All Minneapolis residents, neighbors and community members are invited to attend the 2025 Community Connections Conference on Feb. 8 from 9 am to 4 pm at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The conference offers a day of connecting, sharing and learning about all the ways to be involved in the local community. Attendees will also have an opportunity to meet the people behind important City services, community groups and other institutions. The conference is free and open to everyone, and Metro Transit will also offer free rides to the Convention Center.
"Minneapolis runs on the strength of its people and their voices to help shape its future,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. "The Community Connections Conference brings together residents from all corners of the city to collaborate, learn and take meaningful action toward building a stronger Minneapolis. I look forward to seeing everyone there.”
Program highlights
The theme for the 12th annual conference is “Participation is Power: Speak, Act, Grow.” The City invites you to:
- Speak: Weigh in on important decisions
- Act: Vote, join neighborhood groups or serve on City boards
- Grow: Learn new things to improve your community, neighborhood and life
This year's conference will have workshops, music and dance, activities for the whole family, an exhibit hall and afternoon community conversations about health and food systems in Minneapolis. Flu and COVID vaccines are also available for free at the pop-up clinic in the exhibit hall while supplies last.
Some of the topics you can learn about in workshops and in the exhibit hall include:
- Serving on a City board or commission
- Getting involved with your neighborhood organization
- Job and internship opportunities
- Funding for community projects like the Partnership Engagement Fund
- Contacting City Council and following policy-making processes
- Immigration and other legal help
- Renters' rights
- First aid skills
- How to administer NARCAN
- Environmental programs
There will also be a scavenger hunt at the conference. Once completed, attendees can enter a drawing to win:
- A signed copy of the “Poem for Minneapolis Bde Óta Othúŋwe/Gakaabikaang” by the City’s first Poet Laureate Heid E. Erdrich
- A run with Mayor Frey
- A bike ride with Council President Elliot Payne
- A tour of the City’s Water Works Treatment & Distribution Services located along the Mississippi River
- A tour of City Hall by City Clerk Casey Carl
Some of the more than 250 booths will include City of Minneapolis departments and divisions including:
- City Council and Office of City Clerk
- Elections and Voter Services
- Jobs and internships at the City
- Community Air Monitoring Project
- Green Careers Exploration Program
- Lead and Healthy Homes
- Opioid Response Team
- Sidewalk Snow and Ice Pilot Programs
- Racial Equity Inclusion and Belonging (REIB)
- Civil Rights
- Employment & Training
- City Trees Program
- Office of Community Safety
- Youth Coordinating Board
Share your health story
During this afternoon community conversation, you can help shape the future of our public health work by sharing your health-related experiences in Minneapolis. By sharing your stories, you can contribute to a better understanding of what community health looks like in the real world, beyond statistics or assumptions. The Minneapolis Health Department will use these stories as part of their five-year community health assessment.
Envisioning a food focused future
Our other afternoon session will be a visioning session about improving our local food system. Learn how farming practices and career pathways play a role.
Pre-register ahead of time online or in person on conference day.
Find the full schedule and program at minneapolismn.gov/ccc.