In late 2023, the Highrise Health Alliance (HHA) was awarded a $100,000 grant by the Public Health Regenerative Leadership Synergy (PHEARLESS) program to help fund MPHA resident-focused healthcare and quality of life initiatives. A cross-sector partnership between MPHA and the City of Minneapolis Health Department working to improve the health outcomes of MPHA’s high-rise residents, HHA spent much of 2024 soliciting resident feedback and program priorities for the new grant funding.

Following extensive feedback, the HHA developed a plan to deploy the grant on a series of new and existing programs and initiatives that address residents’ top needs and concerns—including awarding mini grants aimed at strengthening social connection between residents.

Earlier this year, HHA began soliciting applications for a new mini grant program. Following a careful review of the submitted applications, HHA announced awards for more than 25 resident applications in May, with the first newly funded projects being last month. Core to the selected awards is a focus on community connection which is linked to improved mental health and quality of life.

Resident events funded through the mini grants include:

An Afternoon on the Mississippi River
In early July, a dozen residents from Heritage Commons enjoyed a river cruise along the Mississippi. The group coordinated cruise tickets and transportation to the departure location. The event allowed the group to bond over a new, shared experience and create memories outside of the building.

Golden Goddess Senior Sisterhood Group Strives to Create a Supportive Environment
More than a dozen female residents across several buildings are building a peer support group through the Golden Goddess Senior Sisterhood. The group meets weekly to share a meal, reflect on readings and affirmations, share personal stories, and encourage each other.

Expanded Community Gardens
Residents across several buildings—Lyndale Manor, Art Love Manor, Lowry Towers, and The Riverside—opted to invest in their building’s community garden spaces. Raised beds were added at Lowry Towers and Lyndale Manor making the gardens more accessible to those with mobility issues. At these buildings, residents are being encouraged to work together, get to know each other better, and share in the success of their harvest.

Cedar High Residents Create a Resident Choir
Cedar High residents partnered with the Korean Service Center to create a choir group to encourage connections among neighbors, reduce social isolation, and bring the joy of music to the broader community through concert. The group also coordinated a conductor, uniforms, and rehearsals ahead of a community concert in late July.

Celebrating National Night Out
The Elliot Twins, Horn Towers, and Park Center residents are organizing food, music, and family-oriented attractions for National Night Out on August 5. These events allow the residents to connect with the surrounding neighborhood and co-create a sense of safety. Elliot Twins residents are coordinating with the Minneapolis Park Board to join the Elliot Park celebration, with residents providing and distributing free school supplies to students.

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These resident-led events are examples of the thriving MPHA high-rise community. As the mini-grant program continues, it’s clear that when residents are supported, meaningful connection and well-being follow. The $100,000 grant is also supporting behavioral health peer support groups across several buildings, improvements to new resident move-in materials, staff training, and regularly distributed relevant heath information to all residents.