The Equity Committee helps every neighbor feel welcome, through community meals, renter advocacy and food justice work. It meets the last Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, and everyone is welcome here.

Equity Committee

Community meals, renters, food access and connection.

We work on equity in every corner of St. Anthony Park, so every neighbor feels welcome and has what they need.

Meets

Last Monday of the month, 6:30–8:30 pm

Where

In person at Seal Hi-Rise, 825 Seal St, Saint Paul

Co-chairs

Joy Gerdes and Melissa Pappas

All committee meetings are open to the public, and no sign-up is needed. Come to three meetings and you can serve as a committee member. Read past minutes.

What We’re Working On in 2026

Community Meals

Winter

The Winter Community Meal at Seal Hi-Rise drew 49 registered guests plus walk-ins.

Summer Gatherings

Summer

National Night Out with Seal Hi-Rise and Saint Anthony Greens Townhomes, plus Movies in the Park in August.

Ice Cream Social

September

Nearly 300 neighbors came to Hampden Park in September, with tables from local groups and a make-and-take art project.

Ice Cream Social →

Garden Produce & Raised Beds

Growing season

Committee members help make sure Community Garden produce is shared fairly with Seal Hi-Rise residents, and are working with gardeners on new accessible raised beds.

Community Garden →

Renter Outreach

Next up

Planning more outreach to renters and local businesses in 2027, including a renter survey.

From committee minutes and SAPCC’s 2026 Community Engagement & Progress Report.

Our Focus Areas

Food Justice

A CURA/Humphrey School intern’s food report found that lower-income neighbors in St. Anthony Park have a hard time getting healthy, affordable food. Since then, Community Garden produce stays in the neighborhood, going to Seal Hi-Rise residents, and we’ve worked on community meals and partnerships like Brightside Produce.

Renter Advocacy

We believe everyone has a right to a safe, affordable, sanitary home. We build relationships with renting neighbors through meals and conversation, and we’ve partnered with HOME Line on resident meetings where renters can share experiences and get legal advice and resources.

Free resource: Tenant Rights course (in pilot).

Education

We host seminars, book and movie discussions, and open monthly meetings on food justice, affordable housing, housing insecurity and racial injustice, so neighbors can learn together and spark change.

Neighbors at an Equity Committee community event

Photo by Kerry Morgan

Past Work

2024 Equity Committee goals (tap to open)

Goal 1: Build coalitions to meet community needs, within the district and across districts.

  • Quarterly community conversations connecting organizations with residents who can benefit from their work.
  • Partner with Brightside Produce on produce subscriptions, with pay-what-you-can options for neighbors in need.
  • Continue Community Garden produce deliveries to Seal Hi-Rise.
  • Community meals and festivals.
  • Support creative, approachable public events that raise awareness of diversity, equity and advocacy opportunities.

Goal 2: Recruit and broaden diversity on the committee so it better represents the neighborhood.

  • Make meetings more accessible.
  • Make meetings more inviting (open agendas and discussions, community meals before or after).
  • Quarterly community conversations.
  • Diversity, equity and inclusion training across SAPCC.

Other Committees

Get Involved

Your neighborhood, your voice.

Give, lend a hand, or come to a committee meeting. Every bit keeps St. Anthony Park neighbor-powered.