Hope Community pioneered our community listening strategy in 1997. We have deeply invested in this model, and more than 4,000 people have shared their hopes, dreams, fears, opinions, ideas and values in Hope-organized dialogues over the past two decades.

Whether through formal processes or our daily connections, listening is action at Hope. Our relational approach brings diverse people to the table. People participate more when they are asked by others they trust. They come together to talk in groups, meet their neighbors and break down the barriers and stereotypes between them. We don’t seek answers but rather we ask people to share experiences, tell stories, and reflect on their lives and their visions for the future, and take action together.

  • Jobs and Education Listening Project(1997)
    Hope’s first formal listening project brought together over 365 adults in more than 30 listening sessions to discuss people’s experiences with and dreams for education and jobs. We heard about the lack of transportation, time pressures, cultural and language barriers, the pressures of balancing work and parenting with very low incomes and moving often to find affordable and decent housing.
  • Community: Taking a Closer Look (1999-2000)
    More than 300 neighborhood residents came together in over 30 sessions in a listening project which focused on the meanings, struggles and aspirations that people attach to the larger concepts of neighborhood and community.
  • Peavey Park Listening and Visioning Project (2000-2001)
    Peavey Park is a neighborhood park, located two blocks from Hope Community. Almost 200 residents participated in 18 sessions to help shape the future of Peavey Park. The plan that emerged from these dialogues were approved by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board as the park’s official Master Plan.
  • Hearing the Call – Community Listening at Hope Community (2008)
    A description of Hope’s community listening strategy, which emphasizes the importance of relationships and partnerships, and allows us to translate voices into action and better harness the collective power of people for change.
  • Hope Community Youth Listening Project (2008)
    Hope youth leaders ventured into the community surrounding Hope in search of organizations and institutions that played vital roles in young people’s daily lives. Young adult leaders brought small groups of youth together to dialogue about their dreams, challenges and fears.
  • Feed The Roots: A Hope Community Listening Project Report (2014-2015)
    Feed the Roots is a listening project that involved more than 400 Phillips Community residents in dialogues about food, land, health, culture, and justice. This project continued Hope’s tradition of community dialogues around powerful questions, lifting up community voices to guide Hope’s work with and for the community.
  • Financial Listening Project (2014-2015)
    A listening project with partner organization Prepare + Prosper around financial health, culture and community involved 184 people. People discussed financial issues broadly and deeply: we learned about cultural and family impact, about related issues of stress and health challenges, about people’s financial accomplishments and goals, about what they want to learn and what resources they need.