Mississippi Rising

Submitted by Doug Verdier (photos taken April 17, 2023)

The recent warm weather earlier this month resulted in significant snow melt, which has caused the Mississippi River water level to rise significantly as other rivers and creeks feed water into the river upstream. These images show some of the local impact of all that melted snow as it races through the City. Numerous low-lying communities along the rivers path are bracing and preparing for localized flooding.

The doors of the Upper St Anthony Falls Lock were opened to allow the surge of water resulting from snow melt upriver to flow downstream. Normally, the lock doors are closed and all the water coming downstream would go over the St. Anthony Falls on the right in this photo. That’s foam on top of the water, not snow. It’s moving very fast!

Looking toward the Third Avenue Bridge from South First Street gives a good sense of how fast the river is moving and how much deeper than normal it is as a result of upriver snow melt. The white foam on top of the water is a good indicator of how fast the water is moving.

The three yellow concrete structures bordering the canal show how much deeper the water level in the canal is due to the amount of water entering the river from upstream snow melt. The increased river level can also be seen beneath the plastic sheet-covered walkways surrounding the base of the pier during work on the Third Avenue Bridge. In more normal times the distance from the base of the walkways to the river is a couple of feet. 

St. Anthony Falls as seen from the Stone Arch Bridge. Foam, spray and amazing sound are something to experience.

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Editors Note:

When I drove home from work last night I was astounded at how much the Mississippi rose yesterday alone. In several spots between the 94 and Washington bridges, water had flowed over the cement barrier and covered both lanes of West River Parkway. (To be on the safe side, I opted for the Riverside route to Franklin Avenue this morning!)

Summit Academy's Northside STEM District to Host Minneapolis Students and Families May 6 at Target Plaza for Free Family Event

More than 1,000 K-8th grade students are expected to converge on Target Plaza Saturday, May 6, to explore the world of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Volunteers from more than 20 Twin Cities STEM companies will guide students with hands-on activities and experiments as they uncover the wonders of STEM. Participants will:

• Code robots!
• Launch rockets!
• Fly drones!

A free shuttle will pick up participants at Summit Academy at 935 Olson Memorial Highway in Minneapolis and drop them off at the event, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Target Plaza Commons, 1001 Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis.

It is the vision of Northside STEM District to build a strong, diverse pipeline of STEM leaders and innovators within the North Minneapolis ecosystem where every student has an equitable opportunity to participate and thrive as contributing citizens within their communities.

Summit Academy OIC is an accredited, nonprofit Career and Technical Education (CTE) Institute located in North Minneapolis. Summit offers specializations and industry certifications for in-demand careers in Information Technology (IT), Construction, and Medical Administrative Assistant, delivering academic rigor alongside marketable skills and connections to employers. Our mission is to empower individuals to develop their ability to earn and become contributing citizens in their communities and economic drivers of the State of Minnesota. 

Get to Know Ben Shardlow, Director of Urban Design at minneapolis downtown council & Downtown Improvement District

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Ben ShardlowBen Shardlow has a lot to teach us about Minneapolis’ plans for innovative urban design, placemaking (keep reading to learn what that is) and community engagement around all of it. And, he welcomes the opportunity to meet downtown residents. Many of our readers have ideas to improve our downtown – set up a coffee meeting with Ben.  

Q:  What’s a typical day like for you as Director of Urban Design for the Downtown Improvement District (DID)?

A:  Every day is unique! The projects I work on and my role in them vary quite a bit. Sometimes I’m leading one of our projects, sometimes I’m advocating for our goals to be met in another organization’s effort. Either way, it’s collaborative. Almost everything we do is through partnerships, whether it’s working with the City on transportation, Park Board on trees, or arts and cultural partners on placemaking. That makes relationship building very important, which means lots of meetings. Heaps. Fortunately, I’m one of those oddballs who prefers meetings to just sitting at my desk.

Q:  You presented recently at the Minnesota Design Team's Annual Retreat, on the topic of community engagement through the lens of art and placemaking. Please tell us all about this notion.

A:  My presentation focused on the form of community engagement I enjoy the most: learning together by doing.

Traditional community engagement is necessary but challenging. You need a process that brings together technical experts and stakeholders who know the local context to agree to a shared definition of a problem, a potential solution, and the expected result. It’s possible for community members to disagree with any of the three, and for the process to devolve into speculation and mistrust. Please be nice to urban planners, it’s not as easy as it looks!

Placemaking offers alternative strategies. If you’re curious about the term, I’d encourage looking up Project for Public Spaces – they do a better job describing placemaking than I will here. The gist of it is that people and how they experience places should be at the center of how we design and run our cities. That might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised! Another key premise of placemaking is that successful places tend to have a recipe of features and activities that you can follow to make your own place(s) better.

The Living Bus Shelter project

Using placemaking strategies, you can try small experiments in public space to test a theory in a local context, see what happens, and get feedback from the community on actual experiences versus hypotheticals. It’s prototyping, essentially. We’ve used this technique throughout downtown. As one example, there was a bus stop on 7th Street that had high ridership and no bus shelter. The dialogue around a permanent shelter wasn’t very productive, so we got permission to place a temporary, artist-designed shelter and gather feedback. People liked it, and it opened the door for the really high-quality Bus Rapid Transit shelter at that site today.

Q:  You designed the Tactical Urbanism Initiative (TUI) for Minneapolis. How was it implemented? Can you bring us up to date with the Initiative? Is the City still collaborating with the partners?

A:  That initiative was the genesis of a lot of the placemaking projects we did from roughly 2013 - 2017. We used placemaking tactics to address sites of special concern for real or perceived safety – looking for underlying reasons why those sites weren’t successful and tried experiments to improve the experience people had in those places. We assembled an advisory committee – mainly with representatives from government agencies whose approval we needed to do the experiments, but also from social service and neighborhood groups.

The Alley Project in the 900 block of Hennepin

It was a lot of fun. We did a lot of experiments and learned a lot about ways we can positively improve the physical environment downtown and address localized concerns. The bus stop above is one example of a “TUI” project, but there were many more. We eventually stopped using that framework to do these kinds of projects because we had learned enough about how to work this way, and now we just engage adjacent stakeholders around individual projects. For example, we’re leading The Alley Project, a beautification and activation of the alley behind The Chambers Hotel, FAIR School for the Arts, and the University of St Thomas. We’re doing that project in partnership with Modern Day Me, Helping Hand Companies, Hennepin Theatre Trust, TENxTEN, and many others. The DNA of that project is very much aligned with how we approached TUI, but it’s a new context with new partners, and it’s informed by the years of work that preceded it.

Q:  What is the downtown council’s Intersections 2025 Plan?   

A:  The minneapolis downtown council has produced a visionary plan for the future of downtown every 10-15 years, with the 2025 Plan being the most recent. It was published in 2010 and includes ten major initiatives for downtown. I was in grad school at the time, and I remember being really inspired by the plan. I took it as a clarion call for downtown to grow and become a more livable, beautiful, connected, and humane place. Honestly, it became a major reason why I sought out work at mdc/DID, and I’ve been fortunate enough to work on implementing many of the initiatives in the plan. The plan has held up surprisingly well and is still a useful reference point for evaluating proposed changes to downtown. You can see how the green corridors idea has come to life on streets like Hennepin and the goal of leading the nation in transportation options has led to building out a network of protected bikeways for people biking of all ages and abilities – including a spot that I love at 4th and Hennepin where two such bikeways intersect. Really exciting.

With that said, it’s almost 2025 - that date no longer sounds futuristic! There will be announcements about a new planning effort before too long, and I’m excited for that.

Q:  How may citizens participate in your group’s initiatives?

A:  One, if you haven’t stopped into the DID’s Nicollet Office at 651 Nicollet Mall, Suite 105 - please do! We run a community space on the ground floor of Gaviidae, and it’s a great resource for getting information about what’s going on downtown. A number of us office there, so it’s normally pretty easy to get connected with the person working on the topic you’re interested in.

Second, we’re partnering with downtown residents on monthly Service Saturdays and other programs through the warmer months of the year so that neighbors can get acquainted and we can all contribute to a greener and cleaner downtown. We’re working on some fun incentives, too. If you’re interested in that, please check our volunteering calendar as the season ramps up or just reach out to me.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  I’d suggest following Minneapolis DID on Facebook and Instagram, signing up for our newsletter, or just reaching out to me personally at bshardlow@mplsdid.com. I regularly have coffee meetings with downtown residents and love to make new connections.

Father Hennepin Bluff Park Improvements Project Nears Completion

New restrooms open in May, fencing scheduled to come down in June, concerts return in July

A major renovation of Father Hennepin Bluff Park is nearly complete. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board would like to thank everyone for their patience while park access and use were limited since construction started last April.

The new restroom building next to the Stone Arch Bridge is expected to open in May. The construction fence around the park will remain in place throughout spring to allow areas that were seeded last fall to establish. Turf condition will be a major factor in determining when the park can fully reopen, hopefully by June. Please stay off these areas and respect signage and fencing!

Free concerts offered through Minneapolis Music in the Parks are scheduled to debut at the new stage in July. Stay tuned for more details.

Project Details

This Father Hennepin Bluff Park Improvements project includes:

• A new performance stage with seasonal restrooms
• New park entry plaza spaces
• Upgraded lights, path connections, wayfinding signage and trail markings
• Landscape and stormwater management improvements

The improvements are focused on the upper part of the park, not the lower paths closer to the Mississippi River.

Severe Weather Awareness Week is Coming; Expect Sirens April 20

April 17-21 is Severe Weather Awareness Week, when households and businesses are encouraged to practice what they’d do to stay safe if a tornado or severe weather strikes.

Expect sirens April 20

Thursday, April 20, is Tornado Drill Day. Sirens throughout the state will sound at 1:45 p.m. and at 6:45 p.m., giving people time to practice taking shelter in severe weather both at home and in the workplace. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota experiences an average of nearly 30 tornadoes per year.

Alerts

An electronic weather alert service can make you aware of any imminent weather danger with email or text notices. Check the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website for options for wireless emergency alerts and smartphone apps.

There is specific information for people with disabilities or access or functional needs about how to prepare for storm season and other emergencies.

If severe weather is approaching:

• Turn to local TV or radio or the weather channel, or make sure you have alerts enabled on a smart device or a weather radio programmed to pick up alerts inside. Weather sirens aren’t intended to be heard inside. If a warning is issued, go to the basement or an inner stairwell.
• If you’re outside and hear the weather sirens, go inside immediately and take shelter in an inner space away from windows. Don’t use elevators.
• Stay sheltered until the all-clear signal has been issued.

More about staying safe during severe weather

• Alerts and warnings
• Storms, hail and lightning
• Floods
• Tornadoes
• Extreme heat

Find emergency preparedness information on the City website.

Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look at HERC During Doors Open Minneapolis

Saturday, May 13 from 10a to 5p (open Saturday only)

The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) is one of the locations participating in the 2023 Doors Open Minneapolis event. It operates 24/7 to convert Minneapolis’ trash into energy, which provides electricity to 25,000 homes and heat to Target Field and downtown buildings.

Learn how HERC works and discover actions you can take to reduce waste. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the facility and the waste-to-energy process. Closed-toe shoes are required (no sandals) to participate in the portion of the tour to see the waste pit and claw that feeds trash into the furnace.

More information about Doors Open.

Small Business Spotlight: Twin Ignition Startup Garage

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Left to right - Scott Aubitz, Ben Rasmussen and Seth Peter

Sometimes an entrepreneur needs some advice in areas outside of his or her product or concept design – areas like management, finance, strategy, and marketing among others. That’s where Twin Ignition Startup Garage in Northeast Minneapolis can step in and provide the expertise necessary to bring the dream to life. We talked to co-founder Scott Aubitz about the genesis of Twin Ignition, their portfolio of success stories and one very fun reason (you’ll be surprised) to visit their business.

Q:  Please tell us a brief history of Twin Ignition Startup Garage. 

A:  Seth Peter, Ben Rasmussen, and Scott Aubitz came together in 2018 with a shared vision to support a thriving startup ecosystem in the Twin Cities through a tailored approach to startup incubation. We all saw the need to help bridge the gap between a community of innovative founders and access to the resources, support and capital they needed to succeed.

While Seth had acquired the building that is now known as Twin Ignition Startup Garage at 1317 Marshall Street NE in 2017, we weren’t able to move in until late in 2019, so we started meeting with companies every Wednesday at Sip Coffee Bar in Northeast. What we quickly learned is we all agree you just need to start “doing” to make things happen, and that our different experiences and approaches to startups worked well together.

With the opening of the garage in 2019, we confirmed that the Twin Cities has a growing community of first-time founders that need various components of the pillars of our offering - the space to work, capital to invest and advice to grow. Since those beginnings we have invested in over 20 start-ups in the Twin Cities area, with an average of 8-10 new and follow-on investments a year. We have also partnered with several funds, angel organizations and other startup investors to expand our reach and impact to create a thriving startup community in the Twin Cities.  

As we have seen our startup companies grow and expand, we realized the need to provide additional office options as they become too big for our founders’ space in the Startup Garage. As a result, in 2022 Twin Ignition purchased the Keg House building at 34 13th Avenue NE on the former campus of the Grain Belt Brewery. This 45,000 square foot building gives us more options to provide space to grow as businesses gain traction in their markets.

Twin Ignition common area

Twin Ignition garage area

Twin Ignition kitchen area

Q:  What’s a typical day for Peter, Ben and you, the founders of Twin Ignition? 

A:  We typically meet with 1-3 companies a week to hear investment pitches. We also meet with 2-3 advisory clients typically on a biweekly basis. There is a standing weekly "internal" meeting on Monday where we discuss pitches we've heard the week before, any follow-on investment opportunities we have, as well as operations of our buildings. As a result, we are meeting as a team most mornings each week, with afternoons dedicated to various other aspects of the business.

Individually, Seth focuses much of his time on ensuring the buildings are operating smoothly. He also is actively meeting with prospective businesses and others in the start-up community. Ben devotes most of his time to networking within the community to identify new opportunities both for investment as well as for candidates to office out of the Garage and Keghouse buildings. I focus more time on the financials of our investment portfolio and the building operations.  

Q:  Twin Ignition Startup Garage is a technology incubator AND it also houses a woodworking studio - that must keep the environment interesting and full of beautiful art.  

A:  Being located inside the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District was an important factor in determining our location. We believe the process of creating a work of art is similar to creating a technology offering. It’s about putting your creative energy into something entirely new, bringing an abstract idea to reality, and presenting that concept to an audience. We also believe that being surrounded by beautiful physical creation is inspiring to those working on their virtual technical creations. We have found that entrepreneurs in our space often have an artistic side to them.

Q:  In September of 2021, Twin Ignition told the Star Tribune that the goal was to “invest and mentor companies that would collectively create 100,000 jobs across the Twin Cities in the next 20 years.” We’re just two years into that timeframe, but have you seen your portfolio companies start to hire?

A:  Our portfolio companies have definitely been in expansion mode over the last several years. Every one of our portfolio companies has hired additional staff to varying degrees. We have companies anywhere from 2-4 employees up to 30+ employees, depending on their stage of growth and their cadence with capital raising.

With our mission to support a thriving tech startup community in the Twin cities we think Minnesota has a great opportunity to create 100k+ jobs in new growth over the coming decades. Our hope is to be one catalyst to ensure that happens.   

Q:  May a client just purchase access to your collaborative workspace – perhaps as a way to get started with Twin Ignition’s services?  

A:  The Startup Garage is a collective workspace for founders to utilize and collaborate with each other. Per our goal of creating a thriving tech startup community, we want to create a place where founders can plug into a broader community of like-minded people, experiencing similar issues and help support each in their growth. We're hoping to reduce some of the isolation of starting a business while providing support as they grow.

The space is designed to grow with businesses from "soloprenuers" up to businesses of 8-10 people. If a founder has started a business and is looking for office space on a part-time or full-time basis, they should definitely reach out to info@twinignition.com to arrange a time to come try out the space.

Q:  Can you share some of your success stories with us?

A:  We've been investing in very early stage companies for over 4 years now, but have seen some great traction with our portfolio companies. A great indicator of the success of our businesses and our strategy is we've had 3 different businesses gain enough traction that they needed to move out of the Startup Garage because they had become too big for the space - two of those have been moved into our Keghouse building. We've had a business exit within 2 years of our initial investment. Several of our portfolio companies have been listed as "startups to watch" in the Twin Cities in 2023 by the Business Journal (Turnsignl, ProsperStack, Omnia Fishing). Two of our businesses were MN Cup Divisional Winners (Turnsignl & Carbon Origins) with Carbon Origins being runner up for the grand prize. One of our businesses, Big Wheelbarrow, won a $500k investment in the 43 North startup competition in Buffalo, NY. Many of these businesses have benefited not just from our investment and advice, but from the community we were able to plug them into within our ecosystem.  

Q:  Great results – congratulations! Have you considered expanding your business to other cities with rich startup cultures?

A:  Our commitment is really to the Twin Cities and Minnesota more broadly. This is an area that has provided so much for each of us individually, we really see our work as a way to give back and make Minnesota a destination for startup activity. We think there is plenty of opportunity to keep doing what we are doing and grow this ecosystem into something really special.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Please feel free to follow Twin Ignition on LinkedIn. We tend to repost news about our portfolio companies as well as post for any upcoming events with which we may be associated. We also post more social events on our Facebook page as well. For example, make sure to come join us for Art-A-Whirl in May!

29th Annual Minneapolis Earth Day Cleanup Will be Hosted at 40+ Park Locations on April 22

Join the Minneapolis Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday, April 22! Drop in anytime between 9:30am and 12pm at any of 40+ park locations throughout Minneapolis and help clean up our beautiful city.

The Earth Day Cleanup has become the largest community service project in Minneapolis over the last 29 years. Since 2008, more than 23,000 people have removed more than 165,000 pounds of garbage.

It’s free to participate, no registration needed, just choose a site from our list and show up. We will provide bags and gloves, you help pick up junk that accumulated over the winter, and our partner City of Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling will process the collected bags. 

You can also get into the spirit by participating in the annual Earth Day 5K Bee Run/Walk at Boom Island Park! The event features a family- and dog-friendly fun run/walk (bee costumes encouraged!), river cleanup and Earth Day festivities.

Find a detailed list of clean-up sites and more information at minneapolisearthday.com, or view the flyer below:

“How to Become an American” Book Talk with Daniel Wolff at Mill City Museum

Wolff will discuss themes and topics from his latest non-fiction book

Thursday, April 27, 6:30–8:00 pm

The themes of history, immigration, and loneliness will be part of a discussion presented by Mill City Museum and The Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest. Author Daniel Wolff will host a book talk around his non-fiction book How to Become an American which examines immigration into the United States.

How to Become an American features one anonymous family of Jewish immigrants and their journey which led them to Minneapolis in the early 20th century. Attendees will hear real stories of the city’s Jewish community, and the challenges it faced during the time period. These stories are deeply personal, yet reflective of America as a whole.

Museum guests can join Wolff for this free lecture at 7 pm on April 27. Doors open at 6:30 pm. He invites the audience to contemplate the hurdles immigrants face in America and the experiences of their own families. Kate Dietrick, archivist of the Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives, will moderate the discussion.

This is a free event.

April Events at Hennepin History Museum

Human Toll:  Unfinished Business

Tuesday, April 11, 7:00 – 8 p.m.

As a follow-up to their long-running exhibit, Human Toll: A Public History of 35W, Hennepin History Museum is hosting an online community-driven conversation to address the topic of the long-term effects of freeway construction, and how we can learn from our experience to imagine a better future for all. Panelists include Dr, Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas; Jose Antionio Zayas Caban, advocacy director of Our Streets Minneapolis, Dr. Ernest Lloyd, adjunct instructor at the University of Minnesota’s Heritage Studies and Public History (HSPH) program; and Dr Greg Donofrio, director of HSPH. Drs. Lloyd and Donofrio, leaders of the Human Toll exhibit development team, will reflect on the success of the exhibit and the future of the Public History of 35W project.

Location: Virtual Event. Preregistration required to receive link.

Cost:  Pay As You Can

*****

The Bond Between Us – Artist Talk  

Saturday, April 15, 11 am – 12:30 p.m.

Local artist Daren Hill and Hennepin History Museum Executive Director John Crippen will discuss Hill’s new exhibit, The Bond Between Us, which opens Thursday, April 13. Hill will share how he developed this exhibit to honor his grandfather and father, who were both photographers before him, as well as create art rooted in his Minneapolis childhood. The audience is invited to join the discussion.

Location: Hennepin History Museum. Space is limited - reservations required.  

Cost:  Pay As You Can

*****

Million Artist Movement (MAM) Quilting Project

Saturday, April 15, 1 – 3 p.m.

MAM is a global vision and movement that believes in the role of art in the campaign to dismantle oppressive racists systems. Local MAM members will host an event for the public to make a quilt square with your message to the community from a place of power, love, and support. Quilting materials will be provided free of charge. All ages welcome.

Location: Hennepin History Museum 

Cost: Pay As You Can 

For further information on all HHM events:  https://hennepinhistory.org/events/

Great River Coalition Shares Tips on How to Have a Positive Impact on Pollinators

Elevate Hennepin - A Discussion with Community and Economic Development Director Patricia Fitzgerald

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Were you aware that small businesses in Hennepin County can tap into a wealth of no-cost business support services? Elevate Hennepin, in its third year, has supported over 2300 businesses with consulting and other support services. We talked to Patricia Fitzgerald, Community and Economic Development Director for Hennepin County Housing and Economic Development, to learn more about this all-encompassing business support program. 2 Dope Chicks – a tasty gem of a downtown restaurant – told us what participating meant to their business. 

Patricia FitzgeraldQ:  What's the origin of Elevate Hennepin?

A:  The initiative started in 2020 as an emergency response to the pandemic but has grown to be an innovative model of long-term business support. 

During the pandemic, Hennepin County convened a diverse Business Advisory Council that represented the diversity of the business community to help maximize the impact of pandemic recovery funds. One of the biggest things we heard from them is that businesses needed technical support to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, but also to build for future success.

In response, Hennepin County contracted with a team of professional business advisors and consultants with a range of specialties to work with businesses to help them rebuild and position them for future success. These services were completely free to businesses. The impact and value were immediately evident, and Elevate Hennepin was born.To date, Hennepin County has invested more than $6 million in Elevate Hennepin, with additional investment of $2.5 million annually over the next two years. Over 90 percent of that funding goes directly to business advising costs. 

Elevate has quickly been embraced and will continue to improve and refine to meet the needs of the business community as we evolve.

Q:  Your website mentions that the program offers a business support ecosystem. Can you please talk to us about what that encompasses?

A:  Elevate Hennepin amplifies our region’s ecosystem of small business support. Hennepin County is fortunate to have a wide range of nonprofit, mission-driven organizations and community-based lenders serving entrepreneurs. Elevate Hennepin supports those organizations, and has added a diverse group of specialized consultants, and created a resource hub that facilitates access and networking. Our focus, and the focus of Elevate Hennepin’s advisor network, is on serving local businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs located in Hennepin County.

Through Elevate, businesses in Hennepin County can access free expert consulting and technical assistance from more than 20 professional business advisors who specialize in a full range of business services, including legal, accounting, financial planning, marketing, business planning and strategy, and much more. And, you can access up to 25 hours from each consultant. We are finding that many businesses are working with multiple advisors, and that advisors are connecting businesses to each other to address unique needs. For instance, one advisor might work on financial planning, then connect them to another advisor to work on marketing. So, there’s a new ecosystem of advisors and businesses and government agencies taking shape that is really exciting.

As one of our advisors, Henry Blake, said, “You can get just about every kind of service you need to establish and run a viable business.”

The other aspect is that elevatehennepin.org is a hub of curated events and resources from a variety of sources. In addition to events and resources from Elevate advisors and the county, there are also resources from numerous other trusted business-support sources like the Small Business Administration, the state of Minnesota, cities, and other partners. The idea was to create a central hub, curated for aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses to access a wide variety of business-support resources and assistance in one place.

Q:  How is the no-cost consulting structured? Does it cover multiple aspects of business ownership?  

A:  Consulting is one of the key aspects of the Elevate Hennepin initiative - more than 90 percent of the overall investment goes directly to one-on-one business consulting and cohort training programs. Hennepin County has intentionally selected more than 20 professional business advisors and organizations who represent the diversity of Hennepin County businesses and specialize in the full range of subjects and services a growing business might need.

We try to make it as simple of a process as possible for the businesses. A business owner can either connect to one of Hennepin County’s business navigators to discuss their needs or directly to an advisor through the Elevate website at ElevateHennepin.org.

Each business owner can access up to 25 hours of free consulting from each of more than 20 advisors. It covers a whole range of business needs, including:  

• Legal questions

• Marketing strategy

• Business planning and strategy

• Access to capital

• Accounting and finance

.

So far, more than 1,400 businesses have tapped into Elevate Hennepin for more than 9,500 hours of this one-on-one technical assistance or back-office support. From there, the advisor just invoices the program and Hennepin County pays the advisor for their services. 

Q:  How many businesses have taken advantage of Elevate Hennepin?

A:  As of year-end 2022, more than 2,300 businesses have engaged with the online resource hub, accessed technical assistance, or participated in a cohort-learning program. Of those, 1,400 have utilized the one-on-one consulting and received more than 9,500 hours of advising. 

Businesses looking for guidance on where to start with Elevate Hennepin are encouraged to email Hennepin County Business Navigator Tashie George at economic.development@hennepin.us.

2 Dope Chicks cofounders Rhonda Caldwell-Heard (left) and Jamis Rodriguez

We also wanted to hear from a business that has benefited from Elevate Hennepin. 2 Dope Chicks is owned by Jamis Rodriguez and Rhonda Caldwell-Heard. The business is located at 300 S. 6th Street in the Hennepin County Government Center. We asked Rodriguez what it meant to participate in Elevate Hennepin. Here's what she had to say:

.

"Hearing about the program was inspiring for me - it gave a boost in motivation when things were feeling stagnant due to financial roadblocks. Participation in the program has brought awareness to so many resources and other business beneficial programs. It has even earned 2 Dope Chicks a few new customers! Being a new business, partnering with Elevate made sense. It was an extremely useful step in setting our business up for better success - with support in all aspects, from business planning to marketing to bookkeeping - we are very grateful."

Q:  How may we stay up to date with the program's news and success stories? 

A:  So many ways to follow our news - sign up for our newsletter or follow our social media channels:

Newsletter signup link

Elevate Hennepin website

Elevate Hennepin Facebook

Elevate Hennepin Twitter

Hennepin County Economic Development website

Hennepin County Economic Development LinkedIn 

Summer at Peavey Plaza Corporate Sponsorship Opportunity 2023

Green Minneapolis is excited to announce their second year of presenting free performing arts events, Summer at Peavey Plaza! A five month series of over 100 diverse events, from live music to dance performances, including their new artist in residence, Kawai-endorsed touring pianist and vocalist Phil Thompson.

From May through September, Peavey Plaza will be the place to go Downtown for free music, dance and theater performances. Join them every Wednesday and Thursday lunch hour for performances by MNspin artists and every Saturday morning for Music in Motion with the Children’s Theatre Company, perfect for families with children. And don’t miss the Peavey Plaza Piano Bar brought to you by Phil Thompson every Tuesday afternoon, along with his Tribute Concerts every last Thursday of the month.

Call for Sponsors!

As a sponsor of this program your brand will be thanked prominently with the 10,000+ expected summer attendees for the 2023 season in addition to placements across print and social media campaigns. Promoting partners include mpls Downtown Council, Meet Minneapolis, City of Minneapolis and local tv, radio and print communications. 

Sponsorship Levels:

$1,000 Friend Sponsor

Includes:

● Company name listed on Green Minneapolis website and program

.

$2,500 Partner Sponsor

Includes:

● Company name listed on Green Minneapolis website and program

● Recognition as partner at every event

.

$5,000 Lead Sponsor

Includes:

● Company name listed on Green Minneapolis website and program

● Recognition as partner at every event

● Logo placement on event signage and press communications 

My Very Own Bed Announces the 3rd Annual Steps for Sleep Event, April 29

 Walk & Wellness Fundraising Event on April 29th

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For the third consecutive year, Minneapolis nonprofit My Very Own Bed will host its annual Steps for Sleep – a walk and wellness fundraising event highlighting the connection between physical activity and healthy sleep while raising awareness and funds for its work providing new beds and Dream Kits to kids.

Members of the public are invited to:

• Walk 1.5 miles around Boom Island on April 29th at 9:30 a.m., starting at DeLaSalle High School.

• Or walk anywhere, April 22–29.

• Explore the Wellness Fair whether walking in-person or anywhere. Learn about healthy sleep, fitness, healing, nutrition, and more!

• Donate to support 1600 kids in the community with new beds this year.

• Start their own fundraiser to support kids’ healthy sleep.

Since its founding in 2014, My Very Own Bed has had one goal: to provide new beds and Dream Kits (bedding, books, and stuffed animals) to children moving into stable housing.

While working in social services, founder Michael Allen saw beds as a great need as he helped families move out of shelters and into homes. What struck him most was seeing children sleeping on the floor because a bed was out of reach for many families.

With support from a broad base of sponsors, volunteers, donors, and referral partners (social service organizations that connect My Very Own Bed with families), My Very Own Bed has grown to impact more kids and their families each year. In 2022 alone, My Very Own Bed provided 1637 beds to kids in 684 families.

The impact of receiving a new bed is immediate for a child and their family. Improving where and how children sleep improves their overall health and well-being, performance in school, behavior at home, physical health, and much more.

Register or donate at https://runsignup.com/Race/MN/Minneapolis/StepsforSleep

Minneapolis Convention Center 2023 Q2 Event Calendar

It's wonderful to see Downtown continually coming back to life. One example is the growing list of events scheduled for the Minneapolis Convention Center. The facility hosts numerous meetings, conventions and trade shows, helping to support the hospitality industry in the Minneapolis community.

Highlights of the Q2 event calendar include several shows open to the public, including the Twin Cities Auto Show, GeekCraft Expo, the People of Color Career Fair, MagicCon Minneapolis, Oddities & Curiosities Expo, Minnesota Con and the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships. Here's the current Q2 list:

APRIL

• Twin Cities Auto Show – March 31-April 8 – estimated attendance: 40,000
• Minnesota Craft Beer Festival – April 1 – estimated attendance: 6,000
• Hot Chocolate 15K/5K Expo – April 7 – estimated attendance: 6,500
• PEAK 2023, Midwest Poultry Federation – April 11-13 – estimated attendance: 2,500
• International Technology and Engineering Educators Association Conference – April 12-15 – estimated attendance: 1,200
• Kids Artistic Revue Regional Dance Competition – April 14-16 – estimated attendance: 1,500
• International Association of Operative Millers Annual Conference & Expo – April 17-21 – estimated attendance: 850
• Mantle Conference – April 19-22 – estimated attendance: 5,000
• Upper Midwest Electrical Expo – April 19-20 – estimated attendance: 4,000
• Region 4 Xcel Championships, Classic Gymnastics – April 21-23 – estimated attendance: 1,500
• GeekCraft Expo – April 22-23 – estimated attendance: 2,000
• Mobility Conference & International Bus Roadeo, American Public Transportation Association – April 23-26 – estimated attendance: 1,000
• Tax Executives Institute – MN Chapter Annual President’s Seminar – April 26-27 – estimated attendance: 550
• People of Color Career Fair – April 27 – estimated attendance: 500
• Starpower National Talent Competition – April 28-30 – estimated attendance: 3,000
• Twin Cities River Rumble, North Country Region Volleyball – April 29-30 – estimated attendance: 6,000

MAY

• Music Matters Luncheon, MacPhail Center for Music – May 4 – estimated attendance: 1,000
• Showbiz Regional Dance Competition – May 4-7 – estimated attendance: 2,700
• MagicCon Minneapolis – May 5-7 – estimated attendance: 8,500
• Humphrey-Mondale Dinner, Minnesota DFL– May 19 – estimated attendance: 1,800
• Metropolitan State University Commencement – May 6 – estimated attendance: 6,000
• North Hennepin Community College Commencement – May 11 – estimated attendance: 3,000
• Minneapolis Community & Technical College Commencement – May 12 – estimated attendance: 3,000
• Hennepin Technical College Commencement – May 17 – estimated attendance: 3,000
• Talent on Parade Dance Competition – May 19-21 – estimated attendance: 1,000
• Dunwoody College of Technology Commencement – May 20 – estimated attendance: 2,000
• Oddities & Curiosities Expo – May 20 – estimated attendance: 8,000
• Richfield High School Prom – May 20 – estimated attendance: 250
• University of St. Thomas School of Law Commencement – May 20 – estimated attendance: 1,500
• An Evening with Dr. Zahi Hawass – May 22 – estimated attendance: 2,000
• NAMICon 2023, National Alliance on Mental Illness – May 24-27 – estimated attendance: 2,000
• Bloomington Kennedy High School Graduation – May 30 – estimated attendance: 3,000
• Bloomington Jefferson High School Graduation – May 31 – estimated attendance: 3,000

JUNE

• Northern Lights Junior Volleyball Banquet – June 1 – estimated attendance: 1,500
• IASA Xchange and OnPOINT, Insurance Accounting and Systems Association – June 5-7 – estimated attendance: 2,000
• Minnesota Con, NerdinOut – June 2-4 – estimated attendance: 8,000
• Minnesota Music Teachers Association Honors Concert – June 3 – estimated attendance: 3,400
• Robbinsdale Area Schools Graduation – June 5 – estimated attendance: 6,000
• Community Connections Conference – June 10 – estimated attendance: 1,000
• Minnesota Connections Academy Graduation – June 10 – estimated attendance: 1,300
• Minnesota Virtual High School Graduation – June 10 – estimated attendance: 600
• Minneapolis Public Schools Graduation – June 10-12 – estimated attendance: 15,000
• Clinical Gait Analysis: A Focus on Interpretation, Gillette Children’s – June 12-14 – estimated attendance: 150
• USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships (11-13) – June 14-17 – estimated attendance: 20,200
• His Holiness the Sakya Trichen, Minnesota Sakya Center – June 17-18 – estimated attendance: 1,000
• Kiwanis International Convention – June 21-24 – estimated attendance: 6,000
• Professional Learning Communities at Work Institute, Solution Tree – June 26-28 – estimated attendance: 2,500
• Best Buy Charity Classic – June 27 – estimated attendance: 2,000
• Bollywood Concert – June 30 – estimated attendance: 1,500

2023 MacPhail Spotlight Series Final Performance, April 22: The Space Where Words Fail

The Space Where Words Fail

The MacPhail Spotlight Series: Musical Explorations in Spectral Colors comes to a spell bounding, collaborative crescendo as Twin Cities photographer

Asha Belk creates a visual landscape to join the eclectic sounds of MacPhail’s EMRA (Electronic Music and Recording Arts) Faculty. With Belk’s highly narrative photographic style, she will curate a selection of relevant photographs from the Twin Cities and beyond, that speak to the essence of family, individuals, and her passion as a social worker.

MacPhail’s EMRA faculty, led by Grammy nominated pianist Michael Cain, and joined by Isaac Rohr, Kenichi ‘DJ Just Nine’ Thomas, and Barbara Cohen will feature a wide variety of musical pieces featuring voice, keys, and electronic music of all sorts.

Belk had this to say about bringing her work to the stage at MacPhail, “This a selection of work I’ve done over the past ten years and I’m excited to see it coexist with the power of music! This curation of photos is about celebrating and authentically capturing Black Culture and showcasing those beautiful spaces that we create. I want the audience to leave with a greater sense of humanity and to bring them into someone else’s world. The title of this performance is ‘The Space Where Words Fail’ because I want the art to speak for itself."

The Space Where Words Fail will take place on Saturday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. in MacPhail’s Antonello Hall. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Dushani Dye, 2022 CFO of the Year in the Government Category

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with Chief Financial Officer, City of Minneapolis, Dushani Dye

CFO Dushani Dye was recently awarded CFO of the Year in the Government Category by the Minneapolis-St Paul Business Journal. We talked to her about being recognized for her work and how it differs from the CFO role in private enterprises. Dye is also a committed community volunteer – learn about her approach to work and giving back below.  

Dushani DyeQ:  Congratulations on being named CFO of the Year in the Government category by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. What did winning this award mean to you?

A:  It is a great honor to be recognized, especially as a CFO for the government sector. The last two years have definitely been a challenge for many CFOs, and City of Minneapolis was no exception. The entire finance team, including other leaders throughout the City, rose up to the challenges and was resilient through revenue losses and civil unrest the City experienced. I was recognized for the efforts made by the Finance Department, but there were many others who contributed to my successes. Our work is not complete, but this recognition means that we are on the right track.

Q:  You’ve worked in municipal finance for almost 30 years. Why does it appeal to you? 

A:  Early in my career, I have had the opportunity to work in multiple areas of local government including social services, property management, public works and the attorney’s office. I was able to see the direct correlation between finances and service delivery. Being able to have input into projects and programs and making budget decisions that affect the public we serve was extremely rewarding. As a county budget director, I had the opportunity to find solutions to budget challenges, and seeing the impact the decisions had in the community, was fulfilling for me. As the CFO, I enjoy working towards priorities of the City that affect all residents and visitors rather than making a profit for a company. Some say public service is a calling. That’s definitely true for me.  

Q:  You oversee departments that manage the City’s money – a daunting job that covers so many areas.  One of the tenets of your department, listed on the website, states that your department engages enterprise partners in decision-making to uphold the City’s lasting vibrancy and strength. Can you talk about this idea a little bit – which enterprise partners and how can your department contribute to Minneapolis’ vibrancy and strength? 

A:  It is extremely important to ensure the City can endure unexpected financial challenges. The pandemic is a good example of that, and the City was able to close the last two years with surpluses. This couldn’t have been accomplished by Finance Department alone. As the CFO, I can make recommendations or caution against making certain decisions, but ultimately all leaders of the organization, including elected officials, have to work together to make the best financial decisions for the City. It is also important for me to have the bond ratings agencies acknowledge the financial strength of the City. This evaluation affects the cost of borrowing for the City to complete capital projects and gives the investors’ confidence that the City is financially well managed.

Dye working with Michael Goenner, an Accounting Technician at City of Minneapolis

Q:  In my opinion, your job is so much more difficult than a CFO of a private corporation. How do you stay centered and focused on the tasks to be accomplished each day? 

A:  I start each day with a plan for the day. Most days, the plan is just a plan and I stay flexible to attend to situations as they arise. I have a great team that I get to work with every day, and everyone on it is willing to step in as needed. The decisions made by a City CFO is different than of a private company CFO. Financial decisions made by the City may impact every resident and visitor to the City, and that is a responsibility many private company CFOs don’t have.  

Q:  You’re on the board of Guild Services. Why is it important to you to support their mission? 

A:  Guild Services offers community-based mental health services and also helps individuals find safe housing and employment. Guild fulfills the unmet needs of the community and does amazing work. I see the intersection of my work with the community as the CFO for the City and the role Guild plays in social services. I find it rewarding to be able to offer my expertise as a financial professional and assist the organization to be successful. With mental health issues having been escalated since the pandemic, Guild Services’ dedicated staff has stepped up to find solutions. I am committed to playing a supporting role in the organization as I believe in supporting those struggling with mental health.  

Q:  How may we follow your department’s news?

A:  Finance Department news and all City news can be found at https://www.minneapolismn.gov/news/.

Be The Change MN to Present the Follow Your Dreams College & Career Fair at Orchestra Hall, April 26

Wednesday, April 26, 9AM - 3PM at Orchestra Hall 

Be The Change MN presents the Follow Your Dreams College & Career Fair (FYD), a day-long event with a mission of providing education and employment equity to 10th, 11th and 12th grade students in the Minneapolis Public School District. 

FYD offers a wide range of opportunities including exhibitor booths, aspirational speakers, job opportunities & internships, breakout sessions, career path guidance, financial aid assistance and great giveaways throughout the day. All students will be provided bus transportation and lunch at the event. 

Some of the highlights of FYD are: keynote speaker, Donyea Cooley-White (Senior VP at Mojang Studios Minecraft, previously Xbox Live), Dream Boarding with Jasmine Brett-Stringer (WCCO), Dress to Impress with Keith Dorsett (Heimie’s Haberdashery), Social Media Best Practices with Joelle Allen (Interaction Traction) and Simplify the Resume with Ellen Walthour (Cufflink).

Be The Change MN founder John Baker is excited to bring to life his vision of offering underserved, immigrant and first generation college students a welcoming, engaging and one-stop shop for post-secondary options. “When we talk about ‘being the change’ in our communities, it’s about community philanthropy; leveraging volunteers, young people, professionals and family donors, businesses and corporations to all connect to support real people who truly need it.”

The event offers a myriad of ways for Twin Cities corporations, educational institutions, local businesses & non-profit organizations to participate:

- Join as a booth sponsor and interact with enthusiastic students at the start of their career path

- Fund cool and fun essential event elements like the Dream Boarding creation station, Lunch & Learn Sessions, the Social Media Photo Booth or hourly giveaways (AirPods, Swag Bags, etc)

- Recruit students for summer jobs and internships

- Contribute to the Friends of Be The Change MN Scholarship Fund

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Launches "Our Parks, Our Stories" Initiative to Commemorate 140th year

New storytelling initiative will build community archive full of park stories over the next year

April 4th marked the 140th anniversary of the Minneapolis Park Board. To commemorate, they launched a new storytelling initiative and year-long project called 140 Years: Our Parks, Our Stories.

They are collecting personal stories of Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) staff, park users, and community members from across Minneapolis parks to build a community archive. Everyone is encouraged to share their story of a memory, person, place, event, or experience to help us shape the next chapter and legacy of the MPRB.

Share Your Story

• Submit your story using an online form
  • English
  • Español
  • Soomaali
  • Hmoob 
• Email a story and related photographs to ourstories@minneapolisparks.org. You can also email that account to ask for additional translation services. 
• Participate in upcoming storytelling programs this summer. More information coming soon on those events.

Submitted stories will be archived and may be featured on MPRB social media with your consent.

Featured Stories

The MPRB will periodically publish stories from its own staff and archives in addition to stories collected from community. The first two stories feature Reggie Jarrett, a MPRB parkkeeper for the last 30 years who has special connection to Farview Park; and Alice Dietz, an early recreation professional who oversaw a vast expansion in recreation opportunities in Minneapolis parks during her 40-year career spanning 1916-1957.

Expand Your Outlook: Queer Ecology Hanky Project at Quarter Gallery, Regis Center for Art thru April 22

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Queer Ecology Hanky Project (QEHP) is an ongoing traveling exhibition with over one hundred and twenty artists from across North America organized by V Adams and Mary Tremonte. The exhibit showcases a diverse array of artist responses to Queer Ecology—an emerging area of inquiry that unites the study of biology, environment, and sexuality with a framework of queer theory—and celebrates a wide spectrum of print mediums and methods.

I remember being in college at Virginia Tech in the 1970s and the original queer hanky code came into being – it was a means for gay men to subtly communicate sexual desires to include different bodies, identities, and activities.  The bandana was worn in a back pocket for the purposes of sexual signaling. The color of the bandana was associated with a specific sexual practice or fetish, and the wearer’s sexual role was indicated by which back pocket the bandana resided in (tops wore bandanas in their left pocket; bottoms wore bandanas in their right pocket). Any other people out there remember the hanky code which lasted into the 1980s?

But enough about my ancient history and back to the exhibit! It won’t be in town long – only until April 22. I spoke to Professor Corinne Teed of the U’s College of Liberal Arts, one of the artists whose work is displayed in the exhibition.

Q:  What inspired you to create a submission for the exhibit? Had you studied salamanders before?

A:  The hanky that I made is about spotted salamanders and their gay night life in vernal pools. Male salamanders gather together in summer puddles and masturbate each other, filling the pools with their sperm. Wildlife biologists have historically classified this activity as a necessary labor in a heterosexual reproductive system. In 2014, I made an experimental documentary called "Mounting Evidence" about the prevalence of queer sexuality and transgender individuals within non-human animals. During a Visiting Artist talk I gave at Bowdoin College, I shared clips of the video piece and a biologist spoke in the Q&A saying she had studied this behavior for decades and it had never occurred to her that the salamanders might be experiencing homoerotic pleasure. My hankie celebrates the queer pleasure of salamander bodies during their amphibious encounters of group sex.

The majority of my work is on concepts of queer ecology. I use a queer reframing of how we understand other species and nature-cultures to contradict the hetero-patriarchal and settler colonial concepts that underpinned the development of western colonial science.

Professor Teed is just one of the 120 artists who contributed to the show. Plan your visit to this special, fun and free of charge exhibit!

Location - Quarter Gallery, Regis Center for Art, 405 21st Avenue S

Days/Times -

Tuesday and Friday, 11 am to 5 pm

Wednesday and Thursday, 11 am to 7 pm

Saturday, 11 am to 3 pm