Accomplishments

Since the creation of NACDI in 2007, we have worked hard both within and for the community. Some of our accomplishments to date include:

Held a series of community design workshops in 2008 with over 150 community members and stakeholders participating
Worked with architects to create American Indian Cultural Corridor design concepts.
Began predevelopment work with the AIOIC for a school expansion and redevelopment of their property adjacent to the Franklin Station on the Hiawatha LRT line with a contract from Hennepin County
Recruited the first American Indian-owned bank to open a branch on Franklin Avenue, Woodlands National Bank
Held an Entertainment and Media Symposium in the spring of 2009 to discuss current trends and career opportunities in the entertainment and media field
Offered an entrepreneurship training course in partnership with the Neighborhood Development Center, and graduated 7 new American Indian entrepreneurs
Began the "Breakfast Bites" professional development series
Work with MIGIZI Communications to help secure $1 million dollar grant to support the development of the American Indian Cultural Corridor through media and entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly with youth
Held a youth community building workshop in partnership with MIGIZI Communications
Worked with U of M Humphrey Institute graduate students on American Indian Cultural Corridor: VIsions, Strategies and Actions publication. The publication recieved a Humphrey Institute Graduate Award
Produced Red Vibe, a quaterly newsletter publication dedicated to communicating our work
As a partner in the Native Media and Technology Network (NMTN), sponsored and coordinated the NMTN/FOX American Indian Summer Institute connecting American Indian youth to the film and television industries
Served as fiscal agent for two projects: the documentary "Native Nations: Standing Together for Civil Rights" produced by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and also for the Dakota Land Study looking at Dakota people and land in Minnesota prior to 1860
Created a new Community Development A.S. degree program with MCTC. MCTC will offer this unique degree program starting spring, 2009. NACDI staff/consultants will co-instruct several courses
Hosted First Annual "Developing the Ave" Golf Tournament at the Universit of Minnesota Golf Course.

E-mail