The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts Art Exhibit: “Nature: In the Eye of the Beholder” debuts with January 13 Opening Reception

The Stonebridge Lofts, 1120 South 2nd Street, is debuting "The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts", a new art exhibit venue, with a January 13 opening reception for The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts Art Exhibit: “Nature: In the Eye of the Beholder”.  

 This exhibit will run January 13 to March 31, 2018, and will showcase the work of eight artists, around a Nature theme:

Bevie Labrie (painting)  “Hundreds of days and nights spent in nature over the course of my life have imbedded the colors, textures, smells and intricacies of my natural surroundings into my mind’s eye.  Each of these paintings were completed from a very intuitive, expressive place inside of me.”

Owen Brown (painting)  “These works were painted during a residency I received last year in the south of France, in the little village of Pampelonne.  The French countryside was beautiful, low hills, small fields, rivers and streams, copses of wood, barns and tiny storerooms. The sun was spellbinding on the earth.”

Richard James Nelson (printmaking), “My woodblock prints are inspired by the Inuit and Japanese printmaking and echo the spiritualness of nature.”

Julie Carson (photography) “On any given day, you will find me scouring the ground looking for objects, patterns and colors to photograph. Photography captures and holds the moment to draw upon later.  No matter where I go, I find ideas in a rusted trash can, leaf or flower.”

Marilyn Cuellar (graphite) “I find my vision in the details of life. My art brings out the subtle details in its subjects, creating a picture of life more particular than the fleeting glance with which we normally look at the world.“

Ernest Miller, “As a maker, inspiration comes from field landscape, farm implements, and architectural features such as barns found in the Midwest as starting points for ceramic vessels and glaze surfaces. Observations of source material may be interpreted literally or sometimes abstracted using elements to complement functional or sculptural forms.”

Nick Earl, “I am continually fascinated by the softness and reception of the clay from which my pots are made. These qualities translate into the finished pieces, objects that will hopefully enrich the regular ceremonies of life. I have a strong interest in art history and I try to exhibit the strength and beauty I see in old pots in my own work.”

Audra Smith, “My goal is to make well-made, utilitarian pottery. I continually explore color, pattern, space, and shape in the surface decoration, all of which inform the ongoing discovery of my personal language as a ceramic artist.” 

(Opening reception only: Potters Ernest Miller, Nick Earl and Audra Smith)

About The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts
The Mill City. Residents celebrate our area’s industrial heritage of the mighty Mississippi River and the mills. Today, what we see are the most recognizable Minneapolis landmarks. However, this is only part of the story. Rail lines were key to Minneapolis’ growth, and were particularly integral to the Mill District, bringing in wheat and timber and shipping out flour and lumber. We also honor the history of the mills, the reason for the rail yard’s existence. The Mill Yard aims to be both a gathering place for art and artists and a conduit by which art can be shared with and disseminated into the wider community.

Facebook - Twitter, Contact: TheMillYard.Stonebridge@gmail.com

The Mill Yard at Stonebridge Lofts thanks Luke Kleckner, Condo Development and Sales, for his generous sponsorship.

"Together We SOAR" Contest at Cedar Riverside Community School reflects Bright Students Working Towards a Positive Future

Article by Claudia Kittock, photos by Rick Kittock

The future is in very safe hands with the students of Cedar Riverside Community School. 

December 21 was a very important day in the lives of the students of Cedar Riverside Community School. It was the day for the long anticipated ‘door judging’. Seven years ago, Coach Jennifer Weber started a contest between the classes that entailed decorating the door to each classroom around a theme. This year the theme was Together We SOAR. I was honored to be a judge along with Jan Mershon, Coach Weber, and Mecca Mohamed the school administrative assistant. Rick Kittock was the photographer.

Judges Coach Weber, Mecca Mohamed, Jan Mershon and Claudia Kittock

When we came into the school there was an immediate buzz, “They are HERE! Get your paper. Don’t forget to say what we rehearsed.” As we walked from class to class, a small number of students from each room presented their decoration, describing to us what they had, how they had reached their decisions, and what the designs meant. The judging was based on 6 categories: Visual Impact, Craftsmanship, Completeness, Class Involvement, Originality and Perseverance, awarding 1-4 points for each category. Many of presenters went through each category explaining why they deserved a ‘4’ for each one.

I am not a believer in the ‘everybody deserves a medal’ philosophy of dealing with children, but these designs were incredible. We handed in our score sheets to Coach Weber and she announced the winners the next day. I have to confess I was glad I wasn’t there because every class did a wonderful job.

The 90 minutes of judging reminded me of what the future can look like. I saw polite, well-educated, articulate, enthusiastic young people with a strong sense of responsibility to do well for their families and for their community. The future is in very safe hands with the students of Cedar Riverside Community School.  They truly do SOAR together!!

And the winners were:

Pre-K - 2nd: Pre-k (Gingerbread Baby)

3rd - 5th: Tie between 3rd & 4th (Eagle Heart and Eagle with the beaded snowflakes hanging above the door.)

6th - 8th: 7th Grade (Marble Run) almost perfect score. Most original design!

Click here to view the full set of pictures on Flickr.

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Sheridan Memorial Park Improvements Update

Via an e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

An artist's depiction of the exciting slate of improvements scheduled to be constructed at Sheridan Memorial Park in 2018.

Online survey available to weigh in on impact to Grain Belt Brewing Company Historic District

The preferred concept for more than $1 million in upcoming improvements at Sheridan Memorial Park has been updated.

Click the link below to view a detailed depiction of the proposed improvements, which include new playgrounds, paths, public art, restrooms, picnic shelter and basketball court. Construction is scheduled in 2018.

Sheridan Memorial Park Improvements Preferred Concept

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Grain Belt Brewing Company Historic District

Funding for these improvements is supported by a $500,000 grant from the National Park Service for Outdoor Legacy Partnership and a $1 million match from Minnesota Parks and Trails Legacy funding. 

These funding sources and the park's location within the Grain Belt Brewing Company Historic District requires review under the provisions of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Public participation is an important part of the Section 106 process. Take the survey linked below to give feedback on how you think the upcoming park improvements will affect the historic district.

Take Survey

Drone Footage from the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL)

Did you know the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) is poised to celebrate their 80th anniversary (1938 - 2018) next year?  Here is some drone footage of St. Anthony Falls and the SAFL:

35W Bridge Lighting Has Been Restored

MnDOT's 35W Bridge Aesthetic Lighting Replacement Project appears to be complete.

These shots are a little fuzzy because I took them with my cell phone on the way to work this morning (sans any special settings), but you get the idea. The black outs are gone and it appears to shine brighter than ever.

     

Out of the Box Opera to Pop Out Again in February

Article by Merle Minda, photos by Dan Norman Photography

Fledgling opera company Out of the Box Opera will stage another imaginative and fun performance February 10, 2018 at the Weisman Art Museum. Performances to date have been wildly acclaimed for originality, top-notch musicality and all-round enjoyment. Their most recent performance last fall featured a DIVA CAGE MATCH, staged at the Uppercut Boxing Gym in NE Minneapolis. Six opera divas faced off in the ring until a winner was chosen. Judges were American baritone Lucas Meachem; Twin Cities rapper Dessa, and well-known performer J.D. Steele. Click here to see this evocative video of what actually took place.

Program for February 10 is still to-be-announced, but artistic director for Out of the Box David Lefkowich promises yet another spectacle, this time mixing opera with jazz and soul. These are “don’t miss” events. Watch their website and Facebook for upcoming details.

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About Merle Minda

Journalist and free-lance writer Merle Minda writes about travel, business, people profiles and other subjects for a number of national and regional publications, including Delta SKY, Mpls/St. Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Business, Star Tribune, Twin Cities Statement, Minnesota Monthly, and now Mill City Times. She can be reached at mminda@earthlink.net or TravelOverEasy.com on the web.

MPRB Seeks Residents Interested in Serving on a Community Advisory Committee (CAC)

Applications for 2018 appointments are due Friday, December 22, 2017

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Board of Commissioners is seeking applications for appointments to five ongoing community advisory committees:

• Saint Anthony Falls Heritage Board – One Appointment
• Minneapolis Bicycle Advisory Committee – Three Appointments
• Neighborhood & Community Engagement Commission (NCEC) – One Appointment
• Minneapolis Tree Advisory Commission – Four Appointments
• HomeGrown Food Council – One Appointment

Service commitment may vary based upon needs, expectations and policy goals. However, most advisory committee members can expect to approximately 10-15 hours of work per month. Most terms are two years and all board and commission members are not subject to term limits.

Some Boards/Commissions have a need for specialized skills, but most people will find a Board or Commission that is a great fit for their knowledge base. Public members of Board and Commissions are people who may not have regular, ongoing experience in a specific topic area, but have a general interest in a Board or Commission’s work area. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about an area of interest and contribute a perspective that is fresh and unique to the service area.

Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m., Friday, December 22, 2017.  Following submission, applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of the application and describing the general process for appointment. Appointments for open positions will be made at the January 2, 2018 business meeting of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. For a full description of each committee and to complete the application please visit: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/abca.

Applicants with questions about the appointments process should email their questions to board.appointments@minneapolisparks.org or contact Radious Guess at 612-230-6419.

Contact:  Radious Guess, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Community Outreach, Equity and Inclusion Manager, 612-230-6419, rguess@minneapolisparks.org

My North Series - 52 Minnesota Stories Leading up to the 2018 Super Bowl (Episodes 41 - 45)

Count down to Super Bowl 52 with this weekly video series of 52 love letters to Minnesota from notable Minnesotans. My North is an editorial video series created by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine and presented by Explore Minnesota. Hear from tastemakers and stylemakers. Artists and athletes. Authors and entertainers. These are their odes to the state they love. Below are episodes 41-45 - click here to see more!

Mill City Singers 2017 Recap (and Exciting News for 2018!)

Article by Claudia Kittock

It has been quite a year for the Mill City Singers. Our roster has swollen to 199 singers, and we are averaging 49 singers/rehearsal. The Guthrie has been kind enough to host all of our rehearsals this year and we are so very grateful to them.

Besides the joy of rehearsing with each other, we have shared a number of performances together. We sang Take Me Out to the Ballgame at a Minnesota Twins game, we performed in 2 concerts at the Capri Theater, the Loring Park Music Festival, and caroled up and down 2nd Street for Winterfest. This group loves a party and we have shared great times together throughout 2017. All that is needed to have a party is to open the door . . . everything else follows.

During 2017 we were asked to become community partners with the Minnesota Orchestra and will be singing at Orchestra Hall in March, 2018. More details will be shared as they develop. We are also incredibly excited to be performing at a Super Bowl event at Westminster Presbyterian Church on January 28, 2-3pm. It's an Interfaith Gathering called Bold Hope in the North that will showcase Minnesota’s national leadership in multi-faith dialogue and cooperation. It will raise money to prevent homelessness through the interfaith Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness Emergency Rental Assistance Program. You won’t want to miss this event!

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Dayton's Project, Downtown Minneapolis | News Tracker

The former retail flagship in Downtown Minneapolis is scheduled to open in the middle of 2019.

WEEK OF 12/18/2017

Andrew Zimmern to develop food hall at Dayton's Project on Nicollet Mall
Andrew Zimmern – the producer, creator and host of Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods," and a self-described adopted Minnesotan for more than 25 years – is teaming with the Dayton's Project to debut a new food experience inside the historic site that formerly housed Macy's.

And the first official Dayton's Project tenant is...
it seems exceedingly on-trend that the first official tenant announced for the Dayton's Project in downtown Minneapolis is -- what else? -- another food hall.

New Food Hall by Andrew Zimmern for Dayton's Project
Downtown Minneapolis is truly getting its own food hall! Confirmation dropped today that Andrew Zimmern and his Passport Hospitality company would be partnering with Robert Montwaid, creator and co-founder of Gansevoort Market in New York City, to create The Dayton's Food Hall & Market in the what we already knew to be the developing Dayton's Project on Nicollet Mall.

A Downtown Minneapolis Food Hall Taps a Celebrity Chef to Run It
The ground floor and subterranean levels of the historic downtown Minneapolis Dayton’s will be transformed into a massive food hall courtesy of Minnesota’s best-known culinary personality. Andrew Zimmern’s Passport Hospitality has teamed with Robert Montwaid of New York’s Gansevoort Market for the The Dayton’s Project.

Chef sees recipe for success at Dayton’s Project
Chef and TV star Andrew Zimmern is collaborating with a partner out of New York on a food hall and market concept destined for The Dayton’s Project in downtown Minneapolis.

Andrew Zimmern joining Minneapolis Dayton's Project with food hall concept
The food hall is slated to open along Nicollet Mall in the middle of 2019.

Mpls Downtown Improvement District (MDID) Survey

The Mpls Downtown Improvement District (MDID) needs your input to make downtown Minneapolis a more vibrant place to live, work and visit. Your responses to this 15 minute survey will help MDID and their partners direct services in 2018 to create a cleaner, greener, safer and more vibrant downtown.

Upon completion of the survey you will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for a chance to win one of five $50 gift cards. Click here to start the Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SurveyMpls17.

Street closures near US Bank Stadium for Sunday’s Vikings game

The City of Minneapolis will close streets around US Bank Stadium for the Sunday, December 17, Vikings game, which starts at Noon. 

Beginning at 6:00am Sunday, the City will close:
• Chicago Avenue, from Fourth Street to Sixth Street.
• Norm McGrew Place from Third Street to Fourth Street.

Beginning at 9:00am Sunday, the City will close:
• Fourth Street from Park Avenue to Interstate 35W.

These street closings are for traffic safety and security needs related to a large stadium event. All streets will reopen about one hour after the completion of the game.

Metered spaces change for events
Prior to the game, metered parking spaces on streets surrounding U.S. Bank Stadium will switch from hourly rates to event rates. Starting at 9 a.m., event rate spaces will require a flat fee of $25, which will cover parking costs for the entire game. Anyone starting a parking session after 1 p.m. will use hourly rates. To find out which streets have event rate parking, please see the attached map or use the interactive parking meter map at www.minneapolismn.gov/parking.

All of the City’s parking pay stations and the MPLS Parking app on a smartphone (iPhone or Android device) will automatically charge the rate in effect. Drivers should follow all signed hours of enforcement, time limits and other parking restrictions.   

Creative City Challenge Finalists Announced for 2018 Northern Spark

Via a December 14 e-newsletter from Northern Lights.mn:

Announcing the Creative City Challenge finalists

Each year three teams are selected to create a full proposal for an interactive art installation that launches the first night of Northern Spark and remains up for several weeks of summer in downtown Minneapolis. Congratulations to 2018’s finalists:

Carry-on Family, Carry-on Homes

Preliminary project sketch, Carry-on Family.

Statement:

We are struck by the urgency of this year’s theme-- commonality. It is now, more important than ever to recognize how we can unite. Over the past year we have seen the division between people deepen because of increasingly divisive politics, protests and cultural trauma. These divisions have made social progress static and put many innocent people in danger of brutal violence. Protest here in the United States has motivated many of us immigrants from countries where public protesting is banned to step up and march in the streets. We hear marching slogans, we saw rising signs and rushed to participate. Applying labels to people and situations in haste. But labeling something or someone is not understanding. Stereotyping and categorizing only further divides us. Stories remain untold, voices remain unheard. In the spirit of those protests, it is urgent to reclaim public sites as common ground for mutual understanding.

We propose to build a multi-functional venue for story sharing, where individuals can come together and speak to their homes--near and far. This idea of home is a universally shared idea across cultures that transcends race, gender, class, and polemics. Our project gives a platform to those immigrants of Minnesota, who came from all over the world in search of peace, love, family, opportunities, and freedom. Not just listening, the viewers can also participate by sharing their own immigration story on a stage during various community gathering events, or through writing notes and tie on a “journey wall.” Carry-on Family is Peng Wu, Preston Drum, Shunjie Yong, Aki Shibata, Zoe Cinel, Omar Sameh Shehata.

Samuel B. Ero-Phillips, United Nations

Preliminary project sketch, Sam B. Eros-Phillips. 

Statement:

This project takes inspiration from the mission of the United Nations as it relates to our common human experience around the world. This assembly hall serves as platform for people to discuss our strategies for reaching these goals. The base creates a space to sit and gather while the overhead structure provides shelter by displaying and illuminating our best shared ideals. The murals on the lower wood deck seating area and the custom globes will respond to a theme of commonality and will be curated by my network of youth worker community artists.

Yes Let’s!, Uncommon Courtesies

project sketch, Yes, Let's.

Statement:

With a common question, a common experience, and a common community,  Uncommon Courtesies  is set up as an interactive radial experience, where visitors move through four different levels, each with stations that have recorded stories from diverse communities paired with supplementary graphics and text, ending in the center where they have an opportunity to contribute to the piece and experience.

Through this project we hope to use emotions as a universal language for human connection. Bringing stories from every corner of our diverse communities to a central hub like The Commons provides an accessible way for guests to connect across unnecessary divides.

Yes Let's is Sarah Alfalah, Rory Alt, David Brajkovic, Krystianna Johnson, Nina Johnson, Kenya Z. Mejia, Elizabeth T. Wolner, and Jason Quick. 

4-Story signature artwork “piece-by-pieced” into HCMC’s Clinic & Specialty Center

On Wednesday, December 13, 2017 the intricate task of installing a 4-story glass artwork in Hennepin County Medical Center’s (HCMC) new Clinic & Specialty Center began – a process that may take up to three days and represents almost two years of planning. A gift from the Hennepin Health Foundation (HHF), the piece illuminates images of life, hope, healing, and a sense of belonging to a community inclusive of our patients, families, and staff. The new Clinic & Specialty Center, located just across 8th Street from HCMC’s emergency department, is near completion and scheduled to open in March, 2018.

Architectural glass artist Martin Donlin, who is known for designing major installations of this type worldwide, was selected by a special art committee made up of employees, patients, artists, and community members using a local, national and international Call for Artists. The narrative design incorporates the Minnesota iconic element of water as a symbol of life and resiliency. The 15 panels tell a story that started as a unique collaboration between Donlin and local environmental poet Laurie Allmann, who was commissioned to write the corresponding poem Mirroring the Light. Together the poem and design describe the transformation of water and life, shown through nurturing figures and wildlife ascending from a single plant to the heavens, spanning from 1st to 4th floor, all while acknowledging local hallmarks and heritage. (A video featuring the artists and their inspiration for this piece is below, and can be found online.)

“When the Clinic & Specialty Center doors open in March of 2018, patients, families, visitors and staff will enter a space that embraces healing and wellness, with this magnificent sculpture at the heart of it all,” explains Wenda Lyons Ballinger, Arts Program Coordinator at HCMC. “In fact, the artwork’s healing presence will be a strong force for those who see it through the expansive windows from the outside, too.”

The art glass itself was made of two layers of 8mm float glass, heat strengthened and laminated together. The design was airbrushed and hand painted with colored enamels and silver stains. The panels will be hung with stainless steel airline cables to secure each section in place. Professionals from Empire House, Inc. will complete the installation.

“With this art piece we’ve captured the beauty and strength of our mission that continues in our Clinic & Specialty Center, where literally we’re changing the way health care is delivered in the heart of Minneapolis,” said Ford Bell, Vice President of Philanthropy for HHF. “It’s a very real representation of our big, beautiful vision that every Minnesotan will have access to our state-of-the art, convenient care.”

The glass artwork is one of over 600 works of art that will be featured in the building, with most of the original work created by local, Minnesota, and regional artists. No longer considered “nice to have” decoration, art is now understood to be a vital part of the healthcare environment. Studies have proven that integrating the arts into healthcare settings cultivates a healing environment and supports the physical, mental, and emotional recovery of patients and families.  HCMC has maintained a healing art collection since 1974 and boasts a multi-disciplinary arts program since 2003 named Inspire Arts. Curating for the Clinic & Specialty Center artwork was led by local art consultancy Dorsey Hovde Art Design.

Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc. (HHS) is a comprehensive health care system that includes HCMC, a 484-bed Level I Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center, as well as primary care and specialty care clinics located in downtown Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County. In 2018, HHS opens its new Clinic & Specialty Center downtown offering convenient, easy access to clinics and specialty services. For more information, go to http://www.hcmc.org/.

Explore local music and expand your Minnesota playlist with MnSpin

Via a December 13 e-newsletter from Hennepin County Library:

MnSpin - It's like iTunes, but free!

This week, Hennepin County Library is launching MnSpin, a new music streaming and download platform that will give music lovers and seekers access to 50-plus curated albums by local artists and groups. 

“Libraries have a long tradition of making music available to patrons, including sheet music, vinyl records, cassettes or CDs,” said Library Director Lois Langer Thompson. “This project makes local music available to our patrons in a 21st century format – by streaming and download. We have such a rich and diverse local music scene, and any music lover can find something new and exciting through MnSpin.” 

Inspired by models already cranking on library websites based in places like Seattle, Portland and Nashville, Hennepin County Library worked with Madison-based MUSICat to create a platform to accept contributions from musicians. The library recruited a diverse group of curators to pare 325 disparate contributions into a collection that reflects our community’s varied and vibrant music scene. 

A playlist picked for you

Five curators included local music leaders and library staff members who have deep roots in the Twin Cities music scene: 

• Maria Jette, vocal performer of classical and contemporary music 
• Jessica Rau, program and artistic director for the Minneapolis’ Cedar Cultural Center
• J.D. Steele, member of The Steeles and director of the MacPhail Community Youth Choir 
• Matt Dahl, Hennepin County Library specialist
• Chris Latchana, Hennepin County Library office specialist 

Steele said he joined the effort because it sounded exciting to shed light on emerging artists and established artists who continue to produce great work. He listened to music from each one of the artists who made the first cut.

“The diversity was quite mind boggling,” he said. “It showed that we have a very diverse music scene that often gets overlooked when people focus on the ‘Minneapolis sound.’ The Minneapolis sound is more than one sound.”

Learn more about our curators.

A ticket to listen

Your Hennepin County Library card is a ticket to stream or download music from MnSpin; and music lovers everywhere can discover and stream music created in our hometowns. For decades, Minnesotans have been musical innovators. Hennepin County Library is proud to play a part in spreading the word about new, sometimes undiscovered, and always varied music that is constantly being created in Minnesota. 

The final MnSpin collection includes, rock, hip-hop, folk, country, R&B, jazz and more. Some of the artists are brand new to the Twin Cities scene; others have been recording and performing in major venues for years.

Shreya Preeti, of Minneapolis, finished recording and producing her album, “Entrance,” last spring. Since then, she not only submitted the album to MnSpin, she had a debut performance at 7th Street Entry, as well as two other well-received Twin Cities gigs, before beginning a stint in graduate school in Chicago. 

She describes her sound as R&B with a pop influence, but notes that she is committed to incorporating any sound she likes into her own style, which she calls, “a love child of being in Minneapolis and listening to great music,” Preeti said. “Minneapolis is already such a big music scene and I want to be part of that.”  

The Friends of the Hennepin County Library, the system’s funding partner, provided a $200 per-album stipend for each act.  

Find the names of the other inaugural artists at MnSpin, or browse from hclib.org/arts-culture.  

City of Minneapolis STEP-UP Youth Employment Program Now Accepting Applications for 2018 Summer Internship Placements

Via a December 11 e-newsletter from the City of Minneapolis:

City of Minneapolis STEP-UP Youth Employment Program Now Accepting Applications for 2018 Summer Internship Placements

The City of Minneapolis youth employment program STEP-UP began accepting applications for 2018 summer internship placements today.  Eligible Minneapolis youth ages 14-21 who are interested in participating in the 2018 STEP-UP class have until Feb. 16, 2018, to complete an application online.

"Today I’m seeing STEP-UP come full circle through a new generation of young professionals in this city—young professionals who are still benefitting from the skills and connections they gained through STEP-UP years ago," said Mayor Betsy Hodges, "And as Minneapolis grows and changes, it is up to us to continue to provide opportunities for our young people so they can join that network of young professionals thriving in our city."

“Providing opportunity for all is key to ensuring that Minneapolis is on the leading edge of creativity in cities,” said Ward 3 Council Member and Mayor-elect Jacob Frey. “Youth employment programs like STEP-UP are crucial not just to advancing racial equity and economic inclusion, but to ensuring that future employers will be able to harness the full potential of their diverse and talented workforce.”

STEP-UP is one of the country’s premier youth employment programs, serving Minneapolis youth who face some of the greatest barriers to employment. Since the program was launched, it has provided over 27,000 internship opportunities. In addition to  summer jobs with more than 220 top Twin Cities companies, nonprofits and public agencies, STEP-UP offers work-readiness training, mock interviews, advanced-level internships and industry-specific career opportunities that help interns integrate their career exposure with post-secondary education and career planning. 

“STEP-UP taught me how to participate in a professional work environment. I learned small skills throughout my internship, such as how to write emails in an appropriate and professional manner and how to manage time and complete tasks on my own. My internship made me feel more confident to apply for college and future jobs,” said Esanda, a STEP-UP intern at Artspace.

Prior to being placed in their internships, youth receive work-readiness training certified by the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce that prepares them for a professional work environment. Returning interns receive advanced training that helps them deepen their professional skills. Throughout their internship, they gain valuable on-the job skills, make strong professional connections, and become exposed to careers they may have not otherwise accessed without STEP-UP.

“STEP-UP gave me the experience of what it is like working in a hospital. I saw the daily routines of hospital personnel in my clinic and got a feeling for what it's like working a real job, 8 a.m. -4 p.m.,” said Syvie, a STEP-UP intern at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC).

“Our managers who work directly with STEP-UP interns are the luckiest people in the bank,” says Jennie Carlson, Executive Vice President for Human Resources at U.S. Bancorp. “They love their work with the interns and they learn a lot from them in terms of intergenerational and multicultural viewpoints. They also get to serve as mentors and role models for their interns, and they get to be reverse mentored in many ways, too. So it’s a win-win for us, and our managers absolutely love doing it.” U.S. Bank has participated in STEP-UP since it was founded in 2004, and has hired 398 interns, more than other private sector employer.

In 2017, STEP-UP placed more than 1,600 Minneapolis youth in jobs with over 220 businesses, public agencies, and nonprofits. Youth represented in the 2017 class were 91 percent youth of color, 51 percent youth from recent immigrant families, and 17 percent youth with disabilities or other significant barriers to employment. Twenty-three percent spoke fluently in a language in addition to English, representing 32 different languages from 35 different countries.

Businesses, public agencies and nonprofits interested in employing interns in 2018 can find information on the City of Minneapolis STEP-UP website. 

STEP-UP is a City of Minneapolis program in partnership with AchieveMpls. Other major partners include the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and Project for Pride in Living.

To learn more about STEP-UP, or to access the online STEP-UP application, visit the City of Minneapolis website.  You can also follow STEP-UP on Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat @STEPUPMpls or like them on Facebook or join the conversation at #STEPUPMpls.

Nonprofit Spotlight: Hope Community

Article by Claudia Kittock, Photos by Rick Kittock

There is Hope

I don’t remember hearing the words ‘Hope Community’ for the first time, but I do remember hearing it from many people who work in the nonprofit sector. When I made an appointment to interview Will Delaney, Associate Director, and Shannon Smith Jones, Executive Director, I expected to hear a story I have heard before. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Hope Community is unique, interesting, and exciting.

If you've driven Franklin Avenue going west, and come to the intersection of Franklin and Portland, I’m sure you have noticed the transformation that has occurred on those 4 corners. The transformation has happened because of Hope Community. They own most of the 4 blocks that make up those 4 corners, with a mission to "create connections that strengthen the power of community members and communities. We cultivate community leaders, build community capacity, care for the places and spaces we develop, and pursue equity and diversity in all we do.”

That area of Minneapolis is unique. 100 years ago it was a neighborhood populated with Norwegian and Swedish immigrants, and has remained a beacon for immigrants from all nations. When the freeway was built, dividing the neighborhood, it also drained resources. In the 1960s, Phillips became a neighbor of Native Americans and African Americans moving from the South. It was and remains the largest urban population of Native Americans in the United States. Today the immigrants are from Latin America and East Africa.

Forty years ago, Char Madigan and Rita Steinhagen opened St. Joseph’s House, affectionately known as the Red House, a shelter operated by looking at people as assets, powerful actors in their own lives. They were determined to listen to people and to view people as part of the solution. Instead of doing things FOR people, she was determined to do things with people in need.

After a series of listening sessions in the early 1990s, it became clear that resisting gentrification was a central issue. Once gentrification begins in a community, prices go up, and the people who live there are often priced out of their homes. The people of Phillips were determined that it would not happen there.

The shelter closed in 1994, and Hope Community determined to modify their approach by focusing on:

• Place
• People

Place includes the redevelopment of the 4 corners of the Franklin-Portland intersection. Aeon in partnership with Hope built 300 units of housing. 70% are permanently affordable, and the remaining 30% are market rate. Commercial spaces were created which include a market, a day care, and a 7500 square foot community garden.

The People approach is based on the model begun with Char Madigan. Community organizing, health, food work, and discussions are just a few things Hope does in this unique approach. One example is the Parks and Power initiative. 700 Hope participants (trained leaders, volunteers, organizers, and community members) are working for racial equity in the city park systems and influencing priorities for park investments. Another example is the investment in the local food economy. 156 community members are creating the building blocks of an equitable, neighborhood-scale food system.

There are so many fascinating aspects to Hope Community, it is impossible to discuss all of them in this article. This is a dynamic community adjacent to the Mill District. Interested? Here’s how to help:

• Learn more. Read about Hope at http://hope-community.org/about/
• Arrange a visit
• Become a volunteer
• Donate at http://hope-community.org/donate/
• Become involved in any or all of the programs offered there.  There are no limitations.

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About Claudia Kittock

Claudia is a resident of the Mill District. In addition to writing for Mill City Times, she is a founding Board Member of Friends of the Mill District. Claudia is the author of Health Through Chaos, mentors young adults at YouthLink, and has served on the Downtown Minneapolis Neighborhood Association (DMNA).

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

One Stop Holiday Shopping at the Mill City Farmers Market - December 9 and 16

Be sure to make time for the December 9 and 16 Mill City Farmers Markets inside the Mill City Museum (10a - 1p both Saturdays). You'll find an abundance of items to check off your Holiday list, including:

Greenery!

Gift Boxes!

Clothing!

Gifts!

Groceries!

While you're there, soak up some food knowledge from local chefs and organizations!

...and enjoy a little music. :)

Inside markets continue thru the winter: January 13 and 27, February 10, March 10 and 14, and April 14 and 28.

YUM! :D

Know Before You Go initiative designed to help people get the most from their Super Bowl experience

The Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee (MNSBHC) and community stakeholders announced the “Know Before You Go” Initiative this past Monday. The coordinated effort provides travel tips and a wealth of information for Super Bowl visitors and Minnesotans who live and work in the Twin Cities to make travel plans during the 10-day Super Bowl festival, from Jan. 26 through Feb. 4, 2018. 

Super Bowl planners expect more than one million people to visit Minnesota for game-related activities during the 10-day festival. Know Before You Go includes a dedicated website with recommended routes to downtown Minneapolis, user-friendly maps with information about road closures, information about increased transit options, directions on how to secure convenient parking, and more. 

“We have been preparing for several years to invite the world to Minnesota for a safe and successful Super Bowl,” said Kyle Chank, VP of Operations and Logistics, MNSBHC. “The events and activities are still a few months away, but we want to begin providing information now, so people have the tools they need to make Super Bowl plans. Our goal is to minimize the impact and maximize the fun – for our Super Bowl visitors, and for all Minnesotans who live, work and play in the Twin Cities.” 

Know Before You Go features information about the range of transportation options and increased service information that will be offered during the 10-day festival, including expanded Light Rail service connecting the Mall of America to downtown Minneapolis. 

“Metro Transit and our team of 3,500 staff members are excited to host the national and international fans that will fill our communities for the 10 days of Super Bowl festivities,” said Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb. “Helping people travel safely and efficiently from place to place is what we do best. As we have done on so many occasions, we stand ready to give fans a worry-free lift to Super Bowl events, while continuing our service to local riders traveling to work, school and other destinations important to their daily lives.”

While there will be Super Bowl events across the Twin Cities, downtown Minneapolis will be a major hub of Super Bowl activity, including the game itself at U.S. Bank Stadium. Know Before You Go includes maps outlining the most efficient and convenient routes to downtown Minneapolis for the game, as well as information about limited road closures associated with Super Bowl events and activities. Know Before You Go also includes parking information so visitors can plan ahead and even purchase convenient parking through a Pre-Paid Parking App.

“The City has worked closely with the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee, NFL and other partners to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone in our city,” said Jon Wertjes, director of traffic and parking services for the City of Minneapolis. “This collaboration has created a traffic plan for Super Bowl festivities that minimizes disruptions to traffic and parking as much as possible.” 

Information will be added and updated at mnsuperbowl.com/transportation as the game approaches. 

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Editors note - This article is shared from a DMNA e-newsletter. I do not know the original source. 

Buses will replace Blue & Green Line trains December 9-11

Due to scheduled maintenance and testing, buses will replace trains beginning Saturday, Dec. 9 during a partial shutdown on the METRO Blue & Green Line.

Customers can board replacement buses near the affected stations. Buses run on similar schedules as trains but can take more time.  Customers are urged to plan accordingly.

From 3:30am Saturday, Dec. 9 until 3:30am Monday, Dec. 11, buses will replace Blue and Green Line trains for these stations:

Blue Line
38th Street (Northbound only until 3:30 a.m. Sunday)
Lake St./Midtown (Until 3:30 a.m. Sunday)
Franklin Ave. (Northbound only after 3:30 a.m. Sunday)
Cedar-Riverside

Green Line
Stadium Village (Westbound Only)
East Bank
West Bank

Downtown Mpls. - Shared stations
U.S. Bank Stadium 
Government Plaza
Nicollet Mall
Warehouse-Hennepin Avenue
Target Field

See maps for boarding locations