Last night (Oct 1, 2024), Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity hosted a celebration for the 2024 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project and to honor President Carter’s 100th birthday at The Armory. I was lucky enough to be there. It motivated me to learn more about Habitat for Humanity. But first a little bit about the show…
We walked into the sounds of the St. Paul and the MPLS Funk All-Stars, singing, “Dearly beloved, We are gathered here today…” And folks headed to the dancefloor. I know it would happen anywhere, but it feels like a special call to home in Minneapolis to see and hear the musicians behind so much Purple Rain on stage. People were getting their dance on. Some wearing shorts and tennis shoes, some dressed to the nines. Many dancers had spent their day building homes, but they kept moving.
There was a special appearance by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, longtime Habitat fans, supporters and volunteers. They told gracious stories of working with President Jimmy Carter and working with folks in the room. The highlight was a birthday singalong!
The night ended with a performance by The Family Stone. It takes a band of some caliber and energy to follow Garth Brooks and Prince’s mainstays in Minneapolis, but they were ready. The band includes original members of Sly and The Family Stone, including *the* founder, Jerry Martini, aka Papa J, who sounds, looks and plays amazingly at age 82! It also include Sy’s daughter, Phunne. They played some amazing, timeless songs that got everyone on the dancefloor.
The other part of the night was the accolades and explanations, hosted by Property Brothers co-host Jonathan Scott. We learned that the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project is an annual weeklong building event, held in different locations. Traditionally, this would be a week when they would be onsite. (President Carter was not onsite this year but was apparently keeping tabs!)
Volunteers are working on the first 30 homes of The Heights development in the Greater East Side of St. Paul this week. It is Twin Cities Habitat’s largest development ever, and the largest modern-day investment on St. Paul’s East Side. In total, Twin Cities Habitat will build 147 units.
And here are some of the fast facts I learned about TC Habitat:
- 1,800+ achieved homeownership since 1985
- 10,000+ volunteers contribute time and talents each year
- 8,000+ donors fund our mission each year
They are always open to new donors and volunteers!
Mostly Minnesota 