MPLS is a Child Friendly City

Minneapolis is Officially a Child Friendly City!

When was Minneapolis recognized as a child friendly city? - February 14, 2024.

What was this event? - Minneapolis adopted UNICEF USA's Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) in February 2020. After 4-years of work, UNICEF USA came to celebrate and officially designate Minneapolis a child friendly city. The CFCI process included a thorough community assessment, creation of the Local Action Plan, implementation of that Local Action Plan, and a third party evaluation. This designation made Minneapolis only the second city in the country to be awarded his honor by UNICEF USA.

Where? - Minneapolis Public Service Building

Who was there? - Mayor Jacob Frey kicked off the event. He was followed by former Commissioner of Health, Gretchen Musicant; current Commissioner of Health, Damon Chaplin; Minneapolis Public Schools board member, Kim Ellison; and UNICEF USA President & CEO, Michael Nyenhuis. In attendance were members of the Minneapolis City Council, UNICEF USA staff, youth from Minneapolis and other cities, City of Minneapolis staff, Hennepin County staff, members of the CFCI-MPLS Executive Committee, and many others.

What's next? - The CFCI-MPLS Executive Committee has chosen to do another cycle of CFCI. The purpose of CFCI 2.0 will be to continue and deepen the work of CFCI and to engage community partners better.

Download a copy of our CFCI Local Action Plan 1.0