Over the last few months, HOME Line VISTA Tenant Organizer Teresa Garcia-Delcompare has been working in conjunction with Pueblos de Lucha y Esperanza and Housing Justice Center to organize in her manufactured home park community. This past weekend, she combined several of her projects into one large community event at Cedar Knolls.
One of Teresa’s strongest pushes has been assisting park residents in obtaining their manufactured home titles—granting them “true ownership” of their homes, and important leverage as they organize. Recently she has also helped several households apply for RentHelpMN in coordination with HJC staff. Both efforts were visible on Saturday, June 26, at the community gathering held in the parking lot near the swimming pool and playground.
Hot dogs were served, games were played, and COVID-19 vaccines were administered. Over 100 people attended, and many individuals and organizations made this event possible. Food was donated by The Open Door, an organization supporting Apple Valley, Eagan, and Rosemount with access to healthy food. CHRISTchurch brought a prayer table and made an additional food donation. Bici Xicas—a bike collective centering women and femmes of color on bikes—provided free bike repair to community members. The Cedar Knolls management team grilled, and Dakota County Public Health brought a mobile vaccine bus. Teresa assisted residents with RentHelpMN applications and home titles, while multiple generations of families laughed, swam, and ate.
“I am thankful for the wonderful support and communication provided while preparing for the event, and to the community members of Cedar Knolls and the wonderful youth who helped make posters and distribute about 1,000 flyers. Without their help I would not have gotten the word around. Thank you so much,” said Teresa.
Thank you, Teresa, for demonstrating collective care and trust-building as fundamental elements of successful community organizing.
Additional thanks to Pueblos de Lucha y Esperanza and Rosita Balch from Hennepin County for donating to the event.
To apply for RentHelpMN, please visit renthelpmn.org or call 211 to learn more.