Nonprofit Spotlight: Joseph Desenclos, Livability Team Supervisor, Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (DID)

Article by Claudia Kittock

Editor's note - This is the third in a series of articles spotlighting people who are involved with local nonprofits.

Joseph has become a cherished friend and my source for ALL things nonprofit.  I wouldn't be doing any of the work I do without him.

Joseph Desenclos

1) Tell us who you are and how you got to this position? 

I am the Livability Team Supervisor for the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District (DID). I currently manage a staff off four Community Livability Engagement Workers. 

I advanced to the Livability Team Supervisor position as a result of my work with business stakeholders, community members and individuals experiencing homelessness when I was the Street Outreach Team Program Manager at St. Stephen’s Human Services. Additionally, I co-chair the Ending Street Homelessness Committee as part of the Minneapolis Downtown 2025 Plan.

2) What do you do in your current position?

In my current position I navigate three specific areas as it relates to the broad term of livability. On a daily basis, I collaborate with stakeholders, social service partners, law enforcement, and community residents on issues relating to public safety, environmental concerns, and human service resources.

Furthermore, I actively participate in the Minneapolis Public Health Advisory Committee, Minneapolis Police/Hennepin County Mental Health Roundtable, Minneapolis Downtown 100 Chronic Offenders Program, neighborhood safety meetings, and co-chair the Ending Street Homelessness Committee as part of the Minneapolis Downtown 2025 Plan. My involvement in these meetings greatly assists in building a robust network of public and private partners so that the MDID Livability Team can continue to be an instrumental partner in fostering a safe and hospitable city for everyone who works, lives or visits downtown Minneapolis.

"What has been most compelling
about my work is in the recognition
of the immeasurable level of compassion
that is thriving, sometimes quietly,
within our city on any given day
despite our unique differences."

3) What are you doing in your work that is working?

Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District has recently implemented the ISS/24-7 communication tool that has significantly impacted the communication between all of the homeless street outreach teams, MDID Fusion Center, and our MDID Livability Team. The introduction of this tool has assisted in streamlining service delivery to downtown stakeholders and community members by identifying the appropriate interventions for specific livability issues in real time.

Additionally, in my role I have the opportunity to reach out to the business stakeholders, community residents, and individuals experiencing homelessness in downtown Minneapolis. What has been most compelling about my work is in the recognition of the immeasurable level of compassion that is thriving, sometimes quietly, within our city on any given day despite our unique differences.

For example, over the summer there was a man who was experiencing homelessness and cycling in and out of Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) on a weekly basis due to complex behavioral health issues. I was able to work closely with the HCMC’s Coordinated Care Clinic to identify what was needed to expedite services for positive change. The turning point came when we were able to elevate and include the concerned voices of several business stakeholders, other individuals experiencing homelessness, community residents, law enforcement, and MDID Ambassadors, human service providers who were requesting an immediate medical intervention that would honor and uphold this man’s human dignity.

Experiences like this truly offer us an opportunity to witness and embrace the soul of our city. We had an eclectic group of concerned citizens, who generally would not mix on a daily basis, all speaking with one empathetic voice to wrap the appropriate services around this man so that he may have one more chance at self-sufficiency and improved health.

4) What do you want the politicians of our city/county/state/country to know about the work you do? How can they help?

I would like our politicians, regardless of their level of governance, to know that their work greatly impacts the work that our team and I do on a daily basis in our city. In July of 2016, we conducted a livability survey and the findings reflected that, for the most part, despite our racial and economic differences, we agreed that public safety was our number one concern, followed by walkability, cleanliness, and access to services. These citizen-inspired concerns should be the pillars of our collective work in Minneapolis in 2017.

Individuals in public governance can help by doing the following:

· Work towards equality as it relates to building truly affordable new housing options in Minneapolis to prevent and end homelessness.
· Actively address the communities concerns for public safety in the spirit of equity where if an individual is committing a crime they are held accountable in a manner that is fair and just in adherence to our laws and constitution.
· Continue to highlight our city’s ability to build strong and diverse public/private partnerships to implement change.
· Move from focusing on systematic change to citizen-centered change in public service delivery to allow for governmental services to be delivered in a manner that is both efficient and consumer-based.

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Questions or feedback for Joseph? You can reach him at the Minneapolis Downtown Improvement District, 917 5th Avenue S, or 612-418-1247.

Claudia can be reached at claudia@millcitymedia.org

2017 Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) Early Titles Released

MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
EARLY TITLES ANNOUNCED 

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul released an early glimpse at the bold, exciting and moving works from emerging and veteran filmmakers from around the world to be included in the 2017 Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF). The Festival returns April 13-29, bringing 250 new films representing 70+ countries to audiences throughout the region.

This year, MSPIFF—the largest international film event in the Midwest—expands to include select screenings at the Capri Theater in Minneapolis, in addition to screenings at its hub at the St. Anthony Main Theatre, the Uptown Theatre, Metropolitan State University's Film Space in St. Paul and the Marcus Wehrenberg 14 Theater in Rochester.

More Info

PRIME Productions debuts at Mixed Blood Theatre with Little Wars

PRIME Productions, a new professional theater company in the Twin Cities, recently announced their debut with the regional premiere of Little Wars by Steven Carl McCasland at Mixed Blood Theatre, May 5 – 21, 2017.  Reservations

It’s France, 1940. Tensions are high. The booze is flowing. War is coming. Little Wars features Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker, Gertrude Stein, Agatha Christie, Alice B. Toklas and Muriel Gardiner having the best what-if dinner party you can imagine. Together they’ll drink, scoff and face their demons. Everyone has a confession. Someone has a secret.

Directed by Shelli Place, the cast features Candace Barrett-Birk* (Guthrie, Old Log), Sue Scott* (Prairie Home Companion, Mixed Blood), Elizabeth Desotelle* (Chanhassen, Old Log), Laura Adams (Park Square, Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company), Vanessa Gamble (History Theater, Illusion), Alison Edwards* (Roundabout-NY, Alabama Shakespeare), and Miriam Schwartz (Guthrie, Workhouse Collective).                 * Member, Actors’ Equity Association

PRIME Productions, founded in 2016, is the newest professional theater to launch in the Minneapolis/St Paul region, focused on “Celebrating women in their second act.”  The mission is to highlight and give voice to underrepresented women of a certain age that society too often marginalizes or altogether eliminates from the collective narrative. The co-founders are Alison Edwards, Elena Giannetti and Shelli Place.

Alison Edwards, although new to the Twin Cities, has spent the last 40 years in New York acting in theatre, film, TV and, more recently, audio books. In New York City she performed at the Roundabout Theatre, the New York Shakespeare Festival and the Riverside Shakespeare Festival. She spent four years at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and understudied Judith Light on the national tour of WIT.  She holds a BFA from Boston University and attend the American Conservatory Theatre Training Program. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. 

Elena Giannetti has been a part of the Twin Cities acting community for over 30 years, performing in front of the camera and on many local stages.  Her stage credits include work at the Guthrie Theater, Park Square Theatre, Children’s Theatre Company, Mixed Blood and more. Elena is also a director and producer, most recently directing A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Park Square Theatre. She is a graduate of Macalester College with a BA in Dramatic Arts and is a member of SAG-AFTRA.

Shelli Place is a director of plays, musical revues & fashion shows and a producer of presentations, product launches & awards ceremonies for Fortune 500 companies.  She created a variety of shows for The Walt Disney Company and is an Executive Speech Coach. Minnesota credits include: direction/choreography for Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company, Old Log Theater, Theater NOW, Theatre Unbound and Hennepin Theatre Trust. An experienced actress, she is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA & ATAS. Shelli has a BFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University.

“Real People, Real Conversations, Real Solutions” exhibit on display in Hennepin Gallery thru March 30

Community Mediation & Restorative Services, Inc. (CMRS) presents “Real People, Real Conversations, Real Solutions,” an exhibit highlighting the different service areas handled through mediation or restorative services. This exhibit will be on display in the Hennepin County Government Center, Hennepin Gallery, from March 2 through May 30, 2017.

Since 1983, CMRS has helped Hennepin County residents move from conflict to resolution and from harm to healing through mediation and restorative services. CMRS works to address a broad range of disputes including school, juvenile crime, housing, harassment, consumer, family, neighborhood, elder, and workplace conflicts.

CMRS continues to expand services for youth and schools and services that help individuals avoid the collateral consequences of court and police interactions. Additionally, through outreach and training, CMRS is spreading messages of hope and civility throughout our communities. This exhibit provides information about how to get involved through training and volunteering.

The public is invited to a reception on Thursday, March 23, 2017, 4:30-7:30 p.m., at the Hennepin Gallery to celebrate CMRS volunteers and the important work they do in our communities.

The Hennepin Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Hennepin County Government Center, A-level, 300. S. Sixth Street. The exhibit is sponsored by Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department.

The Hennepin Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Hennepin County Government Center, A-level, 300 South 6th Street, Minneapolis. The exhibit is a project of Hennepin County Communications.

New Truckstop Gallery on Nicollet Island to hold Opening Reception for Situation Normal on March 4

Truckstop Gallery is located at 20 Grove St #72 on Nicollet Island.  It is an art gallery created by artists, for artists, with the intention to showcase the highest caliber of work in an environment free of pretense.

Join them Saturday, March 4, 6 – 10 pm, for the opening reception of Situation Normal, a solo show by Minneapolis artist Russ White. Situation Normal is an exhibition of powerful, poignant, and political new drawings and sculptures.

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.

And now, as millions of people across the country have begun banding together to protest the initiatives of this new administration, the barricades in White’s work serve as a symbol for their resistance. 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 un-American initiatives of this administration and this Congress.

Featured 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.

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.

Situation Normal will be on exhibit March 4 – 19 (open during events and by appointment). There will be an Artist talk on Saturday, March 11 at 4 pm. The closing reception will be Sunday, March 19, 12 noon – 5 pm.

For an appointment or questions, please email info@truckstop.gallery.

Voting now open for 2nd Annual FINNEGANS Chef Food Fight to Benefit Minnesota FoodShare

FINNEGANS BREW CO. TO PARTNER WITH MINNESOTA FOODSHARE FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL FINNEGANS CHEF FOOD FIGHT

Breakfast, lunch, dinner- three words that typically bring people together. FINNEGANS Brew Co. and Minnesota FoodShare are uniting Twin Cities restaurants for a friendly cooking competition to raise funds and increase awareness about hunger in Minnesota. During the Minnesota FoodShare March Hunger Awareness Campaign, chefs are challenged with developing a menu item using FINNEGANS beer (Irish Amber, Dead Irish Poet Stout, or the Hoppy Shepherd) and selling it on their menus for the month of March. Each establishment will have a portion of the sales donated to MN FoodShare’s March campaign and customers will be asked to vote via social media for their favorite dish.

This year’s participants include:
Chef Sarah Master of Red Stag Supperclub
Chef Vincent Francoual of Cooper Pub
Chef Jose Sanchez of Morrissey’s Irish Pub
Chef Chris Oxley of McKinney Roe
Chef Bobby Juhnke of The Nook
Chef John Lambe of The Draft Horse
Chef Jeremy Lafond of Mission American Kitchen & Bar
Chef Chris Nelson of Crave

The top five chefs with the most votes toward the end of the month-long contest will be invited to showcase their dish at the first, Chef Food Fight Live at The Food Building benefiting the FINNEGANS Community Fund! The evening will gather 100+ local foodies and barstool philanthropists to name the 2017 Chef Food Fight Champion! Included in this ticketed event will be demos from the top 5 chefs, libations from 2Gingers and FINNEGANS as well as nosh from The Food Building’s partners, Red Table Meats, Baker’s Field Flour and The Draft Horse.

Online voting is open to the public from now until March 30.

Tickets for Chef Food Fight Live are available at http://www.finnegans.org/cheffoodfightlive

Founded in 2000 in Minneapolis, FINNEGANS is a self-sustaining and inspirational social business. Through the sale of its Irish Amber Ale, Hoppy Shepherd IPA, Dead Irish Poet Extra Stout and now the new Freckled Rooster Bière Blanc ale, FINNEGANS has created an innovative business model that allows the company to create community wealth. How? One hundred percent of the profits are donated to the FINNEGANS Community Fund (501c3) to support hunger alleviation programs in every market where FINNEGANS is sold. FINNEGANS has scaled its giving program to MN, WI, ND, SD and IA. Now, is there a better reason to raise a pint of FINNEGANS? For the latest information, find FINNEGANS on Twitter and Facebook or visit finnegans.org.

The FOOD BUILDING is home to Red Table Meat Co. and Baker's Field Flour & Bread.  We value not only the foods themselves, but the methods and intention ushered in by each maker.  Together, we are greater than the sum of our parts. The work we do challenges and is informed by current standards; and we seek what is possible, from the farmer to the maker to the eater. Each of our foods stands out in flavor as well as in sourcing. From production to distribution, we are building unparalleled levels of transparency in all steps of the process.  Collectively, we are building a better food present, and future.

Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge Repairs Update

Originally built as a railroad bridge in 1890, the Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge was acquired by the MPRB in the 1970s and installed in its current location in the early 1980s.

Project is being revised to reflect Heritage Preservation Commission findings

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is revising the Boom Island-Nicollet Island Bridge Repairs project after the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) denied an MPRB application for a certificate of appropriateness to allow rehabilitation and alterations to the bridge.

The original MPRB plan called for the removal of deteriorated steel stringers and timber ties rarely viewed by the general bridge user to save on capital and ongoing maintenance expenditures. The HPC found that the removal of the stringers and ties would significantly degrade the bridge’s historic integrity and denied the application.

The MPRB is in the process of revising the project scope to meet the HPC’s findings as well as the available project budget. At this point there is no timeline for construction.

In late 2013, the bridge was closed to emergency and maintenance vehicles after an inspection discovered significant deterioration. Emergency repairs were completed in July 2015 to replace the bearings on the north abutment and modify the ends of the stringers. The bridge was then reopened to emergency and maintenance vehicle traffic.

The Friends of the Mill District Singers Are Back!

We are Back!

The Friends of the Mill District Singers are back! We have been on a short hiatus, but rehearsals begin again on Saturday, March 4, from 2:00-3:30 on the 8^th floor of the Guthrie, classrooms 1 and 2.

We are a group of neighbors, with a roster of over 140 members. Our mission is to be a choir that is open to all and embraces the true diversity of our neighborhood. There is no charge to sing with us, nor is there any talent requirement. Our director, JD Steele, will have you singing as you never have before.

Our goal is to perform at community events at least twice each session. The Guthrie, the American Academy of Neurology and First Covenant Church have already partnered with us to provide rehearsal space.

The choir has already performed at Holidazzle, the MacPhail Music Matters Luncheon, at the Guthrie before a performance of “A Christmas Carol” and sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at a Minnesota Twins game.

We welcome you to join us for one rehearsal or for everyone. However, be very careful. After one rehearsal, the chances of being ‘hooked’ are very high!!!

Kick Off National Nutrition Month® with the Mill City Farmers Market at the Arboretum on March 4

Via a February 24 Press Release from the Mill City Farmers Market:

As the country celebrates National Nutrition Month® this March, find your favorite healthy artisan foods and handcrafted gifts at the Mill City Farmers Market’s annual Arboretum Market!

March is National Nutrition Month®, and what better way to start the festivities than shopping for healthy food and other beautiful products from 40 local food artisans, farmers and artists? Vendors will have everything from microgreens to muesli, so bring your grocery list and get ready to eat some local, healthy and sustainable food! The market will be open march 4 from 9am to 1pm in the MacMillian Auditorium near the Arboretum’s stunning orchid exhibit in the Oswald Visitor Center.

You’ll find many grocery staples and unique gift items from Mill City Farmers Market vendors at the March 4^th event, including: Birchberry (wild rice, native arts), Buffalo by Bike (bison meat), Crookedwood (wooden utensils), Ellie’s Whole Grains (flaxseed, fermented garlic, gluten-free flour), Fringe & Fettle (local ceramics), Kiss My Cabbage (sauerkraut, kimchi), Holistic Health Farms (aquaponic greens), Shepherd’s Way (sheep’s milk cheese), Urban Roots (winter produce, preserves) and Zula Juice. A full list of participating vendors can be found here.

Founded in 2006 by acclaimed local chef and restaurateur Brenda Langton and the Mill City Museum, Mill City Farmers Market is the Twin Cities’ trusted source for healthy, local and organic groceries, bringing a wide assortment of fresh food, cooking education and live entertainment to one beautiful place! Typically located in the Mill District of downtown Minneapolis, the Mill City Farmers Market has been traveling to the MN Landscape Arboretum every winter since 2012! The market’s regular winter season continues with indoor markets on the second and fourth Saturdays of March and April in the Mill City Museum and its outdoor season kicks off on May 6^th and continues every Saturday through the end of October.

Need another reason to visit Mill City Farmer Market the Arboretum next Saturday? In addition to miles of woodland and prairie trails and acres of gardens, the Arboretum offers many activities for the whole family on March 4, including:

• Orchids! Live display featuring more than 500 tropical orchids
• Plant-Maker Studio: Look at plant parts under a microscope and start a plant to take home!
• Ask a Master Gardener for all your spring garden maintenance questions
• Arboretum Photographer’s Society annual show and sale

Find details and more Arboretum events at arboretum.umn.edu. Please note: Admission to the Arboretum is $12 for adults and free for visitors under 12 years old, University of Minnesota students, and Arboretum Members. Visit millcityfarmersmarket.org for 2-for-1 admission vouchers! Nutrition tips, coloring sheets and more resources for National Nutrition Month® from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics can be found at eatright.org.

Exploring the Upper River: Stormwater Park

Article by Kathleen Boe, Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership

Exploring the Upper River

A look at hidden gems along the Minneapolis Riverfront

As you come across the Lowry Bridge into Northeast, or drive north on Marshall, it’s easy to get caught up in looking at the bridge itself, especially if it’s lit up at night, or the Ferris Wheel outside Betty Danger’s Country Club. But the hidden gem I’m writing about this month would be right under your nose at that point, Stormwater Park at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization’s facility, 2522 Marshall Street NE.

The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership has had the privilege of having an office in this building over the past five years, and during that time, the building and the space around it have really come into their own.

One of the areas that is open and accessible to the public is the Stormwater Park itself. The area, off the Marshall street front, heads down behind the MWMO building and slopes down to the river. While this area is a park, it is also an active demonstration project using the many tools that MWMO recommends to ensure that stormwater run-off is as clean as it can possibly be when it reaches the river.

To start, if you can take your eyes away from the river, look down. You’ll see permeable pavers that allow water to be absorbed, rather than run off.

Continuing on, a wildflower garden borders the building and serves as a filtering system for stormwater coming off the street. In the spring, it blooms into the most incredible set of flowers. Under the flowers, the garden acts as a filtering system. The goal is for all of the stormwater to be captured and filtered on site.

This is one of the places where you can actually dip your toes in the river – in season, mind you. It’s not recommended after the recent return of cold weather. But there is a meandering path down to the water, with markers noting the high-water mark of various Mississippi River flood events in recent history. 

At river’s edge, there is a beach, and it’s not uncommon to see people launch canoes or kayaks from that spot. The Mississippi Parks Connection’s kayak sharing program placed one of its locations at MWMO and that’s a legitimate option for getting on the river this summer.

This is an area where every day the river looks different, depending on how cold it is, what the wind is like, the angle of the sun. As the sun sets, the Lowry Bridge will light up in the color scheme scheduled for that night.

While visiting, you can always stop by and have a Greenie at the historic Tony Jaros Rivergarden at the corner of Lowry and Marshall, or grab a tea at Betty Danger’s across the street. The Ferris Wheel has occasionally been in operation this winter, and commands a great view.

Meanwhile, it’s been a privilege to be part of this community at MWMO. While the first thing one notices is the light-filled space and unique design of this building, as you work here you also appreciate the community and staff who work here, how passionate they are about their mission, and how they care so deeply about the watershed that feeds the Mississippi River.

Kathleen Boe is Executive Director of the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership. She can be reached at kathleen.boe@minneapolisriverfront.org via email, or minneapolisriverfront.org on the web.

Nonprofit Spotlight: ‘Big John’ and the Salvation Army

Article by Claudia Kittock, photos by Rick Kittock

Editor's note - This is the second in a series of articles spotlighting people who are involved with local nonprofits.

Life is interesting. I never dreamed the places this column would take me and the people I would meet because of it.  When Dave Tinjum urged me to ‘tell the stories’, I agreed, thinking I had only a few things to write about. The more I write, the more I find. The more fascinating people I meet, the more hope I have for the future. It is truly an honor to do this work and to be nudged into work that is a blessing in my life.

Last fall at a meeting of the Task Force to End Street Homelessness, I met John, the Activities Coordinator and Chaplain at Harbor Lights at the Salvation Army. John had organized a group of men from the Salvation Army to work at the Ryder Cup, and talked about the endless possibilities he had for the people at Harbor Lights. He was intriguing, and this week I sat down to talk with him and to hear his story.

Big John 

As I walked across the street to enter Harbor Lights, several men were standing outside the building. They asked if they could help me and when I told them I was looking for John, the Chaplain, they all nodded and said, “Oh, you mean BIG John!” and I was escorted inside where John was waiting.

John grew up in a troubled home, and had many arrests and incarcerations that began when he was a young teenager. He spent 23 years in prison, and was still a young man when he got out. John found himself in front of a church and went in to sit down and rest. A man, who turned out to be the pastor, approached him with his hand out, welcoming him. They talked, and the pastor noticed that John looked very tired and offered him a bed so that he could take a nap. When John woke up from his much needed nap, the pastor told him that he had talked with his wife, and John should feel free to stay there for as long as he needed.  John stayed for a year, got clean and sober, and began the process of healing his body and his soul.

A year later, John packed two suitcases, and with $35 in his pocket left for Minneapolis. He walked into the Salvation Army looking for help, and has been there in one capacity or another ever since that day. John worked security for 5 years, and then was offered the job of Activities Coordinator and Chaplain.           

In his capacity as Activities Director/Chaplain, John creates the monthly calendar of activities which range from prayer breakfasts to coffee chats to bingo to job fairs to trips to the library, and much more.  John leads a relapse prevention class and offers help and support to anyone who needs it. As someone who has ‘been there’, John has a seemingly unending supply of compassion and wisdom.

The Harbor Light Center, 1010 Currie Avenue, Minneapolis, is a safe place for people to stabilize their lives and begin the process of healing. They offer a wide range of basic needs and rehabilitation services to anyone in need, without discrimination. The shelter is Minnesota’s largest homeless adult outreach facility and includes a clinical treatment program for men working to beat chemical dependency.

Harbor Lights can house as many as 300 single men and women every night. There are dorms that house as many as 30 men, as well as spaces for women. People can stay for one night or as long as they need. Some nights, there are so many people who need a place to sleep that the chapel is opened for an additional 50 people. The need is great, and while compassion is apparent everywhere, there are things that need your help to happen.

How can you help?

• Volunteers are needed, particularly for serving meals.
http://salvationarmynorth.org/community/harbor-light/community-pages/volunteering-30/
• Check out the calendar of events at http://salvationarmynorth.org/community/harbor-light/events/
• The Bell Ringing Campaign is the biggest fundraiser and is used to fund programs and pay salaries. This year’s campaign was $100,000 below the goal.  Please donate. 
• Learn more about the services offered at
http://salvationarmynorth.org/community/harbor-light/community-pages/programs-and-services/

The Salvation Army and “Big John” are integral parts of our community. People in need can find a hot meal, a bed, and a kind and compassionate heart waiting to listen and to offer assistance. This is important work, and we are a stronger community because of the work done there.

Claudia can be reached at claudia@millcitymedia.org

Now Showing & Coming Soon to the Film Society’s St. Anthony Main Theatre*

• Now Showing through Mar 2 - MOONLIGHT  
• Feb 23-Mar 30 - 2017 CUBAN FILM FESTIVAL Screening each Thursday at 7pm thru Mar 30.
• Feb 24-Mar 2 - XX 
• Feb 25 at 1pm - NTL: AMADEUS 
• *Mar 2 at 7pm - LAMB - (Screening at the Capri Theater - 2027 West Broadway, Minneapolis 55411. $5 all tickets.)
• Mar 3-9 - CATFIGHT 
• Mar 4 at 1pm + Mar 13 at 7pm - STAGE RUSSIA: THE BLACK MONK Mar 6 at 7pm + Mar 11 at 1pm - NTL: SAINT JOAN )
• Mar 8 at 7pm - THE MAN WHO MENDS WOMEN 
• Mar 10-16 - MR. GAGA
• Mar 17-23 - YOU’RE KILLING ME SUSANA 
• Mar 24-30 - CONTEMPORARY COLOR 
• Mar 27 at 7pm + Apr 1 at 1pm - NTL: HEDDA GABLER 
• Apr 4 at 7pm - 1984 
• Apr 6 at 7pm - TICKLING GIANTS
• Apr 13-29 - 2017 Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival

Modist Brewing Announces "BEER SMARTS" - Monday Nights, March 6 - April 24

Ever wanted to impress all of your friends with your beer knowledge? Join Beer Smarts!

Beer Smarts is a beer appreciation program comprised of (6) 1-hour sessions held on Monday nights at Modist Brewing's taproom. Led by Education Specialist Paige Didora, each session will focus on a specific beer topic and will feature guest speakers, behind-the-scenes looks at brewing equipment and processes, and of course, tons of beer samples! Entry to the course is $50, with a choice of a class beginning at 6:15pm or 8pm (socializing time before and after each class). Also offered is an optional 7th session in the form of a 4 course Beer Dinner with Chef Ian Gray.

Here's a breakdown of the schedule - First class begins on March 6th!  

Session 1: Beer History and Water (3/6/17)
Learn about beer’s long and rich history and how it makes water properties (kind-of) exciting.

Session 2: Grains and malting (3/13/17)
Learn about malted grain/barley, what happens when water meets grain and go on a brewery tour!

Session 3: Hops (3/20/17)
Learn about what hops are, where and how they’re grown, how they’re used in beers, and sample some beers known for their hops.

Session 4: Fermentation (3/27/17)
Learn about the magic of yeast, review some significant yeast strains through history and by style, sample some beers famous for yeast, and learn about other methods of fermentation.

Session 5: Evaluating Beer (4/10/17)
Learn some tips to improve your palate to better evaluate and taste beer, and learn to recognize the off-flavors that can appear in beer.

Session 6: Food and Beer Pairing (4/24/17)
Learn about why pairing beer with food runs laps around wine, review our basic taste elements, learn about congruent vs complimentary pairings, and some pairing tips and tricks.

Session 7: (optional) Beer Dinner with Chef Ian Gray (5/1/17)
All participants in Beer Smarts will be invited to put their new level of beer appreciation into practice via a beer dinner with Chef Ian Grey! (additional charge applies)

LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP HERE!

Badass Dash® Makes its Minnesota Debut at US Bank Stadium in June

BADASS Dash™ is one of the world’s leading producers of Obstacle Course Challenges & Adventure Races. Making its debut in Minneapolis in 2017 will be the ultimate obstacle course challenge and endurance race for your everyday competitors. US Bank Stadium will host the world class obstacle course challenge Saturday, June 3. Competitors will compete on a 7k course using the entire stadium space, inside and out, including the football field.

The Minneapolis Badass Dash tickets are available thru www.BadassDash.com or www.Active.com. 

The Truth Bar: Truth or BS Podcast - Twin Cities "Sibling Rivalry", February 22

Mayoral Candidates, Business Association Exec and Entrepreneurial Retailer Go Head to Head: Twin Cities "Sibling Rivalry"      

The Truth Bar:  Truth or BS Podcast

On February 22 there will be a live taping of the next episode of Truth or BS, a variety podcast where panelists, guests and entertainers discuss the topics of today—from politics and business to culture and society, both local and global news, there’s really only one rule:  No BS allowed.

Location: Truth Bar (KC Truth Advertising Agency)
310 S 4th Avenue, Flour Exchange Building, 1st Floor
Time: 3:30pm networking, 4:00pm-5:30pm podcast taping

Episode 5: Mpls vs. St. Paul will feature panelists representing both sides of the Mississippi River, with hosts Steve LeBeau of Minnesota Business, KC Truth Advertising and audience moderator John Sweeney, CEO, Brave New Workshop. Panelists include:

• Pat Harris – St. Paul Mayoral candidate, 12-year representative of Highland Park and Ward 3 on the St. Paul City Council, Senior Vice President at BMO Harris bank.
• Jacob Frey – Minneapolis Mayoral Candidate, Third Ward representative on the Minneapolis City Council, first annual recipient of the City of Minneapolis Martin Luther King Jr. award.
• Dan Collison – Minneapolis Downtown Council member, Director of Downtown Partnerships, Executive Director for East Town Business Partnership and 2020 Partners, Lead Pastor at First Covenant Church.
• Trisha McGovern – Owner of the soon-to-be opened Boomshack Market on West 7th, came up in a colorful family that has long ties to the MPR, Keys Restaurant and McGoverns to name a few, lover of all things in the “Saintly City”.

Environmental Assessment Worksheet for Restoration of Hall’s Island Open for Comments

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is proposing to restore Hall’s Island in the Mississippi River and establish an adjacent eight-acre riverfront park at the former Scherer Bros Lumber Company site, just upstream of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge in Northeast Minneapolis. Restoration of Hall’s Island will create new habitat within the Mississippi River channel in a portion of the North/Northeast Minneapolis urban environment dominated by industrial uses and limited access to natural areas.

This project is part of RiverFirst, a long-term vision for Mississippi Riverfront parks and trails that grew out of an international design competition in 2010. Development of the Scherer site and restoration of Hall’s Island are also included in the Above the Falls Master Plan, which outlines recommendations for land-use policy, park development and environmental stewardship along the Mississippi Riverfront in North and Northeast Minneapolis. An updated version of the Above the Falls Master Planwas approved by both the City of Minneapolis and the MPRB in 2013.

Due to the proposed project activities, a mandatory Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) is required per Minnesota Rules 4410.4300. The MPRB will accept written comments on the EAW during the 30-day public comment period, which commences on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017 and concludes Wednesday, March 22, 2017 at 4:30 pm.

---

Review and Comment

A paper copy of the EAW is available for public review at: 

• MPRB Headquarters: 2117 West River Road Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411
• Minneapolis Central Library: Government Documents, 2nd Floor, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55401-1992

An electronic copy of the EAW is available for public review on the MPRB website:

Hall's Island Environmental Assessment Worksheet

Additional copies can be requested by calling (612) 230-6400.

Submit written comments to: 

Jon Duesman
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
2117 West River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55411

Submit electronic/email comments to:

Jon Duesman, jduesman@minneapolisparks.org

If submitting comments electronically please include your name and mailing address.

A Murder of Crows! Fun Video Captures the Daily Movement of our Downtown Flock

Although it was shot three years ago, this video titled Murder of Crows - January 6, 2014 - MPLS, MN by Matt Koskinen of Koskinen Video Productions could have been this January. I witness these swarms nightly on the way home from work (fascinating, but a little spooky!). 

I wasn't aware that a flock of crows is known as a "murder". Maybe spending some time hanging out with ornithologists is in order.  :)

Nonprofit Spotlight: Edward Weibye, Street Outreach Worker at St. Stephen's Human Services

Article by Claudia Kittock

Editor's note - Claudia posed a set of questions to local nonprofits, and this is the first in a series of articles spotlighting the responses she received.

Nonprofit Spotlight: Edward Weibye, Street Outreach Worker, St. Stephen's Human Services
 
What do you do in your current position?

As an Outreach worker, we provide direct services and engage with individuals who are currently experiencing homelessness. Some places where we locate people sleeping outside include in cars, abandoned buildings, parks, buses and trains, doorways and alleys, and under bridges. We do outreach all over Hennepin County but mainly our efforts are focused Downtown and throughout Minneapolis.

We don't judge, we don’t criticize, we don’t abandon. We serve a population of some of the most mentally ill and chemically dependent.  

Edward Weibye
 
What are you doing that is working?

Treating people with dignity and respect is important to building relationships with the population we serve. They need to feel that they can trust us, so when we offer our services they'll accept them. Outreach doesn’t shy away from men or women under the influence of drugs or alcohol, individuals that are dirty or have poor hygiene. We get right in there where they're at and sit and have conversations similar to the conversations you and I have with our peers, co-workers and family. We provide a safe place for them to come. They can vent and yell and scream, cuss and kick.

Outreach is here to serve the people who have been forgotten. It's not uncommon for an Outreach worker to give out basic needs items, such as hats or gloves. We also get people connected to services which many have a difficult time accessing and navigating, including: Homeless shelters, medical care and other supports. We help them fill out all the forms necessary to be completed for GA/Medical Benefits, housing applications, job applications, etc. Outreach is the first point of contact for the homeless. Our team knows about many available services, and if we don't know, we find out. We ask the questions that others don't. We get answers and we show results.

My primary focus is to get to know an individual and foster a supportive relationship, to be there to help them create goals and reach those goals. My hope is to one day see that person holding a set of keys to a home they can call theirs. We can't house everyone, but we house many. Outreach doesn’t give up on people like so many others may have. 
 
What do you want the politicians of our city/county/state/country to know about the work you do? How can they help?
 
The work that Outreach does is extremely important. It’s good for individuals, but also benefits the community. Outreach workers have the ability to find people that are homeless. We go where your average typical person does not go or even think to go. Being homeless is about being out in the open without being noticed, being in places that are not trafficked by the majority.
 
With the numbers of homeless that we are currently seeing on the streets of Minneapolis, we need more actual places for people to live. BRICKS AND MORTAR. There are so many barriers to individuals experiencing homelessness. All the systems we develop often create more barriers and make it even more difficult to house an already difficult population. Expecting three times the rent up-front to be even considered for an apartment is unrealistic, not just for the homeless population, but for many Minnesotans. Denying housing to individuals that have criminal records, some of which were committed years past, still haunt people and perpetuate homelessness. We don’t have enough affordable housing. We also have an inadequate amount of shelter beds. We have an increasing numbers of seniors unable to access housing. Public Housing...? What's that? Some of the clients we serve have been on that list for literally YEARS. We need service providers to loosen up their criteria to house folks. We want to END HOMELESSNESS, but the system continues to bog down our efforts. City, State, County and the Federal Government need to support agencies that are in the trenches, providing services to the homeless, so we can help serve more and bring effective change with lasting results. Right now it seriously feels like we are throwing Band-Aids at an already gaping wound.
 
Homelessness is not going to end overnight. I can't end it; you can't end it; the city can't end it; the state can't end it.

WE AS A WHOLE POPULATION NEED TO CARE ENOUGH TO END HOMELESSNESS. 

Claudia can be reached at claudia@millcitymedia.org

Obtaining a GED is a Crucial Step for YouthLink Clients Striving to Make a Better Life

Article by Claudia Kittock, photos Danae Hudson of YouthLink

I have been an educator for my entire adult life. It is the only profession I have ever practiced. I have been fortunate enough to teach preschool through Ph.D. level courses and have enjoyed all levels. During that time I, of course, was aware of the GED exam, but truly thought it was a bit silly to think a test would take the place of a high school education. I learned how very wrong I was when I began to volunteer at YouthLink, tutoring young people who were experiencing homelessness and working toward passing the GED exam. Do you think I am wrong? Try this question from a GED exam.

Sample question from GED:

Varicella is a virus that causes the disease chicken pox. Medications are used to treat the symptoms of fever and discomfort associated with chicken pox. In 1995, a varicella vaccine was made available to people in the United States.

This graph shows the number of chicken pox cases reported in four U.S. states from 1991 to 2007.

Which conclusion is supported by the data in the graph?

A. The varicella vaccine relieves chicken pox symptoms.
B. The varicella vaccine is effective in treating chicken pox.
C. The varicella vaccine is effective in preventing chicken pox.
D. The varicella vaccine has eliminated chicken pox from the United States.

Did you get the right answer? Did it ‘pop’ into your mind or did it require some thought? The GED exam is not easy by any measure and is designed to elicit problem-solving skills and higher level thinking. As a college professor teaching freshman level classes, I would welcome students who had passed the GED, confident they were ready to do the type of thinking needed in a general psychology course.

“None of my grandparents graduated from
high school, neither of my parents, none
of my aunts and uncles, and none of my
cousins. I’m the first, and my brother
has watched me do this and is now
working on his GED. Things get better
when you work hard.”

The first student I met at YouthLink as a tutor was Danny (all names used here are pseudonyms). He is a quiet, very smart young man who has been on and off the streets for 4 years. As with all the students I teach, he taught me far more than I have taught him. Danny explained what it was like to experience homelessness, which overpasses were ‘safest’ to sleep under, and how being on the street with a partner was essential. While one person slept, the other kept watch for dangers, and kept track of the time so that neither slept too long in the bitter cold.

When I asked Danny what he wanted to do with his life, he told me he wants to be a chef. He has always cooked for his family and loved the feeling of preparing good food for people he cares for. Every day when I left, I asked Danny if he had a warm and safe place to sleep. His response? "Don’t worry about me! You just get home safely.”

Above, tutors work with students

Every student begins the work of passing the GED exam by taking practice tests in each of the 4 subtest areas of science, mathematical reasoning, social studies, and reasoning through language arts. When the student finishes a practice test on the computer, they will get a printout with the score and what areas need more work. These printouts tell them the practice books to work on and the page numbers of the work they need to help them boost their score.

That’s where the work of the tutor begins. I always begin with a discussion about how each student learns best. There is a common thread with most of my students. At some point in their life as a student they learned that they were ‘dumb’, that learning would always be difficult for them, and that anything associated with learning is boring. We talk about their experiences while I attempt to explain that what happened to them was wrong.

My job with my students is to help them understand the skills they do possess and to use those skills for problem solving. Each of these students comes to YouthLink with problem solving skills. Most don’t realize that. Most don’t understand how smart they need to be to have managed to stay alive in truly horrible circumstances, and to somehow find their way to us.

Deciding to pass a GED test is a daunting prospect. Most of the students I work with have far more pressing matters that they must deal with, but each of them wants a future. Each of them wants more out of life, and have decided that GED is the first step.

Dr. Heather Huseby, Executive Director of YouthLink, taught me that the most important thing we do at YouthLink is to support youth in finding a path forward.  Many come with true despair about their lives, and gently supporting and nudging them forward is the centerpiece of the work done at YouthLink.

Last week, a young woman, LaToya, put a piece of paper in front of me, sat in the chair next to me and grinned from ear to ear. The paper was her certification of a completed GED. When the celebrating died down, I asked her how her family felt. She said, “None of my grandparents graduated from high school, neither of my parents, none of my aunts and uncles, and none of my cousins. I’m the first, and my brother has watched me do this and is now working on his GED. Things get better when you work hard.”

LaToya and Claudia

I go to tutor every week because I leave feeling more optimistic about the world. I meet people every week who are survivors, who refuse to let life’s obstacles stop them. I come home energized and upbeat about the future. I am honored by my work and association with the people of YouthLink.

If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of these young people, here are some suggestions: 

1. Sign up for the newsletter at http://www.youthlinkmn.org/newsletter/
2. Learn more about youth homelessness at http://www.youthlinkmn.org/the-cost-of-homelessness/
3. Sign up for the Night of Hope at http://www.youthlinkmn.org/night-of-hope-sleep-out/
4. Get involved at YouthLink at http://www.youthlinkmn.org/get-involved/

Oh...did you get the right answer to the sample question??? I will leave that up to you to decide!

Claudia can be reached at claudia@millcitymedia.org

Mill City Summer Opera Announces 6th Season

Mill City Summer Opera’s Maria de Buenos Aires Infuses Tango Into An Entirely New Opera Experience
National cast includes renowned Catalina Cuervo as Maria

For its sixth season, the Mill City Summer Opera (MCSO) will perform an Argentinian opera, María de Buenos Aires, under the direction of returning MCSO artistic director David Lefkowich.

María de Buenos Aires, set in the 20th century in Buenos Aires, Argentina, will run July 14 (opening night), 16, 18, 19 and 20. “In Mill City Summer Opera fashion, the audience should be prepared to be delighted,” said Lefkowich. “Our goal is to creatively push and expand the definition of what opera can be so our audience will never experience the same thing twice.”

MCSO’s version of Maria de Buenos Aires, composed by Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla with libretto by Horracio Ferrer, merges the elements of dance, vocals, narration and instruments. Maria will be performed by the soprano Catalina Cuervo, named as one of the most successful Colombian Sopranos in the opera world by the Ministry of Culture of Colombia. Miss Cuervo is considered the pre-eminent performer of the role of Maria and has performed the role with the opera companies of Atlanta, Cincinnati and Syracuse.

In light of the Mill City Museum's Ruins Courtyard’s extensive renovation throughout the Summer of 2017, MCSO is taking the opera across the Stone Arch Bridge for our sixth season. The shift in venue to the Pillsbury Machine Shop is temporary as restoration work continues in the Ruins Courtyard.