Neighbors Being Neighbors In the North Loop

The North Loop is a unique neighborhood, home to both upscale condos and rentals and higher-income residents, and several organizations sheltering low income residents in need of housing. Recently there has been acute conflict over a homeless encampment.

zAmya, North Loop Neighborhood Association and Avivo have joined forces to offer a months-long project that aims to establish a shared vision in the North Loop of what needs to happen for all community members to feel safe, have shelter, and ensure support for the most vulnerable. 

One special outcome of the project will be a new play - made by, with and for - North Loop community members across the housing spectrum. This original musical will debut in 2025 and  weave true experiences with unsheltered homelessness into a fictional narrative, inspiring neighbors to dream up solutions to end homelessness. 

Our deepest hope is this process galvanizes a neighborhood coalition to work together in an ongoing fashion, to address future concerns regarding homelessness/housing.

Want to get involved? If you live, work or play in the North Loop, you should be part of this project! Contact zAmya’s Company Manager, Esther, at: esther@zamyatheater.org / (612)760.4804.

Upcoming events 

Friday, November 22nd 2024 @ 7pm : Join us at the Corner Coffee Shop in North Loop to catch a sneak peak of Dis Place. Also learn how to get involved and discuss housing in the North Loop. Complete information is here. Online registration has sold out, but a handful of walk-up tickets will be available; arrive early if you’d like to claim one!

March 2025 : premiere of Dis Place at Luminary Arts Center - check back for details!

Dis Place

The North Loop is a unique neighborhood, home to both upscale condos and rentals and higher-income residents, and several organizations sheltering low income residents in need of housing. And yet, this neighborhood is ranked among the lowest (0.0%) of neighborhoods affected by poverty. Where are all the unhoused people utilizing the shelters? …And whatever happened to Bassett Creek, originally named Haha Wakpadan? Is history repeating itself? What possibilities lie between expellers and bydwellers? Between those who have and have not?

Dis Place is being directed by Harry Waters Jr., written by Elle Thoni, with contributions from Charli Fool Bear-Vetter and Esther Ouray, and performed by zAmya Theater Project and residents of Avivo Village.

Project Timeline

2025 Dis Place will make its premiere in March at the Luminary Arts Center, performed by zAmya Theater Project Troupe Members and residents of Avivo Village.

2024 we are developing the final script and music for Dis Place, hosting community engagement events, and giving sneak peek performances.

Spring 2023, we “shared back” an original script at Avivo Village based on the conversations and ideas shared during the listening sessions. The play reading included zAmya Troupe Members and residents of Avivo Village.

Fall 2022, North Loopers attended “listening sessions”. These interactive workshops promoted deep sharing, dialogue and listening. Stories were collected to create the first draft of a new play about the North Loop, reflecting perspectives from community members of all housing experiences.

Summer 2022, zAmya performs Second Chance at Target Field Station Amphitheater as a starting off point for the project. Community members from diverse backgrounds came together for a fun, elevating event focused on homelessness.

About the partners

The North Loop Neighborhood Association (NLNA) is an organization consisting of residents, property owners, and business owners of the North Loop Neighborhood. They strive to foster a strong community rich in diversity of ideas, talents, people and property, promoting a climate of safety, livability, and improvement through public neighborhood meetings, communication and advocacy.

Avivo serves more than 11,000 individuals each year helping them find housing stability, achieve recovery, and secure employment and economic advancement. Serving Minnesota since 1960, they specialize in helping individuals and families who face complex barriers – homelessness, chemical addiction or mental health concerns, poverty, or unemployment. Avivo’s holistic approach to providing shelter and housing supports, chemical and mental health services, career education, and employment services embraces each person’s unique journey. Avivo's paired services lay a foundation of health, and social and economic wellness, that transforms lives. Included in Avivo’s services is Avivo Village, an indoor community of 100 secure, private dwellings or “tiny houses” located in North Loop, providing shelter and wraparound services.

zAmya’s contribution to the partnership is experience in designing and facilitating art based, community building processes that bring together neighbors with a variety of housing experiences and result in creative solutions and increased compassion.