02/20/2018
Dear Friends, Family & Community,
It is with so many emotions that we have to inform you that Cafe SouthSide, as it currently operates, will be closing. Cafe SouthSide and RARE will be leaving 3405 Chicago effective Friday, February 23rd.
Call to Action: We will be moving everything out of the two spaces on Thursday, Feb 22nd 11am -8pm and Friday, Feb 23rd 9am- Noon. We need help moving large and small items during these times, and would greatly appreciate any support you can give. If you’d like to say goodbye to this space that has meant so much to so many people, come to the closing ceremony on Thursday, February 22nd at 5:30pm.
Why we're closing: We have been trying for months to negotiate a fair and equitable agreement with the building owner. After years of beautiful connections, artful expressions, happy reunions, resistance, healing, community connections AND sub-par space accommodations, property turn over and gentrification we have decided to refocus our energies and efforts.
Anna is focusing her energies toward healing. Rox is working on sustainably building infrastructure, moving the work of 3405 Chicago from a ‘DeFacto’ q***r community center to an equitable real POC trans and q***r lead community center, so we can continue our path of providing safer healing spaces for Trans, Q***r, and GNC folks of color.
The redevelopment, i.e. gentrification, of this property is clear. The newest property owner has informed us that the building will be up for sale again as he is accepting offers starting at $579,990.00 (he purchased for $450,000 November 2017 from Investors Capital who purchased it for $300,000 in September of 2017). There has been no building improvements or upgrades to anything except the rent. Through community sleuthing we found that the RARE space will be listed at about a 48% rent increase after we move out.
Combined, the rents of RARE Productions, Cafe SouthSide, and MTHC are already almost $5000.00 a month. That’s a lot of money for a space that doesn’t fully support the hard work and energy needed to generate that money which could be better directed towards building equity in our own communities.
What’s Next: The Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition will remain in its current location 3405 Chicago Ave S, Suite 103 Minneapolis MN 55407, as we learn from you how to better serve the needs of our community. We will do this by conducting one on ones and continuing community conversations while working with city officials and community partners to better map and share resources.
Getting Involved: To learn more about community conversations visit: https://shorsalkas.wixsite.com/tcqtcenter
We look forward to continuing this work, and building with you in sustainable and equitable ways.
With our deepest gratitude,
Rox & Anna
