A Fond Farewell
Staff @ Lex-Ham
Dear Neighbors,
I’m writing to let you know that after serving nearly five years as Lex-Ham’s executive director, I have accepted a new position with the City of St. Paul. My first day is August 24th.
What’s exciting about this position is it will enable me to continue to pursue my passion for community building and public spaces across the entire city.
The title of my new job is “8-80 Vitality Fellow.” I am forwarding (see below) the Deputy Mayor’s announcement for those of you who might be interested.
It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve you and our neighborhood and I have enjoyed working with so many of you who have volunteered for Lex-Ham’s many community-building activities. We have accomplished many things including; replacing the prison-like fence around Central’s Griffin Stadium, planting a Karl Grahek memorial garden at the corner of Concordia and Lexington Parkway, put in place a low-interest loan program for Lex-Ham residents, maintained a full roster of engaged board members and block leaders, planted two beautiful traffic circles, and working with residents at Skyline Tower and many other community partners we have advocated for over 4 years for a park on Griggs Bikeway between I-94 and University (if all goes well, three parcels of vacant land on Griggs could become the property of the city by the end of 2015).
Lex-Ham is one of the safest neighborhoods in St. Paul and the reason is fairly simple, we take time to get to know one another and look out for each other. Let’s continue to build our strong sense of community – welcome new people, ensure our seniors are living well in their homes and look for opportunities to get involved.
I leave the organization with a very capable board of directors, who I’m sure will hire an excellent executive director. In the interim they will handle the day-to-day needs, and I am assisting in any way I can. After all, I live here too! :)
Thanks again for everything and I’m sure I’ll see you around the hood!
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 3:29 PM
To: Beckmann, Kristin (CI-StPaul)
Subject: 8-80 Vitality Fellowship Announcement
Colleagues, I am excited to announce that Margaret Jones will serve as the City of Saint Paul’s 8-80 Vitality Fellow.
As you may recall, the City received a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Cities Challenge to fund this 18-month, full-time, 8-80 Vitality Fellow position.
Saint Paul’s 8-80 Vitality Initiative is inspired by the work of 8-80 Cities, which promotes livable cities designed on the guideline that if people from age 8 to age 80 are safe, invigorated, and welcomed by their environment, the city will be welcoming to all. The initiative includes the City's $42.5 million 8-80 Vitality Fund, established this year and comprised of 15 infrastructure and public space projects.
In addition to these projects, the Fellow will work across the City to infuse a vision that promotes economic development through investments which enliven the public realm by promoting walking and bicycling and creating great public spaces. The results will attract residents, employees, businesses and visitors for years to come.
Over 18 months, the Fellow will work across departments to ensure that the inclusive vision sparked by 8-80 Cities is integrated into City projects - from new street crossings, to bike paths in parks, to major redevelopment investments. The Fellow will also identify and coordinate training opportunities for City staff and community leaders.
Margaret Jones brings great passion, experience, and insight to this new position. She has over 30 years of experience, including a strong background in organizational change and community engagement.
Margaret was most recently the executive director of Lexington-Hamline Community Council, where she helped lead several public space projects in her neighborhood, including a new park on Griggs (between University Avenue and I-94), the Better Bridges initiative (improving the pedestrian and cycling experience on bridges over I-94), and a Central High School placemaking project.
Margaret has a BA from Minnesota State University, Moorhead and a MA in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University, Saint Paul. She will work across the city, but will be based on the 13th floor of the City Hall Annex in the Department of Planning and Economic Development. Margaret starts with the City on Monday, August 24th.
Please join me in welcoming her and in engaging with her to enliven the City’s public realm. KB
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Kristin Beckmann P: 651-266-8569 |
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Making Saint Paul the Most Livable City in America | ||||
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