SAINT PAUL, MN—Today, State Representatives Karen Clark (DFL – Minneapolis) and Susan Allen (DFL – Minneapolis) discussed their efforts to bring more safety to the residents of the Little Earth community of South Minneapolis. Recent violent crime events have highlighted the need for additional community investments and changes to stop harm to the community.
“Recent incidents have drawn important attention to the fact that we need to be investing in the future of the Little Earth community and creating opportunities for families to have a safe place to raise their children, protect their loved ones from violent crime, and also to have the basic economic justice opportunities they deserve.” said Rep. Karen Clark.
Rep. Susan Allen authored HF 4500 to create a Native American juvenile crime account that would establish grants for youth intervention and crime prevention. Rep. Karen Clark has authored HF 4498 to fund Little Earth youth development programing and HF 4508 to fund housing grants for the Little Earth United Tribes Housing Corporation.
“The Little Earth community has so many dedicated leaders that want to see life improve for everyone in the community,” said Rep. Susan Allen. “In order to address some of the issues that result from generations of trauma and poverty, we need to respond as a state with significant resources to help these community leaders fix the problems they face and improve safety for everyone.”
The two state representatives will also be pushing amendments in the final days of session to fund over $200,000 in grants for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, the American Indian Opportunities Industrialization Center and the American Indian Center for the Ginew/Golden Eagle Program. Both Rep. Clark and Rep. Allen also strongly support the inclusion of $5 million in the bonding bill to improve the American Indian Center in Minneapolis which passed the House on May 14.
“We’ll be communicating the urgency of these investments to the Governor and his staff, and to our legislative leaders as the session advances to adjournment on Sunday night,” said Rep. Clark. “This is critically important funding for the health and safety of so many residents in our community.”
Rep. Karen Clark is the DFL-Lead for Housing on the Jobs Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Committee, and also serves on the Agriculture Finance and Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committees. She can be reached at rep.karen.clark@house.mn or by phone at (651) 296-0294.
Rep. Susan Allen is the DFL-Lead for the House Subcommittee on Aging and Long-Term Care, and also serves on the Commerce and Regulatory Reform, Health and Human Services Finance, and Health and Human Services Reform Committees. She can be reached at rep.susan.allen@house.mn or by phone at (651) 296-7152.
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