Mary McGovern knows what it means to be a good neighbor. For the past two decades she has listened to, organized alongside, and advocated for her high-rise community. Since moving into public housing nearly 20 years ago, Mary has consistently found ways to support her neighbors, strengthen her community, and make residents’ voices heard. Along the way, she has held several leadership positions with her building and the city-wide public housing high-rise tenant organization, Minneapolis Highrise Representative Council (MHRC).

Two decades ago, Mary was homeless. She lived with friends when she could and outside when she couldn’t. Eventually, she got into a Salvation Army shelter and a social worker recommended she apply for housing with MPHA. Before long, Mary had a new home—and a community she would dedicate herself to for decades to come.

Although community organizing was new to her, Mary quickly stepped into leadership roles at her building, the Elliot Twins. She first served as the building’s resident council treasurer, then vice president. And for more than a decade now, Mary has served as president of the Elliot Twins’ resident council. In that role, Mary has helped organize monthly food shelf events, annual building holiday meals, National Night Out events, and Project Lookout, a resident-led safety program. Whether a neighbor needed help or the community had something to celebrate, Mary has become someone residents know they can count on. She has also mentored emerging resident leaders, sharing her experience and encouraging others to get involved in advocacy and community organizing.

“This community is everything to me,” said Mary McGovern, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority resident. “The public housing high-rise community is like a family. We are like a big, big family that works together to get things done.”

Mary’s commitment to making residents’ voices heard extends well beyond her own building. After serving as MHRC’s treasurer, she was elected president of the city-wide tenant organization, MHRC, in 2018. As president, she worked tirelessly to elevate residents’ concerns to MPHA leadership, partner organizations, and local elected officials.

Her advocacy has helped bring residents together around issues the directly impact their homes and communities. In 2023, she rallied residents in support of the public housing tax levy, which resulted in the city sending MPHA $5 million annually to preserve and produce the agency’s needed housing stock—a major win for residents. In recent years, Mary has testified in front of the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate, making the case for additional state funding to support public and affordable housing. Additionally, she has taken the stage at affordable housing rallies, spoken at MPHA building grand openings and groundbreakings, lead numerous MPHA building tours for elected officials, and even traveled to annually Washington D.C. to learn and share of Minneapolis’ successes with public housing advocates across the country.

Through it all, Mary has remained committed to the idea that every resident has something valuable to contribute.

“I believe everyone has a voice,” said Mary. “Every resident should be involved in MHRC and resident councils. Everyone has a unique perspective. We need everyone to bring their knowledge, perspective, and expertise to strengthen the community and solve the issues we face together.”

After three reelections and eight years of leading the organization charged with advocating for MPHA high-rise residents, Mary is passing the torch to MHRC’s newly elected president, Belinda Walker. And she is excited to see the organization grow and continue its momentum with the new MHRC leadership.

“I’m so happy Belinda is president,” said Mary. “I am confident she will push the organization forward and the team will keep striving to make MHRC stronger.”

Mary is a fierce advocate for her building community and the city-wide MPHA community. Her dedication has made the MPHA high-rise community stronger, and her legacy will continue through the residents she has inspired to speak up, get involved, and advocate for one another. As Mary looks ahead to MHRC’s next chapter, she does so with confidence in its new leadership and a continued belief in the power of residents working together.