Northside Forward

This is more than a plan. It’s a promise we made to ourselves.

Northside Forward is a 10-year vision for growth and investment in North Minneapolis—rooted in the voices and leadership of the community. It was shaped by the people who walk these blocks, raise families, build businesses, teach, heal, organize, and dream in the Northside.

It was born in conversation—between elders and youth, artists and entrepreneurs, neighbors and change-makers. More than 200 voices came together, not just to imagine the next chapter for the Northside—but to design it together.

This is a blueprint for economic prosperity, cultural power, and rooted investment—where the future is something we’re building with intention.

In partnership with the African American Leadership Forum, Northside Forward lays out what it will take to grow what’s already good and invest in the tomorrow we’re building toward. With eyes on the next generation and respect for everyone that came before, this plan is strategically positioned to guide $1.5 billion in public and private investment over the next decade.

We’re not starting from scratch.
We’re building on what’s already strong.
What’s been nurtured, protected, and passed down.
This is ours to shape—and we’re just getting started.

Why Northside Forward, Why Now?

North Minneapolis has long been a center of culture, creativity, and deep community connection. It’s where art takes root, businesses are born, and visions stretch generations forward. Northside Forward builds on that foundation—not to fix what’s broken, but to expand what’s already strong.

This is a moment to align resources with the power of people. To take what we know—our brilliance, our legacy, our leadership—and shape a future that reflects it in full.

Northside Forward is the result of hundreds of neighbors coming together to imagine boldly and build intentionally. With guidance from the Cities and Urban Design team at Gensler, and policy innovation led by The Forum’s Policy Entrepreneur Fellows—Samuel Benda (generational wealth) and Busisiwe Ledibane (economic prosperity)—this plan blends vision and strategy, culture and infrastructure.

The Vision in Motion

6 Pillars. 25 Strategies. 73 Actions. All Community-Centered.

These six pillars reflect what matters most to the people of North Minneapolis. They are not ideas brought in—they are truths lifted up.

Thriving Corridors & Nodes

West Broadway, Penn, and Plymouth as centers of culture, creativity, and commerce

Cradle-to-Career Learning

Pathways that support learning, leadership, and legacy at every stage of life

New Industries & Jobs

Expanding opportunities in emerging industries—from tech and green energy to the creative economy

Diverse Housing Options

Homes that reflect dignity, legacy, and ownership—designed for community stability and pride

Health, Wellness & Safety

Spaces that support healing, joy, connection, and collective well-being

Engaged & Accountable Leadership

Decisions rooted in transparency, data, and the voices of the people who live here

Each pillar is matched with clear strategies and actionable steps—grounded in equity and led by the community that shaped them.

By the Numbers

  • $1.5 Billion in targeted public and private investment over 10 years. Northside Forward defines a bold and necessary scale of investment. It reflects the value, vision, and momentum already present in the community.

  • 50 new businesses
    Locally grown. Community-rooted. Designed to spark innovation, build wealth, and expand ownership across the Northside.

  • 1,240 new jobs
    Careers with purpose and possibility. Jobs that reflect the talents of the community and the industries of the future.

  • 3,800 new housing units
    Homes built with care—for families to stay, grow, and thrive for generations.

What Makes This Different

  • Community-Led — Shaped by the people who call the Northside home

  • Black-Centered — Focused on legacy, prosperity, and cultural expression

  • Action-Oriented — Built to move—this is not a report, it’s a strategy

  • Forum-Powered — Driven by the African American Leadership Forum, a trusted voice for Black leadership and vision

  • Design-Driven — Created in collaboration with Gensler’s Cities and Urban Design team

Explore the Plan. Join the Movement.

Northside Forward is already in motion. This is our time to move with intention, to invest with purpose, and to lead with the same creativity and care that has always defined this place.

For press, partnerships, or deeper engagement, contact Tyrize@aalftc.org