NEIGHBORHOOD NOTE | Community education right in the neighborhood

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Did you know that Northeast Middle School (NEMS) is a community education site and offers adult lap and family open swim periods for the community? Or that NEMS and Waite Park is one of the few places that teaches Polish language classes?That’s because NEMS has been a Minneapolis community education site since the 1970s and offers between 50-65 enrichment classes for adults and kids each quarter at affordable prices. It’s a wealth of resources available right in the neighborhood with classes like aqua zumba, Spanish, quilting basics and youth swimming.David Warnest has been the community education coordinator at NEMS for more than nine years. He said that even though Minneapolis community education has offered open swim periods for the community for a number of years, a lot of neighbors are still surprised.He added, “A lot of people don’t know that Northeast is a site for their ACCESS Service Program for adults with disabilities.”  They receive 150 registrations for the program each quarter.Although Community Education casts a wide net of offerings for many different people, David said that “the greatest value community education has is that it is located right in our neighborhoods and can offer the community greater access to facilities within their communities.”The classes vary by community and are there because they are the ones that people register for. Facilities at a different building direct the activities. Continue Reading

Creating many ripples: Citizen journalism in 2012

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When I looked back at the stories I‘ve written for the Twin Cities Daily Planet this year, I noticed that the stories always seem to have a few things in common: They involve my community. The subject is important in some way and needs to be covered. And it spurs my curiosity.“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” ― Mother TeresaPeople profiles are a favorite of mine because I get to meet the people who are doing great work in my community and write about them.Dudley Voigt: The Woman behind a Musical is a local theater director who works with Northeast Middle School students. When she works with young people, she is not just teaching them theater but is building community and self-esteem skills. Her work over the years has helped transform Northeast Middle School’s theater productions over the years into a quality program that is supported enthusiastically by the Northeast community.This past spring, I was curious when several wild turkeys started walking the streets on Johnson in Northeast Minneapolis. Continue Reading

Little Kitchen Food Shelf in Minneapolis needs food

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It was the Monday after Thanksgiving and the Little Kitchen Food Shelf in Northeast Minneapolis was closed.”We ran out of food,” Jennifer Schultz, manager of the Little Kitchen Food Shelf said.She added that it was temporary and they would be open again on Tuesday when they would have a supply of food.The Little Kitchen food shelf is in a tough place right now and as we talked it became apparent that closing the food shelf occasionally would most likely happen again in the future.Schultz explained that over the past year and a half, Little Kitchen has seen a 300 percent increase in the numbers of people served. They budgeted usage at 600 individuals per month but the actual number is closer to 800, going up to that level at the first of the year and staying consistent throughout 2012.2012 Food Drive Shopping ListYou can donate to the Little Kitchen Food Shelf by going to their Facebook page or their website: www.necommunity.netCall or email Jennifer Schultz, Food Shelf Manager612-788-2444email: Jennifer@necommunity.netFood shelves appreciate any food and money that you can give.Here are a few Items in demand:Protein foodsCerealsVegetablesFruitsBaking needsOils and dressingsHealth & beauty aidsHousehold products (toilet tissue, napkins, paper towels)Diapers, formulaPet foodThe Little Kitchen Food Shelf is a no restrictions, no boundaries food shelf in Northeast Minneapolis serving all people. One hundred percent of the monetary donations go into food and supplies.What makes them different from other food shelves is that Little Kitchen does not require proof of address or identification for adults or children. They also do not restrict use based on geographic locations.They are also one of the few food shelves where clients can get baby formula.“We get referrals from United Way 211 specifically for people who are in an emergency situation,” Schultz said. “We’re seeing a lot of first time clients.” Schultz estimates that between 50—75 percent are new food shelf visitors each month; most come from Northeast Minneapolis within two miles of the food shelf.Schultz describes lower Northeast as a “food desert” when it comes to affordable grocery stores.“Our busiest shift is on Tuesday night between 6-7:30 pm because so many people have day jobs and they need to come after 5. Continue Reading

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTE] Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page to Speak at 7th Annual Harvest Gathering

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Alan Page, founder of the Page Foundation and Minnesota’s first African-American Supreme Court Justice, will be this year’s keynote speaker at the 7th annual Harvest Gathering on November 19th at 7 pm at the Northeast Middle School.The Northeast Harvest Gathering is an annual event dedicated to celebrating and fostering the Northeast community, by encouraging conversation among neighbors of diverse backgrounds and cultures in order to learn about each other.  In addition to Justice Page’s speech, the event will feature music, table discussions and dessert.This year’s Harvest Gathering theme is “Many Faces One Community.”  Table talks will explore questions like:  With the changing faces in our community, how can we individually and collectively, build a better community? How can neighborhood schools and education in general help build a better community?  And how can we make everyone feel more welcome?Along with providing a speaker, The Harvest Gathering is an opportunity for neighbors to meet one another and to talk about the community they live in.“It’s all about bringing neighbors together, learning about them and breaking down barriers,” Diane Langer, chair of the Harvest Gathering’s planning committee said.According to Langer, there has been a lot of enthusiasm and energy in planning this year’s event.  Each member of the 10 member committee has worked towards getting the word out to areas that may not have heard about the event in the past including using social media to attract more of the younger population. Each committee member has also visited various neighborhood organizations with flyers to talk about the event with the community.Although an average of 200 people attend the event each year, Langer would like to see more. She hopes that this additional effort in publicity will attract a diverse population who are interested in celebrating and building the fabric of the Northeast community.A recipient of the Page Foundation Scholarship and a graduate of Edison High School will also be at the event to participate in the conversation.You can find out more information about the event by going to the Harvest Gathering Facebook page. WHAT: Northeast Harvest GatheringWHY:  To Celebrate communityWHEN:: November 19, 2012,  7 -9 pmWHERE: Northeast Middle School,  2955 Hayes St NE, MplsADMISSION:  FREE Neighborhood Notes are updates about what’s happening in Twin Cities neighborhoods, submitted by our volunteer neighborhood correspondents (and neighborhood residents), and not edited by the TC Daily Planet. Continue Reading

Are we ready for a Zero Waste Carnival?

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Carnivals are fun but messy and very wasteful. Windom Carnival, known to be one of the largest carnivals in Minneapolis, plans to stop this by reducing its ecological footprint.Windom Park Carnival • Friday, June 1 • 5-8 p.m. • corner of Johnson and Lowrey in Northeast MinneapolisOrganizations that will be assisting with the effort include Eastside Food Co-op who will provide receptacles for the waste, Tapmpls.com, an initiative of the City of Minneapolis to promote the use of tap water versus bottled water, and the Minnesota Energy Renewable Society, which will provide solar panels to power a showmobile.Last year, the carnival generated between 20-25 large bags of garbage, much of which included pop cans, water bottles and food waste.“It’s our hope that of those 20 bags, most are recyclables and compostables. So, it will be a sound, useful piece of measurement of our success, Michelle Woster, carnival committee member and volunteer, said.“I’d say if this year we wind up with less than 15 bags of garbage, that would be a good thing. I also think just getting people talking about this topic, and educating them as we answer questions like where’s the bottled water? What happened to all the trash cans? Continue Reading

Turkeys attack: Urban wildlife gets bold in Twin Cities

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A flock of wild turkeys walks down Johnson Street daily in Northeast Minneapolis and hang out in trees at a neighborhood church. Store owners and residents feed them daily. Drivers stop and wait while they cross the street. One merchant even sells t-shirts that read, “I heart Johnson Street turkeys.”But for a mother who attended a panel discussion on Urban Wildlife held at the Eastside Food Coop on March 8, the turkeys have become something to fear: she had to beat them off when they attacked her toddler. A postal worker in the neighborhood also had a turkey jump on her back while she was trying to deliver mail.The urban wildlife panel consisted of Bryan Lueth, DNR Area Wildlife Supervisor, Thor Nelson, DNR Conservation Officer and Phil Jenni, Executive Director for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Continue Reading