Over the past few months we have had the opportunity to work with the East Side Neighborhood Development Company (ESNDC) and learn more about the incredible impact they have had in the lives of so many community members and small business owners on the East Side of St. Paul.

We are so grateful to be able to work alongside organizations like ESNDC who are completely grounded in their mission for thriving healthy communities. ESNDC’s programming supports the development of a healthy and thriving community by connecting small business owners with a wide range of resources, from technical assistance to loan and grant-based funding opportunities, in addition to supporting increased access to safe housing through the implementation of their Lead Safe program.

It was especially inspiring to hear the stories told about the former Executive Director, Anne De Joy, as she retired, from those that she and ESNDC directly impacted. It was abundantly clear that Anne has been a trusted force for positive change within the East Side neighborhood of St. Paul and has had a lasting impact on, not only the individual lives of so many, but the neighborhood as a whole.

These stories of direct impact are what ground us at Collectivity in our work as we strive for collective action and impact to uplift our community. Thank you to ESNDC for trusting us to support their organization through a Needs Assessment and subsequent Implementation as the organization goes through growth and transition. We are grateful for the opportunity to support the operations of organizations so that they can continue to do their best work.

Partnering for a Thriving East Side

Centering Youth Voice: Celebrating the Conclusion of the Youth as Champions Pilot