The initiative and its goal are the outcomes af an intensive planning process begun at Little Earth in 2006. Planning activities included conducting a survey completed by 98% of the residents and developing an overall LECP strategic plan. A common vision emerged in these planning efforts. Little Earth is ready to move away from a dependence-mode and toward solving its own probbms. This vision builds on and echoes the powerful transition going on at Little Earth today. Evidence abounds in every corner of the community from increased school attendance to decreased crime from voluntary involvement in reducing federal assistance to increased community involvement in cultural and sobriety events.

To reach this goal LECP identified three key objectives. The first is to strengthen capacity and effectiveness of existing programs a d services. The second is to develop and rebuild services and programs including: a newly formed free early childhood initiative operated by Little Earth to promote parental invotvement in their children's education and to promote increased use of early childhood education programs. In addition Little Earth is developing a new on-site GED program for teens and adults. A new home ownership program is in the planning stages for Llttte Earth families who move off of federal assistance yet would like to stay at Little Earth — not as renters but as home owners. To meet residents' requests for a wider spectrum of housing options for the community Little Earth is acquiring adjacent land from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Little Earth is also currently working with the CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT as well as the MINNESOTA HOUSING/FINANCE ADMINISTRATION to purchase and redevelop homes adjacent to the community. The third objective is to design and carry out an action plan to achieve goals by establishing a vibrant sustainable infrastructure.

By 2012:

• The majority of all parents will be actively involved In their children's education and 75% of all children will be ready for kinderprtan by age five.
• 50% of all youth will be enrollad in school incentive programs and 85% of all eligible students will graduate from high school.
• 50% of all resident families will be working and 10-12% of families will own their own homes.

Earth will be a leader promoting increased safety, physical well-being and culture maintenance. The successes can be measured by lower crime statistics, lower drug and alcohol uss statistics, opportunities for healthy recreational activity and increased knowledge of cultural identity.

Little Earth Community Partnership will have the human, financial, fundraising, executive, and entrepreneurial infrastructure resources required to support and sustain the proposed community growth.

Little Earth is the heart of the urban Indian community. What happens here affects our entire community. By leveraging the changes already underway at Little Earth today this initiative will promote a healthier, self-determined Little Earth and a stronger urban Indian community in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.