The Alliance

08/13/2026

08/13/2026

“There is a long history in this nation of development pushing out the very communities that stand to benefit most from it.

Time and again, we’ve seen investments bring new businesses, new housing, and new opportunities—but too often, the people who have called these neighborhoods home for generations are priced out before they can share in those benefits.

This moment gives us a chance to choose a different path.

The northwest suburbs deserve more than investment in infrastructure alone—they deserve investment in the people who make these communities what they are.

As the Blue Line extension moves forward, the government must also invest in affordable housing, small businesses, tenant protections, homeownership opportunities, and community organizations that help residents build lasting stability.

Transit is an investment in a place, but it must also be an investment in the people who live there.

Organizations like ACER have spent years working with residents to ensure that development is shaped by the community, not imposed on it. Their work demonstrates that equitable growth requires intentional policies and sustained public commitment.”

—Sohini Bag McClannahan, African Career, Education & Resources, inc. (ACER), pictured, above, speaking at a rally with the Blue Line Coalition last week to call on Met Council to invest in the Blue Line Extension and antidisplacement efforts.

08/12/2026

“The Blue Line Extension is important, but the true measure of its success will never be the miles of track laid, or the stations built. Its success will be measured by whether the people who have called this community home for generations are still here to benefit from it.

This is why antidisplacement must be at the center of every conversation.

We need investments that help families stay in their homes, support homeowners, protect renters, strengthen local businesses and create opportunities for wealth-building.“

—Anndrea Young, Executive Director of the Heritage Park Neighborhood Association, a member of the Blue Line Coalition, speaking last week at a rally calling on the Met Council to invest in the Blue Line Extension.

It’s not about the train,

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

Press conference today
Thursday August 6th 12:30pm outside Metro Transit Heywood office building in Minneapolis!

🔗 press release in bio

“This project is not about the train, it’s about the people,” said Ricardo Perez, Coalition Organizer at The Alliance for the Blue Line Coalition.

“Regardless of the project’s cost and timelines, we demand local government bodies honor their commitments to address displacement and gentrification. It is important that these investments happen before construction begins, because as soon as a project is announced, we have seen rising pressures and costs for current residents and small businesses.”

08/05/2026

Join the Alliance and the Blue Line Coalition for a press conference to demand that Metropolitan Council invest in antidisplacement!

On Thursday, community advocates with the Blue Line Coalition will rally outside Met Council offices to demand investment for residents and businesses facing displacement from the planned Blue Line Extension. The rally comes after over 7 months of cancelled meetings by the Corridor Management Committee (CMC), which advises the Metropolitan Council on the design and construction of the light rail line.

“This project is not about the train, it's about the people,” said Ricardo Perez, Coalition Organizer with the Blue Line Coalition. “Regardless of the project's cost and timelines, we demand local government bodies honor their commitments to address displacement and gentrification. It is important that these investments happen before construction begins, because as soon as a project is announced, we have seen rising pressures and costs for current residents and small businesses.”

The CMC meeting is expected to cover details about the project's updated timelines, cost and ridership projection numbers, as well as information on a federal funding gap that is testing Met Council’s commitment to invest in the light rail corridor. At the meeting, the Antidisplacement Community Prosperity Program (ACPP) board will be sharing announcements, including presenting its new leadership team.

Advocates from the Blue Line Coalition, which supports and celebrates the work of the ACPP board, have called for continued investment in local housing and small business to prevent displacement.

Join us for a press conference:
When: Thursday, August 6th, 2026, 12:30pm, outside Metro Transit’s Fred T. Heywood Office Building, 560 Sixth Ave. N., Minneapolis

Parking: Arrive early to find street parking in surrounding blocks; parking onsite is restricted

Contact: Ricardo Perez, Blue Line Coalition Organizer, The Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, [email protected]

About the Blue Line Coalition:

The Blue Line Coalition, convened by the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, is rooted in the Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and immigrant communities that will be most impacted by the Metro Blue Line light rail extension project. Since 2013, we have been working together to make sure government leaders recognize the project is a racial justice and regional equity issue and that community inclusion and leadership must be central to ALL planning and outcomes.

Coalition member organizations include: (African Career, Education and Resource, Inc. (ACER)), CAPI, Harrison Neighborhood Association, Heritage Park Neighborhood Association, The Lao Center Of Minnesota, MICAH, MN350: Building a Climate Movement in Minnesota, NRRC - Northside Residents Redevelopment Council, Pueblos de Lucha y Esperanza, and Housing in Action, Center for Urban & Regional Affairs - CURA, Housing Justice Center

Learn more: https://bluelinecoalition.org

07/31/2026

It's been a busy week for the MCCD Shared Ownership team!

Electra Skrzydlewski, our Director of Shared Ownership, spoke in a panel at the Association of Cooperative Educators (ACE) conference in Minneapolis. Joining Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard from John Jay College, Nonkululeko Shongwe from Nexus Community Partners, and Tamah Yisrael from Cooperation New Orleans, Electra shared her perspective on the evolution and impact of cooperative education, exploring ways in which organizations like MCCD can continue strengthening the cooperative movement for the future.

Thank you to ACE and Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative for hosting this event! MCCD is thrilled to continue working with other educators and practitioners to promote cooperative knowledge and community ownership.

07/30/2026

Have you made your Black August plans yet?

On Friday, August 7, Blackbird Revolt is hosting a Revolutionary Teach-In, a day of learning, conversation, and community with organizers, creatives, educators, and neighbors from across the Twin Cities.

The day includes workshops, shared meals, and discussions exploring what it means to build people-centered movements rooted in care, justice, and collective liberation.

We're especially looking forward to a session with our internal comms manager, D.A. Bullock, who will lead a conversation on building narrative strategies for abolition through political and popular education. Together, participants will examine how stories shape culture, why culture matters in movement work, and how we can build narratives that strengthen collective liberation.

If you're looking for a space to learn, connect, and reflect during Black August, tickets are available through 's bio.

07/27/2026

Applications are open for MCCD's second State Policy Cohort!

Launched in 2025, the State Policy Cohort is designed for BIPOC professionals who want to learn more about policy development and how to effectively navigate and influence state-level policy. The cohort takes a deep dive into the mechanics and behind-the-scenes of policymaking - including guidance on understanding, writing, and advocating for equitable policies at the Minnesota State Legislature - through a group learning and networking environment.

Applications for the Cohort are open now until August 21st, and the program will convene on September 16th. Enrollment will cost $1,000 for MCCD members and $1,250 for non-members.

Learn more and apply at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=yUnuS0d_RUeSy8B83jiPW-ejBfe1QCVAnjvufulqrnRUNVhZWUk5S0RaRUFRQTlUOFhFV09JMExWMCQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

07/22/2026

Read the Alliance Leadership Transition Announcement from our Board Chair:

https://thealliancetc.org/alliance-leadership-transition/