When Kevin Norman moved back to Uptown in 2022, it was not the neighborhood he remembered. Norman and his wife had spent most of their adult lives in Uptown and returned to Minneapolis after a stint in California. And recently, he noticed what many other community members have: vacant storefronts, open drug-use and littered sidewalks.
“It’s been sad to see how much it has changed,” Norman told Minnesota Now host Nina Moini.
Norman started by writing a letter to lawmakers, asking for support and investment in his neighborhood. And quickly, he expanded that campaign under the umbrella “Uptown United.” The campaign starts with a bold message: “Uptown isn’t working right now — for anyone.” But it’s one that seems to resonate, with 200 people signing up to write letters…