Our Annual Meeting is an opportunity to gather together as neighbors and select leaders for the coming year. First-time attendees encouraged! Hear from your elected officials, get neighborhood updates from the past year, and run for our Board of Directors!
Meeting Agenda (PDF) / Confirmed Speakers:
Jacob Frey, Mayor, City of Minneapolis
Elizabeth Shaffer, Ward 7 Council Member, Minneapolis City Council
Marion Greene, District 3 Commissioner, Hennepin Co. Board
Katie Jones, District 61A Representative, Minnesota House of Representatives
Jason Garcia, District 4 Commissioner, Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board
Thomas Olsen, President & At-Large Commissioner, Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board
Faith Randal, 5th Precinct Crime Prevention Specialist, MPD
East Isles 2026 Annual Meeting
Tuesday, Apr. 14 • 6:30 PM social, 7 PM meeting
Grace-Trinity Community Church (1430 W 28th St)
Board Nominees
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Background
East Isles homeowner, current EINA Board TreasurerWhat has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
I have the desire, experience, energy, and skills to continue working with neighbors to keep East Isles one of the best places in the city to live, work, and recreate. Now more than ever we must work together to advocate for the neighborhood and help find solutions to the challenges East Isles and our city is facing.What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
I have served as treasurer of EINA for the last four years and have many years of experience in strategic planning and development in the private and non-profit sectors. I also have a long history in the neighborhood and experience interacting with local government.Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Built Environment & Transportation (BET), Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) -
Background
East Isles homeowner, current EINA Board memberWhat has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
Longtime resident and passionate about living in the City and doing my part to keep it safe and a great place to raise a family.What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
I have been practicing real estate law for over 30 years so have good analytical and communication skills, as well as an expertise in development, community and housing.Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Community Safety -
Background
East Isles homeowner, current EINA Board PresidentWhat has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
I love our neighborhood and want to help our community stay active, inclusive, and strong.What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
I'm currently the Chair of the East Isles board, and I enjoy organizing neighborhood events. I'm also a lawyer and retired nonprofit leader.Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Green Team -
Background
East Isles homeownerWhat has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
As an 18-years-long resident of the East Isles neighborhood, I am heavily invested in our community. I admire the work of the current East Isles Neighborhood board and staff and want to lend my time and focus in contributing to its efforts. I believe participation in local policy making and politics is how and where citizens can make the most meaningful difference in public affairs. The East Isles Neighborhood Association provides a vital channel between our neighborhood residents and City of Minneapolis staff and elected officials. In our current media and political landscape, social media often overemphasize national politics to the detriment of local issues, and outside influencers exploit the resulting lack of local participation to overwhelm truly local interests. I feel it is critical to support our neighborhood association in elevating the voices of EINA residents to inform City of Minneapolis politics.What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
I have a background in business development, finance and operations with more than 25 years of experience in the private sector, most recently as a small business owner. I have held leadership roles at Fortune 100 companies and founded a consultancy and several small businesses focusing on developing and financing clean energy solutions in the power, utility and energy sectors. In doing so, I have worked successfully with local, state and federal stakeholders, agencies and elected officials across the United States to bring complex infrastructure projects to fruition. I have recently served as treasurer and development committee chair on two boards (Clean Grid Alliance, Saint Paul and City of Lakes Waldorf School, Minneapolis, respectively) and currently serve as the incoming philanthropy committee chair on the Twin Cities Chapter of the American Red Cross. I serve as our National Night Out block captain between 24th and 25th street on Girard Avenue South and recently participated in the 2025 Ward 7 and City of Minneapolis caucuses as a delegate. In summary, my private sector, NGO board, and neighborhood experience uniquely qualify me as a board candidate to support the mission and objectives of the East Isles Neighborhood Association.Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Built Environment & Transportation (BET) -
Background
East Isles renterWhat has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
I've lived in East Isles for over five years as a renter, and not knowing how long I'll live in a neighborhood makes investing in community hard! However, like many people, ICE activity in Minneapolis showed me the value of strong community leadership and motivated me to get locally involved in a more sustained way. I started attending the EINA board meetings in February and was genuinely impressed by the sincerity and intention the board brought to the small, rather unglamorous decisions that actually make a place better; I'd like to be a part of making those decisions.What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
I have a math background and tend to think analytically, but I've spent my career in mission-driven, people-centered work at an education nonprofit. My background is largely in nonprofit program management: program design, annual planning, communication strategy, and the daily implementation details that make or break a plan. I'm used to holding budget and logistical realities alongside bigger ideals, a perspective I will bring to EINA. Outside work, I volunteer as a VITA tax preparer, which has further shaped my understanding of how small details have huge impact on real people. This blend of strategic thinking with conscientious detail work is what I enjoy, and what I see the EINA board doing every month for our community.Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Farmers Market, Green Team, Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) -
Background
East Isles renterWhat has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
I love the neighborhood and would like to help it in any way I can.What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
Realtor of 25+ years with a lot of knowledge about the city, commercial development, events, homes, and neighborhoods. I love the local music and food scenes and engaging with our local businesses in the neighborhood. Huge fan of Lake of the Isles!Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Built Environment & Transportation (BET), Community Safety, Farmers Market, Green Team
Run for the Board
Nominations are now open for the Board of Directors! EINA’s Board has 2-year, staggered terms. There are 11 seats total, and 6 seats are open in this election. Board eligibility is limited to:
East Isles residents 18+, business owners/lessees, and neighborhood nonprofit, education, or government representatives.
1 member per household or family may serve on the Board at any given time.
The maximum number of Board seats that may be filled by business owners/lessees or designated representatives of a nonprofit, educational organization, or governmental organization in the neighborhood is 3.
East Isles neighborhood boundaries are 22nd St, Hennepin Ave, Lake St, and Knox Ave/E Lake of the Isles Pkwy. If you are interested in running for the Board, please complete a Board Nomination:
Elections & Voting
Voting eligibility is limited to:
East Isles residents 16+.
Business owners/lessees of real property in the neighborhood.
Designated representatives of nonprofits, educational organizations, or governmental organizations in the neighborhood.
East Isles is bound by 22nd St, Hennepin Ave, Lake St, and Knox Ave/E Lake of the Isles Pkwy. Voting takes place via an online ballot that is emailed after the Annual Meeting ends, and remains available for 24 hours. Each attendee who is eligible to vote will receive an email with instructions on how to access the ballot once the ballot becomes available.
Voting will take place in person this year—no online registration needed!