Throughout February, the Minneapolis Neighborhood News (MNN) cable television program will feature the Franklin Station Townhomes in the East Phillips neighborhood, a Cityview Community Garden dedication event in the McKinley neighborhood and the Seventh Annual Winterfest in the West Phillips neighborhood.

Tune in and find out how a new 28-unit housing development near 24th Street and 16th Avenue called the Franklin Station Townhomes is sparking a dramatic turnaround in the East Phillips neighborhood. Listen to the emotional story of resident Thelberta Lussier as she shares her feelings about purchasing a new town home that stands on the same corner where her home for 28 years once did. Of the diverse group of 28 town homebuyers, three households previously lived in the Phillips neighborhood and 22 are first-time homebuyers. Thanks in part to a grant from the NRP Affordable Housing Reserve Fund, nine of the town homes were purchased by families earning less than 50 percent of the Metro Median Income.

The show's opening segment features a Cityview Community Garden dedication event honoring the late Sheila Wellstone. Learn how the McKinley Community organization has used the community garden as a powerful tool to connect with residents about issues impacting the community. Because the garden is connected to a school, it has been effectively used as an outdoor classroom for children and adults alike.

The final segment on the 30-minute show features the Seventh Annual West Phillips Winterfest held in January. Listen to West Phillips residents tell how this event has grown from a handful of people gathering in the living room of neighborhood board chair Muriel Simmons to the nearly 300 residents who turned up this year at the Zurah Shrine Center.

Minneapolis Neighborhood News can be seen on cable in the city of Minneapolis on channel 16 on Sundays at 5 p.m., on channel 17 on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. and on channel 14 on Sundays at 4:30 p.m., Mondays at 5:30 p.m., and Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m.

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