Address: northside minnesota
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Twitter: @LisaNealDelgado
ABOUT LISA
I was born and raised in North Minneapolis. My dad worked as a laborer at the Pig's-eye waste water treatment plant in St. Paul where he was a proud union steward until he became a plant manager. My mother was a factory worker at Honeywell and a proud union member as well. My parents were active in a Masonic organization and worked hard to open the Cato’s Lodge on Golden Valley Road in the early 70's. They worked hard to support my little brother and I to give us a better life. I attended Bethune, Franklin and North High School where I participated in Volleyball, Basketball and Track and Field. Go Polars!
During my youth, I volunteered at the Hospitality House as a basketball coach and referee for the younger teams. Throughout my childhood, I attended many political events with my parents. I made telephone calls and passed out campaign literature at the State Fair which gave me an early appreciation for being politically involved. I especially enjoyed days helping register our neighbors to vote in north Minneapolis in front of Kings Supermarket with my dad and other leaders from our community. Our family was invited and attended the Carter/Mondale inauguration back in 1977 which is really where I fell in love with politics.
As a young adult, I quickly learned that college wasn't for me at the time and began a career in military service that lasted over 22 years. I guess you can say that I was born to serve, but over the next two decades, I was trained to lead. I had a break in military service and went to work for the federal government as a civilian employee. I attended the Washington DC Police Department Academy where I graduated near the top of my class. I spent less than two years on the streets and got a first-hand taste of policing practices and methods. I decided the military was a better fit for me.
WHY I AM RUNNING
Recent events have confirmed my priorities from my run 2 years ago. Criminal Justice Reform is vital which also must include Restorative Justice. Education Reform is a must! Our public schools were not properly funded even before COVID-19. Students in racially isolated schools are being left further behind and excluded from America’s Promise. Economic Development, is vital, especially when you look at the small businesses directly hit by COVID-19 and then ravaged by the riots. We have got to stabilize, rebuild and grow, including the areas in my district that have been long neglected. Affordable healthcare for employees is a must. Many fear becoming serious ill or injured. Some have lost coverage through their employers, leading them to lose their life’s savings and their homes.
Higher education needs to be affordable, especially for vocational, technical and trade colleges with emphasis on renewable and green energy to improve environmental conditions. Other issues such as employment opportunities, mental health services, the lack of real affordable housing and transportation have long been an issue in this district.
MY WORK IN ACTION
While still residing in Virginia during one of my many social media conversations, I met a teacher who shared my concerns around the continued decline in funding for the public schools in north Minneapolis. I returned home to meet her and brainstorm how best to combat and reverse the disparity in our schools. The result was the formation of the Northside Schools Collective. With others, we fought for the opening of Franklin Middle School with a Pre-STEM curriculum as a feeder school for the newly designed North High School. We fought to return a Science, Math and Technology program (STEM) program to North High School so the parents would have more academic options to keep their children in the community for high school. This is imperative for building a strong sense of community on the Near Northside.
Our next task was to get a pre-IB program at Olson Middle School. The Loring Elementary and Victory Neighborhood Parents wanted to keep their middle school children in their community, as opposed to busing them to Northeast Minneapolis, but there were no pre-IB options for them in their community for the students to pathway into Henry High School. This was quickly accomplished after working with Minneapolis Public School administration and board members.
My next task was to work on ways to improve Police and Community Relations at a very critical time for our community. I was contacted by the former Chief of Minneapolis Police Department and asked to Co-Chair a Department of Justice sponsored Minneapolis Police and Community Engagement team. Over the next 18 months, our team worked with the community and Minneapolis Police administration to establish a plan that if fully integrated, has the potential to build a strong relationship between the Police Department and the Community that they serve.
During my volunteer work over the past several years, I've come to realize that much of the battle goes beyond the city level and much more has to be done at the State level. It's a battle that I am ready to lead. Born to Serve, Trained to Lead!