Our New Home

SLIDE SHOW THE BUILDING STORY CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FLOOR PLAN

[Our building is occupied now, so this account of the construction is dated. We think you may find it interesting to read the story about the building and the capital campaign. Ed.]

November 1999: As we approach the end of our new building’s six-month renovation, we can honestly say the entire project has been a wonderful experience.

The two-story structure, donated to the Resource Center last year, stands a half block south of Lake Street and 27th Avenue. Our address, effective December 1, is 3019 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55406-1931. The new phone number: 612-276-0788. The fax: 612-276-0898. (Our e-mail addresses and Web URL aren’t changing.)

Staff members have had the pleasure of meeting weekly with an exceptionally collegial group that includes the architects, the contractor, the site supervisor and volunteers to make design choices, evaluate progress and approve changes. Ideas that existed only in our imaginations a few months ago have taken shape in a building filled with light, color, interesting lines and comfortable space. Excitement fills the air as we began our two-stage move:

• On November 1, the bookstore and café began moving into the building, occupying the first floor, which is devoted to retail space. Each business will open to the public as quickly as possible—we’re aiming for November 5. (The café’s opening date hinges on the timing of the health department’s approval.) Both businesses will limit their hours during November, so call each for specifics. The new bookstore number is 612-276-0801. The café’s is 612-276-0803.

• On December 1, the rest of the Resource Center staff and all of our furniture, files, library books and computers are scheduled to move. To pack, sort and prepare the office for the movers, we’ll be closed to the public after November 20. After 16 years, we have accumulated a lot.

Our Grand Opening celebration is Saturday, December 4, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. We hope each and every one of you will be there! It will include a huge sale of fair-trade holiday crafts, books, cards and calendars. The Café of the Americas will serve traditional foods and musicians will perform throughout the day. At 11 a.m., several public officials will help with a "ribbon cutting/piñata breaking" ceremony. At the end of the day, we’ll hold the drawing for a huge raffle. The grand prize is roundtrip airfare for two to anywhere United Airlines flies in Latin American. The second prize is a handmade Nicaraguan rocking chair. The third is Cuban rum. Tickets cost $2 each or $10 for six. If you’re willing to sell raffle tickets to your co-workers, family or friends, please e-mail Sarah Troemel, 612-627-9445 (ext. 14).

We’re excited about our role in revitalizing the area and about our proximity to Latino businesses, congregations and organizations along Lake Street. We also look forward to the additional space and the opportunity to put all our programs under the same roof—it will be a vital community center. The people, ideas, talent and work that have gone into this project are inspiring. Those who deserve credit include Resource Center members, who have nurtured the organization and its work 16 years.

Amid all of the tremendous effort to fund and renovate the new facility, we have been involved in wonderful discussions with several groups and individuals in the community about how best to use the new space for the benefit of the greatest number of people. We will report specifics to you soon. Rest assured, the new physical structure is only the beginning. What’s most exciting is the new programming, new partnerships and new vision that the building is allowing us to create.