2018-2019 Business Forum Series Brochure
2018
September | Celebrating the East End Development!
A joint business forum with the mpls downtown council celebrating the transformative
East End mixed-use project bringing new housing, hotel, expanded commercial space,
and a Trader Joe’s grocery store, the first of its kind in downtown!
October | The Joys and Burdens of Starting and Building a Business in Minneapolis
This forum will explore the contours, threats and opportunities of entrepreneurialism in the
City of Minneapolis through the unfolding experience of a premier and growing business in
East Town. Jeff Sommers, Co-owner of Izzie’s Ice Cream, will be the feature presenter.
November | What is the Difference Between Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?
A panel of economic, social enterprise, and policy leaders will be discussing the
important field of investment in the growth of human capital at all levels of business.
December | Downtown Demographics: Who Are We Becoming?
The downtown residential population continues to surge year over year. This shared
forum with the mpls downtown council will feature the State of Minnesota Demographer
and residential development professionals exploring who we are becoming together.
2019
January | Car Lanes, Bus Lanes, Bike Lanes—Oh My!
Figuratively speaking it seems that modes of transportation do not always get along.
This forum will feature a panel of transportation design experts talking frankly about
downtown street design, emerging trends in multimodalism and potential disruptive
technologies such as autonomous vehicles.
February | Ways the Social Determinants of Health are Transforming Institutions
The World Health Organization defines the social determinants of health as “the
conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age.” In this forum East Town
and Hennepin Healthcare’s Upstream Health Innovation Team will discuss cutting edge
research, measurements, and health care programs that are changing the very nature of
health care itself.
March | The Economic Opportunities of Engaging Homelessness
Downtown Minneapolis is home to nationally recognized thinkers and organizations that
work to end homelessness. This joint forum with the mpls downtown council will feature
People Serving People CEO Daniel Gumnit moderating a panel focusing on where
economic innovations meet human need.
April (Annual Meeting) | Advancing Arts and Entertainment in East Town
East Town is known for the Guthrie Theater, MacPhail Center for Music, and the US
Bank Stadium. Are you also familiar with Gamut Gallery, Good Arts Collective, Armory
Event Center, and neighborhood art venues? This season’s Annual Meeting will feature
our growing arts and entertainment scene!
May | Crime and Safety, Sentencing and Restorative Justice
This forum will feature a candid panel conversation about the intersection of downtown
crime, modern policing, sentencing, incarceration, and restorative justice.
June | Toward an Inclusive Downtown
This joint forum with the mpls downtown council will unveil the results from the yearlong
“Inclusive Downtown Think Tank” co-sponsored with the YMCA that set out to cast a
bold new vision for an increasingly welcoming downtown.
