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Welcome to Minnesota: A Conversation about Immigration and Human Rights

May

25

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Bruce Johansen

About me

A Roseville native, Bruce Johansen is a freelance writer who, for several years, lived, studied, taught, and wrote in the Washington DC metro area. Since 2011 he has been a Twin Cities Daily Planet reporter, and in 2012 began wearing a second hat, as Twin Cities Media Alliance's community engagement coordinator. Bruce is an active resident of South Minneapolis's Seward neighborhood, where he serves on the boards of Redesign, Inc., and the Seward Neighborhood Group. He also advocates for small businesses as a member of the Seward Civic & Commerce Association.

Favorite Places:

Neighborhood coffeeshops, bars, and cafes. In Seward, 2nd Moon, Tracy's, Birchwood, and Cake Eater are favorite hangouts. I've always loved travel, whether it's to cities or small towns. Chicago is a longtime favorite destination. I also enjoy Minnesota and Wisconsin small towns, and the North Shore.

Activities:

Traveling, bicycling, reading

Interests:

Cities, local businesses, politics, cultural studies

Facebook profile

Twitter:

brucejohansen

Tags:

Seward neighborhood,

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How welcoming is Minnesota to newcomers? Advocates for Human Rights to host community conversation

By Bruce Johansen, TC Daily Planet

How welcoming is Minnesota to newcomers? That's the question being posed by The Advocates for Human Rights. This year and next, the Minneapolis-based nonprofit is monitoring, documenting, and assessing the experiences of immigrants and other key communities against international human rights standards. It’s part of a project called the One Voice Minnesota Network, an effort to build more welcoming communities statewide by providing tools and resources and promoting collaborations.MORE »

Food and farming: Framing the issues for 2012 elections

By Bruce Johansen, TC Daily Planet

Seed biodiversity, farming methods, and food distribution were main topics as TC Daily Planet's election circle met at Common Roots Café May 3. The result was a lively exchange that branched out into other areas, including corporate power, expectations around political leadership, and the United States’ role in the world.MORE »

"We're all stakeholders": Citizens League and Bush Foundation convene "ordinary Minnesotans" to share their views on health care

By Bruce Johansen, TC Daily Planet

“The best solutions to tough problems come through engaging citizens,” says C. Scott Cooper, director of engagement and communication at the Bush Foundation. Sean Kershaw, executive director of the Citizens League, adds, “Hardly anything has a bigger impact on people’s lives than health care. The public wants to have this conversation, but needs the invitation.”MORE »

Minnesota Latino businesses: Growing, greening, cooperating

By Bruce Johansen, TC Daily Planet

John Flory is all too familiar with what many people think of immigrants: that they’re lazy, looking for handouts, taking advantage of our country’s safety net. The reality, he says, is exactly the opposite.MORE »

Election Circle probes underlying assumptions about government

By Bruce Johansen, TC Daily Planet

Last month the Twin Cities Daily Planet embarked on a new experiment. The idea: to assemble a diverse group of smart, thoughtful, politically engaged citizens, who would come together periodically to talk about the issues most important to them. Conversations would continue, in different locations in St.MORE »

Immigrant couple applies Tejalpa business experience to Twin Cities opportunities

By Bruce Johansen, TC Daily Planet

Photos By:

Bruce Johansen

Armando Ocampo calls himself “an optimist, someone who’s always looking forward.” His wife, Lilia Zagal, “has more new ideas every day.” Together, the two have opened four Los Ocampo taquerias and one full-service restaurant in rapid succession since 1999, shortly after emigrating from Tejalpa, a smMORE »

New transit oriented housing coming to Seward

By Bruce Johansen, TC Daily Planet

Part of Seward’s industrial western edge will soon get a dramatic facelift. Ground is slated to be broken later this spring for phase one of Seward Commons, a mixed-use, transit-oriented development project, focused on housing.MORE »

Minneapolis Community Connections Conference emphasizes diversity and equity

By Bruce Johansen, TC Daily Planet

Around 450 neighborhood activists converged at St. Mary’s University Event Center on Saturday for the first City of Minneapolis Neighborhood and Community Relations (NCR) Community Connections Conference.MORE »

Talking politics — and elections

By Bruce Johansen, TC Daily Planet

Who’s up? Who’s down? Who’s expected to win the next contest? If this or that candidate wins (or loses), what are the implications for the race going forward? These are the types of questions that mainstream media reporters and analysts are fixated on as another presidential race ramps up.MORE »

The view from City Hall: Melvin Carter talks about equity and race in St. Paul

By Bruce Johansen, TC Daily Planet

Melvin Carter III was elected to a second term as Ward 1 St. Paul City Councilmember in November. The DFL member’s ward is considered to be the most racially and economically diverse in the city.MORE »