Sensory Friendly Days at the Mill City Museum, Feb 12 and July 22

Visitors can explore modified exhibits and activities outside of regular museum hours

The Minnesota Historical Society welcomes visitors with sensory sensitivities, Autism, or developmental disabilities to Sensory Friendly Days at several metro area historic sites throughout the coming months.

Multiple MNHS sites will modify museum activities and exhibits with neurodiversity in mind. Considerations include low volume for all media shows, signs with explanations of activities, allergy signs, and take-a-break spaces. Pre-registration is required to attend Sensory Friendly Days.

Participants at these events can enjoy selected museum exhibits, short films when applicable, and hands-on activities. Sensory Friendly Days will begin one to two hours before sites open to the general public. Visitors are welcome to extend their visit into regular museum hours. Locations and dates for Sensory Friendly Days include:

Mill City Museum: Sunday, February 12, 9–10am, Theme: Valentines

Minnesota History Center: Saturday, March 25, 8:30–10am, Theme: Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition

James J. Hill House: Saturday, May 13, 9–10am, Theme: Train Day

Mill City Museum: Saturday, July 22, 9–10 am,Theme: Archaeology Day

Register and find more information about Sensory Friendly Days here.

Children’s Theatre Company's Locomotion Plays thru March 5th

The Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) production of Locomotion runs througth March 5th. Locomotion was a finalist for the National Book Award, and author Jacqueline Woodson has adapted her acclaimed work for the stage. CTC’s production is directed by Talvin Wilks, an award-winning playwright, director, and dramaturg.

 

Junie Edwards as Lonnie. Photo by Glen Stubbe PhotographyLocomotion takes the audience into the life of 11-year-old Lonnie Motion, as he finds new tools -  the result of a school poetry assignment – which help him to process the tumult of life in foster care. As Lonnie discovers the power of poetry, he experiences deeper connections to his new foster mother, his school friend Enrique, his teacher Ms. Marcus, and his beloved younger sister Lili.

 

Uprooted from his family, surrounded by the unfamiliar, Lonnie couldn’t feel more alone. But this year, his class is learning to write poetry. As Lonnie finds his voice, you’ll discover how poetry can bring you closer to others and to yourself.

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Ticket Information

 

Locomotion plays through March 5 at CTC’s Cargill Stage, 2400 3rd Avenue S. Tickets may be purchase online at childrenstheatre.org/locomotion or by calling the ticket office at 612.874.0400. Ticket prices start at $15. School groups interested in attending Locomotion can contact schools@childrenstheatre.org for more information. This production is best enjoyed by everyone age 9 and up. Due to the age recommendation, lap passes will not be available for this production.

Gamut Gallery Announces Astroturf, a Group Exhibit Featuring SoCal Architecture, Pop art and Post-painterly Abstraction Opening February 17th

Via a recent e-announcement:

Public Opening February 17, 6-9pm, $7 presale/$10 door

Gamut Gallery has announced Astroturf, their first exhibit of 2023. This group exhibit plays with the idea of appearances vs. authenticity through the iconic influence of SoCal architecture, pop art and post-painterly abstraction.

Gamut’s multimedia exhibit, in collaboration with Blu Dot, features local MN artists, Genie Castro and Nicole Mueller, along with returning SoCal artists, Human Shaped Animal and Neal Breton. Astroturf embraces bold and vivid colors, hard-edge lines and geometry, this selection of work celebrates the resurgence and influence of the mid-century movement and pop-culture Southern California suburbia.

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Installed in place of grass from as early as the 1950s, AstroTurf™ forgoes naturally growing grass for the carefree ease of owning an evergreen front lawn. In mid-century America, the synthetic material was marketed to homeowners as a means of signaling status to their neighbors through perfectly manicured landscaping year-round. Mirroring our current consumer culture of filtered images and branded content, Gamut Gallery’s first show of 2023, Astroturf, plays with the idea of appearances vs. authenticity through the iconic influence of SoCal architecture, pop art and post-painterly abstraction. Astroturf peers over the neighbor’s hedge to sneak a peek of how the Joneses really live. 

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Genie Castro’s renditions offer a nod to the midcentury design through her vibrant mono-prints and nine accompanying pieces from her 2022 collection, Lily. While Human Shape Animal incorporates tropical foliage with post-painterly abstraction to produce sculptural, yet functional, wall fixtures that incorporate living plants. Nicole Mueller’s potent images from her annual pilgrimages to Palm Springs highlight mid-century modernist architecture, with the quiet stillness of manicured lawns and majestic palms. Also lending a nod to the leisurely lifestyle, Neal Breton’s works from his Strange Paradise Collection reveal inviting pool scenes we all long for during these cold winter months. Blu Dot’s selection of locally designed and constructed furniture elevates the mid-century modern aesthetic, immersing the viewer in the movement's all-encompassing influence on art, design and culture. 

Mill City Museum Nominated for Best History Museum in the Nation

Via a January 27 e-announcement:

Photo courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

Supporters of Minnesota history can vote for the museum daily in online contest

Mill City Museum was recently named one of the nation’s best history museums, and the downtown Minneapolis site needs the public’s support to earn the top prize.

The museum is among 20 nominated for a USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award in the category of best history museum. Minnesotans can vote online once per day until the contest concludes on February 13.

“This nomination is an incredible honor,” said Mill City Museum Site Manager David Stevens. “Mill City Museum brings people together by showcasing the history of Minneapolis, and we are grateful for this opportunity that will allow more people around the country to learn about this gem.”

Visitors at the museum can learn about Minneapolis’ growth through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities which tell the intertwined histories of the flour industry, the Mississippi River, and the city of Minneapolis. Curious patrons of all ages enjoy informative multimedia shows and programs exploring the story of Minneapolis.

Guests can admire both stunning modern architecture and components of the original Washburn A Mill, which was once the world’s largest flour mill. For its incorporation of contemporary design within a history-rich setting, the museum has won several awards, including the American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Architecture and the AIA Minnesota Honor Award.

Paintings and sculptures from local artists are featured throughout the museum. Scenic views of St. Anthony Falls, Mill Ruins Park, and Stone Arch Bridge from atop the Koch Rooftop Observation Deck also provide unbeatable photo opportunities.

To vote for Mill City Museum as Best History Museum and learn more about USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards, click here. Individuals are encouraged to vote daily through February 13. 

The Next Guacaya Bistreaux’s Guest Chef Series Event is January 31

The next Guacaya Bistreaux’s Guest Chef Series is Tuesday, January 31. Chef Pedro Wolcott of Guacaya Bistreaux will welcome 2022 James Beard Award winner, Chef Sean Sherman of Owamni for the latest collaboration of the Series. The chefs will come together to serve a delicious 6-course menu, combining the flavors of Latin Caribbean and Indigenous cuisine.

Guests will need to make reservations through Tock. Diners can select either 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. seatings. Tickets are $90 per person, and optional beverage pairings can be added for an additional $50; otherwise, cocktails and mocktails created by Guacaya’s partners from Meteor Bar, plus beer, wine, and other non-alcoholic options, can be ordered à la carte.

Wilde Cafe & Spirits becomes Pivo Riverplace on February 1

Via a January 24 e-announcement:

Starting February 1st, Wilde Cafe & Spirits will be Pivo Riverplace. New decor, new logo, new website - and coming in March a new bar - while still maintaining the great brunch and coffee tradition, and riverfront patio Wilde was known for. We're also planning a new awning and windows that open to showcase the riverfront in April. Pivo Riverplace aspires to pair Art Nouveau elegance with a casual neighborhood pub atmosphere. Come "Czech" out the new look!

The name? "Riverplace" refers to our location as part of the Riverplace complex on historic Main Street, the oldest street in Minneapolis. "Pivo" means beer in 78 languages (Czech, Ukrainian, etc.), as we aspire to be the best pilsner focused pub in Minnesota.

January 2023 Minneapolis Central City Tunnel Project Update

Via a January 23, 2023 e-announcement from the City of Minneapolis:

Project Overview

The City of Minneapolis Public Works Department is constructing a new parallel storm tunnel, enlarging a portion of the existing storm tunnel, and constructing a new tunnel access in Downtown Minneapolis. This project is anticipated to be completed summer 2023.

The new tunnel is being constructed parallel to the existing tunnel located under Washington Ave S between Nicollet Mall and Chicago Ave. The existing tunnel under Chicago Ave between Washington Ave S and the Mississippi River is being expanded to handle the increased stormwater capacity. The purpose of this project is to reduce pressure in the existing tunnel, provide more room for future growth, and to reduce the need for future repairs and tunnel failures.

Project Map

Latest Project News

Mississippi River Portal

• Crews continue enlarging the existing storm tunnel at the Mississippi River.

2nd Ave

• Crews continue tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave from the new tunnel access shaft in the southbound lanes of 2nd Ave S, just north of the Washington Ave intersection and have begun lining the tunnel with concrete.

Portland Ave

• Crews continue tunneling the new parallel storm tunnel under Washington Ave from the existing tunnel access shaft at the northeast corner of the Washington Ave and Portland Ave intersection and have begun lining the tunnel with concrete.

Tunneling progress

In January, the project reached 71% completion with excavation. Crews have removed approximately 52,500 tons of material to date. As noted in this infographic, 52,500 tons is equal to the weight of more than five Eiffel Towers.

Lining progress

In January, crews began working on the concrete tunnel lining. They poured around 1,200 cubic yards of concrete. As noted in this infographic, 1,200 cubic yards is equal to about one third the volume of an Olympic swimming pool. This process is approximately 8.5% complete.

Long-term closures/restrictions

• The north westbound lane, bike lane, and parking lane remains closed on Washington Ave between Portland Ave and Park Ave. These closures will remain in place until the project is completed. This is necessary for the contractor to utilize the existing shaft to connect the existing tunnel to the new tunnel.
  • During this closure, pedestrians can still use the sidewalks along Washington Ave.
  • Crosswalks across Washington Ave and Portland Ave will remain open.
  • Bicyclists will share the traffic lane.
  • The existing left turn lane on Washington Ave at the Portland Ave intersection will temporarily become a left turn and through lane.

• The north sidewalk along Washington Ave remains restricted between Hennepin Ave and Nicollet Mall. The contractor will resume tunneling from the existing tunnel to the new tunnel at a later date.
  • During these restrictions, pedestrians share the bike lane on Washington Ave.
  • The crosswalks at the Washington Ave intersections of Nicollet Mall and Hennepin Ave remains open.

• The sidewalk on the east side of 4th Ave S remains restricted through the end of the project. The dewatering well and pumps are installed in this area.
  • Pedestrians can use the sidewalk on the west side of 4th Ave S.
  • The crosswalk at the Washington Ave and 4th Ave intersection remains open.
  • Access to driveways off 4th Ave S remains open.

• The west sidewalk of Portland Ave south of Washington Ave will remain restricted to pedestrians around the dewatering well and pumps until the project is completed.

• The parking lot and trail near Mill Runs Park will remain closed until spring 2023.

• 2nd Ave S remains a single lane in each direction using the northbound lanes between Washington Ave and 1st St S. Access will be restricted until the project is completed.
  • Access to driveways off 2nd Ave S remain open. There may be short-term access delays while crews move equipment and materials around.

What to expect

• Expect additional noise, dust, and vibration as crews complete work.
• Schedule is tentative and subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances.

Stay connected

Visit the project website for more information and to sign up for project updates: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/projects/central-city-tunnel/

Email the project team: info@mplscentralcitytunnel.com

Contact the project hotline: 612-888-9418. 

No Dog Left Behind Adoption Event - February 11 at Douglas Dayton YMCA at Gaviidae

Dog Adoption Event!

Saturday, February 11, 11am– 2pm

Join No Dog Left Behind at the Douglas Dayton YMCA at Gaviidae for their "pawsome" Dog Adoption Event. This event is free and open to the public. Stop by and meet rescue pups, all of which are looking for their "furever" homes. After you're finished cuddling up with some cute dogs, earn yourself YMCA swag and prizes by playing NDLB's spin-to-win game. They will also have how-to guides on making a "bark-cuterie" board.

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Enter through the Gaviidae entrance near 6th Street. Street or ramp parking is available. Questions? Please email Alicia at alicia@ndlbrescue.org.

MPRB's Spark’d Studios Offer Free Media Arts Programming and After-school Access to Creative Technology for Youth Ages 10-19

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A discussion with Raechel Bosch, Youth Technology and Career Skills Manager

Raechel BoschDid you know there are video and sound production studios that are part of our Minneapolis Parks resources? Rachel Bosch tells us about Spark’d Studios, the genesis of the idea, where to find the studios, and game-changing plans for the future in Minneapolis Parks’ programming.

Q:  Could you please tell us the genesis of the Spark'd Studios programming?

A:  About 20 years ago our current Superintendent, Al Bangoura, was a full-time Recreation Director at Powderhorn Park. His vision was to develop a multimedia studio for video and sound production to bring youth together in a safe place where they could dream of, and work toward, a bright future in creative endeavors. And he did just that. Mr. Bangoura partnered with the Institute of Production and Recording (IPR), founded in 2002 in Minneapolis, which trains students in audio production and engineering, live sound and show production, digital video and media production, and sound design for visual media. Programs at Powderhorn’s basement studio were enthusiastically received by the neighborhood youth, who sat side by side with each other, despite the discord and conflicts they faced with each other outside of the recreation center. Shortly after the media center opened, Al was transferred to another recreation center, and the vision for his media center flickered out without his drive and the resources he had cultivated from the Park Board, as well as the community. That, and his vision might have been just a bit early - before any of us understood where the field of creative technology was headed!

Fast forward to 2019, after a few years advancing in the park and recreation field out of state, Bangoura’s career brought him back to the Park Board, now as Superintendent, and his vision remained intact and even stronger. Recognition of the importance of the creative technology field had caught up with Al’s vision, and his plans for the promotion and advancement of media production in recreation centers is now supported by Board allocations for the construction of six studios serving various Minneapolis neighborhoods, full-time staff hired for each studio, a full-time manager, and most importantly, community (especially youth) enthusiasm and support.

Ongoing development and sustainability of Spark’d Studios requires funding and support from foundations, businesses and of course, the community.

Recording Booth at Powderhorn

Keyboard in the Powderhorn Studio

Open House attendees at Powderhorn Studio

Q:  Are the studio spaces for all ages? 

A:  The studios currently serve youth who are ages 10-19 and Minneapolis residents.

Q:  What types of programming is available?

A:  Spark’d Studios, located within Minneapolis recreation centers, offer free media arts programming and after-school access to creative technology, tools, and a multipurpose space for young producers to develop meaningful practices and collaborative projects. Activities are interdisciplinary, and include everything from creative writing, to video editing, to vocal performance, to clothing design, to social media content creation, to film studies, to 3D printing, to gaming, to web design.

Spark’d Studios are open year-round, at least five days per week, during after school times including late evening hours for older youth. Spark’d Studios offer both open studio labs for creative exploration as well as structured skill-building tech camps with an onsite full-time Youth Technology and Career Skills Specialist.

A full-time specialist will oversee each studio, providing leadership, coordinating partnership programs, supporting youth in their individual pursuits, hands-on practice, production, and performance of creative work.

Currently, the most popular program at Powderhorn Spark’d Studio is Music Recording and Production, which is offered weekly. The Powderhorn studio features a professional recording isolation booth with microphones, Midi keyboards, laptops, and a sound board for both group recording and individual audio engineering. Kids frequently drop by after playing a game of basketball to freestyle, write beats, sing to their favorite song, or even develop a podcast!

3D Printing Workshop

Art and Water Series

Storytelling Class

T-Shirt Design

Q:  This is such impressive programming! How many park locations have Spark'd Studios?

A:  A total of six studios will open by 2025. MPRB opened its first Spark’d Studio in Powderhorn Recreation Center in south-central Minneapolis in 2021 offering free creative technology programs in a highly sophisticated dedicated space with up-to-date equipment and software.

The next studio to open will be at Harrison Park in North Minneapolis. The brand-new multimedia room will feature various work stations for audio recording, a graphic design and editing suite, crafting area, 3D printing, gaming, and a laptop learning area for subject-based demonstrations. A ribbon cutting event will celebrate Harrison’s opening on February 9th and the northside studio will officially open to the public on February 13th.

Four additional studios will open from 2023-2025 at Whittier Park, Luxton Park, Phillips Community Center, and Graco Park.

Q:  It’s early, but do you have any results from the programs to share with us?

A:  We are just getting started!

Over the winter break, Spark’d Studios at Powderhorn Park teamed up with a local theatre group and offered a five-day Audio Recording Camp to record an audio play version of War of the Worlds. In the camp, six kids learned about signal flow, how to record and edit in GarageBand, and how to work with voice actors to produce a professionally recording theatrical performance.

Q:  What's on the drawing board on ways to expand the programs? 

A:  First and foremost, we are excited to connect the talented and diverse youth of Minneapolis with professional mentors, fun experiences, and critical resources so that they can pursue their interests, develop their passions, and explore self-expression as part of their everyday experience in the parks. We are building community partnerships with teachers and schools to offer hands-on studio activities both during and after school. Our long-term vision is to build pathways from our community studios to continued education and exciting professional opportunities for youth to connect their interests with real-world experience in a creative industry. We hope to help train the next generation of local young creators! Lastly, we are looking for donations of quality technology and materials for youth to experiment and train with various tools across disciplines. As practice-based, performance, and digital arts disappear from public schools, we hope to offer a safe space for Minneapolis youth to develop their crafts and ideas within walking distance from their homes.

Q:  How may we follow news of Spark'd Studios?

A:  Learn about city-wide Spark’d Studios programming and see our work on our new Instagram page @sparkdmpls or visit our website to browse and register for classes at: www.minneapolisparks.org/sparkd.

For queries, or to sign-up for our newsletter, email us at sparkd@minneapolisparks.org. 

Firefighters For Healing's Transitional Healing Center Officially Opens

Ward 7 Council Member Lisa Goodman and Mayor Frey look on as Jake LaFerriere, Founder/Executive Director, did the honors at the January 18 ribbon cutting ceremony.

Firefighters For Healing's Transitional Healing Center has officially opened. It features 12 “home-away-from-home” suites for the families of burn survivors or firefighters/first responders who are being cared for at the Hennepin Healthcare Burn Center and other metro hospitals.

See the details here, and Click here for the KARE11 spotlight.

Small Business Spotlight: Vellee

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

The founders of Vellee Deli opened a satellite location in Northeast Minneapolis – called simply Vellee. It is located on the ground floor of NordHaus at the corner of University Avenue NE and 1st Avenue NE. We spoke to Will Xiong, who owns the deli and restaurant with his wife, Joyce Truong.

Q:  Congratulations on your restaurant expansion to Northeast Minneapolis. Does this make three food service operations for you - two restaurants and a food truck too?

A:  Actually, it is only two operations for now. The food truck is still in storage, but we plan to bring it out once we work out all the logistics. Come visit us in NE Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 8:30 pm.

Barbacoa Taco Lettuce wrap

Duck Taco

Q:  For people just learning of Vellee, it is a Mexican-Pan Asian fusion restaurant. Why this combination? What might we find on the menu?

A:  We think it's the best of both worlds. Marinated Pan Asian meats and Mexican-inspired sauces makes for a memorable dining experience that’s fresh and accessible. You'll find Korean BBQ burritos, Thai curry burritos, Vietnamese tacos as well as classic bahn mi's (duck confit, BBQ pork and tofu).

Q:  Tell us about the words - Simmer, Sizzle, Scorch - in your logo. 

A:  This is how we describe our spice levels. We refer to them as "kicks" levels 1-3. Simmer (1 Kick), Sizzle (2 Kicks) and Scorch (3 Kicks). We grow our own sun-dried Thai chili peppers and grind them down to heat dust for those looking for an additional zip in their meal.

Q:  What is one item from your menu that everyone must try?

A:  We're best known for our Korean BBQ and Chicken Curry burritos, but a must try at our NordHaus location is our barbacoa tacos. They've been outselling everything since we've opened. Oh, I just thought of another best seller that you must try – duck taco!

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  Please do follow us on all our social channels: Twitter: @velleedeli, Instagram: @velleemn and Facebook.

Must See Exhibit - Locally Grown: Documentary Photography of Minnesota Communities

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with curatorial fellow Ashley Cope

The Weisman Art Museum is exhibiting documentary photographs by Minnesota artists Joseph Allen, Laura Migliorino, Tom Arndt, David L. Parker, Wing Young Huie, and Michael Dvorak. The work spans five decades and highlights topics as broad as family, friendship, culture, relationships, sexuality, work, inequality, hardship and joy. We spoke to curator Ashley Cope about documentary photography and what the artists hope you’ll take from the exhibit. 

Ashley CopeQ:  What is documentary photography?

A:  Documentary photography incorporates a wide variety of photographic techniques and various subjects, but the term generally refers to photographs which capture real, often spontaneous, moments from life. Documentary photography is interested in long-term projects and ongoing issues; the works in the exhibition, therefore, are not shocking scenes from breaking news stories, but are instead snapshots from the daily lives of Minnesotan communities over the past fifty years: football games, parades, waiting for the bus, taking a break from work. The artists represented in the show often work in series and gather specific subjects together into a larger narrative. Laura Migliorino’s Hidden Suburbs series, for example, focuses on the diversity of Twin Cities’ suburbs and highlights the realities of Minnesotan families in the metro area; Migliorino’s Silverod Street #1 from the Hidden Suburbs series is on view in the exhibition.

Q:  How did you go about selecting the photographers for the exhibit?

A:  As the O’Brien Curatorial Fellow, I had the opportunity to pore over the Weisman Art Museum’s robust collection of artworks. Within the collection, the Weisman’s impressive photography collection stood out to me, as many of the photographs I was coming across returned to Minnesota and its people. Not only were many photographs centered on Minnesotan subject matter, many of the photographers were also deeply connected to the state; all of the artists in the exhibition are either born and/or based in Minnesota. As a born and raised Minnesotan myself, I was fascinated by images of the Minnesota State Fair from the 1970s, photos of familiar streets I’ve walked down a thousand times, as well as events and locations I’d never visited despite growing up nearby.

It became clear that the artists I was looking at the most - the five in the show - saw something in Minnesota that kept them coming back to photograph the community around them, the community in which they lived and worked. To see one’s own community from multiple perspectives and across time is a strength of the documentary photography represented in the show. Visitors will see scenes that are familiar and those that are not - they might even see themselves! - but everyone who visits will see the various, intimate experiences of everyday life in Minnesota from a new perspective.

Q:  What do you want or hope the visitor will experience as they view the exhibit?

A:  I spoke recently with one of the artists in the show, Tom Arndt, and we discussed how we often stay in our own little communities within a larger shared space, like Minnesota. We are so often within our own small bubble, and often these bubbles seem never to come into contact, or they do so very rarely. I hope this show allows for those bubbles to pop a little bit, for lots of people to see the larger shape of our community and how each small piece fits together to make the whole. I hope that the exhibition can serve as a space to see and engage with our neighbors.

Q:  Are there any events planned around the exhibit?

A:  Yes, I recently did an interview with Tom Arndt and Michael Dvorak, two of the artists whose work is represented in the show; a blog post and interactive map connecting some works from the show to locations in the Twin Cities will come out in early 2023 in response to that interview. There is also a panel conversation planned between three of the artists in the show, which will be moderated by another local photographer, Pao Her.

Q:  On a somewhat related note, you are a recipient of the O'Brien Curatorial Fellowship. What did this mean to your career?

A:  The O’Brien Curatorial Fellowship was an incredible opportunity for me; I graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2019 with a B.A. in Art History and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. I’ve always been interested in museums and, knowing I wanted to work in art institutions, I ended up interning at the Weisman Art Museum and the Minneapolis Institute of Art during my undergraduate career. I applied for the O’Brien Fellowship prior to my 2019 graduation and served as the 2019-2020 Gerald and Lisa O’Brien Curatorial Fellow between undergraduate and graduate school. As the O’Brien Fellow, I got to work closely with Diane Mullin, the Weisman’s Senior Curator and an all-around lovely person from which to learn. I learned the ins and outs of curatorial work and worked closely with WAM’s other amazing staff. I loved my time at WAM, and though it was a bit disrupted by COVID-19, my time as the O’Brien Fellow was an extremely formative experience for me and encouraged me to continue pursuing a museum career.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  The Weisman’s news can be found at their website and at weismanartmuseum on Instagram.

Personally, I am working towards my Ph.D. in Art History at the University of Maryland, College Park. My most recent milestone was the completion of my M.A. in April 2022. I will be presenting at the Barnes Symposium in Philadelphia in February 2023.

I also co-curated RINGGOLD | SAAR: Meeting on the Matrix which will open at the David C. Driskell Center in College Park, Maryland, on January 26, 2023. This exhibition highlights the printed works of significant American artists Faith Ringgold and Betye Saar.

My picks from the exhibition:

Joseph Allen (Rosebud Sioux b. 1964)

Clyde Bellecourt (White Earth Ojibwe), 2001

Clyde Bellecourt stands before the symbol of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in this vibrant portrait. In 1968, Bellecourt and co-founders Russell Means, Eddie Benton-Banai, and Dennis Banks formed AIM in Minneapolis to combat police brutality and historical injustice against Indigenous Americans. Bellecourt passed away on January 11, 2022, at his home in Minneapolis; his legacy as a leader of civil rights and an outspoken champion for the importance of indigenous culture and tradition persists.

Tom Arndt (American, b. 1944)

Waiting for the bus, downtown Minneapolis 1974

Waiting for the bus, 7th Street, Minneapolis 2006

Two photographs taken three decades apart demonstrate a shared, and often dreaded, experience: waiting. In Tom Arndt’s 2006 photograph of a bus stop in downtown Minneapolis, people on 7th Street crane their necks and gaze intensely in the same direction, each waiting - some more patiently than others - for the correct bus to come into view. Despite changes to the city over Arndt's long career, his images of downtown bus stops show how the trials and tribulations of waiting are both common and persistent. 

They Built This City: Interview with Ironworker James "Barney" Marquette

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Today’s job market often focuses on openings in the technology world. We tend to overlook the many jobs that require physical strength and exertion – along with agility and a good mind. For example, Ironworkers still exist. There are approximately 70,000 Ironworkers in the U.S. - with 2000 in Minnesota and North Dakota. Ironworkers play a vital role in nearly ALL aspects of our built environment and infrastructure. Whether it be new construction, renovation or maintenance on commercial, industrial, transportation, power generation or public facilities projects, Ironworkers had a hand in creating it.

We spoke to James "Barney" Marquette, a member of Ironworkers Local #512 to learn more about his career as an Ironworker. He started his career at the age of 21 in 1966 and retired in 2004 at the age of 59. During this time, he helped build many iconic landmarks of the Minneapolis skyline.    

April 1972, IDS Building in Minneapolis

James ”Barney” Marquette and Harold Morris attaching aluminum fascia/cladding to the top of the IDS at 750 feet - "57 stories up."

Q:  You grew up in St. Michael, MN. What did your parents do for work?

A:  My father worked at Gluek’s Brewery in Minneapolis until it closed in 1964, then he worked at Grain Belt Brewery until he retired. My mother managed a tavern that her dad owned in Buffalo, MN.

Q:  Tell me about your family. What is your wife’s name, and how did you meet?

A:  My wife’s name is Mary, she grew up in Corcoran, MN and we have three daughters. Mary and I met at a dance at the Rogers Dance Hall. We got married in 1967, one year after I started as an Ironworker. 

Q:  You’ve worked on some iconic Minneapolis buildings, including the IDS Tower. When working on the IDS, who were you working for?

A:  The company name was Flour City Ornamental Iron Works. Flour City was the contractor for all the windows and ornamental components. (Note: Flour City also did work on the Foshay Tower, which was the tallest building in Minneapolis until the IDS Tower was built. Flour City had a diverse and colorful history.)

Q:  As an Ironworker you worked on jobs all around downtown Minneapolis. Where were living at the time?

A:  I lived right here in this house that I build 55 years ago, in my hometown of St. Michael, MN.  I never moved to Minneapolis to be closer to work.

Q:  What type of tasks were you doing when you first got out in the field?

A:  I carried steel rebar for the first ten years before the apprenticeship - my shoulders would be raw until they calloused up. Some of the rebar we carried were 40’ long and 1½” diameter - it would take two guys to carry the load and the rebar would still flex down to the ground between us.

Q:  How much an hour did you make when you first started in 1966?

A:  We made $4 an hour, everyone in the union made the same scale, whether you were on the ground or in the air.

Q:  How were you trained for iron work?

A:  I went through an apprenticeship for three years. We learned how to weld, and we would build various mockups of what we would see on the job sites.

Q:  What were the standard safety practices that your adhered to, and what type of footwear did you have?

A:  When I first started there was not much provided for safety protocol, we did not start tying off until the late 60’s. (Tying off is connecting a safety line to yourself, you can see one clipped to Harold Morris in picture #1). Ninety five percent – almost all - of the guys wore Redwing Irish Setter boots, they were comfortable and had good traction.

Q:  What type of weather conditions would shut down a job?

A:  In the winter we would shut down at 20 degrees below zero, or if the wind was over 25 mph the tower cranes would shut down.

Minneapolis Ironworkers on break

Q:  Can you please provide us with names of the crew in the above break/lunch photo?

A:  Me (Barney Marquette) in the green shirt, in the back is Harold Morris, far right is Floyd Case, in the white sweatshirt Ted D. ”The Greek,” in the blue sweatshirt is Burdell Hodges and not pictured is Dick James, who took the picture. 

Q:  Did you ever work with the guys on the IDS crew on other jobs?

A:  Yes, but only Dick James - we were on various jobs together.

Q:  What are some of the most memorable jobs that you worked on?

A:  Of course, the IDS, I was there for 2 years, then there were the three power houses at the Becker Power Plant, I was there for 8½ years. I also worked on the US Bank Building, it’s the one with the halo on top.

Q:  When did you retire?

A:  I retired in 2004 after 45 years and the pay scale at that time was $32 an hour.

Q:  Now when you travel around the Twin Cities with family and friends do you point out the buildings you worked on?

A:  Yes, all the time. Seeing the buildings we worked on brings back great memories. I often point them out to my wife Mary, and she always responds with, “Yes Barney, you’ve told me about that building before.”

Q:  What is Dick James doing in the below photograph?  

A:  He was replacing a trolly wheel, the I-beam was several feet away from the bldg. and the glass was brought to it, then moved on the trolly around the building to the spot it was to be installed.

Dick James lying chest down on IDS building I-beam

Dick James on IDS building above 35W South

Dick James standing on IDS building above the Foshay Tower

IDS building open I-beam looking north at the Mississippi River

Nonprofit Leader: Rebecca Noon, Director of Community Engagement, Guthrie Theater

Article by Becky Fillinger, photo provided

Rebecca NoonGet to know Rebecca Noon, Director of Community Engagement for the Guthrie Theater. We talked to her about how she goes about building collaborations with community - individuals and groups - to support the Guthrie’s mission. Her authentic approach to work and building relationships is effective and inspiring - we predict she will lead the Guthrie to even greater levels of community engagement.  

Q:  What’s a typical day for you?  

A:  One thing I love is that there is no typical day. On a “full and productive” day, I may catch up on emails, research prospective community partners, read a play that the Guthrie is considering for a future season, attend meetings with community members, attend internal committee meetings, interview a show’s director or attend a rehearsal. I also connect with young professionals seeking advice on the field or other community engagement practitioners looking for Thought Partnership. When I am having difficulty figuring out who to reach out to for a given collaboration, I may take a walk and listen to a podcast or the radio. More than once, this has helped me find my next contact for collaboration.  

Q:  You’ve done similar community engagement work for other theaters. In a prior position at Trinity Repertory Company, you described your duties as “moving beyond the transactional, to a place where you could envision investment in community members as audience co-conspirators.” Is that how you approach your position at the Guthrie, too?  

A:  When I began the work at Trinity Rep, I was a working artist who had experience producing. I naturally gravitated toward people and experiences outside of commercial norms. Trinity was just starting to think about integrating a Community Engagement plan into their work and invited me to make a proposal. I was able to research the field and think about Trinity Rep and Providence, RI, in a thoughtful way, and I like to think what we did together the following four years was impactful.  

When I said “yes” to the Guthrie, I was not sure how much of my approach would be applicable to a new theater and a new city, but in the end, I realized that my approach is mine. My approach is so relationship-based and personal. At the end of the day, if I can’t be authentic in the work, then I'm lost. 

I don’t think about transactional relationships. We are working on transformation together — I am changed, the partner is changed, the Guthrie is changed and the community is changed — in ways that give all of us greater access to each other and the gifts we cultivate and want to share. I don’t know how to engage community any other way. 

Q:  Can you please share with us the communities – local or national – you’ve targeted for engagement?

A:  Inside every community are other communities and then individuals. While I often start with a big idea, as soon as I start talking to people, I discover how the individuals representing those communities want to be considered, and where they see themselves in this proposition. At the Guthrie, we have built strong commitments with members of the Native community in the Twin Cities, which holds the second largest urban Native population in the country and is where the American Indian Movement was born. In general, I want to get to know people from a specific community because we are producing a play somehow connected to them and believe they should have access to the storytelling from as close to the beginning as I can get. In the past, this has led me to build relationships with people coming out of incarceration, hairdressers who work with multiple textures of hair, women from Iraq living in the Twin Cities, labor organizers, African American history keepers, people who work for housing justice, and people who immigrated here from Vietnam, among others. In every partnership, I meet people who want to keep being in relationship with me and the Guthrie, and I endeavor to keep the relationship alive with them by showing up to things they invite me to and inviting them into more projects and conversations, no matter the subject. Because that is what happens when we develop mutual relationships.  

Q:  Is part of your mission to also drive engagement around certain topics the theater may tackle – climate change, mass incarceration, Indigenous rights, etc.?   

A:  I sit on a team that supports the play selection process at the Guthrie. The themes surrounding our shows guide the work of the theater. I also have the agency to propose events or initiatives that might illuminate work we want to collectively invest in as an organization. When I initiate collaboration with any community, it means having a real conversation about our shared values. By saying yes and giving pieces of our platform to people fighting for all kinds of causes, I am driving that kind of engagement. 

Q:  Do you have an advisory committee?  

A:  Currently, I work closely with the Community Engagement committee of the Guthrie board and our Native Advisory Council. As I’ve worked to maintain and build open relationships with community members who would like to be involved, the idea of a community-based advisory committee has also come to mind. This “Community Advisory Network” is not an unfamiliar concept to the Guthrie, and an opportunity may present itself again for this type of collaborative forum to live within Community Engagement.  

Q:  How may we, as community members, stay engaged with your team and the Guthrie?  

A:  My dream is for people to know each other, and know the Guthrie is part of the fabric of how and where people find each other in our community. If Community Engagement connects someone to the Guthrie, I hope their relationship will expand to other areas of our organization. Community Engagement helps people meet our staff in Education, where they take classes; Production, where they tour our shops; or Guest Services, for involvement with our access programs. I love nothing more than to see someone I introduced to the Guthrie in the building for reasons other than Community Engagement.

I’m always open to a good dream session. I love meeting people who might have an idea about how the Guthrie could be useful to them and then take it from there. We’re an organization full of highly skilled, passionate people. I’m happy to make connections when I can. 

Please follow and engage with the Guthrie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.  Sign-up for our emails here.

Children’s Theatre Company's Upcoming Production of Corduroy set for Feb 14 - Apr 2

Corduroy, winner of the American Alliance for Theatre & Education “Distinguished Play” Award, will play from February 14 – April 2 at Children’s Theatre Company's UnitedHealth Group Stage. Opening Night is Saturday, February 18 at 7pm. Purchase tickets online at childrenstheatre.org/corduroy or by calling the ticket office at 612-874-0400. Ticket prices start at $15.  

Join the beloved teddy bear as he takes a rollicking ride up the escalator and begins a delightfully destructive romp through every section of the department store. Will he find his button at the top of a teetering store display? Will Lisa ever get to bring him home, or will the bumbling security guard catch him first? Where, oh where, is Corduroy’s BUTTON?

 

The Star Tribune hails Corduroy as “ebullient…utterly delightful” and the St. Paul Pioneer Press raves that it “leaves its audience delightfully impaired by extreme laughter.” Don’t miss this delightful and wonderfully comic tale of friendship.

“Corduroy, with its title character’s quest for his missing button, is the story of a little toy bear’s very real need to find a ‘Friend’ and a place to call home, along with that of a little girl’s corresponding need to bring that bear home - as a Friend,” says Playwright Barry Kornhauser. “I’m absolutely delighted that this little adaptation of that story has found a home once again with all of its ‘Friends’ at Children’s Theatre Company where the play was first nurtured and produced. It is always a gift and a joy to work with Peter [Brosius] and his brilliant and passionate team as they bring classic children’s literature to life so vividly, so imaginatively, and so lovingly. Corduroy may have lost a button, but Corduroy has found its way back to the CTC stage, and for that I am ‘beary’ grateful.”  

 

“It is such a joy to bring Corduroy to our stage,” said Corduroy Director and CTC Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius. “This is a story that touches our hearts and has us rolling in laughter. Barry Kornhauser has brought his brilliant comic mind to this adaptation and created a truly delightful play of friendship, persistence and determination and what it means to never give up on your dreams. Corduroy inspires us all with his heart and his hope and we can’t wait to share it with you.”

School groups interested in attending Corduroy can contact schools@childrenstheatre.org for more information. This production is best enjoyed by everyone age 4 and up. Lap passes are available for children 3 years and younger. Runtime: ​90 minutes with one 15-minute intermission. 

Nonprofit Spotlight: Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with Carol Margolis, Concertmaster

Carol MargolisThe Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis celebrates its 70th season of music with the 2022-2023 concert season. I highly recommend you make plans to attend their upcoming concert - performances are offered free of charge and the musicians are exceptionally talented. We spoke to Carol Margolis, Concertmaster, about the history of the Orchestra, her many responsibilities and how to support this cherished institution.

Q:  Please tell us the history of the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis.

A:  I’d love to. In autumn of 1952, a group of Twin Cities’ musicians organized the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis under the baton of Henry Denecke, timpanist with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. The fledgling orchestra had its first concert that following spring on Tuesday, May 5, 1953.

In its early years, Civic rehearsed in the auditorium of Schmitt Music. Tom Nee, Assistant Professor of Music at Hamline University, assumed leadership of the Civic in 1954 and helped to build the ensemble into a leading community orchestra. Under his direction, Civic established a commissioning fund to support the composition of new music, commissioning its first work in 1957.

Long noted for its innovative programming, the Orchestra has received eleven awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), a prestigious number for a community orchestra of its size. This tradition is ongoing, with new compositions currently in the works.

The Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis continues today as the oldest community orchestra in Minneapolis. We perform under the direction of Cary John Franklin, Music Director since 1994.

Q:  You are the Concertmaster for the Orchestra. Could you tell us about your responsibilities in this role?

A:  You know, I'm glad you asked that question! There are many!  

First of all, I am responsible for scheduling auditions for the violins with the Music Director and then for deciding what our requirements are for members.  How well can they sight read? What is their technical proficiency? How committed are they to playing all rehearsals and concerts?

Secondly, once I know who is in the violin section, I need to seat the players in both the first and second violin sections according to ability and preference. I do try to rotate the players between the first and second sections to give them variety and an understanding of the importance of each section. 

Next, I am responsible to make sure the bowings of both sections are consistent with each other and work technically and musically for the repertoire we are playing. I do try to keep bowings as simple and appropriate for the composition at hand as possible.

Civic Orchestra

Lastly, and most important, I lead the violin sections in rehearsals and performances. Obviously, the first priority for orchestra members is to follow the conductor, but the violins always have their eyes on me as well. They follow my bowings and phrasal entrances and finishes as we rehearse and perform.   

Q:  A little bit off course, but you also teach English to adult refugees and immigrants. Do you have time management tips to share?

A:  The dual careers of teaching English as a second language as well as keeping up a busy performance/jobbing schedule with the Lake String Quartet and the Civic Orchestra can be daunting!!! I love them both but have had to make some changes as the years have accumulated! Fifteen years ago, I could keep up with thirty hours of teaching, weekend gigs and Civic rehearsals and performances. Now, however, I have had to modify my schedule. A couple of years ago I retired from teaching, and now volunteer once a week at the school I formerly taught at. In making that decision, as hard as it was to give up full-time teaching, my volunteer work has kept me happily active in the ESL community. I still enjoy performing and jobbing with the quartet as much as ever and love playing with the Civic Orchestra.    

I have served as Concertmaster with the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis for almost 10 years now and the position and the privilege of playing with a group of such talented musicians has given me more joy and gratitude than I can express! We all come to our orchestra dedicated to playing beautiful music with each other and to sharing it with audiences. It is truly a delight! 

Q:  Are there upcoming performances?

A:  Yes, we are preparing for our next concert which will be held at the Ted Mann Concert Hall. It features Gao Hong premiering her new work for Pipa and Orchestra composed specifically for the Civic Orchestra.  Here’s information on the full program:

March 5, 3:00 PM - Musical Journey for Pipa and Orchestra 

• Adolphus Hailstork – An American Fanfare 
• Gao Hong – Musical Journey for Pipa and Orchestra, World Premiere 
• Antonín Dvořák – New World Symphony 

Mark your calendars and come hear our performance! Please check our website for other upcoming concerts.

Q:  How may we support this community treasure?

A:  We are so thankful for your donations. There are so many ways to support us: click here to select from among the different options. Also, please follow us on social media, Instagram and Facebook.

Minnesota Library Access Center: Cavernous Storage!

Article by Becky Fillinger

MLAC is located 85 feet below Elmer L.Andersen Library on the University of Minnesota’s West Bank campus.

Think you know all about Minnesota libraries? How about a mega-storage facility located 85 feet below the Elmer L. Andersen Library – in caverns? We talked to MLAC staff, Kate Brownrigg and Michelle Penna, about the history and capacity of the Minnesota Library Access Center. You might want a tour – keep reading.

Kate Brownrigg (left) and Michelle Penna

Q:  Please tell us the history of the Minnesota Library Access Center.

A:  The Minnesota Library Access Center (MLAC) is the state- and university-funded cornerstone of Minnesota libraries’ efforts to provide cost-effective storage, access, and preservation, while promoting the use, and ensuring the long-term survival of the knowledge and culture contained in the collective library resources drawn from multiple library collections throughout the state.

MLAC is operated by Minitex, a joint program between the University of Minnesota and the Office of Higher Education. Many Minnesotans might not know that Minitex exists, but library staff sure do. At Minitex, it’s our mission to collaborate with each and every one of Minnesota’s libraries to help them do their best for their communities. Working together, we offer what just might be the highest quality library service of any state in the nation. We provide interlibrary loan, free online databases, and a whole lot more (check out our website). MLAC is emblematic of that spirit of cooperation. After all, MLAC is a collection of books from 22 separate institutions, managed expertly, and made available to any Minnesotan who wants or needs them, at no cost to the patron.

MLAC is located at the University of Minnesota. It opened January 2, 2000. The service was designed to help relieve space shortages for Minnesota academic, government, and public libraries. No other university or state at that time had tried to develop a storage center that would serve all types of libraries in a state.

MLAC includes items from over 20 academic, public, and government libraries across Minnesota. The largest single-day deposit of books at MLAC came in February, 2001 when over 24,000 books packed in seven semi-trucks arrived from the St. Paul Public Library. The smallest deposit was a single book from the Goddard School. 

MLAC is a University of Minnesota program located on the Twin Cities campus. MLAC operates as an integral program of the University of Minnesota Libraries, Twin Cities, and Minitex on behalf of all Minnesota libraries.

A specialized HVAC system maintains temperature and humidity controls. This image shows partially filled shelves from the early 2000s. 

MLAC shelves are 17 feet high, and most must be reached with a stockpicker.

MLAC contains 1.5 million volumes from over 20 Minnesota libraries.

Q:  How many volumes are stored at MLAC?

A:  Currently, 1.5 million volumes are stored in MLAC. Books in MLAC are shelved by size, not by subject or alphabetically like a typical library. The goal is to shelve at the highest density possible to maximize space usage. Unlike a typical library, our shelves are 17 feet tall. 

Q:  Is there a risk of reaching capacity in terms of storage? If yes, what would happen then?

A:  The facility where MLAC is located is at capacity — in fact, it’s beyond our expected capacity. This demonstrates that there is a need for collective management of library materials, and is one example of how Minnesota libraries have fully embraced collaboration as a method to meet that need. Libraries know that we need to work together to preserve unique library materials and that working together provides benefit to all. In June 2022, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved funding for a new Off-site Collections Facility to provide capacity well into the future. 

Q:  Where is MLAC located?

A:  MLAC is currently located in the caverns, 85-feet below Elmer L. Andersen Library on the West bank of the University of Minnesota. The caverns, dug into the Mississippi riverbank, are connected to the above-ground Elmer L. Andersen Library by a 40-square-foot shaft containing elevators, 140 stairs, ventilation equipment, and a custom-built conveyor system for moving library materials.

Q:  Who may access the materials stored at MLAC?

A:  Minnesota library patrons may request items for delivery to your local public library through MNLINK, which provides access to materials from libraries across the state. University of Minnesota students, staff, and faculty may request items for pickup at any University of Minnesota library location through the University of Minnesota Libraries catalog. 

Q:  Are tours available?

A:  While MLAC is not directly open to the public, tours of the caverns are available through the University Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections’ First Fridays event series. Tours are provided upon request at the conclusion of each in-person presentation event. 

The Book Club Play comes to Theatre in the Round Jan 27 to Feb 19

Theatre in the Round Presents 

THE BOOK CLUB PLAY BY KAREN ZACARÍAS

January 27 to February 19

Audience discussion follows the performances on February 12

Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) continues its 71st season with the light-hearted comedy about books and the people who love them. The Book Club Play runs weekends January 27 to February 19, with a Monday Pay-What-You-Can performance on February 6.  

Laughter and literature collide in this smart comedy about Ana, a tightly wound bibliophile who seems to have it all: an adoring husband, the perfect job and her greatest passion - Book Club. But when her cherished group becomes the focus of a documentary film, their intimate discussions about life and literature take a turn for the hilarious in front of the inescapable camera lens. Shanan Custer directs the seven-member cast with sets designed by Greg Vanselow, costumes by Rebecca Karstad, lighting by Dietrich Poppen, props by Bobbie Smith, and sound by Scott Gilbert.

The Book Club Play runs January 27 to February 10. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2pm.

Tickets are $25. For information, call the theatre’s box office at 612-333-3010 or visit its website at www.TheatreintheRound.org. Book clubs of 6 or more that wish to come as a group have access to $18 tickets by calling the box office or emailing tix@theatreintheround.org and mentioning the “Book Club Deal.”

Minneapolis Businesses Come Together to Donate Winter Clothing to Hennepin Healthcare

Left to right: Jennifer DeCubellis, Melvin Tennant, Lester Bagley, Lisa Goodman, Tykia Hess, RN

For the past month, Minneapolis partner businesses and individuals came together to gather new, warm clothes for Hennepin Healthcare patients through the Meet Minneapolis Warm Winter Clothing Drive. On January 5th more than 370 items were donated for distribution to patients in need at the Hennepin Healthcare Clinic and Specialty Center.

Per Melvin Tennant, Meet Minneapolis President and CEO, “Minneapolis neighbors stick together. And when we learned that Hennepin Healthcare had a great need to help patients and families with something as vital as warm clothing, we quickly launched a clothing drive. We reached out to get a sense of what some specific clothing items were needed, and then the Meet Minneapolis Warm Winter Clothing Drive went full speed ahead to help. We can’t thank our partners enough for pitching in to make sure our friends and neighbors – especially those in communities who struggle with financial or housing insecurity – have access to warm clothing.”

From December 5th through the 30th, Meet Minneapolis collected new, warm clothes to be donated to Hennepin Healthcare. Many Hennepin Healthcare patients have financial challenges. Some patients have damaged clothing after an accident or clothing has been removed to access wounds. Others may not have adequate clothing for the cold weather. Meet Minneapolis staff, board members and partner businesses contributed to the warm clothing drive, donating new coats, boots, pants, tops, mittens, scarves, socks and more.

“Our unique position as Minnesota’s largest level one trauma center means that many patients have pants, tops or clothing ripped or soiled when they arrive,” explained Jennifer DeCubellis. Hennepin Healthcare CEO. “After they have been treated, many patients are in need of clothing so they can be discharged with dignity. Thank you, Meet Minneapolis, for seeing the need and making a difference. We are proud of our Doing Good for Hennepin Healthcare program and encourage other businesses and groups to learn more.”

“Hennepin Healthcare Foundation has the honor of connecting the generosity of the community to the mission of Hennepin Healthcare,” added Theresa Pesch, President and VP of Philanthropy at Hennepin Healthcare Foundation. “Caring for all who walk through our door takes resources and an exceptional team. We are so thankful to Meet Minneapolis for supporting the patients in need of clothing to be discharged with dignity or those in need of extra layers during our winter here in Minneapolis.”

“There are many different narratives of what Minneapolis is and what it isn’t,” said Minneapolis City Council Member Lisa Goodman, a Meet Minneapolis Board Member. “One thing we know to be true is that we consistently have tremendous levels of community engagement in our city. That includes volunteering and giving back to our community, and a perfect example of that is this impactful clothing drive.”

“I’m especially grateful for all of those in the hospitality industry that contributed to this important effort to share warm clothing with patients in need at Hennepin Healthcare,” stated Lester Bagley, Meet Minneapolis Board Chair and Minnesota Vikings Executive Vice President. “On behalf of the entire Meet Minneapolis team, thank you to all who donated to help support members of our community.”

A Discussion with Michaela Neu, Project Coordinator, Green Minneapolis

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Michaela NeuGreen Minneapolis envisions a green future for Minneapolis with trees on every street and vibrant public spaces. It is a powerful link between local governments and private funders, and will continue to help Minneapolis grow and thrive.

We talked to Michaela Neu, Project Coordinator, about Green Minneapolis projects, our urban tree canopy and how you can be part of their efforts.

Q:  Green Minneapolis was formed in 2015 to "enhance the downtown experience." What are some success stories in the past seven years?

A:  We’ve had quite a few - I’ll highlight several for your readers.

The Commons

In 2015, Green Minneapolis led a partnership with the City of Minneapolis and downtown business leaders that raised approximately $15 million dollars from generous companies and individuals for The Commons, a 4.2-acre green oasis that replaced surface parking lots and helped launch the revitalization of East Town. In conjunction with the opening of the adjacent US Bank Stadium, The Commons opened in the summer of 2016 and has hosted dozens of stadium related events drawing thousands of visitors, as well as serving as a tranquil and beautiful green space for residents to recreate and relax. Now under the ongoing care and management of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, The Commons continues to expand its programming and build its community of park users. Green Minneapolis is proud of its leadership role in establishing The Commons as a new and welcoming park in the center of downtown.

Peavey Plaza

Peavey Plaza

Green Minneapolis spearheaded the $10 million fundraising campaign to revitalize Peavey Plaza, with contributions from the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, Target Corporation and many other companies and individual donors. The design team, led by Coen+Partners, facilitated a project that celebrates the Plaza’s historic modernist design, enhances sustainability and makes the Plaza accessible to all. The renovated Peavey Plaza, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places, has been open for three years, and its restoration has won several awards, including two this year - the prestigious 2022 Design Award of Excellence from Docomomo US, and the 2022 Best Activated Space Award from Minneapolis Downtown Council. 

And with pandemic restrictions lifted, this year Green Minneapolis inaugurated our Peavey Plaza Performing Arts Series, with 27 different artists and 65 free performances, attracting thousands of people back downtown to enjoy free music, dance and theater with performances by our programming partners including the Minnesota Orchestra, Cantus, Children’s Theatre Company, James Sewell Ballet and Westminster Church’s Music Program. Due to the resounding success of this year’s programming, next summer we plan to increase the number of performances from 65 to 100. Every one of these performances will be free and open to all, and every artist will be compensated - made possible by donations from Green Minneapolis supporters. We believe in the power of art to nurture human connection, and parks and public spaces like Peavey Plaza are some of the best places in our community where people from all walks of life come together to relax, recreate and get to know one another.

Twin Cities Climate Resiliency Initiative

Launched in 2021, Green Minneapolis expanded its vision for a green city to encompass an urban tree planting initiative focused on mitigating heat islands and environmental inequities across Minneapolis and the seven-county metro area. Called the Twin Cities Climate Resiliency Initiative, it is a 20-year program to plant and maintain 5 million new trees across the Twin Cities.  

Q:  Please tell us more about the Twin Cities Climate Resiliency Initiative.

A:  Green Minneapolis’ Twin Cities Climate Resiliency Initiative is a public/private partnership focused on significantly expanding the urban tree canopy across Minneapolis and the Twin Cities 7 County Metro Area. Designed to address the most harmful impacts of climate change on our region’s residents, it is a 20-year vision to increase the Metro Area’s tree canopy by 30% through planting and maintaining 5 million additional trees on public and private land.

This initiative requires significant new funding, and Green Minneapolis is working with a coalition of environmental organizations and local companies to increase funding for urban tree canopy planting and maintenance. Green Minneapolis joined a coalition of national environmental organizations advocating for urban tree funding to be included in the Inflation Reduction Act, resulting in $1.5 billion of new funding for urban forestry available to cities across the country.  And at the state level, Green Minneapolis is working with its coalition partners to advocate for increases in urban tree funding to help replace trees lost to Emerald Ash Borer.

Lastly, Green Minneapolis’ urban tree carbon offset program is the first to issue carbon offsets in Minnesota, and is the largest in the country.  Our first project with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) includes over 23,000 newly planted trees, and was verified and started selling carbon offset to local companies this fall.  Proceeds from the sale of carbon offsets from this program are projected to generate millions of dollars in new funding for our tree planting partners over the next 20 years.

In addition to working with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, this fall Green Minneapolis launched a project with Hennepin County, and we are in discussions with other Twin Cities local governments as well. To support this expansive scope, Green Minneapolis is forming a coalition of environmentally focused organizations to support the initiative, including The Nature Conservancy, the Trust for Public Land, Minneapolis Parks Foundation, Friends of the Mississippi River, Mississippi Park Connection, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Sagiliti and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

Q:  Why is the urban tree canopy important to Minneapolis?

A:  Green Minneapolis believes that urban tree canopy must be considered an essential component of urban infrastructure that keeps our cities livable and economically vibrant - just like our transit systems, water systems and electricity grid. In addition to sequestering carbon, urban trees provide other quantifiable benefits to urban communities including reducing flooding and water pollution, reducing particulate air pollution, mitigating urban heat islands and reducing heating and cooling energy use. Tree canopy also increases property values, contributes to our mental health, provides habitat for wildlife, reduces crime, slows car traffic, and sustains urban arborist jobs. There is no better technology for making our cities more sustainable and climate resilient than the tree.

Unfortunately, our tree canopy is threatened in Minneapolis and across the metro area from the Emerald Ash Borer, difficult growing conditions due to climate change and increased development. Now, more than ever, is the time to invest in growing our urban tree canopy.

Q:  I read that $1M of American Rescue Plan Funds allocated to Minneapolis may be used to jump start an initiative to plant 200,000 trees by 2040. How is that program proceeding? 

A:  To meet the goal of planting 200,000 additional trees across Minneapolis, the MPRB needs to plant on average 10,000 new trees each year. Long term funding for this level of tree planting is not yet in place. The $1M in American Rescue Plan funds we secured for the MPRB will get them to their tree planting goals in 2023 and 2024, but after 2024 the funding required is not yet in place. Proceeds from the urban tree carbon offset program will help fill some of the funding gap, but other sources - from new state, federal and philanthropic sources - are required.

Q:  How may we as citizens support the efforts of Green Minneapolis?

A:  The Twin Cities Climate Resiliency Initiative brings together individuals and companies that are taking action to reduce their environmental footprint by investing in the local tree canopy and community. You can help make a difference by donating to Green Minneapolis’ Twin Cities Urban Forest Fund, where funds will be used to plant and maintain trees across the Metro Area.

Q:  This is all great news for Minneapolis and the local area. How may we follow your news?

A:  One can sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.