Heart Month Activities Begin Today, February 5, at Hennepin Healthcare

Via a February 5 e-newsletter from Hennepin Healthcare:

All around the world you’ll find people with unique personalities, passions and talents – each of them with a heart that they could not live without. Hennepin Healthcare has a month full of free, heart-healthy activities planned to celebrate these multi-chambered organs responsible for love – and life itself! Check out our exciting schedule and discover a way to treat your heart – and mind – this February.

Learn Hands-Only CPR and Save Lives
Wednesday, February 5
12pm to 1pm | HCMC Red Building, 2nd-floor skyway, public seating area

No mouth-to-mouth assisted breathing needed for this type of CPR! Learn this simple, life-saving technique from our Hennepin EMS team. Every second counts!

National Wear Red Day
Friday, February 7
Hennepin Healthcare is going red! Wear red on the first Friday in February to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and save lives. Email photos of your group wearing red to events@hcmed.org.

Two Daves with Heart: David Fine, MD on Healthy Matters with David Hilden, MD
Sunday, February 9
7am to 8 am | WCCO-AM Radio (Listen LIVE)

Tune in to hear cardiologist David Fine, MD kick off National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week and hear how this essential intervention following a heart attack, cardiac surgery or other heart issue helps patients regain strength and confidence.

Quigong with Acupuncturist Steve Compton
Wednesday, February 12
12pm to 1pm | Clinic & Specialty Center | M. Stillman Education and Community Center
Qigong is a mind-body-spirit practice with origins in China that improves mental and physical health by integrating posture, movement, breathing technique, self-massage, sound, and focused intent. Join Steve Compton as he leads a Shibashi (18 Harmonizing Movements) Qigong class – great for beginners! Register early - class may fill up. RSVP

Zumba with Patient Services Coordinator Deanne Flomo
Thursday, February 13
12pm to 1pm | Clinic & Specialty Center | M. Stillman Education and Community Center
Zumba, developed in Colombia, is a fitness program that combines Latin music with dance moves. Join Deanne Flomo for this “dance party” and get your heart moving! Register early - class may fill up. RSVP

Food is Medicine with Certified Executive Chef Antonio Sanchez and Registered Dietitian Elizabeth Rosenstein
Thursday, February 20
12pm to 1pm | Clinic & Specialty Center | M. Stillman Education and Community Center

Eating heart-healthy can be flavorful! Learn how to prepare heart-healthy meals and get cooking tips from Certified Executive Chef Antonio Sanchez and Registered Dietitian Elizabeth Rosenstein. RSVP

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) with Physician Assistant Natalie Ikeman
Friday, February 21
12pm to 1pm | Clinic & Specialty Center | M. Stillman Education and Community Center
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a form of timed cardiovascular high-intensity exercises with short periods of active recovery. Natalie Ikeman will teach this HIIT class using bodyweight only and modifications will be provided for all fitness levels. RSVP

Yoga with Cardiology Physician Assistant Jill Jordan
Wednesday, February 26
12pm – 1pm | Clinic & Specialty Center | M. Stillman Education and Community Center
Yoga is a mind and body practice with origins in India more than 5,000 years ago. Join Jill Jordan as she leads a yoga class combining physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. No mat required. Register early - class may fill up. RSVP

The Hennepin Heart Center provides comprehensive care for your heart by specialists in all areas of cardiovascular medicine. Caring for common cardiovascular problems such as blocked arteries and abnormal rhythms, we also evaluate and manage heart failure as well as complex heart and arterial disease.

"Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder: Celebrating 85 Years" in Hennepin Gallery through February 28

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder: Celebrating 85 years in Hennepin Gallery through February 28

Hennepin Gallery joins in celebrating the 85th anniversary of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) with a month-long exhibit. MSR is the oldest Black-owned newspaper in Minnesota and one of the longest running, family-owned newspapers in the country.

The Hennepin Gallery exhibit features items of historical significance from the paper’s long and storied past. This includes a large collection of photographs that evoke a rich and vivid display of Black life in the Twin Cities that spans decades.

Many of the photos feature unknown individuals; members of the community may share any information about people they might recognize.

About the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Established in 1934 by local civil rights icon and business leader Cecil Newman, the MSR has long been revered as a trusted news source and voice of the African American community. Years later, the paper and its staff remain committed to the credo that can be found on the wall of their historic office building in South Minneapolis:

“The Negro Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accords to every man, regardless of race, color, or creed, his human and legal rights. Hating no man, fearing no man, the Negro Press strives to help every man in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.”

Now under the direction of Newman’s granddaughter Tracey Williams-Dillard, the MSR continues to thrive, championing perspectives and stories that may otherwise go unheard.

The exhibit is part of a series of events coordinated by the Minneapolis Black Employee Network in celebration of Black History Month.

The Hennepin Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Hennepin County Government Center, A-Level, 300 S Sixth Street.

Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.

Discover how we're making a difference in our communities at hennepin.us/stories.

2020 MN Brewery Running Series Schedule

The 2020 Minnesota Brewery Running Series line up is complete. Check out our upcoming season of events below and join in the fun! 

• 41 events
• 7 NEW brewery destinations
• 10, 10k course options
• 10,000 reasons to join in the fun!

Ryan Companies: Building A Better Workplace

Article and photos by Becky Fillinger

What company was ranked #9 in the Star Tribune's Top Workplaces for 2019? Here’s a visual clue for you:

Photo credit Legacy resident, Tabitha Mays

If you live in the Mill District, you’re probably aware that the Ryan Cos. US Inc. (and Edina developer Luigi Bernardi) are building The Eleven. But did you know that Ryan Companies headquarters are located in the Mill District at 533 S 3rd Street in the Millwright Building? I visited their offices in January and was impressed with the handsomeness and functionality of the LEED Platinum certified building.

Lamp with rebar baseI know that Ryan is a construction company, but was nonetheless delighted by the wide-open workspaces, ample areas for private meetings, visibility and accessibility of company executives and creative incorporation of construction materials into the interior design and decoration.

Rebar and cranes are repurposed as lighting features and private meeting rooms are built from construction gang boxes. I loved a 3D model of the Minneapolis cityscape in the front lobby. The Downtown Building Model was constructed by Rolly Stephens, Director of Virtual Design, whose hobby is, not surprisingly, wood crafting.

Ryan Companies welcomes the public to view the model from either outside or drop in to take a closer look.    

3D cityscape model with The Eleven condo project in yellow

Broader view of the cityscape

Ryan has been in business for 83 years, employs 1300 people in 16 offices in 8 regions, with the Minneapolis office being the largest office. It is certainly a Minnesota business success, but what makes it a top Minnesota workplace? Employee surveys – but what makes an employee admire their employer? Glassdoor reviews are very positive – 90% of anonymous respondents would recommend Ryan to a friend and 97% approve of the CEO. Quotes include: “A great culture that actually practices their morals and values” and “Great leadership and company culture make it a place that you enjoy going to work every day.”  I found many quotes about great benefits and honesty in all interactions with clients and employees.

Company motto displayed above a gang box meeting area

“Our company motto is ‘Do The Right Thing’ and you’ll see it reflected year-round at Ryan,” said Public Relations Manager Kathy Jalivay. "Examples of living the motto are played out in our philanthropic programs and helping with regional disasters. The monumental Cedar Rapids flooding of 2008 impacted 5,390 houses, dislocated more than 18,000 residents and damaged 310 City facilities. Ryan helped with pre-flood preparations and put a dedicated team in place to handle flood recovery construction. Ryan was pivotal in restoring Cedar Rapids, including rebuilding the city hall, public library, fire station, Veterans Memorial Building and the historic Paramount Theater." Jalivay added, “The Cedar Rapids story is a great testament to how we operate as a company. We don’t just build buildings. We build communities where people can thrive. Why did we do it? We had an office and employees there, we knew how to do it and it was the right thing to do.”

Light fixture made from a crane componentEvery Ryan employee is encouraged to use up to 20 hours of worktime each year to volunteer in their communities. The corporate goal is to contribute 3% of Ryan’s pre-tax earnings to local communities through volunteering. With 1300 employees, that’s over 3200 work days devoted to volunteering. The North Region spent almost 1,500 hours in 2019 at Ryan's Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity house, building a home for their partner family in South Minneapolis. The North Region builds a Habitat for Humanity house each year. Employees who typically do an indoor desk job might be found doing a dry wall installation – it ties the employee to the actual business of the company and to its charitable endeavors.

Another impressive goal is donating cash and sponsorships equal to 2% of pre-tax earnings each year. This is with a stated revenue of 2 billion dollars in 2018! Ryan matches 100% of employee charitable contributions to qualifying non-profit charities, up to $500 per charity per year. RyanGivesBack efforts raised $838,130 in 2019, including employee donations, corporate matching funds and direct contributions. The North Region’s RyanGivesBack 2019 campaign raised over $301,000 in employee donations, pledges and corporate matches.

Tom RehwaldtOne amenity jumped out at me as praiseworthy – a shared bicycle program. Employees may use corporate bicycles for quick trips around town for business or to take a work break.

Tom Rehwaldt, a Civil Engineer and Mill District resident, is an avid user. “The shared bicycles are a great amenity for our office. I often use them to grab lunch with friends on the other side of downtown. Biking instead of walking is much more enjoyable and saves me about 20 minutes.” 

Ryan Companies is evidently ‘doing the right thing’. It’s wonderful to learn that our Mill District corporate neighbor is doing well, taking care of employees and being recognized for it.

Original company truck on display in the lobby

Constuction-themed decor 

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About Becky Fillinger

I’ve been a resident of the Mill District only since July 2019, but have visited the Guthrie, the Farmers Market, restaurants and friends in the area for many years prior to making the leap to Minneapolis. I’ve lived in many places (and climates) in the US and can testify that our cultural events, bicycle and hiking trails, parks and green spaces, museums, diverse neighborhoods and wonderful restaurants put Minnesota and Minneapolis high on my best places list. I’m a member of the Mill City Singers and look forward to our choir practices and performances.

One of my main interests is community - a very broad concept. For me it means bringing people together with common interests to form meaningful relationships. I look forward to reporting on businesses and individuals in our neighborhoods. Feel free to drop me an email at becky_fillinger@hotmail.com with your thoughts and ideas for stories. 

A Fort in Paradise: Part II

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Part I of this three-part series delved into the early history of Bdote, the land where the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers meet. The most important land to many Dakota was left untouched for thousands of years and was considered by many to be the exact spot where the Dakota people came to be, their Garden of Eden, paradise. However, as it is uniformly seen throughout early American history, the westward expansion of the United States meant the continent’s Native populations were forced from their own land. The Dakota were no exception.

During Lieutenant Zebulon Pike’s exploration of the northern Mississippi River in the early 1800s, he negotiated treaties with the Dakota to acquire land for the U.S. Government even though he never had the authority to do so. Once things settled down after the War of 1812 against the British, the U.S. Military began their plans to build a fort at Bdote.

Bdote - Fort Snelling by John Casper Wild - 1844

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Leavenworth lead troops to Bdote in 1819 and settled just up the Mississippi River at Mni Sni, or as they named it, Camp Coldwater, a freshwater spring. Construction of the stone military fort started a year later when Colonel Josiah Snelling arrived, and under his supervision, Fort St. Anthony was completed in 1825. That same year, the U.S. Military renamed the fort to Fort Snelling after the fort’s commander and architect. The first task for the fort and its troops was not to protect incoming pioneers and settlers, but to stop them from going into Dakota and Ojibwe land in order to make sure the fur trade continued unimpeded. A major reason for U.S. westward expansion was to acquire resources and make money, and fur trading was a major moneymaker.

Fort Snelling did its job of protecting the fur trade, and when more forts were being constructed further west and St. Paul, St. Anthony, and Minneapolis were being established, the need for a military fort in the area diminished. In 1858, the same year Minnesota became a state, the fort was closed. A former Fort Snelling sutler, or civilian merchant, and entrepreneur Franklin Steele purchased the fort from the government and intended to establish there the City of Fort Snelling. This vision never came to fruition, but Steele did turn the parade grounds into a pasture for his sheep.

Bdote - Fort Snelling - 1865

Fort Snelling would be reopened in April of 1861 when Governor Alexander Ramsey was the first to offer President Abraham Lincoln troops for the Union’s cause in the Civil War. The fort now served as a training center for Minnesota’s troops in the Civil War, and two years later in 1863, the fort expanded beyond its stone walls. By the time the Civil War ended, almost 25,000 troops passed through Fort Snelling. Two of those 25,000 troops were Rainvilles. My great great great grandfather Edward and his brother Louis were trained at the fort and became a trumpeter and sergeant respectively.

In 1862, Minnesota’s Civil War effort was lessened as the U.S.-Dakota War began. Fort Snelling provided U.S. troops to handle the violence in western Minnesota between settlers and the Dakota. Once that war ended, 392 Dakota men were tried and 303 were sentenced to death. President Lincoln ended up commuting the death sentences of 265 of the men, and in December of 1862 thirty-eight Dakota men became the victims of the largest mass execution in U.S. history in Mankato. The U.S. victory in the U.S.-Dakota War also saw over 1,600 non-combative Dakota interned at a two-acre concentration camp just beneath the bluff from Fort Snelling.

Bdote - Dakota Concentration Camp

Bdote - Mother with children inside the Dakota concentration campThroughout that winter, between 130 and 300 Dakota died from the cold conditions and disease. Of the 1,600+ Dakota at the camp, twenty-nine of them were Renvilles; direct descendants of Joseph Renville, my first cousin nine times removed, who was a translator for the Dakota and Zebulon Pike treaty discussions on that very land only fifty-seven years before. Never did Joseph Renville imagine his family would be interned at Bdote, and never did Edward and Louis Rainville imagine that twenty-nine of their second cousins would be interned at a fort where they were trained and stationed.

Fort Snelling, a fort that protected the fur trade between Native Americans and the United States, a fort that occupies one of the most sacred places to many Dakota, became a focal point for the darkest period in Dakota history. Once the Civil War ended, Fort Snelling became the headquarters of the U.S. military’s Department of the Dakota and provided supplies for the campaigns against Native Americans in the west. It is important to remember this grim chapter in Fort Snelling and Twin Cities history, as ignoring it would do us more harm than good. Knowing the atrocious behavior Minnesota and United States officials displayed towards the Dakota and many more nations, and understanding everyone’s story, will hopefully help the many peoples of the Twin Cities work together, learn from each other, and continue to build up this welcoming community that we all call home.

Fort Snelling’s history did not stop in the late 1800s. Stay tuned for Part III where I look into the fort’s involvement in both World Wars, and the Minnesota Historical Society’s continuous role in educating everyone from school groups to tourists at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote.

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About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.