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Welcome to Minnesota: A Conversation about Immigration and Human Rights

May

25

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Deb Pleasants

About me

Deb Pleasants (deb@tcdailyplanet.net) is a full-time mother and a part-time freelance writer/citizen journalist. She enjoys writing about social and community issues. Deb calls St. Paul home.

Column:

Copacetic Conversations

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Adverse assumptions

By Deb Pleasants, Copacetic Conversations

"Hey, I didn't want to assume anything," was the boisterous waiter's only response. No matter how many time we attempted to point out his transgression, he would just deflect us with jazz hands and say, "Like I said, I didn't want to assume anything."
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St. Paul's adult swim program makes a splash with African Americans

By Deb Pleasants

By Deb Pleasants, TC Daily Planet

When Oxford Pool in Saint Paul reopened as Great River Water Park in 2008, the lifeguards were constantly saving weak swimmers. According to Adam Zirzow, Aquatics Facility Supervisor, it was as if, during the two years the pool was closed, rather than take swim lessons at elsewhere, Oxford pools users just bided their time.MORE »

Can't swim--it's never too late to learn

By Deb Pleasants, Copacetic Conversations

From my hotel room window, I stared at an African American woman trying to escape the blazing Florida heat by cooling off in in the pool. However, something seemed a bit odd. This adult woman was struggling to keep her upper body submerged in waist deep water. Too shallow to stand up, yet too deep to sit down, she unsuccessfully tried stretching out horizontally on the pool stairs.MORE »

Studio Bricolage's tinkers, geeks and gearheads look for new home in closed Whitaker Buick building

By Deb Pleasants, TC Daily Planet

Steve Jevning hopes the eclectic group of tinkers, artists and hobbyists touring the shuttered Whitaker car dealership on Saturday can see beyond the emptiness and envision what drew him to the building-its potential.MORE »

Not your typical Irish dancer

By Deb Pleasants, Saint Paul Almanac

Deb dancing with Rince na Chroi (Photo courtesy Deb Pleasants)

"Aghh! My leg!" I cried out, collapsing against the wall of the dance studio.

"Are you okay?" Emily asked.MORE »

Hennepin County JDAI reduces youth detention; still stymied by racial disparity

By Deb Pleasants, TC Daily Planet

"Once juveniles are initially detained, then they are more likely to stay detained; more likely to end up in out-of-home placement," said Lucy Wieland, Hennepin County Juvenile Judge and co-chair of the county's Juvenile Detention Alternatives InMORE »

THEATER | At SteppingStone Theatre, "Get Up Your Irish" tells the story of Irish immigration to Minnesota

By Deb Pleasants, TC Daily Planet

Natalie O'Shea discovered one undeniable fact while writing the play Get Up Your Irish: A Celebration in Music & Dance. Regardless of country of origin, throughout history each immigrant group that arrived in Minnesota was initially viewed with suspicion.MORE »

Curling comes to Frogtown

By Deb Pleasants, TC Daily Planet

This winter, the shuttered Biff Adams Ice Arena in Frogtown reopened its doors to welcome a different type of ice sport-curling. Thanks to a partnership between Ramsey County and the Saint Paul Curling Club (SPCC), the Biff Adams Arena, located at 743 N. Western Avenue in St. Paul, is now the new auxiliary site for SPCC.
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St. Paul's outdoor activities take the chill out of winter

By Deb Pleasants, TC Daily Planet

The recent snow dumps in the Twin Cities might lead some people to hibernate in their toasty warm homes and not re-emerge until the spring thaw. However, to do so would mean missing out on some of the best things to see and do, especially in Saint Paul, which is bustling with so many outdoor activities to keep you moving, you're likely to break a sweat, even in bone-chilling temperatures.MORE »

Discovering grassroots journalism at TCDP: Six interns, 50 stories

By Deb Pleasants, TC Daily Planet

Three months. Six interns. More than fifty news articles.

That is what Twin Cities Daily Planet's team of six has published this fall during their internships. While maintaining full-time student status, and part-time jobs, this team of six also committed to professionally and objectively covering any stories assigned, no matter how challenging.MORE »