Mpls Downtown Improvement District

The Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District Ambassadors works daily to help create a greener, cleaner and safer Downtown Minneapolis. You see them on the street wearing their safety yellow and blue uniforms, providing friendly faces throughout our community.

Ambassadors provide resources that not only help you, your tenants and visitors navigate the city, but also create a more vibrant environment to live, work, play and explore.

“It’s the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s day,” MDID Director of Operations Jesse Osendorf said. “Whether it’s just saying hello and a friendly smile or offering assistance.”

Ambassadors positively affect things in many ways. They keep downtown Minneapolis vibrant and green by watering and helping maintain summer annuals and perennials. Ambassadors also enhance safety downtown by providing a visible presence and the ability to aid with directions, medical emergencies and reporting suspicious behavior.

“The DID ambassadors that I've encountered have been friendly and willing to help out in all kinds of situations that I've observed - for example, being level headed and helping calm people when an argument broke out at a bus stop, and assisting police with an injured person. I really think they are an asset to the city and it's a great program. Really helps around Hennepin Avenue and bus lines.” 2016 Perception survey

AMBASSADOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Ambassadors have different roles and responsibilities, and the number of ambassadors ramps up during the summer months.

• From mid-spring to mid-fall, there are approximately 75 ambassadors on staff.
• During mid-fall to mid-spring, that reduces to 40.
• Their shift times vary and the MDID with Block by Block is continually analyzing the right hours for the ambassadors to be deployed. Currently:
  • Cleaning Ambassadors are on the street Monday through Saturday from 6 am-11 pm and on Sunday from 6 am-6:30 pm
  • Safety Ambassadors serve downtown Monday through Saturday from 9 am-11 pm and on Sunday from 10:00 am-6:30 pm

The three types of ambassadors include:

• Cleaning Ambassadors keep the public areas clean by picking up litter, cigarette butts, removing graffiti, pressure washing sidewalks and emptying trash and recycling containers. “Having a clean downtown makes people feel safe and that the area is cared for,” said Jeff Heinrich, Block by Block Regional Vice President and Ambassador Operations Manager “If an area is dirty, it gives the appearance that no one cares about it, which makes people feel uneasy.”
• Safety Ambassadors provide a friendly face for everyone downtown while being good observers of the downtown area. Similar to a block watch, they are the eyes and ears for what is going on downtown. “We are compassionate but firm,” Heinrich said. “All of our ambassadors are able to answer any question that a patron may have.”
• Special Project Ambassadors do anything required to help the downtown area stay vibrant. That includes pressure washing sidewalks, watering flowers, removing graffiti, alerting the city or property owners of broken infrastructure, removing spills and stains and other necessary clean-ups.

“DID staff have been awesome - very friendly & always seem to keep the area clean. Also, their presence alone makes it feel safer on the streets.”    2016 Perception Survey

 If you’d like to learn more about the Minneapolis DID Ambassadors email us at [email protected].