Longfellow Nokomis Messenger

The morning meeting at George Floyd Square was packed after the city pulled up its cement barriers during the early hours of June 3; within hours, makeshift barricades were placed by community members at each of the four entrances to the intersection.

What's the future of George Floyd Square?

Before the sun rose on Thursday, June 4, 2021, city public works staff, along with contracted members of Agape Movement, worked to dismantle portions of the George Floyd Memorial at 38th and … more

Tesha M. Christensen | 6/4/21

1000s attend day-long event at George Floyd Square on one-year anniversary of his death

Thousands of people visited George Floyd Square on May 25, 2021 for “Rise & Remember,” a day-long event to honor George Floyd’s life and legacy on the one-year anniversary of … more

Jill Boogren | 6/4/21

Concert and vigil at George Floyd Square

Jill Boogren | 6/4/21

Say Their Names Quilt

Jill Boogren | 6/4/21

Zaylee Olson (7) leads a group of girls on the snake at the Nokomis Bike Skills Park, the first of its kind in the city. Supporters hope more like it are built. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

KIDS ON BIKES

Devon Olson and others with Minneapolis Bike Parks knew that kids wanted fun places to ride, but they had trouble convincing the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board and the general public at … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 5/28/21

The T.O.U.C.H Outreach community patrol in the Aldi parking lot before heading out for the night. Team leader Muhammad Abdul-Ahad is pictured standing center. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Community protecting community

The Corcoran Neighborhood Organization is one of seven groups sharing a $1,000,000 pilot grant from the City of Minneapolis’ Office of Violence Prevention. The grant was awarded to neighborhood … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 5/26/21

For Joe Vital, the city's refusal to support the EPNI indoor urban farm at the Roof Depot site is an issue of environmental racism. "It's absolutely frustrating," he said. "I want to see the urban farm happen because every year at Little Earth we bury people. We have the highest rate of asthma and lead poisoning in the city. East Phillips has been the dumping ground for the city since the 1920s. One death should be enough to motivate anyone." (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

1,063 COMMENTS AGAINST, 2 FOR

The city received 1,063 comments from individuals and organizations opposed to expanding the public works facility into the Roof Depot site at Hiawatha and 24th, and only two in favor of it. Instead, … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 5/26/21

Storefront protest art on display

On May 22, at Phelps Field Park, Save the Boards, Memorialize the Movement and the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery hosted the first exhibit of the plywood boards of protest art … more

by Jill Boogren | 5/26/21

Melanie Majors leaving LCC

After 14 years, the Longfellow Community Council will be losing its executive director Melanie Majors on June 17, 2021. She has accepted a position as Director of Administration for Trellis, which is … more

5/26/21

U-Haul plans 5-story, self-storage at Hiawatha/42nd

After a pause, U-Haul is moving ahead with plans to tear down the existing buildings on the site and build a five-story, 1,200-unit storage facility on the southeast corner of Hiawatha Ave. and 42nd … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 5/26/21

EVENTS June 2021

Online Presentation on Memorial Day: A Day of Mourning for Veterans As part of May is Mental Health Month, NAMI Minnesota will hold a free online workshop on Wednesday, May 26, from … more

5/26/21

Lake Street recovery coalition launches campaign promoting racial equity and community health

The Lake Street Leadership Recovery Coalition today announced its new campaign to support equitable recovery across the Twin Cities following the civil uprising caused by the murder of George Floyd … more

5/26/21

RESTORE REBUILD REIMAGINE FUND

If you thought the 350 or so Minneapolis and St. Paul small business owners on Lake Street and West Broadway in Minneapolis, and University Avenue in St. Paul’s Midway who watched their … more

5/26/21

Don Larsson and Stephen Greenhalgh in 12th Night

Classics Lost 'n' Found Theater presents Shakespearean comedy outside

Classics Lost ‘n’ Found Theater Company is pleased to announce their Summer 2021 production, 12th Night by William Shakespeare. The story focuses on a Viola and Sebastian, separated, so … more

5/26/21

Trent Bowman is the president of NAREB, a coalition of Black real estate professionals. He said, “Throughout history, people of color have been left out of the homeownership game. It’s about leaving a legacy. It’s about building wealth in our communities. We have to understand the history of housing discrimination, so we can work in the present to leave something for our kids in the future.” (Photo courtesy of NAREB)

Reimagining dream of home ownership for all

In a recent article about the Twin Cities housing market during COVID-19, real estate professionals characterized the market as “frenzied.” A picture emerged of Minneapolis homes selling … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 5/26/21

Minneapolis down payment assistance can help buyers enter the housing market

No spoiler alert here – the cost of even a small home in Minneapolis is sky-rocketing. While that is daunting to anyone looking to buy, it is especially intimidating for first time … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 5/26/21

Sample photos from Julie Vanatta's bare root clinics. She photographs each plant as part of her studies, then preps them for sharing. Some plants only need a wet paper towel, others require addition of soilless potting medium to reduce stress. Botanical names: Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana), and Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans).

Preventing the spread of jumping worms

Two years ago few of us had heard of jumping worms. Now they're all the rage, gardeners have a panic attack every time they find a common nightcrawler. Due to the Ice Age, no earthworms are native to … more

By Julia Vanatta | 5/26/21

Jesse and Marion Dunbar of Happy Earth Cleaning sold their businesses to their workers when they moved back to Seattle, Wash.

So, you want to retire...

Business owners who want to retire have two options. They can sell or just shut down.Christina Nicholson of Nexus Community Partners (2314 University Ave. Suite 18) told those gathered at a joint … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 5/26/21

Students in the Garden Warrior Program worked in the corn crop last summer at the Hugo farm site. (Photo submitted)

DREAM OF WILD HEALTH FROM FARM TO MARKET

Dream of Wild Health is one of the longest operating Native American-led nonprofits in the Twin Cities. Since 1998, they have been working to restore Indigenous relationship with the land, and to … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 5/26/21

Jill Waters (above left) and Kelley McMurchie are retiring at the end of the 2020-21 school year.

Educators retiring from Hiawatha/Howe

This year the Hiawatha/Howe Community Schools will be saying good-bye to educators with 84 years of combined experience. Three teachers, Kelley McMurchie (kindergarten), Jill Waters (second grade), … more

Submitted by Angie McCracken | 5/26/21