About the Neighborhood & Community Engagement Commission (NCEC)
Background
On December 16, 2011, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2011R-668 Amending and Restating Resolution 2008R-402 (doc) entitled Establishing a Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission, passed September 26, 2008 creating the new Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission.
Vision
The Vision for the Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission is a City and community engagement process that increases inclusiveness, empowerment and greater opportunities for participation by all community members of the City of Minneapolis.
Bylaws
Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission Bylaws (pdf) - Adopted February 25, 2013.
Commission Members
16 residents comprise the NCEC. Neighborhood organizations appoint 8 residents, City Council 5, Mayor 2, and the Park and Recreation Board appoint 1 resident. View a list of commission members and a map of NCEC neighborhood election districts.
Contact a commission member (xls)
NCEC Task Forces
Boards and Commissions Diversity Task Force:
One Minneapolis Fund Task Force:
Policiese and Procedures Manual Task Force:
Commissioner Biographies
Ishmael Israel (Chair)
Ishmael studied finance, economic theories and urban sociology at Augsburg University. As a North Minneapolis resident and business owner Ishmael has been involved in community work since 1999. Ishmael is determined to give back to his community and actively participates in the strengthening of his Willard Hay neighborhood through his neighborhood council Northside Residents Redevelopment Council (NRRC) and other volunteer efforts using his talents, passion and acquired skills. Through his continued dedication to NRRC, Ishmael champions resident engagement for many of the economic development opportunities charted for his Near North neighborhood. Ishmael has served as a liaison between the tornado response team, NCRT, and the collaboration of Northside Neighborhoods Council (NNC). The NNC was formed to ensure resident inclusion in recovery and community redevelopment planning. Ishmael is a member of the Northside Transportation Network (NTN), which is primarily focused on the Bottineau transit way project to facilitate engagement, education and advocacy for transit equity for north Minneapolis residents.
To the NCEC Ishmael brings an extensive background in residential real estate sales, marketing, and forecasting centralized in north Minneapolis that dates back to 1998. Ishmael currently serves as lead design consultant for Icon Builders & Development, a community redevelopment firm dedicated to employing underrepresented contractors to deliver quality urban housing using economically and environmentally conscious building and design methods across Minneapolis.
Ishmael is a mentor for North High, Minneapolis once prominent magnet schools that is now on the rebound from nearly closing in 2010. Ishmael remains committed to achieving the city of Minneapolis’ resident engagement goals of success, which include continuing to build upon resident driven initiatives that work towards building a healthy, and economically thriving and vibrant community which supports, a sustainable family structure.
Tessa Trepp-Wetjen (Vice-Chair)
Tessa Wetjen is the ABCD (Assuring Better Child Health & Development) Project Coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She supports multi-disciplinary, community-based teams to improve the process of identifying and serving children with development delays and social-emotional health concerns. Tessa has worked extensively with refugee and immigrant populations, families experiencing poverty, and managing system improvement projects. Tessa has worked as a research assistant and teaching assistant at the Humphrey School at the University of Minnesota where she will complete her Masters of Public Affairs in 2013.
Henry Jimenez (2nd Vice-Chair)
(Coming soon)
Jeffrey Strand (Secretary)
Jeffrey Strand is active as a volunteer board member since 1992, and past chair from 1997-2006, of the Shingle Creek Neighborhood Association. Strand has served 8 years on the Minneapolis NRP Policy Board, 15 years as a member of the Minneapolis Capital Long-range Improvement Committee, the 2007 Minneapolis Community Engagement Task Force, and in 2009 the new Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission.
Jeff earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Management from Cardinal Stritch University. Strand is a 30-year Hennepin County employee and has supervised delinquent property tax collections enforcement, tax-forfeited property management, and the foreclosure prevention and response program. He serves on the Hennepin County Foreclosure Task Force and the Environmental Assessment Team. Strand and his domestic partner Mr. Kim Wm. Jeppesen, an epidemiologist, own homes in North Minneapolis and rural Cottonwood County.
Latrell Beamon
Latrell Beamon is currently serving as a Youth Coordinator for the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and is very involved in community activities and events, both cultural and political. Latrell serves on a number of Community boards and committee's that have increased his knowledge of city process and operation. He also has seen how the different views brought to the table by community organizations can affect change.
Latrell’s goal is to gather knowledge and information and bring it back into the communities he serves in order to inspire and educate people, so that they may be part of the process.
Kenneth Brown
(Coming soon)
Doron Clark
Doron Clark is the commissioner for District 4 neighborhoods. He served as chair or co-chair of the Windom Park Citizens in Action 2003-2009. During his time as chair, Clark advocated for environmental development, green space, safe streets, and strong independent neighborhood organizations. In 2011 and 2012, Clark led Windom Park’s NRP Phase II plan development.
Clark has served as a Big Brother since 2001 and is a director on the programming board for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Twin Cities. Additionally, he has been recognized for his service to his alma mater, Hamline University, as he is a director for several planning /development committees. Professionally, Clark works as a Consultant at Target Corporation.
Clark lives in the Windom Park neighborhood in Northeast Minneapolis with his wife Molly and 2 daughters. Clark enjoys competing in road races (running) and duathlons, cheering on the Minnesota Twins, and exploring the parks, museums, and zoos in the Twin Cities.
Denis Houle
(Coming soon)
Marcea Mariani
(Coming soon)
Jeffrey Martin
Jeffrey Martin lives and works in Minneapolis. He is a professional designer that works in data visualization, information design, content development and publishing through his own business, Jeffrey Martin Design. Jeffrey has served a board member of the Waite Park Community Council in Northeast Minneapolis since 2007. He has served as president of that group from 2008-2012.
In his time with the Waite Park Community Council, Jeffrey has worked to roll out neighborhood initiatives through the NRP Phase II program and the City of Minneapolis’ Community Participation Plan, worked with small businesses, local public entities, elected local leadership, and residents from across Minneapolis to address current issues and provide a forum for neighborhood engagement. Over the past five years, Jeffrey has worked to facilitate conversations, within Northeast Minneapolis and the city as a whole, regarding the formation of civic policy, infrastructure concerns, and information gathering on a number of projects.
Jeffrey has been an active volunteer with group such as the Waite Park Community School Site Leadership Committee, Art Buddies, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and more.
Gregg Massey
(Coming soon)
Kenya McKnight
Kenya McKnight is principal consultant at Bridging Gaps consulting and has served as program officer at the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) from 2007-2012 focusing on small business development in North Minneapolis. Kenya is a member of several community groups and boards including North Point Health and Wellness, Metropolitan Council’s Transportation Advisory Board, a member of the Northside Transportation Network and Regional community engagement steering committee. Kenya is a current student at Metropolitan State University studying Public Service Communications and resides in Near North Minneapolis.
Carol Pass
(Coming soon)
Maria Sarabia
Maria Sarabia is a resident in the 10th Ward. Maria is committed to promoting equity and community wellness. She is currently on a field assignment from the CDC at the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support. Maria serves as the Community Engagement Program Coordinator and is spear-heading the Department’s engagement efforts with communities of color, through storytelling.
Maria earned her B.A. in Inner City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago and earned a M.A. from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. During graduate school, Maria focused on workforce/community development, health policy, and strengths based approach to clinical social work.
Maria Sarabia began her career in public service as an AmeriCorps volunteer. Maria served as a City Year Chicago Corps Member as a young adult; this year of service included supporting children to stay in school, beautify the urban community, and support local after-school programming. Ms. Sarabia also served as a Public Ally. Public Allies is a national program that promotes leadership development and civic engagement. City Year and Public Allies allowed Maria to earn educational stipends to pursue her academic training and introduced her to a life of public service
Saciido Shaie
(Coming soon)
Ali Warsame
(Coming soon)
The City of Minneapolis invites and encourages participation by every resident to each program, service and event within our city. Should you require an accommodation in order for you to fully participate, or should you require this document in an alternative format, please let us know by contacting 612-673-3737.
Updated: August 2011
Last updated Mar. 27, 2013