Footprint Project Removes Solar Equipment from Powderhorn Park, Planning Redeployments at Sanctuaries across Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS - July 20, 2020 - PRLog -- POWDERHORN PARK, MPLS, MN - Due to escalating insecurity, violence, and concerns for volunteer safety, Footprint Project has removed a solar trailer and solar tent from the Powderhorn Park Encampment Sanctuary. Footprint Project is discussing relocation of the equipment with community organizations, disaster agencies, and local government authorities.

In the wake of the tragic murder of George Floyd, Footprint Project partnered with community organizations on three solar deployments to energize relief spaces, memorials, and displaced persons encampments. After the Sheraton Sanctuary Hotel closed, many displaced individuals moved to Powderhorn Park.

Partnering with NECHAMA Jewish Response to Disaster, Footprint Project deployed a solar tent and trailer to the Powderhorn Park Encampment Sanctuary in mid-June, providing sustainable power and shelter for the main medical clinic, along with cell phone and medical device charging for camp residents. Footprint Project's solar equipment also generated sustainable electricity to power mobile showers provided by NECHAMA. Volunteers regularly monitored the equipment, serving more than 400 individuals at the park over the span of four weeks.

On July 15th, the Minneapolis Park Board voted to limit the number of tents in public parks to 25 in hopes of avoiding the disorder experienced in the Powderhorn Park Encampment Sanctuary.

As long term solutions are being discussed, most of the population in Powderhorn Park will likely be dispersed to various parks across the city.

Footprint Project is currently working with local responders, city officials, and community members to assist in the sustainable, safe design of future sanctuary encampments. With increased support and participation from local volunteers and its national network, Footprint Project will work to provide these communities with safer living conditions and clean power access.

Footprint Project's mission is to provide sustainable solutions to communities in crisis. Our team is committed to continue supporting our community in Minneapolis.

About Us

Footprint Project's mission is to provide sustainable solutions to communities in crisis. Footprint Project mobilizes pools of distributed clean energy assets to support disaster first responders and meet emergency power needs. We help relief groups integrate sustainable technologies into their missions through hands-on training, design, and deployment support. Since Jan 2020, Footprint Project has dispatched mobile solar stations to the earthquakes in Puerto Rico, tornadoes in Tennessee, a COVID-19 clinic on the US/Mexico border, and the Minneapolis justice movement, providing direct access to emergency solar recharging for over 13,000 US citizens affected by disasters.

Our NGO field partners for this response include: NECHAMA (https://nechama.org/).

If you are interested in helping Footprint Project #BuildBackGreener during these trying times, we are currently seeking:

1. Cash - The most effective, flexible, and sustainable way to support disaster-affected communities. Donations can be made at https://www.facebook.com/footprintprjct/

2. Clean Energy Equipment - Batteries, inverters, solar panels, wiring, in priority order. More information here: https://www.footprintproject.org/donate

3. Attention - Share our work. Attention helps us fund the first two! Follow and share at https://www.instagram.com/footprintprjct/

For more information about why and how cash is best in disaster relief, you can go to the Center for International Disaster Information at https://www.cidi.org/

For more information on the broader issue of why climate disaster recovery still does not have the financing it needs, this interview with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction provides good context: http://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/interview/2019/12/13/COP25-climate-change-disaster-risk-reduction