Visitation Monastery of Minneapolis: Women’s retreat

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I’ve been working on documenting the nuns at the Visitation Monastery of Minneapolis, a project I hope to continue for some time. I’ve known them for something like 18 years, so it’s been fun to photograph them and their lives. They live in two houses in North Minneapolis, praying for their neighbors and the world, offering hospitality and love to the people who come to their door. These photos are from the arts and crafts portion of their annual women’s retreat for neighbors and friends, held at Ascension Church. Continue Reading

A great tree fell: Reflections on Maya Angelou’s passing

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It seems only fitting that I spent some of yesterday saying good-bye to a phenomenal woman, Maya Angelou, as she sang her last song on earth before flying freely into other worlds while I am in the heat of trying to raise my own phenomenal woman. My girl and I are facing some hard times, some sort of predictable challenges that come with being a young woman but with a bent that is worrisome to me. Continue Reading

COMMUNITY VOICES | Small town Gay Pride celebrates decade of change

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Sunday, June 1, Voyageur Park in Pine City, Minn. will again be the setting to one of the few rural LGBT pride celebrations in the world.  It is called ‘East Central Minnesota Pride’ and it has shown as much resiliency and staying power in this park over the 10 years as the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people of this region of the State have shown.Rewind 15 years.   The East Central Men’s Circle—a gay and bi men’s group—was organized by the Minnesota Department of Health and the Rural AIDS Action Network to increase awareness of sexually transmitted diseases.  The men strove to bring together the rural community, whether they lived in one of the hubs of the region such as Pine City (pop. 3,127), or one of its tiny villages, like Askov (pop. 364). So, in 2005, for their fifth anniversary, they decided to throw a pride and see what happened.   The first two prides, in 2005 and 2006, were mostly uneventful.  But, as the event grew, so did a contingent of opposition. Continue Reading

Shining stars: Stargirl Initiative aims to help young girls feel empowered

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Being a teenager sucks. Being a teenage girl sucks more.While it’s true that problems facing the average teen always seem huge to them—yet petty to adults—getting good grades, finding a job, landing leadership roles and bulking up extracurriculars in order to impress colleges comprise a fairly intimidating list.But socially, a teenage girl has to confront all of that while battling hormones. And watching as those insecurities potentially turn them into the butt of everyone’s jokes.What’s self-esteem if you don’t have a clear face? Why is everything so hyper-sexualized? How can you stand to be alone when everyone seems to be dabbling in dating already?This is what set Ethelind Kaba to start Stargirl Initiative, a community outreach group that strives to build self-esteem in young girls.Kaba—a South Minneapolis mother of three, including two daughters—said that while parents can try to give their kids the best family experience, the outside world influences how young girls feel about themselves. Continue Reading

Minnesota rallies in support of abducted Nigerian girls

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A May 10 rally condemning the abduction of more than 200 students from a school in Chibok, Nigeria brought members of the state’s Nigerian population and the broader African Diaspora together in St. Paul. Held in the State Capitol rotunda, speakers at the rally voiced concern for the victims, questions about the Nigerian government’s level of accountability, and the potential role the United States could play in securing their return.

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A whisper

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The sappy cards and flowers and pretty boxes of chocolate in every store I see mock how I feel on this particular Mother’s Day. Over 234 girls were stolen from a place that was supposed to be a safe haven, a place where girls could learn in order to create a better life for themselves and their families. I just don’t know how to think about this. All I can think of is a moment I had a few nights ago with my own daughter. Continue Reading