Rue Duffy - Hard to Believe That Voice is Only 13

By Claudia Kittock

Rue Duffy is 13 years old. Why does that matter? When you hear her sing you won’t believe she is only 13 years old. This young woman has a voice that sounds far older than her short life. She is incredibly talented and a recipient of Be That Neighbor's Sallie Steele Birdsong Scholarship.

Rue can never remember a time in her life when there wasn’t music. She loved to sing with her Dad when she was 2 years old as he played his guitar. Rue started studying with J.D. Steele when she was 6 years old. She heard about him from the stylist who was cutting her hair, and when they met, J.D. heard the potential in her voice and in her personality.

Rue hears music wherever she goes, even when you and I can’t hear it. It is inside her and even though that music may not always come with words, it is there and it is real. When you hear her sing, you can imagine the music inside of her.

She loves virtually every genre of music, and has recently become interested in scat singing. In Rue’s words, “It shows off the singer and what the singer can do with just notes.”

Music is Rue’s dream and she hopes to become a performer. She would love to go to a performing arts high school, followed by attending a college where she could major in voice.

An Incredible Young Woman

By Claudia Kittock

Naomi Hofstad is an incredible young woman and a recipient of the Sallie Steele Birdsong Scholarship, sponsored by Be That Neighbor. When Naomi talks about singing, her eyes light up, and her whole face shines with pure joy. She told me she has always been singing. When her parents first met her in Liberia, she beat out a tune with an empty water bottle. Nothing has changed. As she said, “I sing every night and every day.”
 
Rebecca, Naomi’s Mom, heard about J.D. Steele during the pandemic, got online and found him at MacPhail. Their first in-person experience with J.D. was on the now famous University of Minnesota parking ramp where the MacPhail Community Youth Choir (MCYC) was rehearsing. It was love at first note and Naomi has been an avid member of MCYC since then.
 
Naomi took piano lessons, but found it slowed her down. She prefers to hear music and then to figure it out. Her plans for the future include college to study singing, and then she hopes to become a performer. Naomi practices her performance skills on her church worship team and with MCYC.
 
When she sings, she said she feels the same as everyone else, and what a wonderful gift that is for all of us who sing. Naomi loves watching people respond while she is singing. It fills her with true joy.
 
Naomi is why the Sallie Steele Birdsong Scholarship exists. Music is necessary in all of our lives, and we need to make sure we help each and every young person to find that access. We are grateful for Naomi Hofstad and how she shares her joy of music with all of us. We are all stronger because of her.

I Am More Than You Think I Am: Genet Gessert

By Claudia Kittock

Have you ever been to a concert and heard the MacPhail Community Youth Choir (MCYC), directed by J.D. Steele, accompanied by Fred Steele? This group of young people sing with amazing heart and will touch your soul. You will always be entertained by the soloists that step forward. Genet Gessert is one of the incredible singers.

J.D. loves to tell people that he knows things are going to continue to get better because of the young people of MCYC. Once you spend time with them, you will understand what he means. In a recent interview, Genet explained how she wants to change the world and make it better. She hopes to study neuroscience so that she can understand how emotional intelligence works and to use that to change things for the better through possible work with the government.
 
Ah, and her voice! When Genet sings, every cell in your body listens. Her heart and her soul are infused in every note. How does this 15 year old do that? Here’s what she told me.
 
Music has always been a part of her life and she has spent her whole life singing. She plays the piano and guitar and composes music without being able to read music. It’s just there, in her head, all the time. When someone in class turns a page of a book, Genet hears 10 different rhythms in that simple act. Every sound turns into music in her head. When she met J.D. at the very first rehearsal, she said she found the other half of her soul. She had the voice, but she needed the confidence and ability to use it onstage and that’s what she got.
 
Genet is a recipient of the Sallie Steele Birdsong Scholarship, which owes its name to the remarkable mother of the Steele family. She raised six musical children on her own following the death of her husband. This scholarship, created and funded by Be That Neighbor, provides youth with the opportunity to take vocal lessons. It started during the pandemic, and J.D. began by giving vocal lessons online. Now he uses every venue he needs to provide vocal education to young people like Genet.
 
Genet told me that she resonates with Sallie Steele Birdsong and her incredible ability to keep going, no matter how many times life knocked her down. She understands the emotional piece of picking yourself up and going forward. Genet wants the world to know not to judge her by what people see. As she so wonderfully said, “Don’t stereotype me. Listen to my music and get to know me through that. I am more than you think I am.” She is all of that and more. Watch for this young woman and listen to her music. You won’t be sorry.
 
The Sallie Steele Birdsong Scholarship is funded by our generous donors. If you would like to help us continue and expand this program, please donate at https://www.givemn.org/organization/Be-That-Neighbor.

A Step Forward

Article by Claudia Kittock

I became a volunteer in the literacy department of YouthLink nearly six years ago and soon after met Katie Miller, a staff member. Katie was immediately memorable for her humor, her grace, and her incredible skill and empathy with the young people experiencing homelessness. I am a professional observer, and observing Katie was a joy. I knew I wanted to know her.

Katie MillerOver the years we had many conversations and her skills were obvious and remarkable. Selfishly, I was sad when she told me she was resigning to become a Community Navigator with the Minneapolis Police Department. I was also excited for what she would be able to do in this position. Since Katie has been in her new role our paths have continued to cross.  

Community Navigators, as a unit, were created with racial equity for the communities they serve. Each member represents a recognized community group (Native American, LGBTQIA+/Homelessness, LatinX, African American, SE African/Somali, and Intimate Partner/Domestic Violence) that the Minneapolis Police Department recognizes a need to better serve, communicate, and build positive relationships. 

The personnel of the unit, because of their extensive history of social service (10+ years) prior to joining the Minneapolis Police Department, offer a novel approach to victim services, community engagement, and guardianship. This unit, as a non-sworn/civilian entity, offers the communities a different, hopefully non-threatening, interaction point, as they offer assistance through the common accords of each representative group. 

Navigators also assist in recognizing how racial and/or economic inequities harm the populace, and act as connectors to resources and carriers of information both from and to community and policymakers. With the Navigators as a resource, the department increases its capacity to engage in a trauma-informed, meaningful, approachable way with communities that are hesitant to interact with police due to historical trauma, over-policing, and mistrust.

This is a wonderful step forward for our community, and one that has already shown to work. Please join us in offering this amazing group of professionals our support. They are that neighbor.

Be That Neighbor: The Minneapolis Volunteer Brigade

Article by Claudia Kittock

We are living in very uncertain times. The new normal is not yet defined. We are offering a challenge to each and every one of you. Join us in creating the new normal. Join us in being the neighbor we hope moves in next door. Join us in changing the conversation of the new normal. Let’s make it about what we can be and then let’s all join together to make that new reality happen.

For most of us, our inconveniences are just that, inconvenient. For many of our neighbors, there are life altering changes that can include lack of health care, and an inability to get food. As Paul Wellstone so famously said, "When we all do better, we all do better." How can you help your neighbors do better?

We have set up a Facebook group, the Minneapolis Volunteer Brigade at https://www.facebook.com/groups/MinneapolisVolunteerBrigade/. It will list volunteer opportunities, people willing to volunteer, and community needs including financial support. Money is needed to feed people, but please know this is not a fundraising campaign. There will be many ways to help our neighbors in the months ahead.

Our community has enormous resources and a huge heart. Help! Visit the Facebook group and find what you can do. Spread the word! Make sure your Facebook friends know about this group. Post needs that you know about. Let’s make this moment in our history one when we all stood up. We ARE stronger together!

Join us in the Minneapolis Volunteer Brigade.

Homelessness: Facts Matter When Talking About Crime & People Experiencing Homelessness

Article by Claudia Kittock

Facts matter. Experience matters. Opinions must be treated as just that, opinions. The recently expressed opinion that “Many of Downtown East’s problems are ‘crimes of opportunity’ and stem from homelessness, substance abuse and mental health issues," is just that, an opinion. Is it based on facts? Is it a helpful narrative, or is it an opinion, masquerading as a fact that will cause real harm to the most vulnerable among us?

If you are someone experiencing homelessness you are more likely to be the victim of crime than to be a perpetrator. Opinion? In December, the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) concluded homeless individuals are far more likely than the general population to be victims of violent crime. In their latest report, “Vulnerable to Hate: A Survey of Bias-Motivated Violence against People Experiencing Homelessness in 2016-2017,” the NCH documented at least 112 anti-homeless attacks that occurred in the United States in 2016 and 2017, and analyzed 1,769 reported acts of violence committed against homeless individuals from 1999-2017. Of the 1,769 violent acts, 476 victims lost their lives as a result.

NCH studied attacks that occurred in 48 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.

A 16-year-old young man I have known for several years was thrown out of his home for being gay. His parents wanted nothing more to do with him. He slept on the light rail for 4 months with a suitcase that contained all his worldly goods. As difficult as it was to sleep, he fell asleep one night only to find his suitcase had been stolen while he was sleeping. Sixteen, alone, without anything but the clothes on his back. Should I be scared of this young man because he is experiencing homelessness, or should I be horrified at the circumstances that led him to that moment?

A new report by homeless charity Crisis has revealed the shocking level of violence and intimidation homeless people face.

Researchers speaking to people sleeping outside found: 

• More than one in three have been deliberately been hit, kicked, or experienced some other form of violence while homeless.

• Over one in three (34%) have had things thrown at them. 

• Almost one in 10 (9%) have been urinated on while homeless. 

• More than one in 20 (7%) have been the victim of a sexual assault. 

• Almost half (48%) have been intimidated or threatened with violence whilst homeless.

• Six in 10 (59%) have been verbally abused or harassed.

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People experiencing homelessness are often pulled into the criminal or juvenile justice systems for misdemeanor offenses related to attempts to survive on the streets. They may be prosecuted for things like shoplifting or for publicly engaging in basic life activities like standing or sleeping — activities that would never be an offense when done in one’s home. Unhoused people are often segregated from society; are subjected to laws that make it illegal to be poor or have their property legally stolen; receive a criminal label; refused a place to sleep; denied food, bathrooms, and healthcare; are verbally abused; have their existence denied; and sometimes, are attacked by housed community members with a bias against homelessness. This dehumanization leads to the marginalization of people experiencing homelessness and leaves these groups unprotected.

$2.50 is the difference between a loitering charge or not. I can spend a day in a coffee shop because I can afford to pay for coffee. Someone experiencing homelessness that came into a coffee shop to try to warm up but cannot afford a cup of coffee, can get charged with loitering and then may likely be trespassed from the premise. When I meet some of my homeless friends for coffee, they are afraid to arrive before I do because they are quite certain they will be asked to leave if I am not there to make sure they get a coffee. 

What about the concern that having people experiencing homelessness in your community makes you less safe? In a recent analysis of 11 city-sanctioned homeless villages of tiny homes in Seattle and Portland, Ore., it was found that crime rates went down in five of those neighborhoods, stayed about the same in four and went up only in two. A 2013 randomized controlled trial in a housing-first program in Vancouver, British Columbia, showed that providing market-rate apartments around the city to homeless mentally ill people reduced crime. A Washington Post analysis of research concluded, “On average, researchers have found supportive housing facilities servicing the homeless and other vulnerable populations rarely lead to higher crime rates.”

The irony is that housing for the homeless isn’t the cause of crime; it’s the solution to it. Study after study shows that even those homeless individuals with severe mental illness or suffering from addiction have lower rates of criminal behavior once they have a roof over their head. Building shelters and housing will deter crime and protect lives, not cause crime.

The vast majority of people who have substance abuse, mental or physical health conditions, criminal records, etc. are housed. While there may separately and collectively be things that people experiencing homelessness deal with at a high rate, they are still a small minority of people to struggle with specific conditions. We have compassion for housed people who struggle with addiction and mental health issues. Why not for people who are too poor to afford housing or to access health care?

Have you noticed the language I use - people experiencing homelessness, as opposed to homeless person? It is deliberate and taught to me by people far wiser than I. I would be horrified to be defined by the worse moment of my life. Being homeless tends to be transitory for the vast majority of people. It is a moment in time. Imagine being known as “drunk John" for the rest of your life based on your time of excess drinking in college. We wouldn’t stand for it. It isn’t accurate and it isn’t relevant.

Friends of the Mill District recently began holding a series of Community Conversations throughout the Mill District. The three leaders of this conversation are people who work to provide support for people experiencing homelessness. Lieutenant Grant Snyder, police liaison for people experiencing homelessness, Katie Miller, mental health advocate with the police department, and Joe Kreisman, chair of Align Minneapolis, formerly the Congregations to End Homelessness. Each of these experts about their work, but most of the sessions are question-answer format. We have had two of these conversations in two different condo buildings, and the reviews were glowing. Once the Coronavirus concerns pass, we will resume these conversations. In the meantime, if you are interested in being part of these conversations, contact Claudia Kittock at cjkittock@gmail.com. It is not too early to begin to schedule a conversation in your building.

We need to have fact-based conversations. We need to decide who we want to be as a community. We need to create the neighborhood we want to live in, one filled with kindness and compassion with room enough for all. 

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Heartfelt Gratitude from Friends of the Mill District

Article by Claudia Kittock, photos by Ryan Ojard

Oh, what a night!

If you missed an Evening with the Steeles on October 17th, you missed a great party. The evening was a fundraiser for the Friends of the Mill District and it was a neighbor party. Incredible food donated by neighborhood restaurants comprised the Taste of Mill District element of the event. Partipicating restaurants included Smith and Porter, Keefer Court, Afro Deli, Trader Joe's, Umbra, Bacon Social House, Wasabi Fusion, Crooked Pint, Conexion at Open Book and Pog Mahones. Not only was there an amazing amount of food, it was all delicious. Our community stepped up in a huge way to support this event and we are so very grateful to each and every restaurant.

Board member, Coach Jennifer Weber, recruited and brought a group of young people from the Cedar Riverside community to work the event as volunteers. They were incredible! When you checked in, you were greeted by one of the young people, and given directions to the food and cash bar. During the ‘ask’ this youth were instrumental in passing out and collecting donation envelopes. However, the best part of the evening was watching them dance, and dance they did.

Jevetta Steele gave an impassioned speech directed to these amazing young people, exhorting them to act like "the kings and queens they are" and to "stand on our shoulders so that they can change the world." It was an emotional and wonderful moment.

The music was pure Steele magic. We were treated to gospel music, jazz, Gershwin, music written by the group, and so many other genres. This family of singers are incredible musicians, and even better people.  Every song is filled with the heart and soul of this amazing group.

The board of the Friends of the Mill District, David Tinjum, Chris Bray, Ken Searl, Cynthia Froid, Jennifer Weber, Jan Mershon and Claudia Kittock, are so grateful to each and every one of you who support our work. Our mantra is that we are stronger together, and it was obvious at the fundraiser. We are blessed by every part of the community, from the Mill City Museum who were amazing hosts, to D’Amico who were responsible for the bar, to each restaurant who donated the fabulous food, to the young people who worked so hard, to the Guthrie who hosts the rehearsals for the Mill City Singers, and to the amazing Steeles for an evening of unforgettable music.

The Friends are hoping to make this an annual event. If you missed it, make sure you don’t next year. If you came, you will want to get your tickets early. It is never too late to become part of the Friends by sending donations to Claudia Kittock, 1240 S 2nd Street, Unit 1132, Minneapolis, MN 55415. Please make checks payable to Friends of the Mill District.

100% of the proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to fund the Mill City Singers. The Singers are open to all and free of charge. Rehearsals are held in the Guthrie Theater on Saturdays from 2:00-3:30 pm, with the Guthrie donating the rehearsal space. We are so blessed by our community!

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org 

An Evening with the Steeles and Taste of the Mill District - this Thursday, October 17, at the Mill City Museum

Article by Claudia Kittock

An Evening with the Steeles is this Thursday, October 17th at the Mill City Museum. The evening will begin with Taste of the Mill District from 6-7 pm with a cash bar.  There will be appetizers donated by restaurants in our community, including Smith and Porter, Keefer Court, Afro Deli, Trader Joe's, Open Book, Umbra, Bacon Social House, Wasabi Fusion, Crooked Pint and Pog Mahones. We are so thankful for the generosity of our neighbors!

The singing will begin at 7:00 and you won't want to miss one moment. This magical group promises an evening of amazing music, and to send you home full of hope and joy. You won't want to miss the only performance by the Steele Family in the Mill District this year.

100% of the proceeds will go to fund the Mill City Singers. The Singers are open to all and free of charge.  Rehearsals are held in the Guthrie Theater on Saturdays from 2:00-3:30 pm, with the Guthrie donating the rehearsal space. We are so blessed by our community!

I hope to see you all there. Tickets are available on Eventbrite and at the door on the 17th.

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org 

Friends of the Mill District Announces Mill City Dance

Article by Claudia Kittock

Friends of the Mill District (FOMD) is excited to announce the first ever Mill City Dance. We are partnering with the Heart of Dance and Abiitan Mill City in the launch of a 10-week session of dance classes featuring a variety of dance types, including ballroom. The session will begin on Thursday, October 10th, 12:30 pm to 2 pm. Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Abiitan Terraces (2nd floor of Abiitan). Guests will need to check in with the concierge in the lobby and will then be directed to the 2nd floor.

No partner is necessary. Come as you are, single or with a partner. Mill City Dance is sponsored by the Friends of the Mill District and in keeping with our mission, will be free and open to all. Programming expenses are paid by FOMD.

There are a limited number of spaces available and they will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Join us in building body, brain, and balance. We expect these spaces to fill quickly. Please register with Claudia Kittock at cjkittock@gmail.com.

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org 

Be a Friend of the Mill District

Article by Claudia Kittock

As many of you may know, the Friends of the Mill District is a small, neighborhood charity. Our mission is to connect all people in the Mill District neighborhood and surrounding areas. How do we do that? We hire some of the very finest artists in the metropolitan area to lead groups that we have founded and manage.  The Mill City Singers, Mill City Yoga, and Mill City Players are three such groups. Each of them is free and open to all, which is another part of the mission of the Friends. If we are going to be open to all people, we must make sure that a ‘membership fee’ is not an impediment. We work very hard to make sure that every segment of the population in our community knows they are welcome and feels welcome when they join us. Our mantra is that we are ‘stronger together’ and we have learned the truth of that statement through the growth of each of our groups.

Obviously, the work that we do, can only be done because of a loyal group of contributors who believe in the work we are doing. We are so very grateful to each and every one of them and love the work. It does require money to pay the salaries of our amazing artists who include J.D. Steele, Fred Steele, Laurie Omodt-Tebrake, James A. Williams, Patricia Brown, Ahanti Young, and soon to include Ember Reichgott-Junge and Andrea Mirenda. 100% of the donations are used to pay our artists. All other work is done on a volunteer basis.

The Steeles

On October 17th, the Friends will be holding their first fundraiser, starring the Steele Family in their only appearance in the Mill District this year. We are honored to be hosting this amazing group and hope you will be able to attend. The evening will begin at 6:00 at the Mill City Museum with Taste of the Mill District, which will feature donated appetizers from many of the restaurants in our community, along with a cash bar. At 7:00 the Steeles will take the stage. If you have had the honor of seeing them in concert, you know what to expect. If you have missed them, buckle up, it will be an evening of rollicking music, amazing joy, great laughs, and an evening of community. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com. If you cannot attend and feel the need to support this dynamic group, please go to actblue.com and donate to the Friends of the Mill District.

Look for an announcement on Monday about the newest program the Friends are adding. We can’t confirm the details yet, but get ready for Mill City Dance!!! Be sure to ‘like’ Friends of the Mill District on Facebook for our announcement.

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org 

Join us for The Steeles and Taste of the Mill District on October 17

Article by Claudia Kittock

'An Evening with the Steeles' event to benefit The Mill City Singers

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We are excited to announce the Steele Family is coming to the Mill District. On October 17, the Steeles will be in concert at the Mill City Museum. The evening will begin with a 6:00p happy hour, featuring light appetizers from area restaurants as part of the ‘Taste of the Mill City’ portion of this evening. A cash bar will be provided by D’Amico.

At 7:00p, the Steeles will begin their 90-minute concert. If you have had the privilege of hearing the Steeles, you know what to expect. It will be an evening of joyous music, sung from the hearts of these incredibly talented singers, accompanied by their equally talented band. 

This is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Mill District. 100% of the proceeds will go to pay the salaries of J.D. and Fred Steele who lead the Mill City Singers. The Singers are a dynamic and integral part of our community, and we are determined to keep them singing. We can’t do it without you! Please come and be part of a joyful evening. 

Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite. If you're unable to attend, but want to support this dynamic neighborhood charity, please consider donating at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/millcitysingers. Don’t wait!

All of the labor to organize and maintain the Singers is donated.

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org 

Thank You to MacPhail and Everyone Who Helped Make the 2019 National Night Out in the Mill District a Success

Article by Claudia Kittock, Photos by Dave Tinjum

Two months ago, Roque Diaz, the Director of School Partnerships at MacPhail Center for Music, contacted me about discussing National Night Out. Roque had an idea, and that idea was for MacPhail to take the lead in this year’s National Night Out. He wanted to know if Friends of the Mill District would be interested in partnering with MacPhail on this project.

I quickly suggested a meeting with David Tinjum of Mill City Times. We discussed holding the event in Gold Medal Park and soon had the cooperation of Emanuel Housing, Bihi Abdirizak, Open Eye Theater, the staff of The Legacy, Wildflyer Coffee, and scores of neighbors. Everyone and every group we asked said, “Yes! I’ll be there.” Our goal was to bring neighbors out to the park to get to know each other while enjoying music, food, a photo booth, a puppet show, coffee, and so much more.

Click on the picture below to view the entire photo set:

What happened on August 6 surpassed all our hopes. We had a wonderful crowd of hundreds of neighbors, fabulous music, a great puppet show, root beer floats, free coffee, games, picnic dinners, and conversation all around. August 6 was the epitome of what it means to be a community. We ARE stronger together, and that evening was a step in that process. Let’s keep the momentum going.

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org 

MacPhail to Host August 6th National Night Out in Gold Medal Park

Article by Claudia Kittock 

National Night Out is returning to Gold Medal Park on August 6th. Grab a blanket and picnic lunch and join your friends in celebrating the spirit of the neighborhood.

MacPhail Center for Music is the host and will be bringing musicians. They will be joined by a photo booth, sponsored by Emanuel Housing. Open Eye Theater will be performing a puppet show at 7:00, sponsored by Friends of the Mill District. The staff of The Legacy will be passing out free root beer floats. We are hoping for stops from the Bike Cops for Kids and the Fire Department.

There is much more news to come, so stay tuned. Make your plans now to join your neighbors on August 6th in Gold Medal Park. See you there!

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

A Very Good June for Friends of the Mill District

Article by Claudia Kittock

It has been a very busy and very good June for the Friends of the Mill District. The community participation and support has been fabulous.

We started the month on June 8th with the Mill City Singers' 3rd performance at the Loring Park Music Festival. If you're interested, check out this video from the Festival (go to the 18-minute mark to see J.D. Steele and the Singers - the video ends with their final song).

On June 15th, the Friends held a book drive for YouthLink. Camille Burke organized the event and we are so thankful for her leadership and for the donations from the community. Because of these donations, we were able to take almost 2000 books to young people whose access to books is limited. What a wonderful day.

On June 22nd, we partnered with the Cedar Riverside community and Allina Free Bikes 4 Kidz program to help hand out 350 bikes. The Friends handed out bike locks and water bottles. It was an incredibly fun day with palpable excitement that began at 8 a.m. and the line started forming at 5:30 a.m. Those in line were fitted for a free bike, bike helmet, locks and water bottles. Almost 100 volunteers helped make everything go smoothly.

Friends of the Mill District board member, Jan Merchon

We love what we do. It is amazing to be part of this amazing community. Our neighborhood is stronger because of you and the ways you all help. Thank you for what you do. There is more to come. 

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Lynette Dumalag: Following Her Immigrant Parents' Directive to "do good here"

Article by Claudia Kittock

I met Lynette Dumalag when I began serving on the Task Force to End Street Homelessness. I was immediately impressed with her breadth of knowledge about all things concerning homelessness, her youth, and her obvious expertise in commercial real estate. We have served on this committee together for 5 years, and through those years have gotten to know each other, and my initial impressions were not only correct, but my admiration for her has grown. She is a human dynamo and one Minneapolis is so lucky to have on ‘our side’. 

Lynette DumalagLynette is the child of immigrants who came here from the Philippines, looking for a better life. She was taught to ‘do good here’ and to help others and was strong imbued with a sense of duty. From middle school on, Lynette volunteered, and early in her career in commercial real estate, was invited to Aeon to share a meal. Sitting down to share a meal is a wonderful way to meet people on an equal basis. She was hooked!

Lynette is now the chair of Aeon’s board and serves on many other boards, always working to help people who need a hand up, making sure that she ‘does good here’.

Here are her answers to my questions:

How did you get the position as Chair of Aeon's board?

I had been volunteering with the organization for a few years. First as a committee member on their Young Professionals committee where we held events, did fundraising and volunteered at certain properties. I was then asked to join the board a few years later and have been on the board for 8 years. I recently rolled off as Chair and will be involved on the board for one more year.

What do you do in that position?

The board follows governance model called the Carver Model. We get to create policies and executive limitations for the organization so that the CEO has permission/freedom to do the work that needs to get done. We also get to hear about external/market forces and policy changes that impact the work that the organization does.

What are you doing that is working?

We as a board and as an organization have been able to respond to the growing need to preserve Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing, or “NOAH”. This has been a focus for those in the affordable housing space and we’ve been invited and asked by communities to come in and help.

What do you want the policy makers to know about the work you do?  How can they help?  How can all of us help?

A lot of work goes into development, acquisition, and management of affordable housing. Obviously access to capital is always going to be an issue, but even policies at the local level can greatly impact the work that Aeon and others do. I’d invite policy makers and others that are interested to learn more about how housing is created and how to support those that might need additional services so that they are successful at keeping their housing. 

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Gutter Punk Coffee becomes Wildflyer Coffee, but the Mission Remains the Same

Article by Claudia Kittock

Wildflyer Coffee, formerly Gutter Punk Coffee, was established to create jobs for youth experiencing homelessness. Carley Kammerer grew up around coffee as her parents owned and operated coffee shops. At her mother’s funeral, she heard stories about the impact coffee and her mother had had on many people.

Carley majored in social work in college and became drawn to young people experiencing homelessness. She worked at a coffee shop in Denver that employed youth experiencing homelessness and was hooked on the idea. When Carley moved back to Minnesota, she saw young people cycling through programs, unable to get the traction they needed to move out of homelessness. That often revolves around the ability to get, but not keep, employment due to instability in housing and a lack of employment skills. It's not that they don’t want to work, it's that sometimes they don’t know how to.

She met Ben Griswold in 2015 when he moved to Carley’s neighborhood after working in Houston, TX in the finance world, and they discovered a shared passion for coffee and youth homelessness. In 2017, they launched Gutter Punk Coffee, a mobile cart that has employed 10 young people since opening. They can currently be found at the Linden Hills and Fulton Farmers markets.

Gutter Punk is being rebranded as Wildflyer Coffee. They are currently looking for shop space and hope to be able to announce something soon. They have a goal of raising $165,000 to make the retail shop happen. 

Wildflyer Coffee exists to create employment opportunities and cultivate living skills to empower youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability, and who want to exit street life. They employ youth who identify as, but are not limited to, couch-hoppers/couch-surfers, unstably housed, gutter punk, transient, highly-mobile or street-involved. As Carley and Ben love to say, “We make coffee to empower.”

In their own words:

We can bend the arc of tomorrow. We are seeking to build the intersection between potential and opportunity in the form of a coffee shop, where we can:

• Increase our available employment hours from 200/year to a minimum of 3000/year
• Open up 8-10 employment spots/year
• Have the ability to offer each youth a total of 16 living skills groups and 36 individualized employment check-ins
• Have maximum impact on equipping youth to leave homelessness and maintain independent housing and stable employment

If you are interested in learning more about Wildflyer and/or book them for an event, go to https://www.wildflyercoffee.com/.  Facebook

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Mill City Singers 2018-19 Season Concludes With a Performance at the June 8 Loring Park Music Festival

Article by Claudia Kittock

The Mill City Singers will conclude their 2018-19 season on June 8th with a performance at the Loring Park Music Festival. We will be singing at 2:00 and invite everyone to come out. It’s a great event and we are honored to be singing there for the 3rd year.

It has been a magical season for the Singers and one we will all treasure. For 30 weeks, stretching from September to June 8, the Singers have rehearsed on the 8th floor of the Guthrie Theater on Saturday afternoons, from 2:00-3:30. The Guthrie has been an amazing partner, donating the space to the Singers. We are so grateful for their continued generosity and support, and hope that relationship continues for a long time.

The philosophy of the Singers is "if you love to sing, and call yourself a friend of the Mill District, come." Directed by J.D. Steele and accompanied by Fred Steele, we come together every Saturday to sing, but so much more than that happens. The age range of the Singers is 18-94, and voices ranging from professional singers to ordinary voices. J.D. takes that mix and, somehow, makes it sound wonderful. Every single week, we laugh, we sing, we hug, and then we leave feeling more optimistic to face another week. That happens every single week. We also understand that adults live adult lives, full of complications. So, people come when they can and deal with the complications of life when they need to do that. We know we are stronger together, and every week we are strengthened by the people who show up.

In the past season, we have sung at the Capri Theater twice, at Orchestra Hall, were featured in a video at the MacPhail Music Matters Luncheon, and performed at the Loring Park Music Festival. We lead the singing of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch of a Twins game. Two of our favorite events were holding a rehearsal at Augustana Assisted Living and at Catholic Eldercare. We have been invited back and plan to do that next season too.

The Mill City Singers started as an experiment in forming community, and is now firmly established as an integral part of the community. We are so blessed to have this group here and excited to continue for as long as possible. 

If you are interested in more information, please contact Claudia Kittock at cjkittock@gmail.com. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mill District, we welcome any and all contributions. Our only expense is the salaries of J.D. and Fred. All other work is done on a volunteer basis. We would love to add you to our list of friends!

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Friends of the Mill District to Sponsor Book Drive during the June 15th Mill City Farmers Market

Article by Claudia Kittock

For any of us who love to read, our lives have been spent accumulating books, and then we wonder how that happened. Many are books we will never read again, and yet, they sit on our shelves. Friends of the Mill District and YouthLink are hoping to offer a solution.

On Saturday, June 15th, we will be collecting books for YouthLink. We will be outside of the Guthrie on 2nd Street from 8am-1:00pm during the Mill City Farmers Market. The books will all be donated to YouthLink. Being able to pick up a book and read it whenever you want is a luxury many young people don’t have. We hope to be able to fill in a bit of that void with as many books as we can. 

That will only happen with your help. What books are best? Any and all books are best as we all love slightly different types of books at different times in our lives. Please start piling up books that you know you won’t read again and bring them to the Guthrie on June 15th. Nothing could be better than sharing your love for reading!

Please contact Claudia Kittock at cjkittock@gmail.com with any questions or comments.  Thank you!

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org

Friends of the Mill District's Complimentary Yoga in the Park returns to Gold Medal Park on Saturday, May 25

Article by Claudia Kittock

It has been a long winter, and it seemed as if warm weather would never come. At last, the Friends of the Mill District is happy to announce Mill City Yoga in Gold Medal Park is back! We will be meeting on Saturdays, beginning on May 25th, ending on August 31st.

Each session will begin at 9 a.m. and end before 10. Grab your mat (or a towel), bring a neighbor and meet us by the orange sculpture. The sessions are free of charge and sponsored by the Friends of the Mill District charity. Come salute the sun and enjoy the beauty of our neighborhood with your friends and neighbors. Questions and comments can be sent to cjkittock@gmail.com.

House of Charity's new CEO, Deborah Moses, is Setting the Bar High

Article by Claudia Kittock

For more than 60 years, House of Charity has been serving those in need in Minneapolis. Located at 510 S 8th Street, their mission is to feed those in need, house those experiencing homelessness, and empower individuals to achieve independence. The House of Charity’s treatment program served 211 people in 2015, with a return on investment to society of $6,542,700. This organization does amazing work, and as is their tagline, they are "the heart of the city."

Deborah F. Moses, CEO/Executive Director of House of CharityIn December of 2018, the House of Charity Board of Directors named experienced nonprofit leader Deborah F. Moses, DPA, MPH, as the new Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the agency. Deb is a lifelong resident of Minneapolis and has worked in many local nonprofits. She has a Ph.D. in public administration and says that coming to House of Charity felt like "coming home."

Deb is particularly invested in health care and improving access at a reasonable cost. The fastest growing demographic in people experiencing homelessness is in the over 55 age group. Many of them have struggled with health issues, and the cost of care can wreck economic and social havoc.

Deb hopes to integrate House of Charity into the community in an even more meaningful way, and is looking for community members to help. House of Charity does kind, respectful, compassionate work 365 days a year, and they can do even more with additional help. How can you help? There are several ways:

• Learn more about House of Charity and the work they do, and sign up for the newsletter.

• Volunteer for weekend brunches at http://www.houseofcharity.org/volunteer

• Tell other people about what you have learned and your experience as a volunteer.

• Donate!

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Please consider not only the personal costs to those experiencing homelessness, but the societal costs. We can invest our money and help improve the lives of so many, and reap the financial benefits of those investments.

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About Claudia Kittock

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

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Contact: claudia@millcitymedia.org