare to open the doors of this exciting space for community entrepreneurship.

We look forward to selecting the first cohort of entrepreneurs and are excited to support their growth within this vibrant and historic community.

New Business Development Consultant On Board
We are thrilled to announce that Cara Deanes, our new Business Development Consultant, has joined the team to ensure programming remains on track. Cara will support incubator participants with resources like workshops, training, and technical assistance.

Cara is a cultivator, activator and curator of mind, spirit and soul that aims to create spaces and opportunities for individuals to become all they are created to be.  Cara’s professional career started in youth development and has grown.  With a strong mind for business, she landed in the development field, grant writing, fundraising, and building strong community partnerships.  With this skill set, Cara began offering services to friends and community members that were trying to start and or scale their businesses.  Cara thrives in community grass root settings that are organic and with people who want to create genuine and relevant impact that will be a positive force to make our world better. 

Currently, Cara is the Executive Director of the Roho Collective, a non-profit arts organization that works to empower and strengthen artists of color.  In addition, Cara is the Founder of Dream Activation a consulting business that supports with personal growth,  professional development, and strategic design

Future participants can look forward to workshops with Cara in our new space, which will cover key business topics such as retail operations, marketing, and financial management.
Residential Update
Communicating the many layers of impact our work can be difficult. As we start the final quarter of 2024, we are grateful to share that so far in 2024, we have helped 31 families purchase permanently affordable homes through our Homebuyer Initiated Program. If you are interested in learning more about this program, how to apply, and how the CLT model enables us to catalyze greater housing access in Ramsey County, we encourage you to register for our next orientation which takes place on September 25th.

Congratulations to Sylas Shields - our newest CLT homeowner. 
Ticket Sales are NOW LIVE: Rondo CLT's 1st Annual Gala
Join us on November 13th for Rondo CLT's Winter Whimsical Wonderland themed Gala event. We are excited to host you for an evening of live music and decadent food. The night will be an opportunity to center ourselves by sharing with you the work we accomplished in 2024 and the plans we have for the future. To purchase a ticket, please click here. If you are interested in purchasing a table or have questions about the event, email Damon Mason
Rondo CLT in Community
Selby Avenue Jazz Fest

On September 14th, Rondo CLT staff tabled at the Annual Selby Jazz Fest. We enjoyed listening to the performances, seeing familiar faces, and getting to share the vision behind our work and the benefits of the community land trust model with more community members. 
Saint Paul Saints Game

On August 23rd, Rondo CLT had the opportunity to share about our work at a Saint Paul Saints baseball game! In addition to being featured on the jumbotron and tabling before the game, our Deputy Director Coco threw the first pitch. A special thanks to the Saints for having us! 
Our Urban Future: The Next Era of Making Change in America's Cities

Last week, Rondo CLT's Executive Director Mikeya Griffin attended a conference in Detroit hosted by the Kresge Foundation aong with other change making organizations working towards racial repair and healing, climate adaptation and resilience, and economic mobility and abundance.
A Visit with the Walton Family Foundation

In September, the Walton Family Foundation and 6 Northwest Arkansas Community Development Corporations visited Minnesota to learn about the MN Community Land Trust ecosystem. While here, they had an opportunity to meet with representatives from each of the 14 MN Community Land Trusts serving 82 of the 87 MN Counties. On Wednesday, September 11th, Rondo CLT's Deputy Director Coco gave the Arkansas delegation a tour highlighting projects along the Selby Avenue corridor. The delegation’s goal is to incorporate lessons learned in an effort to establish the first Community Land Trust in an increasingly expensive NW Arkansas housing market.
Advocating for Community Ownership in Detroit

On August 22nd, Mikeya Griffin (Executive Director) and E. Coco (Deputy Director) traveled to Detroit by invitation of the Kresge Foundation to share about Rondo CLT's reparative economic development framework with a growing community of CLT practitioners. We are thrilled to see the CLT model making strides in Detroit!
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Partner Spotlight: NeighborWorks Home Partners
NeighborWorks Home Partners is a community nonprofit center that supports successful and sustainable homeownership for all. Our programs empower homeowners and prepare homebuyers by providing support every step of the way. The services we offer:
  • Home Buyer Education
  • Pre-Purchase Counseling
  • Down Payment Assistance
  • Home Improvement Financing
  • Refinance Counseling
  • Foreclosure Prevention Counseling
If you are interested in any of their services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 651-292-8710 or hello@nwhomepartners.org.
Central High School Class of 1969 Reunion 
 
On September 21st, St. Paul Central's Class of 1969 is hosting its 45th year reunion. The event will take place from 3-8pm at the Como Park Picnic Grounds in the West Shelter. Classes of 1967 through 1971 are welcome to attend. To register, email st.paulcentral.class1969@gmail.com. It is a potluck so feel free to bring a dish to share! 
Midwest CLT Conference 

Join us October 7th-10th for the 2024 Midwest CLT Regional Conference. As interest surrounding Community Land Trusts grows exponentially across the United States, CLT practitioners are gathering to help foster better understanding of CLTs, both organizationally and programmatically. We are excited to participate and encourage you to attend the conference, especially the sessions led by our staff. For more information and to register, click here. 
Community Conversation with Commissioner Rena Moran
Follow Us on Social Media
Rondo CLT is growing and so is our presence online! Make sure you click on our Facebook and LinkedIn below to follow us so that you stay up to date on everything we have going on. 

A BIG thank you to our Gala sponsors! 
Please Consider Supporting our Work 
 
Rondo CLT builds community wealth and neighborhood stability through the development and stewardship of perpetually affordable homeownership opportunities, rental housing, commercial space, and other community assets.

Each new property that enters the community land trust starts a cycle of affordability for generations of low to moderate income earning families and local small business owners. Your donation makes all of this possible. Thank you.


Donate here.

Interested in becoming a CLT homeowner?

Attending a Rondo CLT Orientation is the first step in the application process. Orientations happen every other week on Wednesdays at noon. Click the link below for additional information and to register for an orientation today!

Register here
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