Our speaker last Wednesday was Karen Reid, Executive Director of the Neighborhood Development Alliance (NeDA).  NeDA was formed in 1989 to address redevelopment needs of St. Paul's West Side.  Initial board members included representatives from business, and development professionals including Steve Wellington and West Siders Brian Miller, Rev. Stephen Adrian (from St. Matt's Church), and Rafael Ortega, the current Ramsey County Commissioner whose area includes the West Side.  Within 5 years, NeDA was helping the West Side's Latino population with pre-purchase homeowners counseling.  Since it's founding, NeDA has developed 205 affordable rental units and have rehabbed and/or built new 85 ownership properties from townhomes, to duplexes, a triples and detached homes across the West Side. NeDA works with several funding agencies around St. Paul.  Besides providing us with lots of good NeDA information, Karen had pictures of several of the houses and buildings they have rehabbed or built!  Thanks for the very interesting presentation, Karen!  Pictured below with Karen is Rotarian Bill Lesher.