Community Connections Newsletter: November 2025

A Message from the Executive Director

Dear Neighbors,

As we enter the season of gratitude, I want to begin by saying thank you. 

Thank you for showing up for your community, supporting each other, and taking pride in the place we call home. Webber-Camden is stronger because of you.

This past month, we gathered for our 2025 Annual Meeting, celebrated local leadership, welcomed new and returning Board Members, and connected with neighbors in meaningful ways. Seeing the room filled with people who care deeply about our neighborhood reminds me why this work matters.

With Thanksgiving approaching, I hope you and your loved ones enjoy rest, warmth, and connection. Whether you celebrate with a large family dinner, a quiet moment at home, or giving back to others — we are grateful for you.

We have exciting neighborhood events ahead, including Small Business Saturday and Holiday on 44th, offering wonderful ways to support our small businesses and enjoy the spirit of the season. 

I hope to see you there!

Warmly, Patricia Deinhart-Bauknight Executive Director, WCNO

Annual Meeting Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Webber-Camden Annual Meeting at the Northside EpiCenter.

Here’s what we celebrated together:

• A full room of neighbors coming together to connect, vote, and share ideas.

• An inspiring keynote from three-time NBA Champion and Northside native Devean George, who shared his journey from the court to community development.

• Opportunities for neighbors to meet Devean, take photos, and celebrate his ongoing investment in the Northside.

• A delicious dinner catered by Natural Me Apothecary.

• Board elections, updates on 2025 accomplishments, and a look at what’s coming next for Webber-Camden.

Thank you for helping make this one of our most engaging annual meetings yet!

Small Business Saturday:

Support Local on November 

Small Business Saturday is the perfect time to show love to the amazing businesses that keep our neighborhood vibrant.

Here are simple ways you can support Webber-Camden businesses, even if you don’t plan to shop big:

• Grab coffee, lunch, or dessert from a local spot

• Purchase gift cards for holiday gifts

• Leave a Google or Facebook review for a nearby business

• Share a post from a small business you love

Supporting local strengthens our neighborhood’s economy and helps small business owners thrive. More promotions and local highlights coming soon on our socials!

Holiday on 44th:

Friday, December 5 | 6–9 PM

One of North Minneapolis’ most cherished winter traditions is back! Join neighbors on Friday, December 5th from 6–9 PM for an evening filled with lights, music, food, art, and community along 44th Ave. N.

Ride the Trolley

Travel from stop to stop along the route between Upton Ave. N and Morgan Ave. N.

Local Businesses Open Late

• Dancing Bear Chocolate

• Hot Comics

• Doorway for Massage

Community Activity Sites

• Loring Elementary – soup supper by the Kids Cook Classroom

• Faith Baptist Church – entertainment & holiday activities

• Camden High School – craft fair, food truck, and egg rolls

Food + Treats Along the Way

• Soup supper at Loring

• Pickles Cafe pop-up menu

• Food truck + egg rolls at Camden High

Bring the family, bundle up, and come celebrate the season with your neighbors!

Click here to learn more.

Business Spotlight:

Healthy Helpful Insight Healthcare Institute

Meet Latasha Lee, founder and operator of Healthy Helpful Insight Healthcare Institute, a CNA training school based right here in North Minneapolis. Latasha is a Master’s prepared nurse (MSN, RN, PHN) with nearly 30 years of experience across medical-surgical care, oncology, pediatrics, and nursing leadership, and she is using that expertise to change lives in our community.

Latasha opened her school in 2019, fulfilling a lifelong dream she shared with her sister to create a pathway into healthcare for people who too often face barriers to entry. Her mission is clear: increase Black and Brown representation in healthcare and help students build meaningful, stable careers that make a difference in their families and neighborhoods.

Healthy Helpful Insight offers a 5-week in-person CNA training program that includes hands-on clinical experience and job placement support. Through state grant funding, many students are able to attend tuition free and receive supportive services such as childcare, removing common obstacles that prevent people from pursuing education and training.

Beyond CNA training, the Institute also offers CPR, AED, first aid, and traumatic bleeding training for community members, equipping neighbors with life-saving skills that strengthen health and safety across the Northside.

Latasha also serves on the Minnesota Board of Nursing, appointed by the Governor, and is engaged in multiple professional and community organizations committed to health equity. Her work is rooted in both professional excellence and personal experience, inspired in part by her sister’s battle with lupus and her own health journey. A reminder that healthcare is deeply personal and powerful at the same time.

Interested in becoming a CNA? Or want to help support someone’s education? Healthy Helpful Insight is accepting new students and donations.

🔗 Learn more: https://hhihi.org/ 

📍 Location: 705 42nd Ave N, Minneapolis

With Gratitude This Thanksgiving

As we gather around our tables this season, we want to pause and say thank you.

Thank you to our neighbors who show up, our small businesses who keep our corridors alive, our volunteers who give their time, and our community partners who stand with Webber-Camden year after year.

We hope your Thanksgiving is filled with good food, warm moments, and time with people who matter most. And if this season is heavy for you, know that you are seen and you are part of this community.

From all of us at Webber-Camden Neighborhood Organization, we wish you a happy, peaceful Thanksgiving and a holiday season full of hope. 💛

Stay Connected

• Follow us on Facebook + Instagram for event reminders and neighborhood updates

• Visit our website for resources, meeting info, and ways to get involved

• Reply to this email with story ideas or things you’d like included in future newsletters

Thank you for being an essential part of Webber-Camden. Your voice makes our neighborhood stronger.