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Citizens Alley Year-Round Outdoor Recreation
​​The INSPIRITUS Twice Blessed grant made a measurable difference by enabling Local Motives to deliver core year‑round recreation elements that activated Citizens Alley and expanded its reach across the community. Improvements strengthened inaugural, year‑round programming and helped activate the turf activity lawn, pop-jet fountains, performance stage, and basketball and pickleball courts. The grant also allowed meaningful pivots as new partners stepped forward, creating a “spirit of co‑creation” that broadened activities, volunteer engagement, and organizational involvement. This flexibility transformed Citizens Alley into a vibrant public space that served residents, visitors, families, students, and service members throughout all seasons - meaningfully impacting the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being of people across our community.​
In the wake of rapid growth, a historic flood, and an economic boom-and-bust, Minot faced more than physical rebuilding—it faced a need for emotional and social healing. From 2010 to 2020, the city added nearly 10,000 people, driven by agriculture, energy, and the Minot Air Force Base. But the 2011 flood displaced over 11,000 residents, and the following oil downturn hit hard.
These events left many feeling disconnected, discouraged, and searching for identity. It became clear: Minot needed a movement to reconnect its people, celebrate its diversity, and rebuild pride from the inside out.
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One response was the We Call Minot Home initiative—a temporary public art installation featuring 100 black-and-white portraits of local residents, each accompanied by a personal story shared on social media. It was a powerful reminder of who we are, where we’ve been, and the strength we find in one another.
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At the heart of it all is our community. We call Minot home.
In 2019, Local Motives kicked off an exciting pilot project by leading two vibrant tours for freshmen students through Downtown Minot! This was a fantastic opportunity to welcome these newcomers to their new community while introducing them to local gems they’ll love during their time at Minot State University. They indulged in delicious cookies at Cookies For You, enjoyed friendly competition on the mini-golf course at The Putt District, and explored the amazing records at Budget Music & Video, among other fun activities. Plus, students either walked or hopped on campus bikes from the Wellness Center to discover just how close Downtown Minot is - only 1 mile away from campus!
When traditional holiday meal programs were paused, a grassroots effort stepped up to fill the gap. For three consecutive years, a group of dedicated Minot volunteers, businesses, and organizations came together to offer something truly special on Christmas Day.
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Hosted at the Grand Hotel, the Minot Community Meal turned Christmas into a day of generosity, comfort, and connection. The hotel’s chef and staff teamed up with nearly 100 volunteers to serve a banquet-level holiday meal, free and open to all.
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More than just food, the event created a welcoming space where people could feel seen, valued, and cared for. Whether someone came for a warm plate, heartfelt conversation, or simply a sense of belonging, everyone left with something meaningful.
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Each year, hundreds were fed and spirits were lifted. It was a beautiful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together—not out of obligation, but out of love.
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Thank you, Minot, for showing what the holiday spirit truly looks like.
Citizens Alley
Local Motives has stepped up as in the interim operator of Citizens Alley, a year-round public plaza that opened in downtown Minot in Summer 2025. This public plaza was developed by Aksal Group and included turf, pop-jet fountains, public art, a winter ice rink, and areas for sports, markets, and live events.