MN Youth Community: History of Hip Cities v. Suburbs

As long as suburbs have existed, neighboring residents have competed for resources and recognition. But can urbanites and suburbanites overcome differences to share assets and create a vibrant metro community?

Dominique Pierre-Toussaint, an educator and community activist who lives in Eden Prairie and works in Hopkins, shares his thoughts on the challenges and rewards of suburban life, with Ann Buck of the Hopkins Police Department. Writer and geographer Bill Lindeke of the Saint Paul Planning Commission discusses efforts to make Saint Paul and surrounding suburbs a more cohesive community and shares his predictions for the future of Twin Cities suburbs.

Bill Lindeke has been blogging about sidewalks and cities since 2005, ever since he read Jane Jacobs. He has a PhD in geography from the University of Minnesota, and writes the Cityscape column for Minnpost. He was born in Minneapolis, but has spent most of his time in St Paul and serves there on the Saint Paul Planning Commission and Transportation Committee. He loves jazz, philosophy, and good news radio. Follow him on Twitter @BillLindeke or on Facebook.

Dominique Pierre-Toussaint is the Co-Founder of Minnesota Youth Community (MNYC). MNYC aims to enrich the experience of each child by focusing on three cores of development- Athletics, Arts and Academics. Pierre- Toussaint’s work with the project is similarly holistic- he is fundraiser, booster and teacher. Pierre-Toussaint is also an Elementary Support Specialist for Hopkins Public Schools.

Ann Buck is a crime prevention specialist in Hopkins MN. Her duties include: Crime-Free Multi Housing; overseeing the nuisance property/rental ordinance program; Graffiti Task Force; School and Community In Partnership; Hopkins Apartment Managers Association; Blake Road Community Collaborative; and One Voice (community drug & alcohol awareness program). Buck has also been instrumental in the success of the Joint Community Police Partnership program which has won a multi-agency international award for Civil Rights.

Feedback and Quotes from the attendees of the event:

"Nique, it was our joy to be there and witness your enlightening talk. I was listening to you and simultaneously monitoring the audience (you have to ask Carl & Jay about that....it's just what I do) and they were tuned in to what you were saying....you had them ! Great job my man! Please tell your mom that I said "your son crushed it tonight !" You're a good man Nique.......keep on sailing !"

Carl Lacey, Senior
Resides in Chaska, MN


"Oh man, I am so happy to have been there to see you shine! You three and the MC anchored each other so perfectly and professionally. It's good to know you brother."

Jason Lacey
Resides in Blaine, MN


"Thank you both for inviting me it was very nice you did a awesome job I almost started to cry talk to you soon."

Chantele Burgess
Resides in Eden Prairie, MN

"So proud of this man for a perfect speaking engagement last night with the Minnesota Historical Society's Cities vs Suburbs event. It was intelligent, witty, charming and engaging. That's my fiancé!"

Tracie Nelson Stanton
Resides in Eden Prairie


"The evening brought attention to me about a few things. The three speakers were great at sharing information and experiences in different ways. I never knew about the federal loans choosing neighborhoods that ended up being a form of racism. Also, I liked the comparison of urban neighborhoods to suburbs. Your story was inspirational. I'm wondering what is the future for the twin cities so that each city and suburb has more areas with mixed SES housing and schools so we do not have living and educational situations dividing the haves and have-nots."

Kelly Gibson
Resides in Minneapolis


"The atmosphere was very nice the presentations were very informative."

Jon Smart
Hopkins School District employee



"I found the topic to be extremely revealing about housing expansion, the reasons as to why its occurred and the impact it's had on our metro area. It was great to hear first hand from people in those communities as to what they have witnessed. I thought it was interesting and inspiring to learn that Hopkins is considered an ideal setting that other communities would like to replicate. We are extremely fortunate to live in the Hopkins community and have people like Mr. Neek and Ann Marie Buck be a part of it."

Michael "Doobie" Kurus
Hopkins School Board member

WOTS (Word On The Streets) News by: Minnesota Youth Community