East Bank Neighborhoods Staff
Chris Lautenschlager
Executive Director
Chris has been a dedicated leader in Minneapolis' neighborhood development, serving as the Executive Director of the Marcy-Holmes Neighborhood Association (MHNA), the Southeast Como Improvement Association (SECIA) and the Nicollet Island-East Bank Neighborhood Association (NIEBNA) before the formation of the East Bank Neighborhoods Partnership in November 2024. With a passion for fostering vibrant, inclusive communities, Chris has played a pivotal role in driving neighborhood initiatives, supporting local residents, and building partnerships that strengthen the city's East Bank neighborhoods.
Throughout his tenure, Chris has been instrumental in guiding strategic planning, advocating for neighborhood priorities, and enhancing collaboration among stakeholders. Their leadership has set the foundation for the newly merged East Bank Neighborhoods Partnership, ensuring it is well-positioned to serve the diverse needs of its communities and promote sustainable growth for years to come.
A long-time Minneapolis resident, Chris has lived in South Minneapolis since 2006 with his wife and three children. He has served as President of his neighborhood association and contributed his expertise to several community advisory committees with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. Academically, Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Geography and a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies & Comparative Literature at the University of Minnesota, as well as a Master's Degree in Visual & Cultural Studies from the University of Rochester in New York.
He misses David Bowie.
Annika Johnson
Community Engagement Associate
Annika (they/them) comes to us after receiving their master’s in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. While in school, Annika focused their studies on people-first city planning. They have a passion for working with the community for the community (for which they thank the UMN leadership minor). Their love of public speaking and quick wit help make those boring meetings about sidewalks a bit more… worth the trip!
Annika grew up in Minneapolis and doesn’t plan to leave any time soon. They currently reside in North Minneapolis and use transit to move around the city as they please. In their free time, Annika works and plays with Stonewall Sports Twin Cities, a local LGBTQIA+ sports and rec nonprofit. You can find them on Sunday mornings on the dodgeball court or on the kickball field, typically donning a cowboy hat.
After living at The Bridges, in SE Como, and surviving a 4th-floor dorm in pre-remodeled Pioneer Hall, Annika is excited to be back on campus and doing their part to make participating in city planning initiatives exciting again (or maybe exciting for the first time).
Sienna Ecker
Como Community Garden Associate
"Sienna (she/they) is a passionate advocate for sustainability, community engagement, and the preservation of native ecosystems. Growing up on a farm in rural Minnesota, they developed a strong fondness for plants, bugs, and soil, which led to the habit of finding any excuse to get outside and get their hands dirty. Moving to Minneapolis for school allowed Sienna to witness first-hand how important inner-city greenspaces are for inspiring creativity and mindfulness about the natural world.
Sienna graduated from the University of Minnesota in May of 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geography. In addition to this role, she serves as a Minnesota GreenCorps member with the traveling exhibit ‘We Are Water MN’, a community engagement program that inspires people to think more deeply about their connection to water. In this position, they host the podcast ‘The Watershed’, facilitate workshops promoting water protection with various age groups, and create exhibit content based on community stories across Minnesota. In her free time, Sienna enjoys riding her bike, making collages, curling up with a good book, and spending time with her two cats; Reigen and Toast.
Over the past four years, Sienna has lived in various corners of East Bank, spending some time in the Como neighborhood and currently residing in the Marcy Holmes neighborhood. As a firm believer in the importance of native ecosystems, they view these gardens as a way to honor the Indigenous stewards of the land and preserve Mni Sota Makoce’s natural ecosystems for future generations. "