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When Kevin Norman moved back to Uptown in 2022, it was not the neighborhood he remembered. Norman and his wife had spent most of their adult lives in Uptown and returned to Minneapolis after a stint in California. And recently, he noticed what many other community members have: vacant storefronts, open drug-use and littered sidewalks. 

“It's been sad to see how much it has changed,” Norman told Minnesota Now host Nina Moini. 

Norman started by writing a letter to lawmakers, asking for support and investment in his neighborhood. And quickly, he expanded that campaign under the umbrella “Uptown United.” The 

 starts with a bold message: “Uptown isn't working right now — for anyone.” But it’s one that seems to resonate, with 200 people signing up to write letters. 

 a community ambassador program that will have coordinate walks through the neighborhood. Groups will walk on Friday and Saturday nights in the business corridor in hopes of creating a “positive presence” in the area. 

“People don't like doing illegal activity when there's other people around. So just making it a welcoming area,” said Norman.

MPR News obtained data from Metro Transit police on 911 calls to the Uptown Transit Hub. When looking at data from Jan. 1 to March 15 of this year, compared to the same time frame last year, there is a 295 percent increase in calls to the transit hub. A majority of those have been officer-initiated. A spokesperson with Metro Transit said they have officers and maintenance staff regularly visit the hub. There is also a new shared workspace in the area for law enforcement agencies. 

Norman says, personally, he doesn’t feel Uptown is unsafe, and he points to unhoused people and addiction issues in the neighborhood as a larger challenge. But Norman knows that the neighborhood has a perception of being unsafe. 

MPR News reached out to Minneapolis city councilmember Aisha Chugtai, who represents Uptown, about the direction of the neighborhood. She did not reply. 

Norman hopes Uptown United can get participation and coordination from elected leaders. For now, he is asking neighbors to call 311 and 911 when they see issues, so that there is a record of what is happening. 

Norman is encouraged by redevelopment plans for Seven Points, the shopping mall along Hennepin Ave. But in the meantime, he hopes his grassroots effort will bring the neighborhood together. 

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The newly-formed organization Uptown United hopes it can be a catalyst for turning the Minneapolis neighborhood around.

The newly-formed organization Uptown United hopes it can be a catalyst for turning the neighborhood around.

A new effort looks to revitalize Uptown (again)

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