Why Euripides Remains Important Today – A Discussion with Director Marcela Lorca

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos supplied

Marcela LorcaEuripides’ Iphigenia at Aulis will have a short run in the Twin Cities – this is another event not to dawdle on – tickets go on sale August 15. We spoke to the play’s director and theater superstar, Marcela Lorca, about the universal scope of the play, the all star cast and crew and what is on the horizon for Ten Thousand Things Theater Company.

Q:  Euripides’ Iphigenia at Aulis has been performed since 405 BC where it won first place at the Dionysia competition in Athens. Many people will glance at the author and title of the play and assume there is no modern significance in the play. What is your response to get folks to take a second look at the current relevance of this classic Greek tragedy? Why did Ten Thousand Things Theater Company choose to produce it now? 

A:  This remains one of the most moving plays ever written. At the center of the story are the fate of a girl in the midst of impending war, who has to struggle with the duty to country versus the duty to family, and the sacrifices and difficult decisions that are made to save others. In a parallel yet contemporary bow to the origins of Greek theater, our production is rooted in ritual, movement, and song. With original music composition by J.D. Steele, movement contributions by Brian Bose and Darrius Strong, and visuals by Sarah Bahr and Rachel Breen, ours is a current interpretation of this timeless classic play. As in the play, our current times are complex, politics are divisive, and big conflicts loom in the distance, which demands extraordinary actions from citizens. Now more than ever we need inspiration from great works of art that are universal in their scope.

Q:  Brian Vinero writes of Euripides, “His surviving works paint a portrait of a man dissatisfied with politics, war and dismissive attitudes toward women in Athenian society.” Will we experience evidence of his dissatisfactions in this production? 

A:  There is no question that women had limited rights in Ancient Greece, and poignantly it feels like the gains that women have made in recent history are ever more vulnerable today. I feel that Euripides is exploring the intersection of intimate human relations and the politics of a nation on the brink of war. He does this with great nuance and balance. There are no villains, just divergent points of view and impossible circumstances driven by history and politics. He reminds us of the great importance of listening and debate in civil society.

The cast

Q:  You have an amazing all-star acting and musical direction cast. What was the recruitment process for this play? Who committed first to the project? 

A:  This is the fourth time that J.D. Steele and I have worked on a Greek play together. We have a unique form of collaboration and one that we keep refining. There’s great emotional power and theatricality in the chorus’ work. We’re also inviting community choirs to join us, as we want the experience to be inclusive and open to others who want to participate. In terms of assembling the cast, I started by inviting Regina Williams, Steve Epp, and Sally Wingert as they are actors I’ve worked with previously and greatly admire. Then we did call backs in order to assemble a cast that could play characters and be part of the singing chorus. Everyone is amazing. 

Q:  Ten Thousand Things Theater Company performs in many non-traditional theater spaces - homeless shelters, correctional facilities, low-income senior centers, after-school programs and women’s shelters. Where is the theater bringing Ighigenia at Aulis?      

A:  Due to measures put in place by Actors’ Equity Association, we aren't able to tour to our community partners. In addition, some of our community partners are restricting access due to health conditions. We are instead offering video recordings to our community partners and also engaging with them via Ten Thousand Voices. We are hopeful we can begin touring with Mlima's Tale. In the meantime, we have three outdoor and one indoor location for audiences to see Iphigenia at Aulis.

Q:  How do we purchase tickets for this play? 

A:  Tickets for Iphigenia at Aulis go on sale August 15 at www.tenthousandthings.org. Tickets are pay-what-you-can pricing, with suggested $35.

Dates and locations are:

September 9-10 at Powderhorn Park

September 11 at Everwood Farmstead

September 15-18 at Water Works Park (site of Owámni by The Sioux Chef)

September 21-25 and September 28-October 2 at Luminary Arts Center (formerly The Lab Theater)

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Q:  This play kicks off the 2022-2023 season for Ten Thousand Things Theater Company. What else will we see this coming year?

A:  In November, Michelle O’Neill will direct Ten Thousand Voices: WATER, a live event featuring select writing from community partners read and performed by some of Minnesota’s finest actors. Performances are November 17–20 at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Ten Thousand Things Theater Company returns to Open Book and one other location to be announced from February 10 to March 12, 2023 for Mlima’s Tale by Lynn Nottage. Ansa Akyea will make his Ten Thousand Things Theater Company directing debut, with a cast that includes Brian Bose. We learn that elephants may become extinct in as few as 20 years because of poaching for their ivory in this compelling play by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of Ruined and Sweat. Inspired by a magazine article about wild elephants illegally hunted by contract poachers who smuggle their ivory tusks out of Africa for profit, Mlima's Tale is an enthralling piece of theater told in a daringly original way.

The season concludes April 28–June 11, 2023 with Emilia by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm. I direct this show based on the real life of the 16th century English poet Emilia Bassano, with a cast that includes Sun Mee Chomet. With the notion that she may have been the 'Dark Lady' of Shakespeare's sonnets, the play tells the fictional story of Bassano’s relationship with him, her tremendous skill as a writer, and her determination to thrive and uplift women's voices at a time laws were designed to restrict women's rights. With an all-female cast, the play bursts with passion, music, and humor as it reveals the life of a poet, mother, and feminist. 

Q: How may we follow the theater’s news?  

A:  Many ways! 

Check out our website: www.tenthousandthings.org

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Ten-Thousand-Things-13201236885

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ttttheater

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/TTTMpls/playlists (view our offerings of TTT Let's Sing! and Ten Thousand Voices 2021)

Vimeo:  https://vimeo.com/672081627/9c378cb940 (for Ten Thousand Voices 2022) 

Podcasts:  https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-things-theat

Stewardship Funding Grants from Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO)

Article by Becky Fillinger  Photo credit: MWMO

Adam Flett, Communications and Outreach Specialist, MWMO Listen up neighborhood organizations, block clubs, non-profits, home owner associations and more – three types of grants are available to you from MWMO for projects that range from Community Grants, Planning Grants and Action Grants. We talked to Adam Flett, Communications and Outreach Specialist and Alicia Beattie, Capital Projects and Stewardship Specialist, about the different types of funding available and how to apply. 

Q:  Please tell us more about your Stewardship Funding Grants. How many years have they been awarded?

A:  Stewardship Fund Grants are designed to support small- to medium-sized projects and programs to manage stormwater, control pollution, and improve water quality and habitat.

Alicia Beattie, Capital Projects and Stewardship Specialist, MWMOOur Stewardship Fund Grant program has been around for approximately 20 years, and has spawned a wide range of creative projects. The grants can be used for in-the-ground infrastructure like raingardens, but they can also be used for more outreach-focused projects that help build community understanding, initiative, and engagement in creating solutions. 

Our board of commissioners recently approved a funding increase for the program, so that up to 40 percent more money is available in a given year to support our three different grant types. Community Grants (up to $5,000) are available for short-term or small-scale projects. Planning Grants (up to $20,000) help organizations prepare planning and design documents for future projects. Action Grants (up to $50,000) are our largest Stewardship Fund Grant type, and are used to fund water quality and stewardship projects that are significant in scope and cost.

Full information on grant types and eligibility can be found on our Stewardship Fund Grants web page. (For large-scale, innovative projects over $50,000, the MWMO also has a separate Capital Project Grants program.) 

Q:  Who may apply? Is it intended for individuals or organizations? 

A:  Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, local units of government, and business or homeowner associations. Individuals, for-profit businesses, and political organizations are not eligible to receive funding directly; however, they may partner with eligible organizations to apply for our grants.

The grants are awarded through a competitive process. Applications that demonstrate a number of connections between organizations, communities and individuals tend to appear more competitive in a pool of applicants. Our watershed is incredibly diverse, and creating partnerships that invest in leadership from individuals and communities of color, or other groups that have been marginalized, are central to the Stewardship Fund.

Q:  Do you supervise the projects to ensure compliance with MWMO policies?

A:  There are certainly parts of the project that need to meet our policies, particularly those related to what is required when entering a contract agreement with the MWMO. This might include rules around where money can be spent, or helping our grantee partners understand what are permissible activities when using government funding. We also provide guidance to help ensure that projects are achieving their expected outcomes.

Q:  Are matching funds required?

A:  We don’t require matching funds for Community Grants. For our Planning and Action Grants, a 25 percent match is required. The match may consist of cash or in-kind support (e.g., volunteer time, donated materials, or services).

Q:  How are the grants funded?

A:  The MWMO is a joint-powers local unit of government. The MWMO raises funds via a property tax levy to carry out our mission. This annual levy is the primary source of revenue for all of the MWMO’s activities, including the Stewardship Fund program.

Grant applications are reviewed by MWMO staff, with invitations to meet and discuss project ideas. Selected applicants use feedback to complete final applications. Planning and Action Grant applications are also reviewed by the Citizen Advisory Committee and are brought to the MWMO Board of Commissioners for final review and approval.

Q:  Do you provide help in writing the grant requests? 

A:  We take an active role in helping applicants think through their project before they apply. We meet with potential grant applicants and discuss their ideas, provide feedback on what requirements must be addressed or what would make the idea more compelling during review, and assist in creating connections with potential partners. We offer to look at grant application materials and provide suggestions prior to the deadlines. We also continue to offer support to grantees after funds are awarded, with tips and guidance on project management, design review, communications, outreach, long-term maintenance strategies, and more.

Q:  What's the timeline of the grant cycle?

A:  For Community Grants, there are typically two rounds per year, with initial deadlines in April and December. Planning Grants are due once annually in March, with award in July. Action Grants are due once annually in November, with award in March. Projects must be completed within one year after the contract is signed.

Watershed Trash Can Mural - Community Grant 

Elliot Park Skate Plaza - Action Grant

Islamic Cultural  Community Center - Action Grant 

East Side Water Watch - Community Grant

Nicollet Island Restoration (Planning Grant, Action Grant)

Q:  Could you tell us about prior grantee projects?

A:  Projects have ranged from neighborhood-led efforts to restore woodland and prairie habitat to educational programming for kids. Each project helps increase stewardship and community awareness of ways to improve urban water quality and habitat. A few recent examples include a North Loop neighborhood-led initiative to restore habitat at James Rice Park, construction of raingardens at University Baptist Church, and implementation of the Northeast Adopt-a-Drain Challenge.

Q: How may we follow your news?

A: You can sign up to receive e-newsletters on our website at mwmo.org where it says “Subscribe to email updates” at the bottom of the landing page. We also post regularly on social media – Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Folks can also contact staff directly with questions and project ideas.

Must See Exhibit: Teo Nguyen’s Việt Nam Peace Project, Minneapolis Institute of Art

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Teo NguyenTeo Nguyen’s Việt Nam Peace Project is on display at Mia until June 18 of next year. Don’t wait to see it – you might want to visit more than once. This exhibit features beautiful photorealist paintings that reference familiar, historic images by photojournalists documenting the war in Vietnam, but after removing the characteristics of war. The multi-media show is composed of the photorealist paintings, sculpture,  a ten-panel mural of white lotus flowers and more. We talked to him about art and peace, our shared humanity and Minneapolis as his home of choice.

Q:  You’ve said that "peace is a practice." Could you tell us a bit more about this idea? Was it a peaceful practice to create the works in this exhibit?

From the "Viet Nam Peace Project: Memories of Home" seriesA:  When I say, “peace is practice,” I mean to actively engage in the art of empathy and knowledge seeking, especially with those I have yet to break bread with. Practicing peace is about forging a difference-friendly world. I have observed that we tend to fabricate our own answers to the people and places we don’t understand. This often results in hostility. One way to mitigate the conflict is to engage with different people and to share perspectives – thereby broadening our views. The Việt Nam Peace Project is my invitation to engage with curiosity, newness, and understanding of the cultural and spiritual lens through which my art was conceived. I resonate my Vietnamese American cultural values and my animist spirituality in my artwork – including my Midwest landscapes and abstracts. With the Việt Nam Peace Project, my cultural and spiritual lenses are intertwined with personal stories.

I emigrated to the United States at the age of 16 and soon observed the depictions of Vietnamese people, in documentaries, art exhibitions, cinema, and news, to be lesser, foreign, and bizarre. I also heard people speak of Vietnam, not as a country or a people, but a war. Rather than confronting this fallacy with discord, I sought to move my own narrative from the peripheral to the center of public discourse. Through this exhibition, I hope for us to find connectedness through our shared humanity. This is one way I practice peace.

Creating the Việt Nam Peace Project was reflective and meditative. It was a privilege for me to make a film about my mom and her poems - her cherished memories and her years of displacement. With Remembering Others, my paper installation, I show reverence for lives lost. I also present the sorrow imprinted in Vietnam’s landscapes through my paintings. The Agent Orange sculpture is my reminder of the continuing devastations of war on human and environment, even as the rest of the world forget. The Lotus, a symbol of peace and optimism, is presented in a large-scale mural and represent my hope that we will continue to learn and commit to peace as a practice.

Q:  A 2017 study published in Frontiers of Human Neuroscience discussed the value of art to create empathy, social knowledge, and self-understanding – which can lead to greater peace among members of a society. Given that as a truth, how do we infuse more art into society to tamp down burgeoning conflict or misunderstandings?

A:  I also believe in the transformative nature of art and the possibilities to affect social change. I say “possibilities” because art, as an institution, has room for improvement. We need to look no further than the canonized artists. How many are women compared to men? How many non-Europeans? My art practice, therefore, is my reimagining of a difference-friendly world. Significance and impact are too often defined by those with positional power. The consequences are the narrow and dominant narratives that are repeated until they are believed to be absolute truths. Through my art, I challenge these majoritarian narratives, particularly those that dehumanize differences.

From the "Viet Nam Peace Project: Memories of Home" series

Q:  Will the pieces of this exhibition travel to Vietnam? I like your statement that your pieces can help us – Americans and Vietnamese – continue to move forward together.

A:  To have the Việt Nam Peace Project exhibited in my adopted hometown is my dream realized. To have the Việt Nam Peace Project exhibited in the country where my parents and I were born is to have my artistic lineage fully realized.

Q:  We visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC and look at the names of the 58,000+ U.S. soldiers who died in the Vietnam war and are overwhelmed. Most US citizens have no idea that over 3 million Vietnamese soldiers and civilians died during the same conflict. Without disparaging or minimizing any sacrifice, how do we encourage people to consider the full extent of war casualties?

A:  Remembering Others, my paper installation, is my memorializing and expression of reverence for the Vietnamese and American lives lost during the war. The Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. is 150 yards with 58,220 names of American soldiers inscribed on the black granite; if a similar monument were built with the same density of names of the Vietnamese who died in it, it would be 10 miles long. This Vietnam War Memorial shows that remembering while excluding is in itself a form of forgetting. While remembering others - oriented toward inclusion, is healing and reconciliatory. It can only be accomplished through an ethical memory that recalls not just one’s own, but also engages the memories of the “others.” For us to realize the full extent of war casualties, we must first eliminate the line that separate us and them. To make peace a practice is to find connectedness in our shared humanity. It is a shared responsibility, and it takes intentional work.

Q:  My Being is a short film inspired by the poetry of your mother, Duong Anh Loi, who, like many Vietnamese, was displaced during the war. We will see this film during the Mia exhibit. Is your mother able to visit the exhibit? If so, will she read her poetry during the Việt Nam Peace Project exhibition?

A:  My mother is living in Vietnam. It would be lovely for me to listen to her read her poetry in the exhibition. Unfortunately, she is elder, and her health prevents her from traveling. I feel extremely fortunate to have made the film while she is with us to view it.

Q:  Why is Minneapolis home to you?

A:  Seventeen years ago, Micah (my husband) and I put down our roots in Minneapolis, our adopted home. We visited Minnesota several times and fell in love with the natural beauty of rural Minnesota and the cultural offerings of the Twin Cities. We appreciate the quality of life, especially the significantly short commutes compared to Southern California. We continue to be drawn to how Minnesotans continue to welcome refugees, immigrants, and transplants. The exceptional level of civil discourse and civic engagement appeal to us. As Minnesotans, we seek to understand differences. Because of these things, I believe that the Việt Nam Peace Project, rightfully has its first showing in our hometown.

Q:  Before working on large scale photorealistic paintings, did you create small studies with colored pencils or watercolors? If yes, are those available for viewing?

A:  I bring a sketch book with me when I take long drives. Burnet Fine Arts have shown my studies in the past. The ones I’ve shown recently have been abstracts.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  I have a website - TeoNguyen.com.

Also, see my works at Burnet Fine Arts in Wayzata, and L’Usine Gallery at 1107 Washington Avenue S.

The Importance of Aunties in Indigenous Communities: A Discussion with Curator and Multidisciplinary Artist Hillary Kempenich

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Hillary Kempenich Photo: Nedahness Rose GreeneAll My Relations Arts’ juried exhibition, Noojimo (She Heals), recognizes and celebrates the importance of Aunties in Indigenous communities. We talked to curator Hillary Kempenich (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa) about bringing the juried show together – it showcases the works of 14 artists and is open through September 17. It is a powerful tribute to courageous women who step into the role of Auntie, and it just might inspire you to step up your game with the next generation.

Q:  Please tell us more about the role of Aunties in Indigenous communities. Were Aunties important to you personally?

A:  In many communities, Aunties have a special role with children, I personally did not realize there is a unique bond within Indigenous spaces until I moved away from the Turtle Mountain community. However, when I had the privilege to be amongst fellow Indigenous people, there was always a kinship especially to the Aunt-figures within those spaces. Aunts often take the role of the other mother/second parent, or other grandmother; the Auntie often serves in an extra parental role who provides mental, physical, and spiritual support to younger relatives.

A lot of my childhood memories are filled with spending time with the many Aunties that I had been blessed with. Some lived within our family cluster of homes, some out in the countryside, and some lived away from us, yet I still have an abundance of memories being with them as my parents were building a life for us. I will forever remember my little legs walking down the gravel road to my Aunt Tiny’s to spend the days with her, where she’d keep my little creative spirit busy with baking, knitting, and so on even as a young child. I also fondly remember those long road trips to spend the summer with my aunts who worked for Circle of Nations. Now, the roles have shifted, and I do my best to mentor not just my biological nieces and nephews, but those who have asked me to step into that role for them as well.

Q:  How did you go about putting together the exhibition? Did you have assistance in curating the show?

A:  I believe it was in late November of last year when I approached Angela Two Stars of All My Relations and NACDI about one of my many ideas of work I’d like to create; amidst that conversation came to be this show. Much of my work is in hopes to help amplify the beauty and strength of Indigenous women, without romanticism or fetishism. I firmly believe that we should tell our own stories, and this was an opportunity to help fellow Indigenous artists to do the same. Heid E. Erdrich was my curator coach for this show, who was able to reassure me and give valuable feedback. I am also very fortunate to have worked decades ago in a museum and volunteer, which established some great insight. 

Q:  Can you tell us about the featured artists?

A:  There are so many amazing talented artists as part of this show. It was incredibly challenging to narrow down from a very long list, which was filled with artists who I wanted to work with, reconnect with, and/or amplify their work. Nedahness Rose Greene and I had met a few years ago when I was working with Watermark Art Center for a show, where I was blown away by her abilities as a photographer. I knew then that I needed to create space to highlight her work. Also, a lot of my artwork is utilized in advocacy efforts, so naturally I am drawn to fellow artists who do the same, which is how I came across Somah Haaland and Agnes Woodward as well. Each artist has such unique talents to express that love, passion and respect that is shared for the role of an auntie.

Hillary at the Noojimo (She Heals) exhibit.

Q:  Will you work with All My Relations Gallery on future shows? What's coming up for you after this show?

A:  If they’ll have me back, of course I would love to continue to work with All My Relations Gallery. It is a unique and supportive space which embraces the creative spirit, I am honored to be working with a great team. I am also working on my own series of paintings and installation work combining the affinity I have for foraging, gardening, and how that is synonymous with the feminine spirit. I hope to have it on display in Fargo in the fall, and perhaps I will find other spaces to showcase it. I spend a lot of my time also helping organizations in the communities I am in as well as mentoring individuals, which I don’t see changing any time soon. 

Q:  Are there events surrounding the exhibit that are open to the public?

A:  Yes - There is a Curator’s Talk August 11, 6:30 pm at AMRA. The Artist’s Talk Closing Reception is September 9th 6-8 pm. Stay tuned via NACDI and AMRA social media for further announcements for possible community engagement programs.

Q:  Where may we see your artwork? How may we follow your news?

A:  I have a website that I manage myself, so forgive the lapse in updates - many independent artists have a lot of other duties beyond creating the actual work itself. My Instagram, @zazegaadesigns, is often updated, and Facebook.

Cool Job: Dr. Robin Thomson, Curator, Insect Collection, University of Minnesota Department of Entomology

Article by Becky Fillinger

Dr. Robin Thomson, photo credit Becky Fillinger 

Dr. Robin Thomson is the Curator of the U's Department of Entomology Insect Collection. It’s an amazing job that many of us aren't familiar with. We visited with her to find out about a typical day, discuss our state’s endangered species, and how to learn more about the collection with over four million species.

Q:  What is a typical day for you as Curator of the Insect Collection at the University of Minnesota Department of Entomology?

A:  The first thing I do each day, like many people, is to check my email in-box and see if there are any new requests for specimens or data. Among other things, this could lead to putting together a loan of insect specimens to be mailed to a researcher outside of the University of MN community, pulling together a small dataset based on specimens in the Insect Collection, or helping someone figure out the proper paperwork for various permits. If there are no immediate needs to be filled for individual researchers, I have a never-ending list of projects to be tackled in the collection, including the incorporation of new specimens obtained through donations or fieldwork, or the re-curation and taxonomic updating of older sections of the Insect Collection. Databasing specimen information to make it easier to share with both the research community and the general public has also become an on-going project.

Q:  Why did entomology appeal to you as a subject of study?

A:  Insects are extremely diverse and absolutely fascinating! If you can imagine some sort of weird life history trait, there’s a good chance it actually occurs in at least one species of insect. With around one million insect species known to science, and many more yet to be discovered and described, there’s always something new to learn.

Q:  With over four million insect species specimens in the U’s collection, are you often called upon by national and international colleagues for information or assistance?

A:  Yes, I interact fairly regularly with colleagues from outside of the University of MN community. It’s pretty normal for researchers from some of the local organizations or state agencies to use the Insect Collection as a resource; for example, the MN Department of Agriculture, the MN Department of Natural Resources, and the Minnesota Zoo have all made use of the Collection. Reaching outside of the Twin Cities, I often loan specimens out to researchers at other universities across the country and around the world. In the past several months, I’ve sent insects to researchers located across the U.S. and in Australia, Belgium, Canada, and Germany.

Arm tattoo of a species of microcaddisfly, Ascotrichia frontalis, photo credit Becky Fillinger 

Q:  Do you participate in the field collection of insects?

A:  Yes, I love getting out for fieldwork when I get the chance! Earlier this spring, I was part of a field trip to Ecuador focused on documenting the regional diversity of caddisflies. Caddisflies are aquatic as larvae, and the adults are crepuscular, so we were out every night of that trip at collection sites near rivers using UV lights shining on a white sheet to attract the adults. I recently received a grant that will allow me to plan more fieldwork over the next few years, so I’m planning several trips that will take me to sites both domestic and abroad.

Rusty-patched bumble beeQ:  Are there certain endangered species of Minnesota insects we should be aware of?

A:  The rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) occurs in Minnesota and was listed as federally endangered in 2017. The University of MN Bee Lab has posted more information regarding how to identify the rusty-patched bumble bee and how to report it if you think you’ve seen it (https://beelab.umn.edu/rusty-patched-bumble-bee). The MN Department of Natural Resources also keeps a list of Minnesota’s endangered, threatened, and special concern species, including the insects: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ets/index.html.

Q:  What will you teach this year?

A:  I will be teaching Insect Biodiversity & Evolution this coming fall, though, for both undergraduate and graduate students. It’s a fun course focused on the diversity of insect life and its evolutionary history; students will learn how to identify different insects to the family level and will make their own insect collection.

Q:  May the public tour the collection? Do you also offer offsite educational sessions?

A:  Unfortunately, due to staffing and resource constraints, the Insect Collection is unable to offer tours to the general public. I do my best to accommodate tour requests for larger formal groups; some of the local colleges schedule tours for their undergrad classes fairly regularly. I do occasionally engage in educational sessions for K-12 classes, either on- or off-site, but my ability to offer these varies pretty wildly depending on my schedule.

Q:  How may we follow your very interesting news?

A:  The Insect Collection is housed within the Department of Entomology and you can follow any news, check on upcoming events and seminars, or read our department newsletter by following the links on our department home page, https://entomology.umn.edu/.

You’ll also find the Department of Entomology on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Small Business Spotlight: Tare Market, For a Zero Waste Lifestyle

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Amber Haukedahl

Above, the 2717 E 38th Street store. You'll find the second location at 945 Broadway Street NE, Suite 103, in Northeast.Looking for ways to live more sustainably? Whether you’re just starting or if you’re in the market for some new zero waste living tips, check out Tare Market. We talked to Amber Haukedahl, founder, about her inspiration for starting the business and the products and services her business can offer. 

Q:  Please tell us the origins of your interest in zero waste living.

A:  After graduating with a degree in Conservation Biology, I traveled through South America operating research stations. I felt that the work I was doing to help protect the habitat for endangered species was falling short, and that I wanted to do more to help make a positive impact on the environment.

When I discovered zero waste after moving to Minnesota in 2017, I was empowered to live a waste-free lifestyle and to help others do the same. After two years of educating myself on everything related to zero waste - including facilitating presentations around the Twin Cities, tabling at events and fairs, and developing the business concept for Tare Market (the first zero waste store in Minnesota!) - I opened Tare Market. Since its inception, it has grown to include over 700 products, supporting many women and BIPOC makers, and helping divert over 34,000 plastic bags from the landfill.

Q:  When did the first location of Tare Market open its doors?  

A:  Our first location in the Standish-Ericsson neighborhood at 2717 E 38th Street, opened on Earth Day of 2019.

Q:  What products will we find at Tare Market? 

A:  We offer products that are good for people and the planet. Products that are plastic-free, that will help you move towards a sustainable lifestyle. We have an extensive refill section for household cleaners like dishwashing and laundry powders, bulk food (think rice, beans, granolas, dried fruit, coffee and snacks), travel items, and health and beauty items. We strive to offer products that are locally made by women, are organic, and are made with sustainably harvested ingredients.

Reusable bags for bulk foodstuffs

Forget a container? Tare Market has a selection of free sanitized containers for shoppers to use. Customers can also bring in reusable containers for the staff to sanitize and put on the cart for others.

Dental care products are among the many health and beauty items available at Tare

Q:  When we visit your store, are you able to guide us as shoppers on how to start a zero-waste lifestyle? 

A:  Yes! We are here to help you wherever you are on your sustainable living journey. We are a judgment-free space where you can come in and talk one-on-one with our wonderful staff. They will help you figure out what will work with your lifestyle and your budget. We also offer resources to help our community live more sustainably. One of these examples is that we offer free containers through our community jar program. If you come by and don't have your own containers to refill, you can utilize a sanitized jar to fill up with whatever you want. We also take containers, too! This helps keep recycling out of the system and encourages reuse.

Another example is our community recycling program at both of our locations. You can recycle items at Tare Market that you typically cannot put into your curbside bin, such as textiles, snack wrappers, and disposable masks. Please check our website or call us to learn what we are currently accepting. This community recycling program is for customers only, as they support this program by rounding up at the register. So, we encourage you to become a customer to utilize this program. 

Q:  Do you provide education for groups – outside of the store – for more sustainable living? 

A:  We do offer classes to the public on Transitioning Your Home to Zero Waste and often do presentations at community events to reach more people. We do facilitate this presentation to private groups as well, so email us if you are interested in learning more about having Tare Market speak to your school, work space, or other private group.

Q:  Do you allow for wedding or birthday registries to be set up at Tare Market?

A:  We are a small company that just launched our online store, so we are working on this capability right now. You can always reach out to us at hello@taremarket.com to request something like this and we will work with you to make it happen.

Q:  Please explain how to - and why we should consider - swapping out paper towels for a better option?

A:  Swapping out reusable cloth towels for paper towels is better for the planet and your wallet. With a disposable paper towel, you are spending your money on something that you are literally throwing away. This product also comes wrapped in plastic, and you have to drive to go get it when you run out, increasing the carbon footprint of this item. And at the end of its life, it either gets thrown into the landfill, incinerator, or composted (if you are lucky). With a reusable cloth towel, you purchase one set and never have to purchase a replacement ever again, saving you lots of money over the course of your lifetime. This product comes with a small paper sleeve that can be placed into your recycling, and has no other waste associated with it. 

Q:  Congratulations on opening a second store location! Besides shopping at the two Tare Market locations, how may we follow your advice and news? 

A:  Thank you – yes, we’re now at 945 Broadway Street NE, Suite 103, in Northeast. You can subscribe to our newsletter by singing up on thetaremarket.com, and please do follow us on Instagram and Facebook.  

Twin Cities Volunteer Spends Three Weeks in Poland at Ukrainian Refugee Center

Article by Becky Fillinger

Alexandra Sasha Sakurets spent three weeks volunteering at a makeshift refugee center in Poland for Ukrainian refugees. Her day jobs in the Twin Cities are ICU nurse at M Health Fairview and owner of a MedSpa - she also has a young family. What compels a person to leave the comfort of her home to help war refugees? We talked to Sasha about this very noble impulse and how you can assist in the ongoing war efforts.

Sasha with medical donations at UM Fairview

Q:  Why was it important to you to provide medical aid to Ukrainian refugees?

A:  When the war began it felt like the bombing was happening here in Minneapolis and not somewhere far on the other side of the globe. I could not sleep; I could not eat… I woke up with the news and fell asleep with the news - at the same time writing frantic messages to my classmates still living in Ukraine. Every cell in my body was telling me to go and help. As a medical professional, I felt like it was my duty.

Q:  Was there a typical day during the time you spent in Poland? What type of medical interventions did you provide? 

A:  We opened a clinic and pharmacy inside a vacant shopping mall which was converted into a refugee center in a matter of one day. The vast majority of our work was to treat and provide medications to the refugees. Many were coming across the border straight from bomb shelters and cellars. These people had missed their vital medications for a week or more, which exacerbated their chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, seizure disorders, kidney disease, schizophrenia and many more. Many refugees had acute illnesses acquired as a result of living in underground bomb shelters and root cellars for weeks without sanitation and in cold winter conditions. We saw many refugees with pneumonia, urinary tract infections and skin lesions. Some had concussions, shrapnel wounds, broken toes and other wounds resulting from running away from bombs. There were only five of us, so we worked 12-hour shifts with 30-minute overlap to cover 24 hours without days off for the first two weeks. A few more team members arrived and we were able to transition to 8-hour shifts - still without days off - but that felt like such a relief.

Sasha and her team

Supplies packed for the flight

World Central Kitchen set up shop in the refugee center – they fed us all our meals – I’m eternally grateful to them. The refugee center held sleeping space for 2000 people on army cots, plus 500 more spaces with blankets on pallets set on the floor. Some nights we ran out of pallets and children slept on their coats and suitcases. We treated 250-350 people daily in the clinic. The refugee center had 5000 refugees come through the center in the first 24 hours, and every 24 hours thereafter for the time I was there. From the U.S., we brought large amounts of over the counter medications. Other medical supply donations were coming into the refugee center daily. Part of our work was to sort through the donated medical supplies and separate the items which we needed at our clinic from the items which were needed on the frontlines and in hospitals in Ukraine.

Food provided by World Central Kitchen

Refugee receiving medical care

Resting in a refugee center

Q:  What group organized your volunteer time in Poland?

A:  A group of five Americans who were born in the former USSR formed the first team of an organization called Global Disaster Relief Team (GDRT). Only one of us spoke fluent Ukrainian, mine is marginal, the other three team members spoke only English and Russian. My involvement with the group came together very quickly. At times, it was very frantic! I flew to New York where my best friend Rita from childhood met me. I had to transfer airports in New York for my flight to Germany. We had planned to go to lunch because I had a good four hours between flights. When Rita picked me up, she anxiously tried to talk me out of going. I convinced her that I had to do this for myself and for Ukraine. I was dropped off at JFK where I met four complete strangers. A month later we were family.

Q:  You have a young family here in Minnesota. What did you tell them about why you were going to assist refugees?

A:  I told them that sometimes in life we have to do things out of the most irrational state of mind. It is a voice of our higher conscious self and if we do not listen, we cannot continue to our next level of spiritual development. They were worried and disappointed that they had to spend spring break at home. That kind of a reaction is normal for teenagers.  

Q:  You were born in Zhitomir, Ukraine. When and how did you emigrate to the U.S.?

A:  My parents, grandmother, older sister, our dog and I came to Minnesota in 1989. After living in Europe for about six months while awaiting the interview at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, we received the status of political refugees for being persecuted for our religious beliefs as Jews. About two million Jews left the Soviet Union during the 80s and 90s. We were welcomed by the Jewish community of the Twin Cities. The Jewish Federation rented our apartment for us and furnished it with used furniture. They assigned to us a host family - Phyllis and Buddy Harris - who welcomed us to their congregation and taught us Jewish customs. Phyllis threw my very first birthday party at a bowling alley when I turned 13; I can still remember how happy I was that day. She would pick me up on her day off to run errands with her and go to lunch, I loved that so very much. I remember the smell of leather in her brand-new Cadillac and thought someday when I grow up, I will be a volunteer like Phyllis. We also had two English tutor volunteers who came to our home to teach my parents English. I want to express my deepest gratitude for everyone who helped us to make Minnesota our new home.

Vest depicting what languages the volunteer speaks.

Q:  Talk to us about languages in your life. Russian was your first language. How was the Ukrainian language treated in your schools? Were you able to communicate effectively with the refugees? 

A:  In the central part of Ukraine where I was born, I heard mostly Russian growing up. All street names, signs, announcements in public transportation were in Russian. In my school all subjects were taught in Russian, we had English three times per week starting in 1st grade and Ukrainian was taught as a third language. Because I was Jewish, I and other Jewish classmates did not study Ukrainian because of our nationality. Our nationality was written in the school profile so that all teachers would know who was Jewish in the classroom. I am not exactly sure why in the 80s Jewish children did not study Ukrainian because my parents both read and spoke Ukrainian well, my Jewish grandparents learned Yiddish as their first language at home, Ukrainian as their second language and Russian as their third. The Russians tried to wipe out all traces of Ukrainians – including our language. The spoken Ukrainian language was treated with a negative connotation. Outside of schools, if you printed a book in Ukrainian, you could be imprisoned. You can see how within just a few generations under Soviet rule Ukrainian language in central Ukraine was eradicated almost completely.  

Q:  Was your employer here in the Twin Cities receptive to your desire to spend three weeks providing medical assistance abroad? 

A:  Since graduating from the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota I have worked at the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center. The hospital went through a few name changes but the essence stayed the same - to provide state of the art, evidence-based medical care while conducting research which guides medical protocols. After 25 years of working at M Health Fairview, I call it my home and my co-workers my family. After reaching out to my management, it took 24 hours to get a leave of absence from HR. I received the tightest hugs from all my coworkers when I stopped in a day before my flight to Poland. I also own a MedSpa called Art of Eternal Beauty in NE Minneapolis. My clients were understanding with having to reschedule their Botox appointments for when I returned. All of my loyal customers patiently waited for me to return from Poland for their treatments. My clients and supply reps donated funds, clothes, toys and household goods for the refugee families who were staying at our house. I still have refugees living with my family. Please note that all tips at my MedSpa are donated to organizations which directly go to needs of Ukrainians. I am so blessed to work with such amazing people!

Medical supplies packed in Minnesota

Q:  Have you been involved in other efforts to assist the Ukrainians in their invasion by Russia?  

A:  When I returned, my coworkers began to gather medical supplies and equipment which the hospital no longer needed. A Minnesota nonprofit called MATTER donated 10 pallets of medical supplies for us as well. So far between M Health, Hennepin Health and MATTER, we have collected 20 pallets (traveling by sea) worth of supplies, as well as about 100 large duffels (traveling by air) and delivered directly to Ukrainian hospitals. All the sorting is done in our “domivka” that is what we call our Ukrainian American Community Center. We raise funds for the Ukrainian non-profit Stand With Ukraine Minnesota. The funds are used to purchase the items that we cannot get for free via donations. We purchased a number of ambulances, tourniquets, blood clotting powders and wound vacuums - these items are much needed in a time of war.

My husband organized a community of supporters who were born in Belarus now living in the U.S. called Belarussian Americans. The organization was founded in 2020 to help children of Belarussian parents to learn Belarussian – a number of schools teaching Belarussian language opened that year. Once the Russian invasion of my beloved Ukraine began, a number of young men from Belarus came to Ukraine to fight alongside the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Soon there were enough to form their own battalion called Kastys Kalinovky. My husband, Pavel, along with other Belarussians living in the U.S. began to raise funds to supply the Kalinovsky battalion fighters with bullet-proof plate carriers, boots and army fatigues. Pavel has personally delivered to the battalion three times since the war began. 

Q:  How may our readers assist your efforts?

A:  I am blessed to be a part of a community who helps with sorting and packing medical supplies. When the war began the outpouring of support was ample. Now that Ukraine is not in the news on every channel at all hours of the day, the world went on to live their normal lives. But Ukrainians’ lives are not back to any sense of normalcy. My closest supporters who are in it for the long haul are Mykola Sarazhynskyy, Dr Tanya Melnik, Oksana Gren and Natalia Panchuk. They are the steady force behind the engine of our supply operation. There are many ways for your readers to help:

- Would you like to sort medical supplies with us? Message me on Instagram @artofeternalbeauty.

- Stand With Ukraine Minnesota needs donations and help with ongoing events. 

- Eternal Beauty MedSpa donates all tips to Stand With Ukraine MN and Belarusian Americans.

- Protez Foundation helps supply free prosthetic limbs to Ukrainian children, soldiers and civilians who have lost limbs during the war.

- Attend the Visit with Ukrainian Heroes Receiving Prosthetic Care in MN event, August 7th at the Ukrainian American Community Center, 301 Main Street. 

Hot Pick for the Coming Week: The Last Babushka at Theater Latté Da

Article by Becky Filllinger, photos provided

The Last Babushka is currently being workshopped in Theatre Latté Da’s NEXT Festival 2022 in Minneapolis. We talked to playwright Amy Wheeler about this new work and the short window to attend the workshop. If you loved The Babushkas of Chernobyl, you must see this new work. Get tickets today!

Q:  The Babushkas of Chernobyl is a beautiful, multiple award-winning documentary that has many themes – among them the pull of ‘home’ and risk-taking to live a self-determined life. Does your protagonist in The Last Babushka learn the same lessons or something different?

A:  Our protagonist, Nadia, is a punk rocker in her 20’s who feels like she’s lost everything to this place. And in many ways, she has - family members who've died from cancer, likely from radiation exposure over time. She’s sad, angry, lost, untethered - and raging through her music. She enters the Exclusion Zone as an opportunist, in survival mode. But underneath that impulse, she is seeking to understand her troubled past and relationship to this place. The Babushkas confront and challenge her, share their stories, and she opens up to them. Ultimately, it’s a matriarchal reconciling.

Amy WheelerQ:  Has Holly Morris, the filmmaker of The Babushkas of Chernobyl, read your new work? Have you been in touch with her?

A:  Holly and I have been friends for many years, and she worked the film in residence at Hedgebrook on Whidbey Island, where I was Executive Director. So, I was on the exciting journey as she traveled to Chernobyl to interview the Babushkas. I remember when she first met them in 2013 - as a journalist on assignment for a Slate Magazine piece about the 25th anniversary of the accident. And in 2014 when she encountered the Stalkers, young people who are sneaking into the Zone illegally to react a video game and search for artifacts. 

When Holly sought me out to bring the film to the stage, I jumped at the chance! I could already see the three main characters onstage - they are so robust and full of life and stories. What fascinated me as the theatrical question is: what can we learn from these women, while they are still with us, about living in sync with nature? How do we live with an invisible threat and stay connected to each other and the land? They have this deep, intrinsic connection to their homeland - the place, its history and culture - that I haven’t yet experienced as an American. But I find I crave that experience. One character refers to them as the "center of the earth” - and they are.

Natalie NowytskiWhat also inspires me is telling a cross-generational story set in this post-Apocalyptic place that has also become a thriving green world. So, my collaborator Natalie Nowytski and I are drawing from the film’s transcripts, and creating an imagined story around the Babushkas’ stories.

Our piece is set prior to current events in Ukraine. As we witness Russia’s war on Ukraine, we're amazed at the people’s courage and resilience. When you get to know the Babushkas, you understand that the fierce love of homeland is intrinsic to who Ukrainians are and always have been.

Q:  I think your musical score will be delightful – bursting with Ukrainian folk tune melodies. How many musical numbers are in the play?

A:  Well, this is a workshop which means we’re revising the script and writing new music as we speak! And the music is mystical, haunting, energetic - a mash-up of traditional Ukrainian village folk music with punk rock and contemporary folk. A cross-generational blending of the two worlds of the piece. My co-creator, Minneapolis-based composer Natalie Nowytski, is an extraordinary first-generation Ukrainian-American musician and performer who brings her ancestral connection to the music. Her grandmother, Oksana Bryn, was her voice coach - classical and opera. The folk music is something she grew up with as a byproduct of being raised Ukrainian. Natalie told me, “I don't know that anyone ever really taught it to me - it just always was."

Q:  Thriving in a toxic environment – another theme from the documentary – must surface in your play. Perhaps there are lessons we can all learn from living in toxic environments, not all of which are caused by pollutants? 

A:  Yes, there’s so much to learn from the Babushkas - these women who’ve lived on the most toxic land on earth their whole lives. They were evacuated in 1986, then snuck back in to live there illegally for the past 35 years. They live off the land - gardening, raising animals, foraging for mushrooms. And the land is thriving because of the small human footprint: nature is taking over; extinct animals are coming back into the Zone. Scientists are studying them to learn about the long-term effects of radiation on humans. And remarkably, statistically they’ve outlived other evacuees who didn’t return. 

Q:  What days are your reading at Theater Latté Da? How do we purchase tickets?  

A:  Theater Latté Da's NEXT Festival readings of The Last Babushka are on July 30th and August 1st at 7:30pm. Go here for info and tickets: https://www.latteda.org/next-festival-2022.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  I don’t currently have a website, but I’ve launched a new venture during the pandemic to build the audience for playwrights and new work for the stage. Play Club is a "book club with a theatrical twist." We read and discuss a play-a-month by a featured playwright, then members meet the playwright via Zoom for a conversation and Q&A. I’d love for people to know about it. Here’s the link: https://www.theplayclub.org/

And if your readers would like more info on Natalie, her website is https://www.natalien.com/. The bandcamp site is https://natalienowytski.bandcamp.com/album/amerikana.

Amy Simso Dean, Founder of The Kestrels Birding Group

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Amy Sisco Dean

Starting out as a new birder can be daunting – Where do I go? Will I be safe? I know nothing about birds but I’m interested. Meet Amy Simso Dean, founder of The Kestrels. We talked to Amy about the group’s inclusive policies which makes it easy for women and non-binary individuals to enjoy birding experiences without fear or self-doubts.

Q:  The Kestrels was formed in 2021 to create a safe and inclusive birding experience for women. Can you tell us more about this idea?

A:  The Kestrels focus is on creating a safe space and a shared community for anyone who identifies as female or non-binary - that is what we mean by an inclusive birding group for women.

Women birders face a few different challenges. For some there are safety issues - they don’t feel safe birding alone - for obvious reasons - or meeting up with a male birder or birders they don’t know.

The birding world also has traditionally been a very white male dominated space - the trip guides, leadership in organizations, who you see profiled in magazines, etc. So, for some it is a comfort issue - they don’t feel they are heard or taken seriously as a birder in male-dominated settings (and let’s be honest, sometimes they aren’t).

Others don’t feel comfortable because they are a new to birding and this group just feels more accessible. For others it is just another way to connect with like-minded people. Granted not every space is like that and not every woman feels that way. Have men joined our outings? Yes, for sure. But, our focus is creating a safe space for this population.

Q:  Why was the group named The Kestrels?

A:  We played around with a few different names. We wanted our name to tie to Minnesota birding and be as inclusive as possible. So, we voted on names until we narrowed it down. The American Kestrel is one of the few raptor species where the female looks distinctively different from the male. She’s a badass little predator so a great mascot for some badass birders.

Q:  How often do you hold events?

A:  We try for at least one event per month whether that is a meet-up to go birding, an event with another organization (like a tour of The Raptor Center or a Birds and Beers meet-up) or trips that we organize. Last winter a group of us went up to the Sax-Zim Bog for some delightful (and very cold: -30) winter birding. We also have a wine-tasting party where all the wine has to have a bird on the label.

At the Sax-Zim Bog

Wine-tasting party

Q:  The events seem fun and educational! Is there a vetting process to join?

A:  We have a series of membership questions to join our Facebook group. We do have a very small website, but right now almost all our communication and planning happens through the Facebook group.

Q:  I started researching inclusive outdoor groups after finding Kestrels and there are so many groups across the country working towards similar goals of creating intentional safe outdoor spaces. Will Kestrels expand to include people with mobility or vision issues?  

A:  People with vision, hearing or mobility challenges are already welcome to join. We try to explain trail and parking conditions for all our outings so that people can make informed decisions. When we hear of outings - like a recent birding outing for people with mobility challenges that I led through another organization - we let our members know. Or a friend of mine runs a group specifically for LGTBQ+ and BIPOC birders and we’ll let our members know about those events.

Q:  How may we follow the group’s news?

A:  The best way to stay up to date is through our Facebook group. People can also reach out to us at TheKestrelsMN@gmail.com and check out our website, KestrelsMN.com. We hope to see you at an upcoming event. 

Small Business Spotlight: Kobi Co., Mother/Daughter Co-Founders, Tasha Harris and Kobi Gregory

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Tasha Harris and Kobi Gregory

The pandemic gave birth to many things – check out this mother/daughter business that arose from the stress of distance learning! We talked to Tasha Harris and Kobi Gregory about the origins of the business, sticking to their intentions and their delightful self-care products.

Q:  Please tell us about the formation of Kobi Co. What are the core tenets of the business?

A:  Kobi Co. was founded in 2020 by 17-year-old Kobi Gregory, my daughter, as self-care ritual to help her cope with the stress of distance learning during the pandemic. The candles started selling - Kobi’s hobby turned into a full-on business and it was time for me to step in and help manage. It was great timing for me as well - I was burned out by a long career in corporate finance. I’ve been securing partnerships and new retails spots throughout Minneapolis and focusing on growing the company.

Throughout every step of our growth, we’ve remained intentional. We believe businesses bear a responsibility to take care of their customers, to be stewards of the planet, and to do their part to create a more just and equitable world. We believe in taking care of ourselves, so we can go out into the world and make some good trouble. We believe in Black Girl Magic. We believe mental health, especially Black mental health, is paramount. We believe self-care doesn’t have to be expensive, time consuming, or reserved for a privileged few. We believe music has the power to heal. (Especially Prince’s music.)

At Kobi Co. we are committed to giving back. A portion of our profits go toward our annual scholarship for BIPOC women, and our limited edition #BlackLivesMatter candle supports families affected by gun violence and police brutality. We will always do our part to uplift fellow Black-owned, women-owned companies, especially if they’re Minnesota grown (like we are), and we aim to provide a gender-affirming, LGBTQ+ aligned, antiracist workplace.

Q:  Is it difficult to separate business discussions from mother/daughter discussions?

A:  To be quite honest, this is something we struggled with for quite some time - especially in the beginning. Needless to say, it would make for a very long and hard day. This is the most time we’ve spent together - ever (since Kobi was a toddler). It was hard for me not to bring up her not doing the dishes or doing some chore as we were working together. I found myself parenting her while she was working and neither one of us liked it. Kobi was discovering her new found skills as a business owner and wanted me to respect her as a business partner. I had a lightbulb moment when I heard her sharing her ideas and knowledge about the business in a pitch meeting. I was so impressed, I immediately saw her in a different light - a knowledgeable, capable partner. So today, we are super intentional about separating work/home discussions - and talk parent/family business outside of the office. It’s all about work/life balance. 

Q:  Each of your candles comes with a curated playlist – please tell us more. Why the combination of scent and music?

A:  We want our candles and music to foster a calming, restorative vibe. We want you to be your best self, do your best work, and be the best friend, steward, and ancestor you can be. We are Minneapolis born-and-raised, and you can feel the hometown pride throughout all of our products, our relationships, and our dope taste in music.

Q:  Who creates the playlists? Do you feature local musicians?

A:  Kobi here. Sometimes I’ll let my mom add a few of her faves from the olden days, but funny enough we have the same music taste. I love a lot of old school songs.

We absolutely feature local musicians: Of course, our #PurpleRain candle has tons of Prince on the playlist. Our #♥️Minnesnowta candle has the most variety of local MN musicians, and our recently released #Feelin’GoodAsHell candle has a lot of Lizzo (and yes, we consider her local since she lived here for over five years!).

The Angel Essence candle was created in honor of Erika De Salvatore.

Q:  The Angel Essence candle has a lovely backstory. Please tell us about it. How did Erika De Salvatore assist Kobi Co.? 

A:  In 2020 we were accepted into Target Corporation’s pro bono program. Target found and assigned a dream team to work on a rebranding project for Kobi Co.

It was an amazing experience for us, to have insight to what real, professional creatives do on a day-to-day basis. It was a blessing for us to be on the receiving end of their amazing work. We worked together closely/remotely for over three months (this was during the height of Covid) so we never got to meet in person, but that didn’t stop us from bonding over mutual admiration. This incredible team of amazing women worked as hard for Kobi Co. as they did for Target. Shortly after the project wrapped, we learned one of the project team members, Erika De Salvatore, passed away (she was the biggest Kobi Co. fan - as shared by her colleagues and family). 

It hurt us more than we could have imagined. We felt for her husband, small children, family and friends. We were so grateful for the love she had shown for us we felt super compelled to do something to honor her legacy. Upon attending her funeral service, we learned her family asked that in lieu of flowers, friends and family could support Kobi Co. Needless to say, we were beyond moved at this beautiful gesture. We were compelled to find a way to honor her legacy - we consulted with her family and colleagues and learned her favorite fragrances. The Angel Essence candle includes scents of vanilla, sandalwood, patchouli and citrus.

Q:  Besides candles, what other products does Kobi Co. offer?

A:  We offer 3-in-1 sprays (body, room + linen), bath bombs, bath salts, and wax tarts.

Q:  Where can we find your products? How may we follow your news?

A:  We are currently sold at the Mill City Farmers Market, Electric Fetus, all eight Patina stores, all three Down in the Valley stores, MinnyRow Market, and Lutunji’s Palate.  Please follow us on social media - Facebook and Instagram.

Kobi Co. is popular with Mill City Farmers Market shoppers. Photo: Mill City Times

The Alice: An Immersive Cocktail Experience

Article by Becky Fillinger

Did you ever want to join Alice in Wonderland? Check out the The Alice: An Immersive Cocktail Experience at Stilheart Distillery & Cocktail Lounge in the North Loop, from July 20 to October 23. We talked to Hidden Media Network about the tea party to end all tea parties!

Q:  The Alice Cocktail Experience started out in Australia in 2020 and then came to the U.S. in cities such as Columbus, San Francisco and Denver. How has the event changed since it was first produced, if at all?   

A:  You’re right – we’re moving from city to city with this fun event. We do change the scripting here and there, but it follows a pretty consistent story. The look of the event varies from city to city depending on the venue, as we have different designers which makes The Alice unique and exciting - although they all follow the same flowery tea party vibe with neon lights and Alice stuck in the ceiling!

Q:  Was it difficult to convince the Stilheart Distillery & Cocktail Lounge to host the event?

A:  Not at all! It isn't hard to find venues, as The Alice is such a well-known event and brings a lot of people in, which can be mutually beneficial.

Q:  Tell us about the 90-minute session - How many people per session? What will we experience? 

A:  In Minneapolis there are 32 people per session and you will experience a beautiful tea/cocktail party with theatrics, a storyline which you are involved in, features of an escape room (like solving puzzles to unlock cocktail ingredients) and some cocktail making art! You’ll meet The Mad Hatter, dive through the looking glass, play croquet with flamingos and consume delicious ‘Eat Me’ cookies. It's all fun and games until someone steals the Queen of Hearts’ tarts! Buy your tickets here.

Q:  Do you have any cocktail concoctions to share ahead of time to prepare us for going Down the Rabbit Hole? 

A:  We do serve some amazing cocktails. In the past we have served the likes of Jam Tart shots, Peaches and Cream shots, and a magical passion fruit flavored cocktail. For Minneapolis, we’re tinkering with these ingredients for a bespoke cocktail:  vodka, black tea, vanilla syrup, peach schnapps and steam from a hare!

Q:  You’ve produced other events – Pitch Black Dining – in Atlanta.  Will we see more events from Hidden Media Network in Minneapolis?  

A:  We also produced Neverland Peter Pan Experience, The Wizard's Den and Potion Putt. We are hoping to bring new and exciting events to Minneapolis if this goes well!

Q:  I hope this goes very well!  How may we follow your events? 

A:  Check out @explorehidden on TikTok and @thehiddenapp on Instagram.

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Below are some of the characters you'll meet. Photo credit: Becky Fillinger

The Queen of Hearts

The Mad Hatter

The White Rabbit

The Cheshire Cat

Minnesota Business Success Story: Nautical Bowls

Article by Becky Fillinger

Nautical Bowls is a local success story. Just three years ago, the company occasionally brought their food truck to the Mill District. Founded in 2018 in Minnetonka, the company now has over 90 franchise locations and will be a new food at the State Fair this year. We talked to co-founder Rachel Amundson about the theme of the company, charity partnerships and what you can expect when you order one of their delicious bowls.

Rachel Amundson with husband Bryant and family.

Q:  What inspired the company name, Nautical Bowls?

A:  My husband Bryant and I chose the name because we are both Minnesota-grown and we love the lakes.  We wanted a fun theme to incorporate our love for the lakes, so you’ll find it throughout our décor in our store and in the names of our signature bowls. Lake life is fun and outdoorsy and adventurous – that’s us.

Q:  I remember your food truck two years ago in the Mill District. Did you use the truck to gauge interest in communities before building the store locations?

A:  Yes, we used the food truck as a marketing tool to get around the Twin Cities before the store concept for Nautical Bowls took off. We still use it for very large or food truck specific events. We are now franchising stores – we have 91 locations - but not trucks.

The Nautical Bowls food truck was popular at the Stone Arch Bridge Festival last month.

Q:  What might we experience if we order a bowl? Can we customize our order?

A:  Yes, of course. We do love to direct people to our ten signature bowls if you’re new because we’ve crafted them to be a good combination of taste and textures. We have ten signature superfood bowls - our ingredients are gluten free, organic, dairy free, plant based and full of vitamins and nutrients. It’s fast, convenient food that is delicious and so good for you to fuel your busy life. If you want to be creative or love a particular ingredient, you can of course walk through the menu and build your own delicious creation.

Q:  You are partnering with Venture - could you tell us more about it?

A:  Venture is an awesome organization. For every bowl that is purchased at Nautical Bowls, a meal is donated to a child in Southeast Asia. We are so thankful to be part of their ‘buy a bowl – give a meal’ program. It feels like a small contribution, but we know that we are putting meals in the mouths of children who need it.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Please follow us on social media, Facebook and Instagram, and also join our loyalty program – download the app. With the app, you’ll receive our email notifications and earn free delicious bowls. Visit us at our Twin Cities locations too!

A new store is projected to open in Dinkytown this September, and a North Loop location is also being planned.

Nonprofit Leader: Pastor Kyle Hanson, CEO and Executive Director, Agate Housing and Services

Article by Becky Fillinger 

Pastor Kyle HansonAfter a nationwide search, Agate Housing and Services has selected Pastor Kyle Hanson as their new CEO and Executive Director. We talked to Kyle about his priorities, challenges, and ways we can all help him in his new role.

Q:  Congratulations on your appointment as CEO/Executive Director of Agate Housing and Services. A first question – why was the newly merged organization named Agate? 

A:  After the merger of St. Stephen’s Human Services and House of Charity in 2021, the organization partnered with Neka Creative to create a new brand, the more important part of that being a new name. A group of staff and other individuals with lived experience with homelessness and housing insecurity worked together to choose the new name. All staff submitted name suggestions and the group started with a list of hundreds of names. They finally chose Agate because the agate stone is synonymous with Minnesota, just as our organization is. Agates are created from intense pressure just as the inspiring stories and successes of our clients are created through pressure and adversity. Each one is unique and valuable.

Q:  You have 22 years of experience working with the unhoused, which gives you tremendous credentials in this area. You start your position on July 18 – do you have a list of holdover, immediate priorities to address?   

A:  Entering a new organization takes some time to get to know employees, culture, history and the current lay of the land. My 30-day priority is to get to know the employees and clients by holding deep listening sessions. Beyond that I will need to begin advocacy work with partners, legislators, donors and foundations. We are currently focused on the re-opening of our Food Centre, which will happen this fall.

The mission of Agate is bold: to end homelessness and relieve hunger through action and advocacy. While we have made progress on these goals, the current economy puts many families at risk. Rising food costs and increasing rents are particularly difficult for families that are already struggling. The 2022 Hennepin point in time count showed that on any given night 2,191 people were staying in shelters and transitional housing programs and 487 people were living unsheltered in Hennepin County. These numbers have declined in recent years, but so much more needs to be done to assure that every person has a stable place to call home.

The Food Centre has been closed since the January fire, but will re-open later this year.

Q:  Do you have a dream list of organizations you would like to partner with – other organizations working with food insecurity or homelessness?   

A:  In the last year, Agate has had the opportunity to partner with some really incredible organizations. After the fire at our Food Centre in January, our community really came together to ensure our neighbors were fed. Most notably, Loaves and Fishes, Catholic Charities and Avivo. We are lucky to be neighbors with so many passionate organizations and can’t wait to work together more in the future.

Agate will need to continue to expand partnerships to meet the increasing needs of our community, I will be working with advocacy groups at the city, county and state levels to increase funding for permanent supportive low-income housing, human services and food programming. Public/Private partnerships are imperative if we are going to continue to serve our neighbors in need.

Street Outreach - this team provides on-the-spot services to ensure safety and survival for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

Q:  Agate is facing an impending loss of federal funding from the American Rescue Plan and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. This funding has allowed many Minnesota organizations, including Agate, to change and improve emergency shelters across the state. It may be an obvious question, but do you see this as a major first priority to address? 

A:  Ensuring the survival of Agate shelters is absolutely a priority. We know the importance of 24-hour shelters, just in terms of the stability it provides for individuals who are working so hard to find jobs or permanent housing. As we move closer to the loss of that funding, we are working to maintain and improve our response to Minnesota’s homelessness crisis. We continue to work closely with Hennepin County and our fellow providers to ensure the continuation of the services expanded during COVID. 

Q:  Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell is calling for more investment in housing, as a state report shows about a quarter of those released from prison enter into homelessness. The Legislature passed a law in 2021 which requires the DOC to track the information. Do you have ideas on how to work with the newly released who are facing homelessness?

A:  We already know that many individuals get declined for things like housing or employment because of their criminal history. We do our best with the programs we have, from outreach, to shelter to affordable housing, but across the state, there are gaps in those programs and there just isn’t enough. We’ll be watching what the DOC does with their new statistics and looking at the mitigation plan they are submitting to the Legislature later this year and moving forward from there. Ultimately, it takes the community to step up with available housing, resources, jobs and support for those coming out of incarceration.

Q:  How can we help you in your new role at Agate? Do you need volunteers? How may we stay current with your news?

A:  Because of the temporary closure of the Food Centre after the January fire, our volunteering opportunities are greatly reduced. However, we would love community support to get the Food Centre up and running again. We are gearing up for a fundraiser in July to rebuild that facility and restock the food shelf and would welcome any donations or help with spreading the news!

As always, financial support of our organization is key to our success. We depend on the generosity of our community to help those most vulnerable among us. We will have new volunteer opportunities in the fall as our newly renovated Food Centre reopens. Readers can get to know us better by following us on social media, and following our work.

As soon as volunteering opportunities are back, they’ll be listed on our volunteer website: agatemn.volunteerhub.com

We’d love to stay connected with you and continue to work together to help our neighbors and community. You can keep an eye on our social media pages (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), or join our mailing list to get our monthly email newsletter.

Take Another Look at Local History Sites - Historic Fort Snelling Plank Museum and Visitor Center

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos MNHS

Nancy CassI recently visited the newly remodeled Historic Fort Snelling Plank Museum and Visitor Center. I suggest you put it on your must-do list – don’t just drive by the site that has national significance. There is so much history to learn at the site, and the new visitor center is gorgeous. We talked to Nancy Cass, Site Manager of Historic Fort Snelling, to learn more about the extensive history of the area and what you will experience during your visit. 

In the Dakota language, “bdote” means “where two waters come together.”

Q:  Why is the location of Historic Fort Snelling so significant? 

A:  Historic Fort Snelling, Minnesota’s first National Historic Landmark, is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. With 10,000 years of human history, this is a place where complex stories of many peoples converge. It is a place of major social, cultural and historical significance to all people who have inhabited the region.

Historic Fort Snelling means many things to many people. History shared by many voices is represented in new exhibits and spaces. From the homeland of the Dakota long before the Fort existed, to the memories of World War II veterans who mustered out there, Historic Fort Snelling holds meaning and memories that are at once stirring, powerful and complex.

The Fort was the site of a concentration camp for 1,600 Dakota following the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. Federal Army officers enslaved African Americans, including Dred and Harriet Scott, within the walls of the Fort in a free territory. The same Fort also launched the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment among 25,000 soldiers who fought against slavery in the Civil War.

Fort Snelling served as an induction center for more than 300,000 soldiers in World War II. It was also the home of the Military Intelligence Service Language School where Japanese Americans, many whose families were held in domestic concentration camps, used language skills to help win the war.

Plank Museum and Visitor Center

Q:  Please give us a brief history of the building that now houses the Historic Fort Snelling Plank Museum and Visitor Center.

A:  Originally built in 1904 as U.S. Army Cavalry barracks and later converted to an outpatient VA Clinic in 1946, the building had served many purposes and many people. It has been called Building K-12, Building 18A-B and a VA outpatient clinic.

Between 1904 and 1907, cavalry stables, stable guardhouses, a drill hall and barracks were constructed at Fort Snelling. Each wing of the barracks was designed to hold 85 soldiers. The Fort Snelling Quartermaster records note that the building was constructed for $60,477 with brick walls, stone foundation, slate roof and wood floors.

In the 1930s, Building 18 housed machine gun companies of the Third Infantry. These machine gun companies may have occupied the building as early as the 1920s. In the early 1940s, the building housed “companies in training.”

Military Intelligence Service Language School Students at Fort Snelling, 1945In 1944, Japanese language classes began at the Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS). According to supplements to telephone directories c. 1944 and 1945, the MISLS School Battalion Company F is located in Building 18-B and the School Battalion Company E is located in Building 18-A.

In 1946, the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs begins converting the building into an outpatient clinic.

It sat vacant since 1989. It had no power, water nor HVAC. There was water damage throughout the building, from roof leaks before MNHS reroofed the building in 2012. Wood floors were warped and ceilings had fallen. Floor surfaces were covered in asbestos mastic and there was lead paint on many walls.

Q:  The Military Intelligence Service Language School, based at Fort Snelling during World War II, is particularly interesting. Could you tell us more about it? 

A:  After 1944 the fort was the location of the Military Intelligence Service Language School, where Nisei (second-generation) Japanese Americans learned Japanese, Korean, and Chinese language and culture in preparation for overseas service as interpreters, interrogators, and intelligence workers. These soldiers played an important role after the end of the war during the occupation of Japan.

Plank Museum and Visitor Center Entrance and K.A.H.R. Foundation Lobby

Q:  The renovated Museum and Visitor Center are pristine, with modern amenities including meeting rooms and classrooms, exhibit spaces and galleries, plus accessible restrooms, a museum store, and grab-and-go food and beverage. Could you tell us about the planning process and considerations – materials to use, goals for the building, timeline, etc.? Are the large rooms available to rent for special events?

A:  Planning involved thoughtful consideration of the needs of the site, not only for the present but for future use including expanded stories and eras. Educational space was a priority in planning the building, which is something we did not previously have in the old Visitor Center. 

The site has moved to one that will be open year-round with the Visitor Center providing programs in the winter when the historic fort closes from November through early April. Rental space was included with a large event space now available as well as room for exhibits. A large museum store was included and space for providing food for purchase and informal eating area. Rental spaces are available.

Buffalo Weavers perform on the KLAS Overlook

Ecolab River Walk

Q:  The outdoor spaces are as gorgeous as the renovated visitor center. Could you tell us more about the indigenous landscapes and native plantings that are now taking root?

A:  The Indigenous landscapes that surround Historic Fort Snelling include savanna, woodland, prairie and wet meadow. Each features native plants. Interpretive panels throughout the locations present the Dakota and common English names for many plants, plus how Native Americans have used those plants for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. As these landscapes continue to grow and mature, visitors are encouraged to revisit and observe this living history.

Q:  Are there daily activities at the Fort and Visitor Center?

A:  Yes! Daily activities at the historic fort include hearth cooking, blacksmithing, military demonstrations, a school lesson, historic games and baseball, laundry, and an orientation tour. During the winter, programming will be available at the Visitor Center.

Q:  How may we follow your news? 

A:  Please check out the website, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Fun Group Event: Private Tours by Friends of the Mississippi River

Article by Becky Fillinger 

Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) offers many tours throughout the year. The kayak, biking and walking tours are wildly popular – as you would expect. Did you know you may request a private walking tour for your group? This is offered free of charge and would be a fantastic group activity. We talked to Colleen O'Connor Toberman, Land Use & Planning Program Director, to learn more about engaging with her organization.

Colleen at Lock and Dam 1

Q:  How did the idea of private group tours come about? 

A:  Friends of the Mississippi River is partnering with Dr. Roopali Phadke, Professor of Environmental Studies, at Macalester College, as well as several community organizations, to highlight the upcoming U.S. Army Corps of Engineers disposition study for the Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam and Lock and Dam 1 (often called the Ford Dam). In short, this study will consider the future of these structures that we built to tame and industrialize the river. What should their purpose be, if any? Should we consider removing them? What will our future Mississippi River look like?

Macalester College and FMR have offered a series of focus group tours this summer to invite community members into this conversation. Demand for those experiences has been so high that FMR is offering additional private tours for groups like neighborhood associations, civic leagues, cultural groups, or anyone else interested in exploring this topic.

Q:  Please give us the specifics of a private group tour? How small a group will you take out? How large?  What will we see? 

A:  We welcome groups of 10-25 people to request a walking tour with us. These tours last 1.5 hours and start and end at the Wabun Picnic Area near Lock and Dam 1. Adaptations can be made for accessibility needs.

At this time, we're only able to offer tours focused on the future of the locks and dams. These tours cover the history and function of these structures, considerations for the future, and information about how to participate in the forthcoming Army Corps study process. The 1-2 mile route explores scenic vistas of the river gorge as well as walking to the lock itself.

Lock and Dam 1

Walking Tour

Our public focus groups included kayak, boat, and bike tours as well, but those tours have been filled and we don't have the ability to fund more of those experiences. If a private group is able to coordinate and pay for their own boat or kayak tour, we will gladly come along as guest speakers. We can recommend operators who have worked with us. 

We can also present about the future of the locks and dams in an indoor meeting setting! We can share the same information that we would on a walking tour.

Q:  What's the process of requesting a private tour? Is there a charge?

A:  There is no charge for a private walking tour. If you have a group of 10-25 people to attend a tour, please contact Maddie Miller (mmiller@fmr.org) to discuss scheduling. Right now, we're scheduling tours for late August through October. Indoor presentations can be scheduled for the winter, as well.

Q:  How may we follow news of the Friends of the Mississippi River?  

A:  To learn more about this type of program, and sign up for email updates, please visit www.fmr.org/metrodams.

On social media, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The Falls Initiative: Community Conversations Update

Article by Becky Fillinger

The fifth Falls Initiative Community Conversation was hosted June 28 at Open Book in Minneapolis. If you haven’t been following this story, The Falls Initiative is a multiyear, multiphase project to create a place of healing and celebration at Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls). The project will transform and return the Mississippi riverfront to the public, being especially mindful to the Dakota and other Indigenous communities who consider the site sacred. The theme of the evening was A Powerful Place for Partnerships.

June 28 community conversation     Photo: Drew Arrieta for Friends of the Falls

The Falls Initiative is often visually represented by a thread. The imagery illustrates the Falls as a story disrupted. Examine the tightly knit beginning of the thread story – it reflects the communities, sense of place and sacredness of Owámniyomni. The middle part of the threaded imagery reflects how this place was torn apart through colonization, genocide against Indigenous people, the city’s development, and industrialization. At present day, we are still in this segment. The Falls Initiative is an effort to bring the threads back together again. It will be a long and thoughtful process to knit the story back together and to permit us all to return to the river.

Image credit: GGN for Friends of the Falls

Below is the timeline of project, with Phase 4 concluding last week. Please click on any Phase to learn more about the work done during that time frame: 

Phase 1: Coalition Building (2016-2019)

Phase 2: Inform & Connect (2020)

Phase 3: Grounding (2021)

Phase 4: Engage (January – June 2022)

Phase 5: Align  (July – August 2022)

Phase 6: Respond  (September 2022 – March 2023)

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At the June 28 meeting, many stakeholders gave input on the process so far.

Carrie Day Aspinwall and Kjersti Duval.   Photo: Becky Fillinger

Carrie Day-Aspinwall, who has served as a consultant to The Falls Initiative and facilitator for the Native Partnership Council, told us, “The work on The Falls Initiative has been amazing. It’s not often that we’re invited to the table. We have been able to reestablish, reconnect and re-energize the non-Indian people to the Dakota community. The journey has been strong, consistent and quite honestly it has felt like the right thing to do. We keep our culture at the center of all this work - Indigenous values - our culture, our language, customs and way of life - have been the basis of all our work on The Falls Initiative to date.”     

David Malda, key design leader at GGN provided us with schematics of the design concepts of upper falls, falls and lower falls and what features and programming might take place on the sites. He reiterated that the theme for the night’s presentation, A Powerful Place for Partnerships, was not about decolonizing, but instead indigenizing.

Kjersti Duval, Director of The Falls Initiative, walked the audience through the timeline of turning the property back to the public. She told the audience that early action by The Falls Initiative to build a strong coalition has protected the site and has created the space necessary for a different kind of process to shape the future of the site, saying, “Indigenous landscapes are rising up all over the world, and this place will be one of the most important.”

Kjersti also introduced Interboro Partners, who will lead a focused study on partnerships and programming with local partners MIGIZI and the Division of Indian Work in the coming months.

Image credit: GGN for Friends of the Falls

David D’Oca, Cofounder and Principal at Interboro Partners, told us, “We are just getting started - my firm along with local Twin Cities’ partners are working together for a programming partnership study. We are looking to advance some of the initial ideas about programs. What should be on the site? How can we advance these ideas, and who would be good partners? Art on the site – who would be part of that conversation? Our task is to keep the conversation going - this is complex, long term and a gamechanger.  We are so honored to be part of this project.” 

After the main presentations, breakout groups continued to brainstorm about what the place could be – and how it could grow through time. 

The public’s involvement is by no means over. For community members who are interested, please follow The Falls Initiative on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or by subscribing to the newsletter. Your input is welcome and desired.

Small Business Spotlight: Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided by Molly Ingebretsen

Julie IngebretsenIngebretsen's Nordic Marketplace is 101 years old – a Minneapolis institution. They were recently named Minnesota’s Family-Owned Small Business of the year by the SBA. We talked to third generation co-owner Julie Ingebretsen about the award, mentoring other small immigrant businesses and items not to miss in the retail store – I have my eye on the Biking Viking chocolate bars!

Q:  Congratulations on Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace being named Minnesota’s Family-Owned Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Association. What does the award mean to you? Will you have a party or event to celebrate the award?  

A: We were so delighted - it's quite an honor to be recognized by the SBA! We're big fans of theirs. The award event was really nice, both mayors (Frey and Carter) handed them out - and it was at Urban Growler, sweet! No party here yet though - we plowed right into a big building repair/remodeling project that's still keeping us partly closed. 

MetroIBA (Metro Independent Business Alliance) advocates for independent businesses across the metro area, focusing on the 'buy local' movement, state-level lobbying, and resource-sharing among members. We're grateful that they nominated us for this award!

Ingebretsen's Butcher Counter 1921

The Model Market, 1921

Charles Ingebretsen, Sr. family, 1925Q: Ingebretsen’s has been a community staple for over 100 years. Four generations of Ingrebretsens have owned this business celebrating Scandinavian culture. Please tell us the history of the Ingebretsen’s retail store. Do you think the founders could imagine a Minneapolis of today?  

A: My grandfather, a Norwegian immigrant, started our meat market in 1921, when Lake Street was near the edge of town and our neighborhood was largely Scandinavian. Hard to know how he imagined the future, but I know he understood the importance of location (Lake Street had a new street car line then), and of being rooted in the community. My dad and his eventual partner took over in the 1950's. They added our gift shop in 1974 and hired me to run it, which I thought would be fun for a year or two. I'm still here, and it's still fun. And our 4th generation is very involved and getting ready to take over.

Q:  Did Ingebretsen's sustain damage during the unrest following the murder of George Floyd in 2020?

A:  We had broken windows and quite a lot of internal damage and looting that first night, but thankfully no fire. It was tough, but so many of our neighbors had it much worse. We have felt well supported by our wonderful community of customers and our insurance, and have learned a lot on a visceral level about the meaning of white privilege. Lake Street itself is recovering in some pretty inspiring ways with the help of a wide net of people and organizations contributing time and energy and expertise and money. We're so proud to be a member of this special place.

Q:  I know you’re active in mentoring new immigrant businesses along Lake Street. How did you develop this interest and what types of mentoring do you provide?  

A:  I'd say our "mentoring" is more indirect, but I know our presence and stability influences our newer neighboring businesses in positive ways. We try to be conscious allies of new immigrant businesses and communities, of arts groups, of our surrounding neighborhoods, of the groups working directly with small businesses. Lake Street Council is foremost among those groups, and has done an amazing job raising money and managing the complexity of the recovery. To us, being an ally means supporting and participating in events, sitting on active boards (I've been on Lake Street Council's for years), being active in community safety organizations and projects, welcoming (and buying from!) new businesses, just being as visibly supportive as we can.

Q:  How have you expanded the Ingebretsen’s marketplace during your tenure?  

A:  We occupy four storefronts on the corner of 16th Avenue and East Lake Street. While the meat market/deli part of our business has remained much the same all these years in the second storefront, the rest of the business has expanded around it. The gift shop was added in 1974 in the corner storefront. We had outgrown that space by the mid-90s, so we expanded to the third storefront where we now have our clothing, needlework (especially knitting), and children's things. The fourth space is mostly occupied by our growing mail order business, along with some space for classes. We also had a small boutique in Stockholm, WI for several years, and still run a gift shop in the Norway House building at 913 E Franklin Avenue.

Hagar next to the fish counter

Ingebretsen's clothing and needlework area

Biking Viking chocolatesQ:  What’s a few items we should not miss when we come to shop at Ingebretsen’s?

A:  Our food specialties, for sure - Swedish meatball mix, Swedish sausage, smoked salmon, herring, lefse, cheeses, chocolate, lots more. Nordic specialty cookware. A great book selection. Christmas things when it's time. We're big on Viking-themed things (real Vikings). Also so many of the wonderfully designed and made products for the home that come from Scandinavia. Norwegian wool yarn. Cool socks. Hard to stop...

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  We update our website daily, and there you can sign up to get emails from us. We are also active on Facebook and Instagram where we share cultural information and day to day happenings in the store! Come by and see us at 1601 E Lake Street – we love first time and regular visitors!

Dream Job: Benji Bloom, Programming and Booking Assistant, Dakota

Article by Becky Fillinger

When you’re joining your fifth Zoom meeting of the day, and considering monthly sales pipeline quotas, think about the dream job held by Benji Bloom – Programming and Booking Assistant at the Dakota! We talked to Benji about how he goes about planning the Dakota’s music calendar and what it’s like to work at a legendary venue.

Benji Bloom

Q:  Your LinkedIn profile mentions that you’re adept at analyzing trends and human behavior as it relates to pop/urban culture. Please tell us more about how you acquired this skill and how you use it at the Dakota.

A:  I credit a lot of my “ear to the ground” skill to my time at the radio station back in college, 90.7 FM KJHK. I was booking shows there, so I had to stay in tune with the local acts around town (Lawrence, Kansas). Along with that, I have always loved finding new artists. A lot of people can listen to the same artists their whole life, but not me. I constantly need something new. That skill allows me to bring in new acts that haven’t been exposed to the Dakota before – not only good acts, but important ones.

Q:  You really do have a dream job. How do you go about putting together a monthly calendar for the Dakota? Do you work one month at a time, or perhaps three at a time, to get the right mix of shows?

A:  It is truly all over the place. Depending on the acts, we could be booking anywhere from a month out to a year out. If we like it and we think the Twin Cities community will (or already does) like it, then we jump on it. Getting that right mix is very important, especially due to the fact that we don’t identify strictly as a “Jazz Club” anymore; even though we still present Jazz, the Dakota is way bigger than that. Presenting musical diversity is extremely important.

Q:  Did you grow up in Kansas? Where’s home for you?

A:  I am originally from Minnesota. I went to Lawrence, Kansas for college. My intent was to move to Kansas City after school, but the pandemic brought me back here.

Q:  The Dakota webpage includes a quote from Jazz Weekly – “It’s because of concerts like this that I can’t stand living in Los Angeles. Why is it that Lowell Pickett’s Dakota…gets artists and tours to come to Minneapolis and not darken the doors of any club in LA?” What is your secret sauce in booking these artists that are the envy of every jazz club?

A:  The credit all goes to Lowell (Pickett). He has built such incredible relationships with figures in the industry during his career. It’s impressive because it’s not like artists feel like they have to perform at the Dakota, but instead they want to because they know they will be treated extremely well and have a memorable experience in such a legendary venue. That’s why we get some incredible underplays.

Q:  Do you solicit community input in booking future shows?

A:  Always! I can’t book for just myself. Audience input is always helpful and very much appreciated.

Q:  What music do you listen to in your time away from work?

A:  That’s kind of impossible to answer. I listen while at work too, I like to find new stuff all the time, its part of the gig. I’ll listen to just about anything and it changes just about every day. I will listen to anything from Charles Mingus to Sunn 0))) to John Prine to MF Doom.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  I am not very active on social media. I kind of like staying under the radar, but I am always paying attention. You can follow the music calendar on the Dakota's website, subscribe to our newsletter, and if you really want to, you can follow my very slow-moving Instagram @benji.bloom to see me rock climb and what I am listening to in real time!

Mia's Dressed by Nature: Textiles of Japan - What Will You Learn?

Article by Becky Fillinger

Dr. Andreas MarksWe are blessed by a wealth of museums in the Twin Cities. You might have missed the announcement about Mia’s new exhibit, Dressed by Nature: Textiles of Japan. I had one question for Dr. Andreas Marks, who oversees Mia’s renowned collection of Japanese and Korean art, about the impressive exhibit covering textiles produced between 1750 and 1930. Check out the reasons for attending!

Close up detail of festival kimono decorated with carp ascending a waterfall made in Akita Prefecture

Q:  In many parts of the world, textiles embody the weaver’s or weaving communities’ beliefs, histories, folklore, motifs, and design sensibilities. Therefore, textile products are important representations of a given community and their material culture. What will museum-goers learn about Japan by visiting the exhibit? 

• Textiles embody the economical situation of the maker as well as the economical situation of the client. Even in preindustrial Japan, there were specialized makers whose occupation was to produce textiles, not necessarily for themselves or for their own community, but that might have been ordered for someone further away.

• The view of Japan as the land of the kimono, meaning the beautiful silk robe, is an oversimplification that is being repeated again and again. Exhibitions on Japanese textiles often follow the same concept, showcasing a few old kimonos and then examples of modern haute couture that were influenced by such kimonos. Our aim with “Dressed by Nature” is to illustrate the diversity of cultures in the Japanese archipelago. The kimono, how Westerners understand them, is not the standard clothing all over Japan. Silk was a luxury item that fell under sumptuary law and only people of a certain social status, the aristocracy, could wear it. There were social and regional differences that strongly influenced what you were allowed to wear or what you could afford to wear. Throughout Japan, the majority of people wore cotton as well as other fibers that could be harvested in their environment. Some regions developed patterning techniques that were very laborious to employ but famous all over the country, and although the garment was made of cotton, it was as expensive as silk.

• Another aspect to consider is that people often assume that Japan is ethnically homogeneous, but this exhibition gives visitors a glimpse of regional and ethnic differences, from the indigenous Ainu people to the Okinawans. In a nutshell, this exhibition is an eye-opener for the enormous variety of clothing that was produced in what is today the country of Japan.

• “Dressed by Nature” is set up to entertain and bring joy to visitors, but it is also a learning experience with a wealth of information available in the galleries. Nothing in this exhibition has ever been on view at Mia before.

Fireman's parade leather coat (kawabaori) with Ōhisa family crest

Dark blue-ground festival kimono sea creatures

Siberian salmon-skin woman’s robe

Attush robe with talismanic pendants

Nonprofit Leader: Rich Melzer, CEO, YouthLink

Article by Becky Fillinger

Rich MelzerSix thousand young people are currently experiencing homelessness in Minnesota. There is an organization in Minneapolis that has been serving this vulnerable population for over 45 years – YouthLink. We talked to newly installed CEO, Rich Melzer, about the challenges and dreams for this outstanding local nonprofit.

Q:  YouthLink has been in Minneapolis for over 45 years. Can you give our readers a short history of the organization and the mission? 

A:  You’re right – YouthLink has been serving tirelessly in this field of ending youth homelessness for almost half a century. During even the most challenging and difficult times for the organization, we continued to deliver at a very high clip and even more so during some of the brighter and more opportunistic phases. In recent years, YouthLink was led by Dr. Heather Huseby, whose work and experience continue to surface and we carry her legacy and life’s work forward.

Ultimately, we continue to serve young people experiencing homelessness and the accompanying challenges they face every day of the week. Whether it is basic needs like food, clothing, toddler support or simply refuge from the streets, we can provide that safe space and nourishment in a clean, visually appealing, and holistic environment every day at our drop-in center. Additionally, and perhaps even more importantly, we set young people up directly with realistic long-term housing opportunities to get them off the streets, into stable housing and have our organization and partners’ resources wrapped around each young person we serve. We’re literally feeding, protecting, nurturing, serving, and housing the most vulnerable youth in the Twin Cities every day.  Our mission and work will continue until our goal of ending youth homelessness is met.

CEO Rich Melzer and clients

Q:  You’ve been CEO for about four months now. As you’ve settled into your new role, what priorities and opportunities are on your to-do list? 

A:  The priority or to-do that has blossomed since my arrival is more of a question, “How are we dreaming for young people?” Are our dreams big enough, are they realistic and if they are not realistic, how do we accept the challenge and responsibility to make these larger dreams more so? I would say we’re among another one or two organizations in the Twin Cities recognized as a centralized location for youth homelessness. Is that enough for us as an organization? Particularly one like ours with a high-quality brick and mortar location in the center of the metro, with a downtown view (our youth housing building) connected directly next to our drop-in center and Nicollet Square (another youth housing building supported by YouthLink) just minutes from our home-base? If we are not the “mecca” for youth homelessness in the Twin Cities right now, we certainly will continue to aspire to be because we have the resources, the developing team and the partnerships in place to do so. We also know that to be successful we must tandem these efforts with other like-minded organizations like The Bridge for Youth, Avenues for Youth, Hope Street Shelter, and others like us that dream of ending this phenomenon of youth homelessness.

Q:  When your appointment was announced, I heard people comment that your outstanding reputation in the nonprofit and sports world would gather positive attention from the business community and other organizations. Are you forging new relationships, or reenergizing existing relationships, for YouthLink?   

A:  Advancing existing and new relationships will be a lifelong commitment of mine because I believe that in this work, we’re irrefutably stronger in numbers. With that said, YouthLink has been so committed to this work for so many years that fortunately for me and this team we don’t have to reinvent the wheel entirely either. As it relates to right now, we’re loving our supporters and identifying a who’s who to match their personal passions and heart-string passions with the resources we need most. We know who supports us philanthropically, who advocates for us to the community and who we need to partner with now more than ever. We’re evaluating what is going to lead that larger dream of ours to be impactful around anything involving youth homelessness. We are also building greater capacity and bandwidth around our individual supporter base by tying the mission and the evolving work of YouthLink to the people who care about young people and service most. Simply put, we’re continually connecting and reorganizing the dots (relationships and partners) that bind us to make a difference together.

YouthLink's Drop-in Center is a safe, non-judgmental place for youth 16-21 years old from all backgrounds, races and genders.

Q:  What is the biggest challenge YouthLink is facing and how are you and your team addressing it? 

A:  We’ve had three full revolutions of organizational turnover in the three years prior to my arrival. As meaningful as the work we’ve been doing is, it seems we may have missed the calling to really nurture and provide for our staff and service providers. While we obviously have an obligation to the young people experiencing homelessness, we’re pouring a ton of time and energy into our team members to ensure they feel loved, appreciated and supported by YouthLink, as not only an organization but as a place of employment they’re proud to be at and feel supported by. Our goal is to provide our team members and staff with as many resources as possible. We’ve implemented unique performance reviews and processes that probably don’t sound attractive to most but for an organization that hasn’t had a simple application like this, it’s a leap in the right direction. We’ve worked with the YMCA of the North to give our team members greatly reduced memberships so they can decompress, exercise and bring a healthy balance with them to work in hopes of continuing to promote a healthy work environment. We’ve learned that a large percentage of our team members are renting homes and apartments and by having this information we’re proud to partner with long-time supporters of ours at Old National Bank who will educate our staff with first-time homebuyers’ programs, financial literacy and educational tools, down payment assistance programs and more. Our wages at YouthLink are very fair and competitive given our industry and we want the team members to feel empowered by YouthLink to reach the goals and dreams they’ve aspired to as professionals and individuals. 

One of the first questions I asked when I got to YouthLink was, “Where does one go for therapy?” and “What other resources are there for the ones on the front lines to really decompress holistically and positively in a healthy way?” Sadly, there’s been very little historically other than what’s likely been available to our young people we serve. This is an area we incorporate into our benefits packages, YMCA memberships and resources through AVIVO, to ultimately say, “We love you…we want you well when you’re at work…we want you to feel supported and cared for.” The end goal of course is to create a culture of people who hope to be here and value being here, while also growing personally and professionally while they’re with us.  

Q:  Do you have a need for volunteers? How may we as individuals help YouthLink? 

A:  Volunteerism is at an all-time high, and we love new faces! However, our work requires confidentiality to protect the integrity of our young peoples’ information and private stories. If someone has a real passion for volunteering, contact Carley Kleinhans, our Volunteer Leader at kleinhans@youthlinkmn.org and she and I will get you squared away based on the interests and passions that drive you to give back. If you want to make a charitable donation, please reach out to Heather Haynes, our valued Director of Development at haynes@youthlinkmn.org. With all the challenges the young people we see face, we depend on philanthropy and in-kind monetary gifts. The drug epidemic, the heat, human trafficking, mental health, housing instability, broken homes, sexually exploited youth – we see and support every case we can involving young people experiencing homeless and worse. While we have partners we value immensely and remain endlessly loyal to, we as an organization and service could not offset this phenomenon without dollars and passionate supporters to assist us financially. We have some unique studies to support how we’ve helped and what the cost to love a homeless young person looks like, and we’re proud to report that this particular longitudinal study by the University of Minnesota states that every young person who enters our doors benefits unequivocally and irrefutably after coming to YouthLink. 

Q:  How may we follow your news? 

A:  We have our website and Facebook pages online. We’re also regularly featured on WCCO radio with Mike Max and other industry media outlets quite regularly. Tell your friends about the work we do. If anyone would like, they can contact our Communications Director, Sarah Johnson sjohnson@youthlinkmn.org, to get placed on an email list.