Discovering East Lake Street: Heavy Table’s Secret Atlas of North Coast Food

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Susan Pagani has lived in Minneapolis longer than she’s lived anywhere else – about six years. Growing up her family moved frequently, and by her calculations she’s lived in 7 states, 12 cities, and 35 houses. But it’s Minneapolis that she calls home, and writing a chapter on East Lake Street for Heavy Table’s upcoming book The Secret Atlas of North Coast Food has deepened her ties with the neighborhood through hours of exploration in the tucked-away corners of local shops and restaurants.“I thought I knew the food on the street pretty well, but once I got into the project and started visiting all of the restaurants and shops, I was sort of in awe of everything that’s there,” Pagani explained. “Now, having had those experiences and really explored the place, it definitely feels more like my neighborhood.”Exploring East Lake Street GemsHer work began by driving up and down East Lake Street with James Norton, editor of Heavy Table, compiling a list of spots they loved and new places they wanted to visit. Pagani narrowed that list down, and a month later, she went on a walking and driving tour of the different shops with illustrator Andy DuCett. Continue Reading

Roosevelt Library: Mission-style beauty reopens in South Minneapolis

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UPDATED 6/4/2013 • On Saturday, June 1, the scene at the newly reopened Roosevelt Library in South Minneapolis was a happy one. Neighbors, local dignitaries, and Hennepin County Library staff were on hand to celebrate the 15 month long renovation of this beloved neighborhood landmark.As soon as the ribbon cutting ceremony ended around 10 a.m., the door to the library was opened and people streamed in, anxious for a look at the redone interior. Many families with young children were in attendance and they immediately headed to the inviting, kid-sized bins of picture books, expressing delight at what they found. “The library is great,” said a father of two young readers. “It’s beautiful. Continue Reading

COMMUNITY VOICES | How well does the library serve the public?

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The people who make decisions for the Hennepin County Library have a different concept of “public” than I have. When the new library at East Lake St in Minneapolis was built, we were given wonderful windows, some places to sit and a lot more digital access. But, as far as I can tell there are fewer books. We are also able to rent books if our budget allows. If we are not able or willing to pay the public library rental for our books we can join a waiting list for popular titles. Continue Reading

65,000 hours to help adults learn to read: Minnesota Literacy Council celebrates volunteers and learners

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There were a lot of people in attendance at the Loft Literary Center on May 22; and as formal as it appeared, it was clear that the majority of the attendees had all known each other for quite some time. Learning and teaching together is a great way to build a healthy and diverse community and I couldn’t help but feel like I was on the outside looking in as volunteers and students from the Minnesota Literacy Council (MLC) gathered to celebrate the release of a new edition of Journeys, the organization’s annual compilation of writing by adult English learners.At 6:00 p.m. the ceremony began, honoring those who received the Thomas M. Kraemer Memorial Education Grant. It was the first year that the grant had been presented at the Journeys event. The grant’s purpose is to assist the recipient in continuing education beyond the MLC program. There was some hint that the grant doesn’t always have to proper funding to be awarded every year and is not awarded to many, but the passion and dedication present throughout the evening are proof that the students receive the tools they need to be lifelong learners. There was certainly no shortage of passion and dedication for the Minnesota Literacy Council’s cause as the organization recognized over 20 volunteers for their service time. Continue Reading

COMMUNITY VOICES | Mayor RT Rybak proclaims Social Enterprise Week

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Never heard of social enterprise?  Well, it’s here and growing.  That’s why RT Rybak has proclaimed this to be Social Enterprise Week in Minneapolis.  Minnesota has sometimes been called the “Land of 10,000 Non-Profits,” so deeply embedded is the culture of compassionate support. It’s not surprising that the Twin Cities is ranked #1 for volunteering.  But there are a few new twists on this story. Many Minnesota nonprofits are functioning as “social enterprises” – and yet they might not identify themselves as one.  It’s a new term for a growing national and international trend. Social enterprises bridge the for-profit and non-profit worlds because they operate with a “double bottom line” — profits and social mission.  They sell products and services, which then generate funds that can be used to address social issues.“Not enough people know about the depth of social enterprise leadership and innovation in our area, many started decades ago,” said Mayor RT Rybak.PPL Industries, for example, was launched 30 years ago.  Instead of being primarily funded by grants or donations, they relied largely on fees generated by providing light assembly for larger businesses.  Their operation provided essential work skills and job training for individuals with multiple barriers to employment.  Following a merger with Rebuild Resources last year, the new $6 million organization has been rebranded as Momentum Enterprises.Why are more nonprofits starting or expanding a social enterprise?  Some say it is because they are experiencing the “new normal”, based on increasing competition for both charitable dollars and government contracts.  To become more self-sustainable, nonprofits are increasingly considering the “earned-income” strategies of social enterprise to support their mission.In 2002, CityKid Java was created to raise funds for a worthy cause: the revitalization of the South Minneapolis community.   Since then, they have grown to become a $2 million business selling coffee through Target, Cub, and Whole Foods as well as businesses and faith-based organizations.  The “profits” are used to fund Urban Ventures.  CityKid Java is undertaking an aggressive growth strategy to use this “business model” to expand and support youth in other states.   Social enterprises are as varied as the communities they serve.  Twin Cities based social enterprises include the Beez Kneez, The Arc Value Village Thrift Stores, DumpTech, Finnegans, Genesys Works and Tasks Unlimited.  Another twist is that more for-profit companies are operating with a double bottom line as well, such as Moss Envy and The Data Bank.The Social Enterprise Week proclamation is one way to raise awareness about the social and economic benefits of social enterprise in our communities.  St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman signed one for St. Continue Reading

“Aberration of Starlight”: Playwright Walter A. Davis gets to the heart of Emily Dickinson

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There aren’t a great many male playwrights who do well creating female characters of any dimension. In fact, the list of famous names is fairly short. After William Inge, Tennessee Williams, and August Wilson you have to scratch your head pretty hard to come up with more. Which makes it all the more fascinating that accomplished author Walter A. Davis (The Holocaust Memorial: A Play About Hiroshima, Trim: The Tiger Woods Story) is bringing his work back to the Twin Cities with the premiere of Aberration of Starlight: A Play About Emily Dickinson.A few years ago, Davis’s An Evening with JonBenét Ramsey (Cedar-Riverside People’s Center) afforded, with piercing insight, a grim take on how embittered a woman the strangled little girl might’ve grown into had she lived long enough to try and cope with her recollections as a six-year old sex symbol. Now, Aberration of Starlight takes a dark, enlightening look at Dickinson the historic poet who, all but ignored during her lifetime, became world-famous after her death. Continue Reading