Organization and community: Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership (Southwest region, MN)

The Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership conducted an asset mapping process that identified transportation as a major concern in the City of Worthington, including misperceptions about who can access public transit and the lack of transit options for night shift workers at the meat processing plant. The Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership Opportunity Council and the City of Worthington were preparing to launch a transit route within the community that addressed transit needs and expanded their existing dial-a-ride system. Transportation is a contributing factor to economic and racial disparities within Worthington.

Artists Bobbie Alsgaard-Lien and Gail Holinka worked with community partners to purchase a decommissioned bus and created an Artmobile to engage communities on available transportation services and amenities. The Artmobile held workshops featuring local artists at affordable housing complexes, libraries, churches, and an elementary school. Guest artist Than Than Kyaw led a workshop to create puzzle art, which became a beautiful collaborative painting at Sungold Heights, a mobile home park.