MacPhail Summer Camps - For Ages 3 to Adult!

MacPhail summer camps blend high-quality instruction from experienced teaching artists with the fun and excitement of making music with other students who love music. There are camps for absolute beginners to advanced players in early childhood music, chamber music, piano, voice, composition, jazz and rock. Great for ages 3-adult.
 
New camps this year include Broken Instruments Camp, Encore String Orchestra Camp and a guitar camp for kids with no prior experience.

Click here for schedule.

Note Schedules for Buses Replacing Light Rail Trains During Track Maintenance, Repairs

Via a March 23 e-newsletter:

Buses replacing light rail trains to allow for track maintenance, repairs

Track work will improve light rail service in downtown Minneapolis, elsewhere

The first of several scheduled partial light rail shutdowns that will allow for track maintenance and repairs will take place this weekend.

Buses will replace light rail trains between the METRO Green Line’s Stadium Village and Snelling Avenue stations from 7 p.m. on Friday, March 24, through 3 a.m. on Monday, March 27. Replacement buses will operate on a similar schedule as trains but customers are encouraged to make extra time for their trips.

Light rail service will continue as scheduled on the Blue Line and on portions of the Green Line not impacted by the shutdown. 

This weekend's shutdown will allow for track repairs near Prior and University avenues. Additional track maintenance and improvements will require additional partial light rail shutdowns in the coming months.

Buses will replace Green Line trains between the Target Field and Stadium Village stations and Blue Line trains between the Target Field and Franklin Avenue stations on the following dates:

• Friday, April 7, through Monday, April 10
• Thursday, June 1, through Monday, June 5
• Friday, June 23, through Monday, July 3

Buses will also replace Blue Line trains between the Franklin Avenue and 38th Street stations between Friday, May 12, and Monday, May 15.

The upcoming light rail shutdowns will begin in the evening and conclude early in the morning to minimize the customer impact. To the extent possible, major events have also been avoided. 

If there are weather-driven delays, the shutdowns may move to alternate dates.

Light rail service is being suspended for a variety of maintenance activities, including rail replacement, concrete and fence repairs and the construction of new track sections that will allow trains to move from one side of the track to the other in downtown Minneapolis.

There will also be lighting improvements at the Warehouse/Hennepin Avenue and Nicollet Mall stations and a new pedestrian barrier installed at the Warehouse/Hennepin Avenue Station.

Metro Transit staff will be at stations throughout the shutdowns to direct customers to replacement bus service. More information can also be found at metrotransit.org/closure.

Customers can stay informed about planned service changes by signing up for email or text Rider Alerts at metrotransit.org/rider-alerts. 

For Trip Planning assistance call the Transit Information Center at 612-373-3333.  

Contact: Howie Padilla, howie.padilla@metrotransit.org, 612-349-7089

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music, Walker Art Center and Schubert Club Mix present Roomful of Teeth at Aria, April 5

Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth and sonic experimentalist Nick Zammuto (The Books) assemble a custom-built evening of sound explorations in a world premiere collaboration commissioned by the SPCO’s Liquid Music, Walker Art Center and Schubert Club Mix. In addition, the vocal ensemble performs the Minnesota premiere of Partita for 8 Voices, group member Caroline Shaw’s mesmerizing Pulitzer Prize-winning composition. The event takes place Wednesday, April 5, at Aria, 105 N First Street.

“We’re thrilled to join the line-up of world class, groundbreaking artists this year and are especially honored to be co-presented by Liquid Music, The Schubert Club and Walker Art Center, three of our favorite arts organizations in the country,” says Roomful of Teeth member Brad Wells. “Our collaboration with Nick Zammuto promises to elicit sounds and grooves that could only manifest in such a thoughtfully supported and artfully curated production.  Nick’s brilliance – creating intricate, tech-based grooves that seem to levitate – will be on full display in this new work. The piece features magical moments in which individual singers from Teeth are spotlighted as well as vast flowing musical tapestries for the whole group.”

Nick Zammuto explains that Self one, his new piece for Roomful of Teeth, “cycles between solos sung through a pitch/delay unit with an analog synth accompaniment, and highly rhythmic ensemble sections.” Nick elaborates that the the piece is about “finding our identities within a digital house of mirrors.”  
Wednesday, April 5, at Aria, 105 N First Street

“Roomful of Teeth’s Twin Cities’ debut is long overdue,” says Liquid Music curator Kate Nordstrum. “To make up for lost time, The Schubert Club, Walker and Liquid Music are banding together to commission a new work for the ensemble and jointly present the collaboration. We’re all great admirers of Nick Zammuto’s musical mind and so when we heard that Roomful of Teeth were hoping to work with him, we jumped on the opportunity. Caroline Shaw’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Partita for 8 Voices will also be featured on the program, a special and electric piece that will sound and feel amazing at Aria.”

Roomful of Teeth is a GRAMMY-winning vocal project dedicated to mining the expressive potential of the human voice. Through study with masters from singing traditions the world over, the eight-voice ensemble continually expands its vocabulary of singing techniques and, through an ongoing commissioning process, forges a new repertoire without borders.  

Nick Zammuto was one-half of the beloved experimental collage-pop duo, the Books. He lives and works in the Green Mountains of Southern Vermont, where he writes, records, mixes and masters his records in a small tractor garage converted into a studio. Just yards away from his studio is his house, which he designed and built himself, and large gardens where he and his wife manage to grow most of their own food for their three sons. This self-sufficiency and constant drawing of inspiration from his surroundings is synonymous with his musical vision; a statement about returning to a life in balance, while at the same time pushing the capacity of cutting-edge music technology to extend human emotion, rather than suppress it. Making music that sounds and feels like no one else is nothing new for Zammuto, but making music that doesn't even sound like his own past is a whole other impressive feat in itself.

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music Series develops innovative new projects with iconoclastic artists in unique presentation formats. Liquid Music performances invite adventurous audiences to discover the new and the fascinating within the flourishing landscape of contemporary chamber music. 

Schubert Club Mix is an innovative series presented by the Schubert Club that takes the formality out of classical music. Audiences are treated to remarkable and intimate performances with relevant artists who are influencing the musical landscape of today.

The Walker Art Center is catalyst for the creative expression of artists and the active engagement of audiences, the Walker Art Center examines the questions that shape and inspire us as individuals, cultures, and communities. Established in 1927 as the Walker Art Gallery, in 1940 it adopted a new name and focused on modern and contemporary art exhibitions as well as screenings, performances and public programs. Today the Walker is one of the top-five most visited modern and contemporary art centers in the U.S. Multidisciplinary in focus, it is equally committed to advancing artistic innovation and interdisciplinary scholarship as it is with increasing access to lifelong learning in the arts. Led by Senior Curator Philip Bither since 1997, the Walker’s Performing Arts program under his tenure has been defined by its commitment to the increasingly blurred lines between artistic disciplines, including contemporary dance, new music-theatre, performance art, experimental theatre, avant-jazz, contemporary classical music, new global sounds and alternative rock and pop.

Preservation Alliance to Host Transit-Focused Tour Series

Via a March 21 Press Release from the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM):

The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM) is excited to announce three tours along transit lines in the Twin Cities this year. The tours are cultural and social explorations of major train or bus routes - Blue Line, A Line, and Green Line – and their immediate surroundings.
 
Tours will focus on the architecture, history, and development along each corridor. Tour groups will hop on and off the train or bus to explore nearby buildings and neighborhoods. Kristin Anderson, art and architecture professor at Augsburg College, will lead the tours, with commentary from Lucy Galbraith, Director of Transit Oriented Development at MetroTransit.
 
The series kicks off with a Blue Line tour on Saturday April 8th, featuring an exclusive tour of Target Field. The Twins are on the road, so it is a perfect time to explore the stadium and celebrate the return of baseball season. Entrance to Target Field is included in the registration fee for this tour.
 
Registration is available online through the Preservation Alliance of MN website, or Facebook page. Tickets are sold individually for each tour, not as a package. Sustaining Donors to PAM receive free admission to these tours.
 
Transit Tour #1: Blue Line $25
Saturday, April 8th, 9am-12pm
Meet at Target Field  (includes Target Field tour)
 
Transit Tour #2: A Line $20
Saturday, September 16th, 9am-12pm

Transit Tour #3: Green Line $20
Saturday, October 14th, 9am-12pm

Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM) is a statewide nonprofit organization that leads and inspires people to connect to valued places in their communities. Whether it’s an old home or storefront on the corner, a rural community’s old high school, or an urban neighborhood’s long-retired factory, PAM works to preserve and protect the bond felt by community members toward these places, the memories such places represent, and the distinct characteristics they display. 
 
This project has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society.

MPRB Announces the Ecological System Plan will Restart March 28

Via an March 20 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board:

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) are preparing the first-ever Ecological System Plan. This plan will set a vision for making parks and public lands more friendly to the environment.
 
An appointed Community Advisory Committee (CAC) will resume its meetings, with the first scheduled on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, 4:30-6 pm at MPRB Headquarters, 2117 West River Road. The public may attend and participate in CAC meetings.

What is the Ecological Systems Plan?

The Ecological System Plan will seek to first understand the ecology of the city and watershed, then plan for parks and public lands management and improvements that benefit both humans and nature.
It will address specific threats such as climate change, decreasing water quality, explosion of invasive species, increasing runoff, and fragmentation of habitat. It will envision a more environmentally sound way of managing the impacts of the city, so that the city can be cleaner, greener, cooler, and more efficient.

Specifically, the ecological system plan will:
• Compile, create, and illustrate citywide ecological data;
• Craft a vision for natural resources and public lands within the watershed and city;
• Outline guiding principles for management; and
• Challenge the community to rethink the city around them—from the local neighborhood park to the Grand Rounds to backyards—in terms of ecological function, benefit, and health.

Get Involved

In addition to attending the first CAC meeting, the public may provide input and stay informed about the project in the following ways:
• Visit the project page to stay up to date on the project and see some of the amazing maps and drawings we plan to create.
• Attend any of the planned community events that will take place in the parks over the next year as the Ecological System Plan project page takes shape. More details will be made available on the project website as these events are scheduled and planned.
• Sign up to receive email updates or, if you are already a subscriber, add “Ecological System Plan” to your subscription preferences.

Contact
Ellen Kennedy
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
Phone: 612-230-6577
Email: ekennedy@minneapolisparks.org

Magical History Tour 2017 Segway Season is Officially Underway

The Magical History Tour Historic Riverfront Segway Tours are now open for reservations, and they are offering some specials to get the season underway:

1) Pricing based on weather:  The outside high temperature is the price you pay for the tour (see website for details).

2) Birding Tour: The March / April tours run along the Mississippi River, a causeway for major bird migration in North America. 325 bird species use the Mississippi flyway to migrate North and South each year. With over 15 nesting pairs in Minneapolis you may even get to see a Bald Eagle!

Click here for reservations.

 

Franklin Avenue Bridge Update

Via an March 17, 2017, Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Restoration work to resume on Monday, March 20

Starting Monday, March 20, construction activity beneath the Franklin Avenue Bridge will resume. Crews will start with moving barges, lifts and other construction equipment into place. During 2017, they will complete concrete restoration on the main span arches, complete watermain related work and paint the entire bridge structure. The impacts to bridge users during this work is expected to be minimal. There are no long-term closures scheduled.

.

About this project

When complete this fall, the Franklin Avenue Bridge will replicate the original 1923 designs. The restored deck and supporting structure will ensure additional years of use for the historic bridge and vital community connector. Last year, the new bridge deck was completed and opened. It incorporates features such as separated on-road bike lanes, walkways, overlook nooks and historic-style lighting.

Friends of the Hennepin County Library Announces the 2017 Talk of the Stacks Lineup

Presented by The Minneapolis Foundation
and sponsored by Star Tribune

Talk of the Stacks takes place in Pohlad Hall at Minneapolis Central Library, featuring guest authors who speak on a variety of topics ranging from a coming-of-age story penned by a former Hollywood teen heartthrob, to an award-winning debut novel about the immigrant experience, to a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist's take on social and political expression.

Events are free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served. Doors open at 6:15pm and programs begin at 7pm.

Andrew McCarthy
Wednesday, April 12, 7pm
Hollywood actor, director and travel writer will discuss his debut YA novel, Just Fly Away

Andrew McCarthy is an award-winning travel writer, author, director and actor. He has appeared in dozens of films including the 80s cult classics Pretty in Pink and St. Elmo's Fire. He is an acclaimed TV director, having helmed
Orange is the New Black, The Blacklist, and
Grace and Frankie among others. An award-winning travel writer and an editor-at-large at National Geographic Traveler, his travel memoir, The Longest Way Home, was a New York Times. His debut novel, Just Fly Away, tells the story of one girl's discovery of family secrets, first love, and finding one's way in the world.

Lisa Ko
Tuesday, June 13, 7pm
Author of the award-winning debut novel The Leavers, will examine themes of immigration, borders, and belonging

Lisa Ko is the author of The Leavers, the winner of the 2016 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction. A vivid and moving examination of borders and belonging, The Leavers is the story of how one boy comes into his own when everything he's loved has been taken away-and how one woman learns to live with the mistakes of her past.

Steve Sack
Thursday, August 17, 7pm
Pulitzer Prize-winning Star Tribune Editorial cartoonist launches new book

Steve Sack has been the Star Tribune's editorial cartoonist since 1981 and was awarded the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Cartooning. Sack is known for his diverse collection of cartoons, original style, and clever ideas that drive home his unmistakable point of view.

Larry Olmsted
Thursday, October 5, 7pm
A conversation on food, health, and answering the question "What are you really eating?"

Larry Olmsted is an award-winning journalist and author. His book Real Food, Fake Food: Why You Don't Know What You're Eating & What You Can Do About It brings readers into the world of the unregulated food industry, revealing the shocking deception that extends from high-end foods to everyday staples.

Chris Riemenschneider
Thursday, November 2, 7pm
The Story of Minneapolis Music with Daniel Corrigan & Danny Sigelman

Chris Riemenschneider, music reporter for the Star Tribune, will celebrate the launch of his new book First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom. It's the story of one of the longest running clubs in American rock 'n' roll, and perhaps the most recognizable venue in Minnesota. He'll be joined in conversation with Daniel Corrigan and Danny Sigelman, co-creators of Heyday: 35 Years of Music in Minneapolis to examine the ever evolving Minneapolis music scene.

Take Miller Lite Free Rides on St. Patrick's Day!

MILLER LITE BRINGS THE LUCK OF THE IRISH TO THE TWIN CITIES WITH FREE RIDES 

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day,
Miller Lite Free Rides® will be available
on all Metro Transit routes

The Original Lite Beer is teaming up with Metro Transit to offer Miller Lite Free Rides to everyone on St. Patrick’s Day. In partnership with J.J. Taylor Distributing, Miller Lite Free Rides will be available on all Metro Transit routes Friday, March 17, between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. the following morning.

“This year marks the 20^thyear that we’ve partnered with Metro Transit to offer Miller Lite Free Rides to everyone in the Twin Cities,” said Diane Wagner, MillerCoors alcohol responsibility manager. “Our goal is to keep roadways safe with our Free Rides program while raising awareness that drunk driving is completely preventable.” 

Since 1997, the program has provided more than 1 million Free Rides to consumers in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding communities. Free Rides are offered for St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Eve celebrations. The program has gained the support of local and state law enforcement and elected officials. Miller Lite Free Rides will also be offered in Milwaukee, Wis. on St. Patrick’s Day.

“Minnesota is lucky to have a partnership with MillerCoors for 20 years in the Twin Cities, and are grateful for the commitment they have made to keep our residents and visitors safe,” said Speaker Kurt Daudt. 

“With dozens of bus routes and two light rail lines providing frequent service in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding communities, our transit system provides safety, convenience and value,” said Brian Lamb, Metro Transit General Manager. “We want to remind our community to let us be your designated driver and celebrate St. Patrick’s responsibly.”

“As a long standing member of the community, J.J. Taylor Distributing is proud to play a role in bringing this important drunk driving prevention program back to Minneapolis and St. Paul for the 20^th year,” said Billie Jo Smith of J.J. Taylor Distributing. 

MillerCoors partner J.J. Taylor Distributing is also sponsoring the Minneapolis St. Patrick’s Day Association (MSPDA) Parade. The parade route this year is running North to South along Marquette Avenue, starting at South 6^th Street and concluding at South 11^th Street. There is a $25 entry fee and proceeds will go to The American Diabetes Association.

In holding true to Miller Lite’s commitment to doing good in our communities, the Miller Lite Free Rides program has provided more than 5.8 million people nationwide with a safe ride home and is part of MillerCoors overall commitment to preventing drunk driving. For more information, visit http://www.millerlitefreerides.com/.

Hennepin County Library’s Teen Tech Squad is Hiring Teens to Research, Design and Lead Interactive Workshops

Hennepin County Library’s Teen Tech Squad is hiring teens to research, design and lead interactive workshops for and with youth, and teach STEAM skills through tinkering and making. STEAM includes science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. 

Teen leaders work with adult mentors to create innovative programming for school-aged participants in programs held afternoons and on weekends. Teen Tech Squad employees work approximately 25 hours per month on nights and weekends, and earn $15/hour. Teens ages 16 to 18 can apply online at www.hclib.org/about/jobs. The library system will accept applications March 17 to April 7.

The program gets financial support from Friends of the Hennepin County Library.

Teens lead workshops at seven library locations

In its fourth year, Hennepin County Library’s Teen Tech Squad program has employed 71 teens; currently, 30 teens work at Brookdale, Brooklyn Park, Eden Prairie, Franklin, Hosmer, North Regional and Best Buy Teen Tech Center at Minneapolis Central Library downtown. More than 1,200 students have participated in Teen Tech programming.

Library staff members and teen employees at several libraries are available for media interviews. Please contact Maria Elena Baca at maria.baca@hennepin.us or call 612-348-7865 for assistance setting up an interview.

2017 Minneapolis Bike Tour Will Be September 17 - Registration Now Open

Early Bird registration now open for the 2017 Minneapolis Bike Tour!  

All riders will get a $10 discount through the end of March on their registration fee. This year, rather than receiving a T-Shirt, riders will have the option to purchase a moisture-wicking, Technical Shirt. Click on the Merchandise tab during the registration process if you are interested in purchasing a shirt.

Register

Public Hearing Set For New Transportation and Transit Sales Tax

Via a March 15 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Votes Tuesday approved a public hearing to gather feedback on transportation and transit tax, approved an agreement that will help secure resources for the homeless, renewed funding that helps teen parents, approved agreements relating to road reconstruction in Medina and appointed candidates to citizen advisory boards.

The board approved a public hearing to gather public comment on the imposition of a new sales tax of up to one-half cent and the potential uses of that revenue for transportation and transit projects.

This tax would replace the current sales tax of one-quarter cent imposed by Hennepin County for the Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB).

The public hearing will be held before the Public Works Committee on Tuesday, March 21, at 1:30 p.m. in the Board Room (A-2400) of the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis.

All are welcome.

Prior to the hearing, Hennepin County Public Works staff will hold two open houses to share information about the new tax and its potential uses. Staff will answer questions and take written comments.

Both open houses will be held at county libraries on Monday, March 20, 5 – 7 p.m., with a short presentation at 6 p.m.

• Hennepin County Minneapolis Central Library, Doty Board Room, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
• Hennepin County Ridgedale Library, Meeting Room 172, 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka

Read more about the action.

Learn more about how Hennepin County is connecting people to places.

Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition Announces 2017 Open Streets Dates

Via a March 15 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Bicycle Coalition:

Open Streets 2017 is here!

It's getting warmer outside which can mean only one thing - it's almost time for Open Streets again! We're happy to announce the seven summer Open Streets events for this year; we hope you'll join us at one or many of them!

If you're a business, artist, performer, or community org - sign up for your spot on the street today!

MPRB is Looking for Youth Sports Coaches for Spring Activities

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is seeking enthusiastic volunteer coaches for youth Track & Field, T-Ball, Baseball and Softball.

• Practices start in April games/meets begin May.
• Athletes range from 5-18 years old
• Teams practice 1-2 times per week
• Games/meets are scheduled for a weeknight and/or Saturdays
• MPRB will provide orientation for all new coaches
• Can't coach this Spring? We'll need coaches for fallFootball, Soccer, and Volleyball

Click here to receive more information or to express interest in MPRB volunteer opportunities

Contact: 612-230-6493, recvolunteers@minneapolisparks.org

Free NCHC Fan Skate at Target Center March 16

National Collegiate Hockey Conference Frozen Faceoff offers the public free opportunity to skate the ice at Target Center

If you’ve ever wanted to hit the ice in a big-time arena and see what it’s like to be a college or professional hockey player, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Frozen Faceoff offers you a free chance to do just that. As part of the championship events, Sports Minneapolis is sponsoring the 2017 NCHC Fan Skate from 7 to 8:30 p.m., March 16 at Target Center.

The fan skate is your chance to take to the same ice where the college teams play, in the center of a 20,000-seat arena. Fans can enter Target Center’s main lobby doors on 1st Avenue beginning at 6:30 p.m., and skate rentals will be available for purchase. Fans are welcome to bring their own skates, but no sticks, pucks, balls, or skate-assist equipment will be allowed.

#askMPLS your questions!

Whether you’re following one of the NCHC teams to town, or if you live in the area, tweet to #askMPLS to ask questions about Minneapolis while you’re attending the events. Meet Minneapolis team members can provide recommendations on what to do, where to eat, how to get around, and just about anything you’d like to know about the city. And if you’re visiting Minneapolis for the Frozen Faceoff, the fan skate or the St. Patrick’s Day parade, be sure to stop by Minneapolis Visitor Information on Nicollet, located in the center of the action at Nicollet and Fifth Street. It’s the perfect place to plan your time in Minneapolis, learn about transportation options, or find the perfect gift made by a Minnesota artist.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE

The NCHC is an eight-school NCAA Division I men’s hockey conference in the midst of its fourth season. Its members are: Colorado College, the University of Denver, Miami University, the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of Nebraska Omaha, the University of North Dakota, St. Cloud State University and Western Michigan University. Since the NCHC began play in 2013-14, 13 NCHC programs have qualified for the NCAA Tournament, including five Frozen Four berths in the NCHC’s three-year history, and its first national champion in North Dakota in 2016. NCHC programs have won a combined 18 NCAA national championships in their history. For more information, visit the NCHC website at www.nchchockey.com.

ABOUT SPORTS MINNEAPOLIS

Sports Minneapolis, powered by Meet Minneapolis, works to recruit, enhance and produce sporting events in the Minneapolis area for the benefit of our community. We do this by partnering with event rights holders to assist them with venue selection, event services, volunteer identification, marketing and promotional support and on-site recognition opportunities in order to ensure a successful event. For more information, visit www.sportsminneapolis.org.

Kids on Spring Break? Take Advantage of These Special Programs from the Mpls Park & Rec Board

Spring Break Programs for Kids / Full Day Spring Break Programs / Keep your kids active and learning!

Like North Mississippi on Facebook to discover weekend themes and stay in the loop about what’s happening in the park; and check out their website to learn more about North Mississippi Regional Park. Here are some upcoming activities:

Predator vs. Prey
Wednesday, March 15th  8am-4pm Ages 6-12
Find out how animals battle for survival.  Learn about food chains and animal adaptations by looking at skulls, furs and more! Then take your knowledge on the trails by looking for animal signs and playing survival games! Registration Fee $20. Activity #74414

Nature Detectives
Thursday, March 16th  8am-4pm Ages 6-12
Follow tracks, scat and other wild signs. Use tools such as binoculars and magnifying glasses to learn how to become the ultimate nature sleuth! Test your skills off trail and solve creature sign investigations. Registration Fee $20. Activity #74415

Leprechaun Secrets
Friday, March 17th  8am-4pm Ages 6-12
Learn the best kept tricks of the forest. Do you know the tricks plants and animals use to thrive in the wild? Then, come learn the ways of the woods! Test your own survival skills with fort building, animal tracking, identifying edible plants, and more! Registration Fee $20. Activity #74416

Expert of the Dirt
Friday, March 31st  8am-4pm Ages 6-12
Do you love to get messy head to toe playing in the dirt? Then, join us in discovery! Find out what dirt is made from, why it’s important and how fun it is to build with. We’ll explore to seek out soils, decomposers, and animals living under the ground. Registration Fee $20. Activity #74417

Nature Art and Adventure Camp
Monday - Friday, April 3rd-7th  8am-4pm Ages 6-12
Discover your creative side in the wild. Observe the wonders of nature while exploring the woods, prairie and river bank. Let your outdoor adventures inspire nature based works of art. Use a variety of methods to create your masterpieces. Registration Fee $150. Activity #74419

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FREE All Ages Programs for the Whole Family

Hike: Spring Ephemerals
Sunday, March 19th 1:30-3pm
Welcome the beginning of spring by going in search of the earliest blooms of the season. Find out more about these fast blooming, short lasting (ephemeral) perennials with a naturalist guide. Hike through our woods and try to hunt down these low to the ground hidden wonders! FREE for All ages. Activity #74412

Outdoors: Bird Signs of Spring
Saturday March 25th  1-2:30pm
With a change in weather comes a change in activity. Discover the early spring activities of our local birds by seeking out their signs of the season! Join us along the Mississippi River flyway as we watch for fishing eagles, early nesting birds and the return of waterfowl. FREE for all ages.  Activity #74413

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Visit North Mississippi on the Weekends - Explore a different seasonal theme in the park each weekend for free!

Naturalist’s Nature Table
Saturdays between 11am-3pm stop by the Nature Table to learn more about a seasonal topic with a naturalist

Family Funday
Sundays are about learning and enjoying nature while spending quality time as a family every week from 12:30-3:30pm

City of Minneapolis TechHire Program Celebrates Two Year Anniversary with 439 Program Graduates and 369 Engaged Employers

Via a News Release from the City of Minneapolis department of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED):

This month marks the two-year anniversary of the City of Minneapolis Employment and Training Program, Minneapolis Saint Paul TechHire (MSP TechHire) launch and being named one of the first national TechHire cities by President Obama.  With the goal to close the workforce skills gap in the high tech economy by building a path for diverse workers to access training, support and tech jobs across the Greater Minneapolis Region, MSP TechHire has graduated 439 students and engaged 369 employers since its launch in 2015.

“When I partnered with the White House two years ago to become a TechHire city, we knew that the best way to keep our economy moving forward is by giving everyone the ability to maximize their genius and by keeping our workforce competitive,” said Mayor Betsy Hodges. “TechHire is Minneapolis’ gift to our regional economy and I am proud of the investments we have made and the partnerships we have built to give individuals – particularly women and people of color – the training needed to fill the many vacancies that require tech training across multiple industries.”

With over 6,977 open technology positions currently in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul-Bloomington labor market landscape, the need for MSP TechHire is greater than ever.  MSP TechHire prepares its students through accelerated training boot camps or online training to become service/help desk, desktop support and/or software developers depending on which training students access.  In addition to in-demand technical skills, training includes soft skills like workplace communications, and connections to employers with job openings and an interest at looking at a non-traditional candidates.  Hired graduates receive ongoing support as they acclimate to their work environment to ensure long-term success and continued growth.

Cedar Riverside resident Ahmed Mohamed found out about a special City of Minneapolis sponsored class, IT-Ready, provided by MSP TechHire partner Creating IT Futures last year and enrolled with encouragement from his mother.  Within eight weeks, Ahmed was provided with nearly 300 hours of training to master the technical skills needed to obtain the professional CompTIA A+ certification.  He also learned the soft skills necessary for interviews and to thrive in the workplace.  Prior to training, Ahmed had been working at a travel agency as an on-call reservation specialist.  Today he is a successful member of Fairview Health Services’ Endpoint Project Execution Team. 

Ahmed Mohamed Source: Creating IT Futures“I feel like I have another family outside of my family when I am here,” Ahmed Mohamed said of his work at Fairview. “I know Fairview is in my best interest.” Thanks to mentors like Lori Offerman, a Fairview IT Consultant who participated in hiring Mohamed, he is excited to advance his career. Supported by the resources IT Ready helped to align, Mohamed personifies his mantra “you get out of it what you put in.” Mohamed’s next goal is to become a project manager.

Fairview Health Services is committed to hiring more graduates like Ahmed and already have. Since 2015, Fairview has hired seven MSP TechHire graduates.

“MSP TechHire is an important and strategic initiative that has helped train local residents and fill critical job openings in the Cedar Riverside Community,” said Laura Beeth, Fairview Health Services System Director Talent Acquisition, Human Resources. “This is important to us as an anchor organization in the neighborhood, we are committed to invest and hire locally.”

Of the 439 MSP TechHire program graduates, 186 graduated from software development boot camps and are Minneapolis residents.  Their net taxable income increased by $2.6M which represents more than 150% improvement in wages for the average placed software program graduate from Minneapolis.  

“The students from Prime Digital Academy are immersed in real-world software development experience. These are the type of students you should be looking at having within your organization,” said Justin Grammens, Founder, Recursive Awesome. “Employees who are agile, think differently and bring a diverse background of experiences to their job.”

The economy does not show any slowdown in the demand for workers in tech jobs. The State predicts there will be more than 200,000 tech jobs available in Minnesota in the next decade (not including health care tech jobs).  MSP TechHire partners are continuing to produce innovative programs and solutions to help meet this demand.  PRIME Digital Academy recently launched a new program aimed at producing in-demand user experience design talent from the local community.  Creating It Futures piloted a soft skills course called PrepareU, targeted for IT workers and is looking at additional courses to meet employer needs such as project management and cyber security. The Software Guild now is offering a 10-14 month part-time online program to increase student access to education and employers.  The online course teaches the same soft skills and tech skills as the on-the-ground trainings.

To learn more about MSP TechHire’s ten partner organizations and program offerings visit the program’s website or join in the conversation at #MSPTechHire.

Community Celebration of Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center Grand Opening Scheduled for March 12

Via a March 10 Hennepin County e-newsletter:

Community to Celebrate Grand Opening of Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center

The grand opening community celebration is set for Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m. The outdoor program will occur at 515 15th Avenue South, Minneapolis. Following the ribbon cutting, enjoy a tour of the building and learn more about the center.

A community celebration to highlight the opening of the Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center – a one-stop shop for educational and workforce resources and a pipeline for job opportunities. Anchor partners include EMERGE Community Development, Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

The event will feature remarks by Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Minneapolis City Council Member Abdi Warsame, EMERGE associate director Mohamed Ali, Muhubo Mohamed and Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow. Tours of the new building and entertainment will follow the program and ribbon-cutting celebration.

The Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center will feature programming by EMERGE Community Development, including workforce development, youth employment and education, and personal finance tips. Hennepin County Library will provide the Teen Tech Squad, an overview of library resources and employment-focused learning circles, among other things.

March 11 Artist Talk with Russ White at Truckstop Gallery

There is an Artist Talk scheduled for Saturday, March 11 at 4pm for Situation Normal, is a solo art exhibit by Russ White. The exhibit runs thru March 19 at Truckstop Gallery, 20 Grove Street, #72, Nicollet Island.

This new body of work uses orange and white traffic barricades as a kind of mixed metaphor for our current national mood. In day-to-day life, these traffic cones and “Road Closed” signs stand in our way; they slow us down, they reroute our commute, they inconvenience us. But from another perspective, they are beneficial. They are signs of roads being fixed, of bridges being built, of infrastructure being strengthened. Of progress. Staunch and impassive, emblazoned with an American flag reworked in dirty white and safety orange, these barricades are a call to arms to resist the unAmerican initiatives of this administration and this Congress.
 
Liberty – Russ WhiteFeatured in the exhibition will be large scale colored pencil drawings, sculptures, homemade flags, and a series of brightly colored portraits inspired by coins. Where the barricades are passive and impersonal reminders of the turmoil in our country, the faces of White’s subjects are striking reminders of our shared humanity. Playing off the idea of loose change, this series of colored pencil busts questions our traditional notions of worth and value, emphasizing the beauty in us all. These are not just pretty portraits; they reframe empathy against the backdrop of capital, asking the viewer to consider what truly makes us rich.

The show takes its name from the military acronym SNAFU, meaning “Situation Normal: All Fucked Up.” The work in this exhibition strives to remind viewers that this new political reality is, in fact, not normal at all.

Closing Reception: Sunday, March 19, 12pm – 5pm

A percentage of all sales will be donated to Planned Parenthood and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The gallery will be collecting donations for these organizations at the opening reception as well.

Profiles in Courage Opening Reception, plus Fundraiser to Benefit Firefighters for Healing, Scheduled for March 23 at Birchwood Cafe

In 2015, Susan Schaefer was granted access to photograph the courageous firefighters of the Seward Neighborhood’s Minneapolis Fire Department (MFD) Station #7 for a University of Minnesota fine arts photography project. These stewards of public service graciously posed, sharing stories and intimate reflections. For Schaefer, whose godfather was fire captain of Philadelphia’s 50th Ward, they are genuine champions – selfless defenders of our public realm.

An opening reception for Susan's Profiles in Courage exhibit is scheduled for March 23 from 5 - 8pm at Birchwood Cafe, 3311 E 25th Street. This event will include a fundraiser to benefit Firefighters for Healing. Special guest speakers and auction, with some items provided by Welna II Hardware & Paint on Franklin Avenue.

Captain “Buck” Buchanan

Captain Kathrynne Baumtrog

Carrying up to 60 lbs. of gear while scaling precipitous heights, fearlessly facing scorching conflagrations, and administering life saving first aid are but a few of modern, highly skilled and trained firefighters duties. Firefighters for Healing is an acclaimed 501-(C)(3) that supports burn victims and their families in ways insurance companies and caretakers are unable to. Captain Kathrynne Baumtrog will speak about the work of firefighters and Firefighters for Healing. In 2012, she, along with four other firefighters, were seriously burned fighting a fire the destroyed Walker United Methodist Church.

This exhibit uses fine art portraiture and still lifes to create an accessible and universal portrayal of the humans of the MFD. The exhibit runs March 20 - May 21, 2017.

Susan Schaefer is a communications consultant, professor and photojournalist – a verbal and visual storyteller. Her work currently appears in The Southwest Journal’s monthly “Creative Class” column and Mill City Times. She studies in the University of Minnesota’s Fine Arts Department and is a recent graduate of St. Catherine’s Women’s Art Institute.