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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

World Habitat Day: Construction on Carter Project Kicks Off Today in MN

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Monday, October 4, 2010   

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The United Nations designates the first Monday of October as World Habitat Day, and this year's message for today is "Better Cities, Better Life." As the world becomes increasingly more urbanized, housing advocates say a focus on neighborhood revitalization is more important now than ever. That's why Habitat for Humanity is hosting its annual Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project this week in cities across the nation, says Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. He says the organization's model of offering a hand up, rather than a handout, builds responsible home-ownership.

"Having these successful families in communities ends up helping communities as well. Having home ownership and successful partner families has been an important part of the revitalization of communities, and that's our big theme for this year."

Reckford says neighborhood revitalization doesn't happen overnight, and when dealing with the complex issues of inner-city neighborhoods, Habitat is just one of many community partners involved.

"We find that no one piece solves the issues all by itself, but when we can all put our different efforts together, that we've seen some wonderful progress."

The Hawthorne EcoVillage in North Minneapolis is an example of successful revitalization efforts breathing new life into a shattered neighborhood. Through joint city and community efforts over the past three years, violent crime decreased by 73 percent, and drug activity saw a dramatic 85 percent drop.

The Twin Cities' Carter Project is focused on Hawthorne EcoVillage, and St. Paul's Payne-Phalen neighborhood. Susan Haigh, president of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, says they are excited to join neighborhood efforts, and are impressed with the groundwork laid already by the local cities and community groups.

"They've made it possible to bring a bright new future for our Habitat homeowners, and for the families who already own homes in this neighborhood. We are grateful for the work they've done, and we are so grateful that they have welcomed us to be a part of their neighborhood."

Haigh says that, as part of World Habitat Day, today's local efforts underscore safe, decent shelter as a basic human right.

"We really believe there should be a global commitment to housing, that housing is a basic human right, and that creating affordable housing and healthy communities is really a social justice imperative."

Despite a brief health scare last week, President Carter and his wife Rosalynn are still expected to volunteer in Minnesota, where they will be swinging hammers in Minneapolis on Wednesday, and wielding paint brushes Thursday in St. Paul. In honor of President Carter's 86th birthday, thousands of volunteers this week will build, renovate or repair 86 homes in Washington, D.C., Annapolis, Baltimore, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Birmingham, Alabama.

To follow this week's local activities, visit www.tchabitat.org


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