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Early 2007

With winter still in the air, a handful of Mill City neighbors visited Beacon Hill Village (located in Boston and the nation’s first membership organization created to assist residents as an alternative to moving from their homes into retirement or assisted living communities) and began discussing their lives along the historic Minneapolis riverfront neighborhood.

• We all want to continue to live active, full lives in our homes… why not support each other and do it?
• What would we need to develop this type of program?
• Would it succeed?

The only way to know with certainty was to get the information firsthand.

Spring 2007

A group representative attended a conference in Boston to learn more about the Beacon Hill model – which has been replicated in several communities across the U.S.

Summer 2007

Discussions at a neighborhood meeting demonstrated keen interest and support. A committee, followed shortly by a Board of Directors, was established to move the idea forward.

Fall 2007

Two critical, research-based activities occurred in the third quarter of 2007:

1. Cincinnatus, Inc – a Minneapolis-based consulting firm - conducted focus groups to gauge interest.

2. Health Planning and Management Resources, Inc. – a health care consultancy – conducted demographic research to measure market feasibility.

2008

In response to the research findings – both positive for market interest and feasibility – the Board raised seed funding to support the executive and administrative assistance required to advance the organization.

Throughout 2008, with the assistance of its strategic partner, Ecumen – the largest , nonprofit provider of older adult services in Minnesota – the Board executed aggressive organizational development, management and administrative planning.

In addition, we benefitted from the pro bono services of both Duffy & Partners (graphic design and branding) and Fredrikson and Byron (legal services).

In late 2008, we developed and launched a marketing campaign that focuses efforts on each of the condominiums within our neighborhood.

2009

In early 2009 we began our marketing in earnest, contracting with an interactive agency (Electric Jet) to develop our website that includes both a public side and a password protected members only site.

Member services were formally launched in March with the hiring of our Program Director and ongoing operations assistance from Ecumen.

The Board and Membership Committee continue to solicit new members as we design our programs and engage members with a variety of programs and services. Our goal is to be self-sustaining by 2011 with 300 household memberships.