Playtime or focused instruction for three-year-olds? Some Minneapolis parents disagree with new ECFE structure

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Has the Minneapolis Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program become too scripted and academic in focus?Some long-time Minneapolis ECFE families think so. Ted Moore, for example, takes his two children to an ECFE class at the Sullivan School location in south Minneapolis, and over the last couple of years, he has noticed some distinct changes to the more relaxed, play-based programming he has come to expect.Moore is one of a group of approximately ten ECFE parents who have contacted the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) this year about their dissatisfaction with changes they have seen in their ECFE classes. From Moore’s perspective, everything from the art projects and books available for kids to the overall curriculum and focus of the program has changed dramatically, and not in a positive way.Moore described the book choices made available to his young children as little more than “careerist manifestos,” about future “community hero” type of job opportunities for children, where once the books offered to the kids seemed more imaginative, and linked to seasonal themes or creative play ideas.Additionally, Moore sees the art projects offered to the kids now as more product-oriented, where the child is presented with a structured art project, such as a picture of a fire truck to decorate. It used to be, Moore said, that ECFE art classes were more about giving children “experience with crayons, painting, and things that activate the imagination.” Also new to Moore is the fact that “a lot of the art projects involve writing,” even for three-year-olds.ECFE Parent Angie Sonrode has been participating in ECFE classes for ten years now, and echoed many of Moore’s concerns. While she said she is a “huge proponent of the Minneapolis Public Schools,” and wants to support its programming, she feels upset by many of the changes she has seen in her ECFE class at Kenny School in south Minneapolis.One major change for Sonrode is the way ECFE classes now approach the early childhood staple of “circle time,” where parents, children, and the ECFE teacher sit together before the parents and children go into separate rooms. Previously, ECFE families would come to class as close to the starting time as they could, and circle time would begin a half hour or so after the scheduled class start time. Continue Reading

Judy Cooper Lyle’s Phyllis Designs: Turning t-shirts into wedding dresses

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From now until the end of November I will be profiling three three local fashion designers with three very different career paths. These images and interviews are meant to showcase the talents of these three incredibly skilled women and to provide you with more information on their individual brands.This week I’m showcasing Judy Cooper Lyle of Phyllis Designs. I interned under Judy for a while back in 2010 and received an understanding and appreciation for flowing fabrics and vibrant textiles. Her classic fits are combined with an elegant and ethnic flare and take inspiration from many cultures around the world, channeling Greek Goddesses and African queens.What is your favorite creation; a piece you’ve made that you’re really proud of? I would say the gown with the cape. Continue Reading

‘Why are we hearing about it now?’ Southeast Como residents urged to test for toxic vapors under their homes

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Some 200 buildings in the Como and Marcy-Holmes neighborhoods may be contaminated with toxic fumes from a chemical used by General Mills in a research center more than 50 years ago.The chemical, trichloroethylene or TCE, has been detected in vapors escaping from the soil and could seep into the basements of homes, potentially causing various cancers and damaging immune systems, according to officials from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Health Department.UPDATE 12/8/2013: What’s new in the Como neighborhood / General Millls / TCE pollution story? Almost a month after the community meetings reported in this article, dozens of homes have shown problematic levels of TCE, two class action lawsuits have been filed, and testing continues. Click here for more. The two agencies mailed notices to residents, called two public meetings and asked residents and building owners to provide access for contractors to sample fumes in their basements.“I’ve lived here for 40 years and raised my two boys here,” said Rhona Leibel, who lives near Fairmont and 19th Avenue Southeast in the Como neighborhood. “One of my concerns is whether the MPCA knew about these dangers earlier. Why are we hearing about it now? Continue Reading

For better or worse: How Minnesota is changing

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Will Minnesota remain at the top of the list of all things right and good for the next ten to fifty years? Minnesota State Demographer Susan Brower and State Economist Laura Kalambokidis are in charge of making the forecasts that give policy makers the information to keep up with changing population and economic trends. Minnesota, both say, has just begun to see some big demographic changes and if they aren’t addressed soon, Minnesota could fall behind in the quality of civil and economic life.Brower, age 42, was hired to replace Tom Gillaspy who retired after 32 years in March 2012. Kalambokidis, age 50, has held her post for only four months, replacing State Economist Tom Stinson, who had been in his job for 26 years. The duo spoke at the Citizens League’s 2013 Civic Celebration on November 5.Healthcare and the baby boomers “The first of these are trends you’ve already heard about,” said Brower. Continue Reading

Talking beading and buffalos in South Minneapolis

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Somali and Native American women discovered shared cultural similarities at a small group meeting at East Phillips Community Center on October 21. Fowsiyo Aden noted that there is a structure in Somalia called a qualdo, which reminded her in its similarity to the teepee. She also said they have buffalo in Somalia.  Easy laughter followed when Rukia Mohamud asked if they milk the buffalo here. There are buffalo in Somalia but they are wild, while domesticated  camels are milked.Native bead artists taught Somali women how to bead, working on a simple pattern for a key chain. Continue Reading

“12 Years a Slave”: Keep talking

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I had a variety of things I could’ve written about this week and I had so many great ideas, and then I saw The Open Letter to The Walker Art Center published on Opine Season regarding the October 30 screening of Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave; and while my being an artist who happens to be black may have a lot to do with this, I just had to address it. I could tell by reading the comment sections of the publications where this beautifully written piece was posted that everyone had a lot of feelings that deserve consideration. I want to air some of that out as respectfully as possible as issues involving race need lots of diverse perspectives to assist with clarity.This is about more than about how the Walker chooses to present their film series (there was a presale for members, and the tickets went on sale to the public afterwards and sold out quickly). I just wanted to address to some of concerns I encountered as I find them very valid and valuable.1. It isn’t more important that one demographic of people see this movie over another; it’s important that EVERYONE see this movie. Continue Reading

Veg Fest 2013 in Minneapolis: Celebrating compassion

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The 2013 Twin Cities Veg Fest, held on October 27 at Coffman Memorial Union on the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota, was an impressively large and varied event. According to event organizer Dave Rolsky, 2,000 or so vegans, vegetarians and veg-curious people attended the event (up from 1,200 last year), which featured speakers, music, and an exhibition hall packed with dozens of tables and booths where you could get a henna tattoo, sign a petition, buy a t-shirt or be paid $1.00 to watch a video about animal cruelty. And, of course, there was food.One of the event’s goals, Rolsky said, was to “showcase a wide range of delicious and compassionate food choices.” Local restaurants Flamingo, Kitty Corner Café and Seward Café, along with caterer Asase Yaa, sold everything from fruit-covered vegan waffles to lentil entrees, and exhibitors were offering so many free samples that it was possible to fill up on snacks without spending a dime. More than 100 people at a time lined up for samples of Chicago Vegan Foods’ Teese Vegan Cheese, and the sausage samples at the Tofurky booth were popular, too. But Minnesota food makers more than held their own: the nut milk cheeses of Minneapolis-based Punk Rawk Foods were a hot item.Brand-new Minneapolis candy maker Nicole Stewart of Comfort Candy (bottom, left) stole the show with an amazing variety of caramel and chocolate creations. Continue Reading

St. Paul teachers’ union head advocates ‘solution-driven’ approach to close gaps

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St. Paul Federation of Teachers (SPFT) president Mary Cathryn Ricker spelled out her union’s new proposal, called the “Schools St. Paul Children Deserve” at an Achievement Gap Committee (AGC) forum on October 23. Ricker handed out the proposal at the forum, and explained that it is based on seven core principles, which were developed over the course of a few months by the union and citizen groups in St. Paul. The SPFT has been using the “Schools St. Continue Reading

Third Place Gallery in Minneapolis: Where ping pong, karaoke and art come together

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Ping-pong and karaoke are not what you might expect to find at an art gallery, but they go right along with exhibit openings and artist dialogues at Wing Young Huie’s Third Place Gallery in south Minneapolis. Same Difference: A cross-cultural dialogue featured artists Shana Kaplow and Meng Tang presenting their various works at the Third Place Gallery in Minneapolis and entering into a dialogue about their impressions on the Chinese and U.S. cultures on October 19. Shana Kaplow, who was born in the United States, has visited China twice and did a six-week artist residency there. Her work shows her experiences in the series, Close to Home. She stayed in Beijing in China when she started to work on the series. This work includes the video Facetime and some ink-on-paper paintings. Continue Reading

First Somali museum in North America opens in Minneapolis

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“The smallest, troublemaker camel wears the smallest bell — as a herder, you can hear this camel when she runs off into the bush causing trouble, and you can find her to bring her back to the herd. The biggest bell goes on the lead camel — the old, tamer camel knows the way home …” [Exhibit label]Who gets the big camel bell is just one of many questions answered at the new Somali Artifact and Cultural Museum, which opened this weekend in Minneapolis at Plaza Verde (1516 East Lake Street). The museum is the only Somali museum in the United States, and perhaps in the world. As its website explains:The world’s only Somali Cultural History Museum used to be in Mogadishu.  In the last 20 years, that museum’s contents have been scattered across East Africa and the world. Continue Reading