BLUU Housing Initiative Breaks Ground - Archived

•
Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism. BLUU. Illustration of raised fist attached to a lightning bolt arm.
BLUU Celebrates Housing Initiative Groundbreaking
Two Black people stand outside behind a sign at a groundbreaking event
BLUU Executive Director, Lena K. Gardner (left), speaks at the groundbreaking for the BLUU Housing Initiative. AsaleSol Young, Executive Director of Urban Homeworks, joins Lena at the podium. Urban Homeworks is the lead partner on the Housing Initiative.
On May 17, BLUU celebrated a momentous occasion. BLUU broke ground on the first multi-home lot of the BLUU Northside Housing Cooperative Initiative. Rev. Dr. SofĂ­a Betancourt, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, gave a blessing at the event, and community partners and supporters joined BLUU to celebrate.

When the project is complete, Black and Indigenous families who otherwise wouldn’t have access to permanent, truly affordable housing, will be able to move into the homes for substantially less than other homes cost in North Minneapolis.
Read the Story

Experience the Groundbreaking in Photos
a group of people wearing hard hats hold shovels at a groundbreaking event
After a blessing from our UUA president, we gathered to start the groundbreaking process.

From left to right: Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt (UUA President), Irene Ruiz-Briseño (Greater Minnesota Housing Fund), Roxanne Kimball (Residential and Real Estate Development Manager, City of Minneapolis), Lena K. Gardner (BLUU Executive Director), AsaleSol Young (Executive Director, Urban Homeworks)
We are grateful to Urban Homeworks for capturing the excitement of the groundbreaking event. If you weren’t able to attend, you don’t want to miss photos of this exciting event.
Relive the Groundbreaking In Pictures

Listen to the Housing Initiative Playlist
Three people smile together outside.
Rev. Victoria Safford, formerly of the BLUU Housing Council, BLUU’s Development Officer, Alexandrea Koumae (center) and BLUU Administrative Coordinator, Jessany Rose (right) helped plan BLUU’s Groundbreaking event.
When we say celebration, we mean it!

During the BLUU Housing Initiative Groundbreaking, we listened to a playlist, curated by Jessany Rose, BLUU’s Administrative Coordinator, who also DJs in her spare time. Enjoy the playlist which starts with a song about home and includes many empowerment anthems.
Listen on SoundCloud

Your Donation Will Be Matched!
two outdoor signs explaining the bluu housing initiative
Please consider a donation to the BLUU Housing Initiative, which will be matched dollar for dollar through the end of this month. Help make truly affordable housing for Black and Indigenous families a reality.
Give a Matched Donation
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Youtube
Black Lives UU | BLUU 165 Western Ave. North Suite 8 | Saint Paul, MN 55102 US