ReConnect Rondo’s
Community Impact Workshops
A two day interactive brainstorming session on restorative development ideas and solutions in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul, MN.
Community Impact Workshops
This 2-day workshop series was an opportunity for community members to ideate on restorative development solutions for Rondo, an historically Black neighborhood in St. Paul, MN. Due to the construction of highway 94, the community was split in half which had a negative impact on the once thriving neighborhood.
Today, ReConnect Rondo and community members are reimagining the ways we can restore Rondo to be a rich, revitalized and thriving cultural district yet again. Through the construction of a land bridge, the community will have the perfect opportunity to right the past wrongs that harmed this community, and move towards a restorative future.
With a focus on restorative development, housing security, health and wellbeing, cultural districts and neighborhood connections, teams created thoughtful and creative projects for the future of Rondo.
What the Participants Thought of This Experience
“So glad to get a chance to engage with people in our community on this important project towards restorative justice here in St. Paul.”
— Chris
“The experience was good, a lot of learning and great ideas.”
— Dominique
“I appreciated the collection of experiences & expertise in my small group! It made for a fresh-feeling brainstorming session and encouraged me to think more deeply. Thanks for organizing this process. It was really fun.”
— Natalie
“I love the ideas that came forth. This was much needed.”
— Charles
“I found the process as a great learning experience. The group I was with was knowledgable and well-spoken. Solutions were creative. Participants all used their unique voices to reach a measurable outcome.”
— Terrell
“The Cultural Arts group was awesome, great group effort and collaboration.”
— Josh
An innovative model for action-driven community engagement
Workshop Speakers
Keith Baker kicks off the workshop by providing some historical and cultural context of Rondo, an historically Black neighborhood in St. Paul, MN. ReConnect Rondo is on a mission to create a rich and revitalized future for the neighborhood by using a model of restorative development and the construction of a land bridge.
Sam Grant provides social and historical context for the strained relationship between the Black community and urban development. Through this lens, he encourages us to work towards establishing a community-controlled cooperative economy.
Bjorgvin Saevarsson delivers tangible methods to implement restorative development and social equity through the creation of jobs, regenerative urbanism and a circular economy that works for everyone.
The Projects
(These videos are viewable in full screen by selecting the 4 arrows on the bottom right side of the playback bar)