Events are typically scheduled September through June and include educational programs, tours, and networking.
We encourage members to invite guests to our programs.
Upcoming LAI MN Events
SAVE THE DATE!
August 19th, 2026
Summer Social
The Machine Shop At Malcolm Yards
Food and beverages provided. Indoor & Outdoor accommodations. Spouses and significant others welcome.
More details to follow soon!
Past Minnesota Chapter Events
2025-2026 Programs
September, 2025
LAI MN Chapter Annual Meeting
Keynote Speaker: Karla Henderson, President and CEO of Project for Pride in Living
Hosted at the A-Mill Artist Lofts, The Annual Meeting marked this year’s induction of new members and the election of board members. During her keynote presentation, Karla Henderson, President and CEO of Project for Pride in Living (PPL), shared her wealth of experience in community equity and urban planning. LAI MN presented the annual speaker honorarium donation to PPL’s RE-Seed Program which aims to empower a new generation of developers, particularly those historically excluded from real estate ownership, to manage and own small-scale affordable housing.
November, 2025
Sacred Settlements: How to Build Full Community
Guest Speaker: Gabrielle Clowdus, Founder and Visionary for Settled
Attendees had the unique opportunity to hear from Dr. Gabrielle Clowdus, the founder and visionary behind Settled, a Minnesota nonprofit leading the charge in creating “Sacred Settlements’ and tour the Settled Demonstration Site in Woodland Hills, Maplewood. These innovative tiny home communities, built on church-owned land, aim to combat chronic homelessness through intentional relationships and a supportive community environment.
March, 2026
Navigating Urban Life: An Interactive Discussion on Daily Mobility
Guest Speakers: Yingling Fan, Sam Rockwell, and Sean Kerschaw
The program explored how people move through cities and how mobility shapes daily urban life. The session offered a closer look at emerging research, real‑world case studies, and the evolving challenges residents face as they navigate transportation systems. Attendees examined how design, policy, and human behavior intersect and how thoughtful planning can create more accessible, efficient, and people‑centered mobility experiences. The discussion set the stage for continued conversations about building cities that move with, and for, their communities.
April, 2026
Reimagine Downtown Saint Paul: Transforming the Core
Guest Speaker: Dave Higgins, President, Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation
Dave Higgins, President of the Saint Paul Downtown Development Corporation, shared an inside look at the strategies reshaping the city’s core. Drawing from the 2024 Downtown Investment Strategy, Higgins outlined how targeted acquisitions, creative deal structures, and office‑to‑residential conversions are fueling reinvestment and revitalization. He shared the Corporation’s origin story, early successes, and u how a centralized development model is key to building a more vibrant, resilient, and livable downtown.
May, 2026
Northern Stacks Redevelopment: Strategic Insights on History, Grit and Growth
Guest Speaker: Paul Hyde is the Founder and CEO of Hyde Development
Northern Stacks is the Twin Cities’ largest active in-fill commercial redevelopment. What began in 1940 as Northern Pump Company was retooled to support WWII efforts and ultimately revitalized into a state-of-the-art industrial campus and the largest brownfield redevelopment within 494/694 loop. Attendees heard firsthand about the redevelopment’s vision, challenges, and community impact, gaining insight into how persistence and partnership shaped this dynamic business district.
2024-2025 Programs