175 Years Old and Getting Better Every Year: First Congregational Church of Minnesota

The First Congregational Church of Minnesota is located at 500 8th Avenue SE in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood.

A Discussion with Jane McBride, Principal Minister

The First Congregational Church of Minnesota is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year – the church is older than the state of Minnesota and more vibrant than ever as a community institution. We talked to Principal Minister Jane McBride about the history of the church, how it is involved with community (so many ways!) and how meaningful engagement becomes real in her congregation. Stop by at 10 AM on Sundays for worship at 500 8th Avenue SE, and you’ll be welcome whether a first-time visitor or long-time church member.Principal Minister Jane McBride performs a baptism remembrance.

Q: First Congregational Church of Minnesota celebrates its 175th anniversary this year – congratulations to you and your congregation! Can you give us a history of the church, formed before Minnesota was a state and before the Civil War?

A: The First Congregational Church of Minnesota was established on Dakota homeland on November 16, 1851 by a small group of settlers from New England. The church’s founding pastor, Rev. Charles Seccombe, was a strict Calvinist and a staunch abolitionist. The present First Church structure, built of red sandstone in Gothic-Romanesque style, was finished in 1888.  The congregation joined the newly formed United Church of Christ denomination in 1961.

Q: What are some defining moments that have shaped the congregation?

A: Our founding pastor contributed to the emancipation of Eliza Winston, an enslaved person brought north by her slave-holding family. The grounds of the church became a temporary stop on the underground railroad when he offered them as a meeting place for Winston and those aiding in her escape. 

When the church steeple sustained serious damage in a windstorm, some wanted to restore it, seeing it as a beacon of hope for the community. Others felt the money would be better spent on serving our neighbors. In the end, the congregation resolved the “steeple-people” controversy by doing both. 

In the 1980s the congregation voted to become “Open and Affirming” to the LGBTQ community (we were the first UCC congregation in Minnesota to take that step). In that same era, we became the first official home of Open Arms of Minnesota, an organization which provides support to those living with HIV, AIDS, and other chronic illnesses.

Q: What traditions have remained important throughout the church's history?

A: As people who covenant to be a community of “differing but kindred minds,” First Church values education as a practice of faith. Over the generations, we have invited people of all ages to engage in study, dialogue and transformation. And we have tended a multitude of connections with the University of Minnesota, founded the same year as the church.

Congregant volunteers making care packages for students during finals.

The church has been deeply committed to work for social justice, to publicly witness Jesus' way of love and justice. From the abolition of slavery, to civil rights, to peace activism during Vietnam, to advocacy for the queer community and immigrant neighbors; throughout our history, we have taken important and often controversial stands.  

The arts, and especially music, are another cherished tradition at First Church. We find connection to each other and the divine through gifts of beauty and creativity. Music is central in our worship. We love to sing, whether accompanied by skillful, heartfelt organ playing or the beat of the congas! Our amazing choir brings joy, healing and inspiration to us each week. 

Q: How does the church engage with the broader Minneapolis community?

A: We are active in caring for the community, and especially in addressing food insecurity. We maintain a Little Free Pantry on our property and provide kitchen space and volunteer support for the Community Kitchen, which prepares 450 meals per week for our unsheltered neighbors. Our members deliver Meals on Wheels and distribute meals at the local elementary school. 

2026 Neighborhood Night Out at the First Congregational Church of Minnesota.

Our church building is a historic landmark, and it is also a lively hub for the community to gather. We are home to the Southeast Playgroup, a space for preschool children and their caregivers to socialize. We host the offices of Southeast Seniors, Jungian Analyst Byron Almén, and musician and theater artist Brenda Varda. Many community activities take place within our walls, including voting and neighborhood defense groups that originated out of this past winter’s ICE surge. We curate an art gallery that displays the work of community artists.   

Q: First Congregational Church of Minnesota belongs to the United Church of Christ (UCC), which has a strong tradition of social engagement. How does that commitment show up in your congregation's work?

A: Over our history, our congregation has been willing to take risks to live out our values. We continue to speak up and show up for human dignity and democracy. We host a weekly protest we call the “bridge brigade” on the pedestrian bridge next to our church. We are organizing in partnership with neighbors to protect our upcoming elections. First Church also acknowledges and seeks to make repair for the ways we’ve been complicit in the harms of colonialism, slavery and racial injustice. Our members make annual pledges toward the work of reparations, in addition to their pledges for the operating budget.

Weekly Bridge Brigade gathering this past winter.

Jane praying at airport protest during Metro surge.

Jane leads a Save HCMC prayer vigil.

Q: What local issues are currently inspiring your congregation to take action?

A: We are passionate about food security. In various ways we are committed to feeding our neighbors and creating spaces of loving hospitality that foster belonging for all. We care deeply about the intersection of racial, economic and climate justice, and are exploring how we might become a hub of resilience amid the challenges we face as a society. We feel called to protect our immigrant neighbors and defend and strengthen our democracy.

Q: How do you help members move from concern about social issues to meaningful engagement?

A: Our worship and small group programs provide space for learning, reflection and prayer, as we each wrestle with our role in creating a more just and loving society. Gathered in community, we support each other in stepping into new challenges, even as we incorporate self-care and rest. We have leaders in our congregation whose role it is invite people to be part of larger movements, as we work in partnership with organizations like ISAIAH MN, Unidos MN, and MN Interfaith Power and Light. 

Q: What first called you to ministry, and how did that path lead you to First Congregational Church of Minnesota?

A: I grew up as a pastor’s kid and the church was my second home. I was drawn to spirituality from an early age in a way that seemed different from my peers. In college, I was fascinated by the academic study of religion, and friends sought me out as a listener. All this eventually added up to the realization that I am called to ministry! 16 years ago, I was between church positions, caring for our family’s first kiddo and working part-time at an organic farm. When the search committee from First Church called to ask for an interview, I was thrilled. I’m still thrilled to be part of this generous, warm, adventurous, faithful community!

Q: How do you balance honoring the church's long history while embracing change and innovation?

A: Our congregation draws strength from our traditions and stories, the wisdom of our elders and the witness of those beloved ones who have gone before us. Especially during this anniversary year, we are digging into our history, to consider what it can teach us. On the other hand, I find that we have remarkable freedom to try new things and grow through experimentation and even failure. During meetings, we regularly reflect together – “What’s going well? What is challenging?” And, my favorite, “What are we learning?” 

Q: What do you see as your and the church's unique role in the Twin Cities community?

A: I would like us to be known for our collaborative spirit. I see us as a small, scrappy church able to do mighty things, because of our commitment to working with others. We cultivate partnerships with like-minded folks, such as the other congregations in the UCC and beyond, or the Neon campus ministry at the University of Minnesota. We also forge fruitful alliances with surprising partners, like Community Kitchen volunteers who practice another faith or no faith at all, and a vampire-themed Live Action Role Play group.

PIC

Q: If someone who had never attended church walked through your doors this Sunday, what would you hope they would experience?

A: I hope they feel that our worship is alive. I hope they experience something that moves them to tears or laughter or deep thought. I hope they appreciate the beauty of poetry, scripture, music, visual art and preaching woven together in a coherent yet diverse conversation, and understand there’s room for their voice, too. I am positive that someone will greet them, learn their name and invite them to stay for coffee, and I hope they will feel we are ready to meet them wherever they are on their journey!

Q: You've inspired me! How may we stay current on your news and events?

A: At our website, www.firstchurchmn.org, you can sign up for our weekly email and quarterly newsletter, and find links to our social media accounts.

Kolman & Reeb Gallery's 3rd Annual "The Big Tiny Show" to Showcase Artists From Across Minnesota

The Big Tiny Show begins Saturday, October 3, and runs through November 7

Artist Reception: Saturday, October 3, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

From its inception, Kolman & Reeb Gallery has been committed to supporting Minnesota artists. Now in its third year, The Big Tiny Show continues that commitment by giving artists from across the state an opportunity to share their work with a broader audience. The tremendous response to this year’s juried call for art reflects the enthusiasm of Minnesota artists and the breadth of perspectives they are eager to share.

From tried-and-true oil on canvas to fiber arts and wire sculptures, gallery patrons can expect an inspiring and diverse exhibition. Adopting its name from the guideline that no one piece of art can be larger than 12 inches, The Big Tiny Show involves a variety of subject matter and media. With the varied assortment, the depth of the show has allowed for an innovative and contemporary curation.

“With this show, Anita and I were eager to open the call to all media types and expressions. The results were overwhelming, and we received a significant response from Minnesota artists interested in showing their work. Our panel of judges was delighted by the superior quality of the art submitted. We’re eager for our patrons to come and view the diverse collection from across Minnesota. Opening the call to all types of media offered a unique experience as the curator." Jodi Reeb, gallery curator and co-partner

All are invited to come and view this interesting blend of styles from emerging and established Artists. All art on display during The Big Tiny Show will be available for purchase.

Kolman & Reeb Gallery is in Studio 395, The Northrup King Building, 1500 Jackson Street NE. For more information, please visit kolmanreebgallery.com or call 612-385-4239.

Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation’s Heart 360 Concert to Feature Russell Dickerson, Nov 13

Supporting Twin Cities-Based Research for Heart Patients Worldwide

November 13 at The Armory – Tickets Start at $50

Doors open 6pm / Concert 8pm

Heart 360 is an annual concert event benefiting the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) and lifesaving heart research and education for patients around the world. It’s more than a concert - it’s a night to unite, celebrate, and fuel lifesaving heart research. This year it will take place at The Armory, 500 6th Street. Presenting sponsors are Great Clips and K102.

The theme, Heart 360, celebrates the 360-degree approach that is critical to advancing heart and vascular care – renowned physicians, committed researchers, grateful patients – and a community that believes in this work.

Russell Dickerson, known for his high-energy stage presence, has achieved multiple number-one singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, including "Blue Tacoma," "Every Little Thing," and "Love You Like I Used To."

General Admission tickets are all-in priced at only $50. A Premium VIP Experience is offered featuring admission to the concert and a reception with a hosted bar with appetizers. All VIP ticketholders have access to premier concert viewing from the first-level balcony as well as the main room. Prices start at $250.

A recognized leader across all specialties of heart and vascular research, MHIF strives to create a world without heart and vascular disease. Their work is funded by generous donors and sponsors, and engages in cutting-edge research initiatives with its physician partners from the Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and at 38 community sites across Minnesota and western Wisconsin. 

Each year, MHIF leads more than 220 research studies with more than 2,200 patients and publishes more than 250 articles to share learnings from research. MHIF research has improved the standard of care around the world through protocols like Level One for heart attack, which significantly improved outcomes and survival for patients. They provide more than 11,000 hours of education each year putting its research into practice to improve outcomes among health care providers.

Tiffany Chung's "indelible traces" Opens at WAM September 19

Photo credit: Marco Cappelletti

Photo credit: Madeeha Lamoreaux for Weisman Art Museum

indelible traces reveals histories overlooked or intentionally ignored

Tiffany Chung’s indelible traces at the Weisman Art Museum WAM) is an immersive exploration of displacement, migration, climate change, resource extraction, war, and the ways human stories become embedded or forgotten in maps and landscapes. Chung, a Vietnamese American artist, uses meticulously drawn maps, diagrams, and archival research to trace the movements of people forced from their homes by war, political upheaval, and environmental disaster. Her work transforms maps from neutral tools of geography into deeply personal records of loss, survival, memory, and resilience.  Her exquisite embroidery also tells the stories of the people and cultures that get left behind in traditional archives.

Photo credit above and below: Madeeha Lamoreaux for Weisman Art Museum

Is Chung a historian, artist or fine craftsperson, or all three? You’ll probably decide she qualifies in all categories. Her works ask viewers to look beyond borders and statistics and consider the individual lives behind mass migrations. indelible traces is worth a visit for anyone interested in history, immigration, geography, or contemporary art - and particularly for visitors willing to slow down and discover the human stories hidden within the lines and patterns of the maps.

Opening day is September 19 and the exhibit will run through December 6. Chung will give an artist talk on October 28. The museum is free to visit - this exhibit is worth adding to your fall schedule!

Centuries Old Tapestry - The Meeting of Dante and Virgil - on Display at Mia

Is your fall schedule bursting with activities - Lynx playoffs, Gophers games, coursework, farmers markets, and just too many things to list? Looking for a worthwhile outing that won’t eat up your entire day? Make a quick stop at Mia to view a nearly 500-year-old masterpiece that has finally come out of hiding. After nearly 70 years in storage, The Meeting of Dante and Virgil is back on display, and its 17.4-foot size makes it impossible to miss.

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Woven in Florence between 1547 and 1549, this extraordinary Renaissance tapestry is considered the most important Italian Renaissance tapestry in the United States. You don’t need hours to appreciate it - give yourself a little time to stand in front of it, take in the intricate details and imagine the skill and history woven into every thread.

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The exhibition, Back from the Underworld: Mia’s Dante Tapestry Restored, also tells the fascinating story of how this fragile work was brought back to life and made safe for display. It’s the kind of museum visit that delivers a lot without requiring a lot of time. If you’re in Minneapolis, it’s well worth making the effort to visit, even if you only have an hour to spare. The tapestry will be on view in Gallery 330 through January 31, 2027. 

Pritzker Hageman Invites the Community to October 15 Blood Drive

Memorial Blood Centers' bloodmobile will be parked in Pritzker Hageman's lot throughout the drive, and they’ll also have therapy dog teams from North Star Therapy Animals onsite to visit with donors.

Community Blood Drive with Memorial Blood Centers

Thursday, October 15, 2026 | 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Pritzker Hageman Law Firm, 100 University Ave SE, Minneapolis

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Appointments: pritzlaw.us/donateblood

14th Annual Cine Latino Film Festival, October 7-11

Full line up and ticket options

MSP Film Society's Cine Latino Film Festival returns to The Main Cinema from October 7 – 11, with five days and nights of film screenings, fiestas, flamenco dancing, food trucks, visiting filmmakers, family activities, and more.

 

Screening Wednesday, October 7 at 7:30pm • Opening Night Party 5:30pm

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The opening night film is La Bola Negra. From Cannes-winning directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, La Bola Negra follows three generations of men across pivotal moments in Spanish history, bound by pain, desire, and love. Carlos (Milo Quifes) longs to belong in a fractured Spain. Sebastián (Guitarricadelafuente) finds connection across enemy lines. And Alberto (Carlos González) uncovers a long-buried family secret — one that finally gives voice to truths the past tried to erase. Co-written by Calvo, Ambrossi, and Alberto Conejero, and adapted from Conejero's play La Piedra Oscura, and La bola negra and other texts by Federico García Lorca.

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The screening will be preceded by the Cine Latino Opening Night Party sponsored by Netflix and featuring Flamenco dancers.  

A Discussion with Pirronne Yousefzadeh, Director of Theater Latté Da's Production of Indecent

Pirronne Yousefzadeh

Theater Latté Da’s new season opens with Indecent, a play about a play - and the artists who risked everything to tell it. Inspired by the true story of Sholem Asch’s seminal Yiddish work, God of Vengeance, and its infamous 1923 obscenity trial, Indecent traces the turbulent journey of a troupe determined to stage a work deemed “indecent.” We talked to director Pirronne Yousefzadeh about why this play resonates so clearly today, artistic freedom, the importance of movement and music to the production and the discussions you’ll probably have after seeing the play. Don’t wait - get tickets here – the play runs until October 16. 

Q: Although Indecent begins more than a century ago, it feels remarkably contemporary. Which themes do you think will resonate most with today's audiences?

A: As Mark Twain may have said (though there’s some debate on this front!), “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” There are patterns we can recognize in the events of this play that continue to play out in 2026. We see the relationship between fascism and artistic censorship, growing anti-Semitism in Europe and the United States, as well as bigotry in many forms. At the same time, we see the resilience of artists, and that no matter how bleak the circumstances may be, artists will continue to tell stories, and audiences will remain hungry for catharsis and community. So, while the play begins more than a century ago, there’s so much here that resonates with our current moment in both deeply troubling and life-affirming ways.

Q: The play explores censorship, antisemitism, immigration, and LGBTQ+ identity. How do you balance honoring history while allowing audiences to draw their own modern connections?

A: I think that Paula’s brilliant language draws connections to our current sociopolitical moment, as well as countless moments in America’s history. More specifically we honor the history and invest in the story of this play, the more I believe an audience will see, feel, and experience its modern resonances.

Q: Indecent asks difficult questions about who gets to tell stories and whose stories are considered acceptable. How has directing this play influenced your own thinking about artistic freedom?

A: I would say that this play has further radicalized me! I have always been a passionate advocate for artistic expression, and now more than ever, I see that our role as artists is to tell the truth boldly and unapologetically, in acts of both resistance and joy.

Q: The play moves fluidly through time, geography, and memory. What were the biggest challenges in bringing that to life on stage for Theater Latté Da?

A: I would not say it is a challenge as much as it is one of my favorite defining features of this play. I love theater that embraces what only theater can do, and one of those things is the virtuosity and athleticism of incredible actors working at the top of their abilities to tell this story, moving through time, scenic transitions, costume changes…you name it! It is, on one level, what it takes to put on a show. On a deeper level, it is a generous, loving act of solidarity as the troupe facilitates the story together and supports one another. To craft it, it requires time, patience, rigor, precision, and a willingness to play and do some trial and error. But this is one of the most gratifying joys of directing this play.

Q: Music and movement are almost characters themselves in Indecent. How closely did you collaborate with the choreographer and music director to create a unified vision?

A: Emily Michaels King and Spencer Chandler have been integral to this process from the beginning. Emily is an endlessly creative choreographer, and Spencer is an expert music director; each of them brings their wealth of knowledge and decades of expertise to the rehearsal room. We have been in the room together all day every day, and the interwoven nature of music and movement throughout the play requires that we work closely to build it together, one step/measure/line at a time. 

Q: How much historical research did you and the cast undertake before rehearsals began?

A: A great deal! We were quite fortunate that two dramaturgs who worked on previous productions of Indecent, Jo Holcomb and Julie Felise Dubiner, were kind enough to share their dramaturgical materials with us. Their rigorous research has informed character choices and further deepened our understanding of the time period and the play’s structure. For a play like this one, research is essential, and I’d say it’s a bottomless well; we can always do more, learn more, and discover more.

Q: Were there discoveries about the real people behind God of Vengeance that surprised you?

A: Yes! While I. L. Peretz discouraged Asch from moving forward with The God of Vengeance, he was a bit of a radical himself, though he wrote in a more quietly subversive way. From 1894-96, he published the Yontev-bletlekh (Holiday Papers). These were stories framed by Jewish holidays and seemed to be simple stories of Jewish life. But underneath, they hid socialist messages in a way that made them quite popular with Jewish progressives while escaping censorship from the Tsar. Even though we see Peretz as a bit more conservative in the play, it’s an important reminder that people work for social progress in different ways, and a small step forward to one is perhaps a gargantuan step to another.

Q: What conversations do you hope audiences are having after the show?

A: I hope that audiences give themselves the time and space to reflect on the play and process the thoughts, questions, and emotions that come up. I hope it sparks conversation about being an immigrant in America, about how we preserve language and cultural traditions, and how we can learn from the past to shape a better future.

Q: If you could invite one of the real artists depicted in the play to see this production, who would it be, and what would you hope they would say afterward?

A: I would invite Sholem Asch. I would want him to see that even now, in 2026, we are still talking about and performing his remarkable play. 

MPRB is Hosting 6 Community Engagement Sessions on the 2027-28 Budget

Join MPRB for any of six community engagement sessions on September 10, 17, 19 and October 8, 22 and 24.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is hosting six community engagement sessions on the 2027-28 budget. They will walk attendees through their budget and how how they use your tax dollars and leverage other revenue sources to serve the residents of Minneapolis. They are also asking for input on what matters most to residents.

MPRB is requesting a 5.86% tax levy increase to sustain current service levels. This funding won't restore previous cuts, but it will: 

• Keep their team stable and ready to serve you 

• Protect and grow the tree canopy 

• Support hundreds of teen jobs and after-school programs 

• Maintain child care and summer camp services 

• Protect natural areas and open Upper Harbor and North Commons in North Minneapolis 

Attend any of six community budget meetings this fall. Park commissioners and MPRB leaders will walk through exactly how they spend our dollars and what each program means for our city. These are city-wide meetings - you can attend the one closest to you, some of them, or all of them. Light snacks provided.

September 10, 6–8 pm | 40th Street Park (1900 E 40th St) 

September 17, 6–8 pm | Harrison Park, Spark'd Studio (503 N Irving Ave) 

September 19, 1–3 pm | River Hub at Graco Park (810 Sibley St NE) 

October 8, 6–8 pm | Lyndale Farmstead Park (3900 Bryant Ave S) 

October 22, 6–8 pm | Powderhorn Park (3400 15th Ave S) 

October 24, 1–3 pm | Elliot Park (1000 E 14th St) 

If you can't make a meeting, take their survey and tell them what you value about Minneapolis Parks. These decisions belong to all of us.

My Very Own Bed Announces 6th Annual Steps for Sleep, September 26

The Twin Cities community is invited to a free event at DeLaSalle High School on September 26 (or to Walk Anywhere) - optional donations and individual fundraisers support $100,000 goal for children's beds.

Twin Cities nonprofit My Very Own Bed will host its 6th Annual Steps for Sleep walk and wellness event on Saturday, September 26, from 3:00-5:30pm at DeLaSalle High School on Nicollet Island. This free, all-ages community gathering combines a scenic outdoor walk through Boom Island Park, an interactive Wellness Fair, and family-friendly activities to highlight the powerful link between physical activity and healthy, restorative sleep for children and families. More info.

Open before and after the walk, the interactive Wellness Fair offers practical tools to improve daily energy and sleep. Attendees can try hands-on activities, explore new movement and stress-relief techniques, connect with local health experts, and take home giveaways to help the entire family build healthier habits.

Steps for Sleep pairs active fun for the community with a goal to raise $100,000 through sponsors, donors, and peer-to-peer fundraisers. All proceeds directly fund brand-new beds and personalized Dream Kits for local children moving out of shelters and into stable homes.

A good night’s sleep is essential for a child’s physical health, emotional stability, and academic success. Yet across the Twin Cities, thousands of kids sleep on floors, air mattresses, or share overcrowded beds. Since 2014, My Very Own Bed has delivered more than 12,000 beds and Dream Kits, including a new mattress, frame, sheet set, blanket, mattress pad, pillow, stuffed animal, and age-appropriate books. In 2026 alone, the organization aims to reach 2,100 more children.

Ways to Participate:

• In-Person Walk & Wellness Fair, Saturday, September 26, 3:00–5:30pm: Join the free, family-friendly event at DeLaSalle High School (1 DeLaSalle Drive, Minneapolis) to walk, explore the interactive Wellness Fair, and enjoy community activities.

• Walk Anywhere, September 12–26: Can’t make it to Minneapolis? Take steps from your own neighborhood over two weeks. 

• Launch a Fundraiser: Multiply your impact by starting an individual or team fundraising page to earn event prizes. The first $15,000 raised will be matched dollar-for-dollar by generous sponsors.

• Cost and Registration: Free admission for all participants. Optional donations and peer-to-peer fundraisers directly support kids in the community. More info.

Founded in 2014 by Michael Allen, My Very Own Bed is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to ensuring children in the Twin Cities have a dedicated, comfortable place to sleep. By partnering with local social service agencies and community volunteers, the organization delivers brand-new beds and Dream Kits directly to families transitioning from homelessness or shelters into stable housing.

Children’s Theatre Company Opens 2026-2027 Season With Pinocchio

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with Director, Greg Banks

Pinocchio opens the Children’s Theatre Company's 2026-2027 season. We talked to Director and Adaptor Greg Banks about the timelessness of Pinocchio, what it means to become a ‘real person’ in today’s world, and why the show’s themes will resonate with children and adults. It’s on stage from September 8 to October 18 – get tickets here.

Q: Pinocchio has been retold countless times. What drew you to create your own adaptation?

A: It’s a great adventure story with a ton of exciting encounters; finding ways to recreate and tell a story as complex as this is always a fascinating challenge. What is particularly engaging for me is that this story goes right to the heart of growing up, what that means, and how we've all had to make that journey and continue to do so right through our lives. It resonates for all of us whether as parents/guardians of young ones or as young ones setting out on that journey. This story speaks to the child in all of us.

Greg Banks

Q: What aspects of Carlo Collodi’s original story were you most eager to preserve?

A: The playfulness of Pinocchio set against Collodi’s adult world, a world that is full of tricksters and people out to take advantage of his innocence. It's a pretty hostile place. Collodi doesn’t shy away from exposing Pinocchio to that world and I was keen to hold on to that. Young people want to know about the world and how it works. We need to answer their ‘why’ questions as honestly as we can.

Q: Many people think of Pinocchio as a story about telling the truth, but it also explores identity, belonging and growing up. Which themes resonate most strongly with you?

A: All of them. They are all tied in together. Where does Pinocchio belong? Is he a puppet or is there more to him? He begins as an entirely selfish, self-obsessed ‘child’ with no sense of how his behaviour affects the world. The story is all about his growing up and by the end he has developed altruism, empathy, a sense of himself and his agency in the world. He cries, he becomes truly human, he belongs in the world.

Q: What does becoming a 'real boy’ symbolize in your adaptation?

A: Being a ‘real boy’ has more resonance at this time when being gender fluid has currency and meaning for many people. It’s less complicated for Pinocchio who doesn’t know what it means to be a real boy, but he senses there is something else, that he is not simply a puppet, not simply a plaything of Geppetto’s. He also resists the definition of himself as a ‘puppet boy’ given to him by others. But by the end of the story, he has discovered who he really is. He has become a real boy on his own terms. Finding out who we really are is a journey we all go on throughout our lives.

Which is why Pinocchio resonates with audiences more than 140 years after it was written.

Q: How do you create a production that engages children while offering deeper layers for adults?

A: I avoid talking down to children in my writing, I don’t patronise them; I try to tell the story as clearly as I can. The crucial part is choosing a story that already contains those deeper levels. I have to be engaged in the story for myself, I have to find my connection, it has to speak to me. After that, it’s a really intuitive process, there are no rules to follow. I trust my instinct and see what comes up.

Q: Does your Pinocchio change in unexpected ways compare to traditional versions?

A: Essentially, I stay pretty faithful to Collodi’s original story, the difference being that the story is told by a gang of painters who have been employed to repaint the whole stage. They arrive for work and are shocked to find the theatre filled with audience members who have come to watch Pinocchio. After a bit of back and forth they agree to tell the story themselves and then use all the stuff on the stage, scaffolding, paint cloths, planks, ladders, buckets, etc., to help create the different scenes and costumes. It means we and the audience really have to use our imagination to create Pinocchio’s world and can have a lot of fun on the way. One reviewer commented that within two minutes she had forgotten the Disney version all together.

Q: Today’s children are growing up in a world shaped by social media and artificial intelligence. Does Pinocchio’s search for authenticity feel especially relevant today?

A: Finding out who you are and what you want to do with your life has always been a fundamental part of being human. Social media and AI, while seeming to provide answers, often seem to confuse the issue, obscuring who we are with who everyone else seems to be. Pinocchio’s search for authenticity is as old as time, and while being especially relevant today is being made harder by the advent of social media and AI.

Q: If you could summarize the heart of your adaptation in one sentence, what would it be?

A: In this adaptation, I wanted the audience to share in the fun and energy that all young ones - in this case, Pinocchio - have, for discovering the world, and to be with him as he emerges into being a fully rounded 'real boy' who has learned to love his papa...a boy full of empathy and self-awareness.

Ukrainian Global Symphony Celebrates Ukrainian Heritage at Orchestra Hall, September 12

Pre-concert events take place 6:30pm-7:45pm

On September 12 at 8:00pm, the stage at Orchestra Hall will come alive with the Ukrainian Global Symphony as conductor Nickolai Podvin makes his long-awaited debut on the Orchestra Hall stage - fulfilling a dream he has held since he was five years old. A conductor of Bulgarian and Roma heritage and a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, Podvin will lead an extraordinary ensemble of musicians from the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Rochester Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, University of Minnesota, and the Twin Cities Musicians Union.

Tickets

At the heart of the evening lies a performance of the uncensored version of Ukrainian composer Borys Liatoshynsky’s Third Symphony - a monumental work first heard in this restored form in 1991 following the fall of the Soviet Union, when the original fourth movement was finally recovered. Recent discoveries have since revealed Soviet alterations within the first, second, and third movements as well. To help fully restore the work, Podvin has digitized the current score and provided the Liatoshynsky Foundation in Ukraine with crucial resources to reconstruct and publish the complete, uncensored score for the first time.

The program will also feature a rediscovered cello concerto, performed by multi-Grammy Award-winning, world-renowned cellist Matt Haimovitz. 

“In these times, our concert halls must become sanctuaries for Ukrainian music. We must preserve and protect Ukraine's cultural identity, now more than ever.”  Nickolai Podvin

This concert is more than a performance - it is a movement. It seeks to raise awareness of Ukraine's rich contributions to classical music, long overshadowed and suppressed. This event was made possible through generous community support, strong partnerships, and funding provided by the Minnesota Humanities Center Cultural Heritage Fund. With gratitude to the Twin Cities Musicians Union, Orchestra Hall, and the Ukrainian American Community Center.

Fine Art Opening Event at Washburn Lofts, September 17

Free art opening event submitted by the Washburn Lofts

“Atlas of Elsewhere” Fragments from Worlds Between the Natural and Imagined / A Solo Exhibition by Megan Gonyo 

Opening Reception Thursday, September 17, 5-7pm

Wine & Cheese

Free and Open to the Public

 

Megan Gonyo is a Minneapolis-based abstract artist and multi-passionate entrepreneur with a curiosity about how we experience the world and how our environments shape our well-being. Come view her large-scale installation on the first floor of the historic Washburn Lofts condo building, 700 S 2nd Street, adjacent to the Mill City Museum.

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Exhibition on view by appointment. Contact megan@megangonyo.com

30 State Fair Crop Artworks Will Make Their Way to Mia in September

“Cream of the Crop: The Second Harvest” runs September 19 thru November 29

A reception will be held Thursday, September 24, 6-8pm, in Mia’s Community Commons

Minnesotans love their crop art. Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) will give some of the Minnesota State Fair’s most creative crop artists an encore, bringing prize-winning and standout works from the 2026 crop art competition to the museum for Cream of the Crop: The Second Harvest. It will be on view September 19 through November 29 in Mia’s Community Commons.

Mia’s curatorial team and museum director Katie Luber were tasked with selecting 30 works from hundreds at the State Fair. These works showcase the skill, patience, humor, and ingenuity behind one of Minnesota’s most beloved artistic traditions.

Think intricate portraits made from seeds. Landscapes built from grains. Unexpected masterpieces assembled from humble agricultural materials. Crop art transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, and at Mia, these works get a second chance to shine beyond the Fairgrounds.

The exhibition will showcase highlights from the Minnesota State Fair’s crop art competition, including:

• Five winners of Mia’s crop art awards:

  • Four artworks featuring the best interpretations of a Hidden Gem at Mia, interpreting a lesser-known piece from the museum’s collection.

    • The winners are La Petite Bergère – At Night by Diane Klein, Tiger Cat by Kaela Reinardy, Rainy Evening on Hennepin Avenue - Crop Art Edition by Megan Bell, and St. Paul, 2026 by Stephanie Schempp.

  • One overall Mia Favorite original creation showing exemplary creativity, craftsmanship, and artistry:

    • The winner of this category is Twin Cities 2026 (Guernica 1937) by Jennifer B Nelson.

• 25 additional honorable mentions will also be selected.

Crop art is a meticulous craft using seeds, grains, and other plant materials to create detailed images, designs, and stories. The tradition has long been a beloved feature of the Minnesota State Fair, where artists demonstrate just how much artistic potential can be packed into a handful of humble agricultural materials.

Theater Latté Da’s 2026-2027 Season Opens With Paula Vogel’s Indecent

Single tickets start at just $39. Subscriptions are also available and offer a wide range of subscriber-only perks and significant savings over single ticket pricing.

Theater Latté Da has announced single tickets are now available for its first production of the 2026-2027 Season, Indecent, by Paula Vogel, with a score and original music by Lisa Gutkin and Aaron Halva. The production’s official opening will take place on Saturday, September 19 at 7:30pm, with previews beginning on Wednesday, September 16. Performances take place at the historic Ritz Theater, 345 13th Avenue NE -  the permanent home of Theater Latté Da.

Indecent is a play about a play - and the artists who risked everything to tell it. Inspired by the true story of Sholem Asch’s seminal Yiddish work, God of Vengeance, and its infamous 1923 obscenity trial, Indecent is a haunting, klezmer-infused play with music that traces the turbulent journey of a troupe determined to stage a work deemed “indecent.” As their story unfolds across continents and decades, so too does a powerful meditation on censorship, nationalism and the policing of queer love. At once tender and thunderously relevant, this breathtaking theatrical experience shines a light on the enduring struggle between artistic expression and societal control. In a moment when questions of whose stories are “acceptable” feel increasingly urgent, Indecent invites us to bear witness to the courage of artists, the cost of silence and the unshakable power of theater itself.

"There are few plays that feel as urgently necessary today as Indecent. It is a breathtaking work about artists who refuse to let fear dictate what can be imagined, expressed, or shared. At a moment when conversations around censorship and cultural memory continue to shape our public life, this play reminds us that the freedom to create is never guaranteed... it is something every generation must actively protect." Latté Da Artistic Director, Justin Lucero

Indecent is directed by Pirronne Yousefzadeh. Music direction is by Spencer Chandler and movement direction by Emily Michaels King. The design team includes scenic and costume designer Sarah Bahr, lighting designer Søren Olsen, sound & projections designer Peter Morrow, props designer Madelaine Foster, hair and makeup designer Emma Gustafson and dialect coach Spencer Chandler. Shelby Reddig is production stage manager and Austin Schoenfelder is assistant stage manager.

Theater Latté Da’s 2026-2027 season invites audiences to engage with the complexities of the present moment through five powerful works that challenge silence, celebrate resilience, and honor the transformative power of shared experience. Following Indecent, the lineup continues with the holiday tradition All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, and then Justin Huertas’s indie-rock musical Lizard Boy.

TICKETS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

Tickets for Indecent are currently available for purchase, starting at $39. Additionally, season subscriptions are available for purchase for the entire 2026-2027 season, offering a wide range of discounts, subscriber-only perks and show packages for every schedule. Pricing and additional details available at www.LatteDa.org.

Tickets, subscriptions and FLEXPacks may be purchased online, by calling the Box Office at 612-339-3003, or in person at the Ritz Theater. Box Office hours are 12-5pm, Tuesday to Friday, and 12-5pm on Saturdays during performance days only.

A range of discounted attendance opportunities and physical access initiatives are offered for every production to ensure a welcoming experience for patrons of all backgrounds. Access offerings include ASL interpretation, open captioning and audio description at select performances, and services including braille and large-print programs, assistive listening devices, multiple accessible seating choices, wheelchair companion seating, bariatric chairs and physically accessible all-gender restrooms are available for every performance.

Key dates for Indecent: 

• Previews – September 16-18, 7:30pm
• Opening Night – September 19, 7:30pm
• Open Captioned – October 16 & 17, 7:30pm; October 17 & 18, 2:00pm
• American Sign Language & Audio Described – October 15, 7:30pm

 Post-show talkbacks: 

• Thursday, 7:30pm: September 24; October 1, 8 & 15
• Sunday, 2:00pm: September 20 & 27; October 4 & 11 

Where Football and Bowling Collide: Inside the Fowling Warehouse

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Fowling is a mash-up of bowling and football, and you can try out and perfect your skills at this new sport at the Fowling Warehouse in the North Loop. Teams take turns throwing footballs at the other team’s set of pins, until one team knocks all the other team’s pins down. Fowling Warehouse boasts 21 lanes in its massive 32,000 square-foot space at 401 Royalston Avenue N. We talked to Andrew Cunningham, co-owner of the Minneapolis location, to learn more about the origins of the sport, why it is perfect for Minneapolis, the many activities and foods and beverages available at the location, and how you might achieve a ‘bonk’ on your first visit!

Andrew Cunningham

Q: How did you first discover Fowling Warehouse, and what convinced you it would work in Minneapolis?

A: I got to know Fowling when it was a lesser known, up and coming activity in Detroit. It was a cool concept that was underground and would pop up at different events, such as tailgates or festivals, before it made it big and opened a location in 2014. It was a hot commodity; you had to get it when you could where you could. 

We had a feeling it would succeed in Minneapolis because of the people, the sports, and climate. The people here love activities, and Fowling keeps people active throughout the year indoors when it is too hot or too cold to enjoy the outdoors.

Q: Why was the North Loop the right location for the warehouse?

A: The North Loop is in the heart of the city and was once referred to as the city’s playground. There is so much to do - from fine dining, fun bars, and immersive events at Royalston Square - it clearly would be a great fit for our quirky sport and bar.

Q: Fowling is a mashup of football and bowling. Why do you think unusual social games are resonating with people today?

A: I think a lot of that has a fair amount to do with COVID, which drove people into the virtual world for connection and amplified the social media bubble people live in. After that, there was a strong desire to get out and socialize. Now with people drinking less, entertainment and doing something different has become more important in the “funtertainment /eatertainment” sectors.

Q: Oh, I like those two words very much – funtertainment and eatertainment! Corporate events and team-building outings are a big part of the business. What makes a visit to Fowling Warehouse effective as a team activity?

A: Outings at Fowling are different because the sport itself is very approachable - you don’t have to be a former quarterback to win, and we can put on any scale tournament and fundraiser to really engage the teams and community. The space itself is very open and inviting with TV’s all around, an arcade with pinball, claw machines, pool, air hockey, foosball and more, in addition to table tennis, shuffleboard, and now Pickleball, too. We offer a little bit of something for everyone to try, without being the next adult Dave & Busters.

Q: What's the funniest thing you've witnessed on a Fowling lane?

A: The funniest recurring thing starts with explaining the rules to customers coming in. As we explain the game, a part of it is how to win the game in one throw by knocking the red pin down without any other pins in the opening throw, which is called the bonk. It’s inevitably considered impossible, can’t ever happen, and ridiculous. Even at our grand opening, I explained this to one of our liquor rep’s family and the husband clearly thought I was crazy and that it was impossible. No more than 5 minutes later, he found me beaming letting me know he got a bonk, won the game, and I took him over to let everyone know by pulling the bonk horn which is a real ship air horn.

Q: Have you witnessed any customers come in skeptical and leaving completely hooked?

A: Yes! It just takes a little bit to get the right people hooked. One of our league players was skeptical and came in for one of our “free fowling” nights leading up to our late winter league kick off. She has become a big supporter of ours, helping coordinate events, spread the word and even helped us out at the June beer dabbler!

Q: Are there new leagues, tournaments, or events you'd like to introduce?

A: We have a league ongoing right now and we are taking sign-ups for our fall/winter league seasons that will be on us before we know it! We are lucky enough to have Fluid Table Tennis running table tennis leagues every Thursday, with quarterly tournaments too. We are gearing up for a great fall season with some Oktoberfest-like activities with the ever-popular bock beer poking, Hammerschlagen, and more. 

Q: When people leave Fowling Warehouse Minneapolis, what do you hope they're talking about on the way home?

A: We want people to think about the vibrant community and space we have at the Fowling Warehouse where everyone can find something their speed to do. I want them to remember being able to come in and engage with friends or colleagues along the way, and leave with a story to tell and feel more connected with one another! 

Please tell your readers to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and to come visit soon!

Theatre in the Round Players Celebrates 75 Years With Minnesota Stories and Artists

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) is celebrating its 75th season by celebrating the community it calls home.

Theatre in the Round’s 2026–2027 season, We’ve Been Around: A Celebration of Minnesotan Art and Resiliency, celebrates Minnesota art and artists. The season also celebrates something that has been at the heart of TRP since its founding in 1952: the belief that theatre is something a community can build together. 

A Season Full of Minnesota Connections

Opening September 11 with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, adapted by Simon Levy and directed by Vanessa Brooke Agnes, Season 75 celebrates the remarkable artists and stories Minnesota has sent into the world. The season features beloved Minnesota authors F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kate DiCamillo and Charles M. Schulz, acclaimed Minnesota playwrights Carlyle Brown and

Jeffrey Hatcher, two world premieres by Minnesota playwrights John Gaspard and Pamela Hill Nettleton and music from acclaimed singer-songwriter Eric Peltoniemi. The season – including collaborative efforts with FAIR School for Arts, The American School of Storytelling, and The Bearded Company - explores the many ways Minnesota has shaped American theatre and storytelling and, conversely, the many ways that theatre and art has shaped Minnesota. 

Together, the productions offer a broad definition of what a Minnesota season can be - not simply stories set here, but stories connected to the people, artists, history and experiences that have shaped the state. 

75 Years of Community-Made Theatre

Theatre in the Round Players was founded in 1952 by seven artists who wanted to create a theatre supported by its members. They persuaded 50 friends to contribute $10 each and opened their first season, Life with Father, at the YWCA in downtown Minneapolis in January 1953. That spirit of community participation remains central to TRP today. The organization’s model provides opportunities for people to learn and participate in many facets of theatre, bringing together professional and amateur artists, volunteers and audiences. 

Over the decades, TRP has also played an important role in the growth of the Twin Cities arts community, pioneering opportunities and helping support the development of multiple organizations including Penumbra Theatre and Youth Performance Company. TRP moved to its current home in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood in 1969, transforming a fire-damaged restaurant into a theatre with thousands of hours of volunteer labor. Today, the building houses every part of the organization’s operation under one roof.

Theatre in the Round - Literally

Theatre in the Round’s name comes from its distinctive arena configuration: the audience surrounds the stage. The theatre’s approximately 240 seats are only seven rows deep, putting every audience member within 30 feet of center stage. There is no traditional “back row” and no fourth wall separating actors from the people watching them. That intimacy is central to the TRP experience.

“Arena theatre represents the soul of this organization. This form of theatre is a beautiful metaphor for community – we have a shared experience, but everyone’s perspective is a little different.”  Executive Director, Larisa Netterlund

Still Here - and Still Growing

Seventy-five seasons is a remarkable milestone for any theatre. For TRP, the anniversary is also an opportunity to think about what comes next. The organization has weathered changing artistic landscapes, changing funding realities, a pandemic that forced the theatre dark, and the ongoing challenges of maintaining an aging building. Through it all, the basic idea has remained: bring people together, make good theatre, and make room for people to be part of it. 

Season 75 celebrates the people who built the theatre, the artists who have filled its stage, the volunteers who have kept it running and the audiences who have come back year after year - while inviting a new generation to become part of TRP’s story. 

Season information and tickets are available at theatreintheround.org. 

Season 75 productions:

• Sept 11-Oct 4: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby adapted by Simon Levy
• Oct 23-Nov 1: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, Adapted by Dwayne Hartford, a Co-Production with FAIR School for Arts
• Nov 20 – Dec 20: Dial M for Murder by Frederick Knott, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
• Dec 4-Jan 10: Acting Can be Murder a world premiere by John Gaspard
• Jan 22-24: Home is Where the Art is: Stories of Art & Belonging, a Co-Production with The American School of Storytelling
• Feb 12-March 7: Ten November by Steven Dietz and Eric Peltoniemi
• Feb 17-21: Swords & Sorcery a Co-Production with The Bearded Company
• April 2-25: Quantumly Entangled: Love & Rock’N’Roll in the Age of AARP a world premiere by Pamela Hill Nettleton
• May 7-30: The African Company Presents Richard III by Carlyle Brown
• June 18-July 18: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown by Gesner, Mayer, and Lippa,

Art at the Bridgewater Announces August 27 Meet the Artists Reception for "The Future is Present" Installment

Art at the Bridgewater invites you to join them to celebrate their 10-Year Anniversary and 33 Exhibits!

Meet the Artists Reception, Thursday, August 27, 6:00pm–8:00pm

Bridgewater Community Room, 215 10th Avenue S

Wine, Appetizers and Desserts

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Featured Artists: Betsy Byers | Jil Evans | Tim Harding | Megan Jorgenson | Anne Landreman | Kristin Maija Peterson | Shannyn Joy Potter | Jill Van Sickle

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Take a virtual tour of The Future is Present: 

The Future is Present is generously sponsored by the Seebinger Group At DRG, professional realtors with over 20 years of experience assisting local buyers and sellers like you. They know how to find the best properties and negotiate great deals. They stay up to date on market trends, government regulations, and upcoming developments - so you don’t have to.

Mike Seebinger, Lauren MacLeod and Kris Schwab

Build Wealth Minnesota Expands Partnership With the City of Minneapolis for Workforce Development

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Eric Howell

A Discussion with Eric Howell, Senior Innovation & Expansion Director, Build Wealth Minnesota

Build Wealth Minnesota partners with local communities and businesses to provide families with supportive financial programs and services. We talked to Eric Howell, Sr. Innovation & Expansion Director of Build Wealth Minnesota about the innovative partnership with the City of Minneapolis to provide an integrated model for finding a career and building the financial stability to sustain it. They’ve helped over 20,000 families create brighter, more stable financial futures - and yours could be next. Follow their news here and tell people in your network of their programs that deliver. Find information on their August 29 Open House at the end of this article.

Q: How did the partnership between Build Wealth Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis come about? What are the shared goals?

A: Build Wealth Minnesota has partnered with the City of Minneapolis for many years through housing and community development initiatives. This new partnership is exciting because it's our first opportunity to bring that same relationship into workforce development.

The City saw the value of combining two of Build Wealth's signature programs, PEEP (Pathways to increase Employment & Earnings Potential) and the Financial Stabilization Plan (FSP), into one integrated model. PEEP helps people build meaningful careers, while FSP helps them build financial stability. Together, they're the heartbeat of Build Wealth Minnesota.

Our shared goal is simple: help Minneapolis residents earn more, strengthen their financial future, and create opportunities that last well beyond their next paycheck. 

Q: Why is it important to connect career development with financial empowerment?

A: We've learned something over the years: getting a job is only part of the journey.

A better career can increase your income, but if you don't know how to manage that income, improve your credit, reduce debt, or build savings, it's hard to create lasting stability. That's why PEEP and FSP were designed to work together.

One helps people increase their earning potential. The other helps them turn those earnings into long-term financial progress. When those two journeys happen together, lives begin to change.

Q: What community needs were you hoping to address through this collaboration?

A: We wanted to look beyond employment and focus on the whole person.

Many people aren't just looking for a job, they're looking for stability, confidence, and a clear direction. They may need workforce coaching, financial education, support services, or access to training that opens new career opportunities.

That's what makes this partnership different. We're not simply helping someone find work. We're helping them build a stronger foundation for the future.

Q: How does this partnership fit into Build Wealth Minnesota's broader mission?

A: It fits naturally because it's exactly what Build Wealth Minnesota has always been about.

Our mission has always focused on helping individuals and families build stronger financial futures. PEEP and FSP have been at the center of that work for years. One focuses on careers and increasing earnings. The other focuses on financial stability and wealth-building.

This partnership allows us to bring those proven programs together in a way that creates even greater impact for Minneapolis residents. It's another way of helping people move from surviving to thriving.

Q: How does the program help participants move beyond simply finding a job to building a sustainable career?

A: One of the first things I tell participants is, "Let's not just look for your next job, let's talk about where you want to be two or five years from now."

Eric conducts a PEEP session. PEEP is the Pathways to increase Employment & Earnings Potential program.

That's where PEEP really shines. Through our Career Lab and one-on-one coaching, we help participants identify career pathways, strengthen interview skills, build professional confidence, and explore training opportunities that can increase their earning potential.

A paycheck may solve today's problem. A career can change a family's future.

Q: What skills are employers seeking that participants can develop through this program?

A: Employers certainly look for technical skills, but what I hear just as often are things like communication, dependability, problem-solving, professionalism, and the ability to work well with others.

Through PEEP's Career Lab cohort, we focus on those skills while also helping participants explore industry-recognized certifications and training that can open doors to higher-paying careers. We want them to leave not only more employable, but more confident in what they bring to the workplace.

Q: Why is financial education such an important companion to workforce development?

A: Because earning more money doesn't automatically create financial stability.

The Financial Stabilization Plan helps participants learn how to budget, improve credit, reduce debt, build savings, and prepare for goals like homeownership. When you combine that with increased earnings through PEEP, people begin to see real momentum in their lives.

That's why we don't look at employment and finances as separate journeys. They work best together.

Q: How do you help participants transition from earning income to building wealth?

A: It starts by helping people think differently about what's possible.

When someone lands a better job, we celebrate that. But then we ask, "What's next?" Maybe it's improving credit. Maybe it's paying off debt, buying a home, building savings, or planning for their children's future.

Through FSP and financial coaching, participants begin creating a roadmap instead of just reacting to life. That's where earning an income starts becoming an opportunity to build wealth.

Q: What outcomes do you use to measure success?

A: Of course, we measure things like job placements, wage increases, training completions, and financial milestones. Those are important because they tell us whether the program is working.

But I'll be honest, my favorite measure of success is confidence.

When someone comes into the program unsure of themselves and leaves believing, "I can do this," that's when I know we're making a difference. The job, the improved credit, the savings, and even homeownership all begin with someone believing their future can be different.

Q: Can you share a participant success story that illustrates the impact of this partnership?

A: I would love to - one participant came into the program facing several barriers to employment and wasn't sure what their next step would be. Like many people we serve, they had the talent and the desire to work but needed guidance, encouragement, and someone to help them see what was possible.

Through PEEP, we worked together on career planning, resume development, interview preparation, and building confidence. They pursued an opportunity with a major organization, secured the position, and even earned a higher salary than they thought possible.

At the same time, through FSP, they began strengthening their financial foundation by learning how to improve their credit, reduce debt, manage a budget, and set long-term financial goals as well as homeownership.

To me, that's the beauty of what Build Wealth MN does, and being able to integrate it with the City of Minneapolis is so meaningful. It isn't just about helping someone get a job. It's about helping them overcome barriers, build confidence, strengthen their financial future, and create opportunities that once felt out of reach.

And I have to add one more thing, they got the job! Not just any job, but one that significantly increased their earnings and completely changed the direction they were headed.

Now that's what I'm talking about!

That's why I get excited about this work. Watching someone overcome barriers, discover their potential, and realize they have a future they can build; that never gets old.

Q: What lessons have you learned from the people you serve?

A: I've learned never to underestimate people.

I've met individuals who have experienced setbacks, incarceration, job loss, homelessness, or financial hardship. Yet time and again, I've watched them get back up, work hard, and accomplish things they never imagined.

That's why I never define someone by where they are today. I choose to look at where they can be tomorrow.

Q: What advice would you give other cities looking to create similar partnerships?

A: Invest in people, not just programs.

When workforce development, financial education, employers, housing, and community organizations work together, the impact is so much greater than any one organization could accomplish alone.

Strong partnerships don't just change statistics. They change lives.

Q: When someone completes the program, what changes do you hope they see in their future that seemed out of reach when they first enrolled?

A: More than anything, I hope they leave believing in themselves again.

Maybe that means a better career. Maybe it's buying a home, improving their credit, reducing debt, earning a certification, or finally feeling financially stable. Whatever their goal is, I want them to know it's within reach.

That's really what PEEP and FSP are all about. We help people move from surviving to thriving, one step at a time. And when someone begins to believe their future is bigger than their past, that's when lasting change begins.

Build Wealth invites you to its Community Open House on Saturday, August 29, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, with doors opening at 11:00am, at its new office located at 1256Penn Avenue N, Suite 4400, Minneapolis.

Guided Minneapolis Riverfront Walking Tours with Bill Idzorek, National Park Ranger

National Park Ranger Bill Idzorek

The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, our local National Park, provides a unique blend of urban and natural experiences, connecting visitors to the ecological, historical, and cultural significance of the Mississippi River, many taking place right here in Minneapolis. Mississippi Park Connection, the nonprofit partner of the park, coordinates and provides a multitude of opportunities for people to get to and on the river - and have a national park experience in the Twin Cities. We wanted to know more about the guided walking tours, and a discussion with Bill Idzorek, Park Ranger and Minnesota Master Naturalist, gave us a thorough understanding of what we might see and experience in the free walking programs - abundant wildlife, old mill foundations, indigenous landmarks and more. See the calendar here and register for a fabulous – did I mention it’s free of cost? - event in our backyard.

Q:  How do you decide which stories to include on a walking tour?

A:  Our guided walking tours along the Mississippi River focus on stories that are well researched, meaningful to the places visitors encounter, and reflective of the river’s natural, cultural, and historical significance. Rangers shape their program around their expertise and interests, often weaving geology, ecology, Indigenous histories, and the industrial heritage that transformed Minneapolis and contributed to our nation’s story.

Q:  Many people think of Minneapolis as the City of Lakes. How has the Mississippi River shaped the city's history?

A:  While many people think first of Minneapolis as a city of lakes, the Mississippi River - especially Owamniyomni/St. Anthony Falls - is the reason the city exists. Its power fueled lumber and flour milling, sparked rapid population growth, and shaped transportation routes, while continuing to influence the region’s (and country’s) economy, identity, and landscape today.

Q:  What are some surprising facts about the river that even longtime Minneapolis residents may not know?

A:  Visitors - and residents - are often surprised to learn how dynamic the river has been over time: from its small beginnings at Lake Itasca to the fact that St. Anthony Falls is the river’s only major natural waterfall. Many don’t realize how severely polluted the river once was, or how dramatically it has rebounded. Today, it supports bald eagles, great blue herons, cormorants, otters, fish, and mussels in the heart of the city. They’re also surprised that the Mississippi isn’t North America’s longest river; the Missouri is slightly longer, though the Mississippi watershed is the continent’s largest.

Above and below, Idzorek leads a tour across the Stone Arch Bridge and Father Hennepin Bluff Park

Q:  What evidence of Minneapolis' river history can visitors still see today?

A:  The Stone Arch Bridge, historic mill ruins, preserved industrial buildings, and the falls engineered spillway all reveal how the city developed around the river. Often-overlooked details - limestone cliffs, remnants of rail lines, old mill foundations, interpretive signs, and the shifted location of the falls due to erosion - offer glimpses into the landscape’s deep past.

Q:  What wildlife do participants commonly spot during your walking tours?

A:  Participants commonly spot a variety of urban wildlife. Bald eagles, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, ducks, gulls, and migrating songbirds are frequently seen along the river and near St. Anthony Falls. Visitors often notice turtles basking on logs, fish in the water below. On lucky days, they may spot mammals such as muskrats, beavers, or even river otters near the base of the falls. These sightings highlight the river’s surprising richness as an urban habitat.

Q:  How do your tours incorporate the history and perspectives of the Indigenous peoples who have lived along the river for thousands of years?

A:  Our tours highlight thousands of years of Dakota history and relationships with the river. We share the cultural significance of Owamniyomni and Spirit Island, drawing on Indigenous voices and partnerships to ensure these perspectives are presented respectfully and accurately.

Q:  Are there architectural details, historic markers, or natural features that people often walk past without noticing?

A:  Historic mill foundations, remnants of old rail lines, carved stonework, plaques, and the exposed limestone cliffs all reveal how the river shaped Minneapolis’ industrial beginnings and the landscape that existed long before the city. Even the engineered spillway protecting the falls and the native plants along the riverbanks tell parts of this story. One striking example is the location of St. Anthony Falls itself. When Father Hennepin first saw it, the falls were near where the Stone Arch Bridge stands today. Centuries of erosion caused the falls to retreat to their current position, a reminder of how dynamic this riverfront has always been.

Q:  What's something you've learned as a ranger that changed the way you personally see the Mississippi River?

A:  As rangers, we’re continually learning from the river. Understanding how geology, ecology, engineering, and human histories intersect here changes the way we see this place: not just as a scenic riverfront, but as a living landscape that continues to evolve.

Q:  Are there any new walking tours or programs planned this season? How is the park working to make walking tours more accessible and inclusive?

A:  New programs are introduced periodically based on market research, data, and visitor feedback. This year, we are piloting two new Paddle with a Ranger routes in the cities of Ramsey and Cottage Grove while additional locations for riverfront walking tours are being considered. All our public programs are free and scheduled across weekdays and weekends to increase accessibility. The National Park Service works to make tours inclusive by reducing barriers, welcoming visitors of all backgrounds and abilities, and integrating diverse perspectives into interpretation.

Q:  If you could leave people with one new appreciation about the Mississippi River after a walking tour, what would it be?

A:  If visitors leave with one new appreciation, we hope it’s that the Mississippi River is far more than a backdrop. It is an enduring, living force, shaped by nature, sustained by Indigenous communities, transformed by industry, and still full of stories that connect past, present, and future.