The N4MN ORIGIN STORY

In Minneapolis in February of 2017, John Edwards and Ryan Johnson were poking fun at the astroterfed groups that would pop up every time a developer proposed a new apartment building. The groups would present a supposedly-grassroots opposition to increasing  housing options in the neighborhood, and after the project was killed or built, they’d disappear leaving only a zombie Facebook page. John and Ryan were making up satirical names opposing the transient  opposition groups, and when they tossed out NEIGHBORS FOR MORE NEIGHBORS, they realized it was a fantastic name and decided to make it social-media-real. They created a pointed, biting Twitter account sharing  memes, artwork, and videos and were surprised at how quickly their commentary struck a chord.  

They started directing their followers to neighborhood presentations for new homes and Planning Commission meetings reviewing zoning variances. N4MN followers showed up, spoke, and projects that would have failed without those voices were approved. In response, a few friends helped them blog and make more explicit calls to action. 

In late 2017, Janne Flisrand asked John and Ryan if they were open to expanding the organizing beyond Twitter and a blog to focus on passing a strong Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Ryan and John used their social media presence to recruit a few leaders, like Anna Nelson, Matt Lewis, and Anton Schieffer. These housing advocates organized the first public meeting at Gluek’s bar in Downtown on March 14th, 2018, expecting maybe 30 people to join them. At least a hundred people showed up, packed into the bar like sardines, and the Star Tribune ran an article about the momentum generated by the tenacious pro-housing group. 

This early success proved that the citizens of Minneapolis were driven to create more homes, so that one day everyone could find a home they can afford, in the neighborhoods that they choose. Neighbors for More Neighbors channeled that energy into the Minneapolis 2040 Plan, pushing the city to include language that would lay the groundwork for real change and abundant housing