Burgers and sidewalk chalk: North Mpls. neighbors spend the night out

The smell of hot dogs and burgers filled the air, chalk drawings covered the street and the sound of children's laughter echoed as neighbors gathered in Minneapolis for National Night Out Tuesday.

In one north Minneapolis block, neighbors said they were proud to get together to celebrate a sense of community instead of dwell on the fact that north Minneapolis has seen some of the most violent crimes in the city.

"If you let it get to you, then it just makes living around here terrible," said Dennis Sanders, who was a victim of a break-in once during the 10 years he's lived in north Minneapolis.

The neighbors of the 3400 block of Knox Avenue call themselves one big family. They look out for each other, report suspicious activity and try to keep burglaries to a minimum.

"When it comes to gun violence, that one is still a tough nut to crack," Sanders said.

Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau appeared at various block parties Tuesday night, posing for selfies and shaking hands.

Harteau acknowledged the increase in gun violence but said the indictment of seven gang members Tuesday shows progress in law enforcement collaboration to prevent future incidents.

"These are people that are frankly resolving their disputes with guns and weapons," she said.

Gov. Mark Dayton picked a north Minneapolis neighborhood to celebrate National Night Out, too. He said that part of the city deserves positive attention.

"The spirit that's brought everybody here gives me hope," he said when asked about the increase in homicides. Minneapolis has seen 29 homicides so far this year.

Despite the fact that much of that violence has happened in north Minneapolis, Julie Moore is not afraid. She's lived in her house on the 3400 block of Knox Avenue for more than 15 years.

"I have not had anyone come to my house and try to shoot me," she said. "I'm not worried. I'm comfortable here. I like my block."

But others are a little more skeptical.

Marchalle Barksdale lives on the same block, in a corner house she shares with her three kids and dog. She's been on the fence as to whether she should move or not. She says north Minneapolis is not as bad as it used to be, but there are isolated incidents.

Just last week, she heard gunshots and saw police swarming the neighborhood.

"It makes me just want to get out and make the neighborhood better," she said. "It makes me just want to advocate and try to get the violence out of the neighborhood because it's really a decent neighborhood."

A youth violence prevention "pop-up park" sat at the end of the block, trying to do just that. It's a mobile park that travels around the city with youth violence prevention coordinators who help young people find activities during the summer to stay out of trouble.

The city of Minneapolis runs the initiative. The pop-up park has traveled the south and north neighborhoods over the past two years. With a basketball hoop and chess board, "caring adults" participated in Tuesday's events.

"We've got lots of caring adults, it's a big part of our strategy is connecting kids with people who care about them," said Sasha Cotton, a youth violence prevention coordinator. "Really the most important thing is giving them a safe space."