In response to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authorities decision to allow the use of the franchise’s nickname, “the Redskins”, the American Indian Movement has planned a march to the Metrodome followed by several speakers and presenters during the November 7 game.Protesters plan to march from the Ancient Traders Market parking lot on Franklin Ave to the Metrodome around 4:30 p.m. to listen to Congresswoman Betty McCollum and Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills, as well as other speakers, and drum and dance performances.On November 5, the University of Minnesota will host a symposium on racism in sports and media in the President’s Room of the Coffman Union.Protesters allege that the use of the name “Redskins” by a publicly-funded stadium like the Metrodome violates the civil rights of American Indians.The Daily Planet is interested in hearing your views. Please contact Ben Markhart at bmarkhart at hotmail dot com if you have something to say — or comment below. And keep checking back — we’ll have updates after the November 5 symposium and after the rally.Coverage of issues and events that affect Central Corridor neighborhoods and communities is funded in part by a grant from Central Corridor Funders Collaborative. Reporting for this article also supported in part by Bush Foundation. Continue Reading
In my work as a journalist I have reported on a number of Native American’s stories. I have spent the past few years reporting on the Ojibwe language revitalization movement and the Dakota struggle to reclaim rights and recognition in their homeland. Continue Reading
Kathy Zieman was caught off guard when she got news last week that the St. Paul City Council would be voting on a resolution this week that would initiate a request for proposals (RFP) process to find a private vendor to take over the management of the Como and Phalen golf courses by next spring.Zieman, president of the golf course’s Como Women’s Club and a member of the Como Regional Task Force, said the news “came out of the blue.”When Parks and Rec director Mike Hahm spoke at District 10’s District Plan Ad Hoc committee meeting on Sept. 9, he assured attendees that the Como Golf Course was not closing, Zieman said. “I guess he was right. They were looking at something totally opposite. Continue Reading
Sometime when a controversial issue just keeps going in circles, it can be helpful to “flip the script” and imagine how it might go down, if the same were happening but the group being impacted was from a different socio-economic class. Continue Reading
On Tuesday night, October 15, the Bethune Park soccer team won the 2013 Minneapolis Parks citywide 13u tournament championship. Bethune defeated Kenwood in the tournament finals 3-2 with a come-from-behind overtime victory. The tournament win caps a year of victories both on the soccer field and in their community.Most of the Bethune soccer players live at City View apartments, north Minneapolis’ largest predominantly Latino housing complex.For over a year the City View soccer players have been working hard to get La Montaña razed. La Montaña was a 30 foot tall pile of construction debris, nearly as high as the three story tall City View apartments next door. The construction rubble was left over from when the Heritage Park housing was built several years ago. Hidden behind the weeds was a hangout where men partied, slept and drank. The hangout was littered with beer cans, liquor bottles, bedding, toilet paper, underwear and used hypodermic needlesStarting in the spring of 2012, residents of City View apartments worked with Councilmember Don Samuels to get La Montaña taken down.City View Soccer Players Share Findings with Councilmember SamuelsThe City View soccer players were leaders in the drive to raze La Montaña, meeting with councilmember Samuels in his office and on the soccer field, giving him tours of the site, documenting problems, and keeping the councilmember up to date on developments. City View Soccer Team Stands Next to The Steam Shovel That Ate La MontañaLast fall, residents of City View apartments cheered as they watched a steam shovel, a bulldozer and other construction equipment ripping into La Montaña. It took two weeks for La Montaña to be leveled.Councilmember Samuels Drops First Ball for New Soccer Field Where La Montaña Once StoodThis spring, grass seed was laid down on the field which replaced La Montaña. This summer, Minneapolis Parks donated two soccer goals and set them up where La Montaña once towered. And on August 5, over 70 residents of City View apartments cheered as councilmember Don Samuels dropped the ceremonial first ball onto their brand new soccer fieldBethune Soccer Players arrive at University of Minnesota UROC Community Open House Two days after their tournament victory, City View soccer players came to the University of Minnesota UROC open house, and told their northside neighbors and U of M faculty about their hard work and their successes. The soccer players are already talking about what else needs to get fixed in their neighborhood, and inspiring others to join with them.Bethune Soccer Players show U of M Provost Karen Hanson Pictures of La Montaña and players inside the steam shovel diggerBethune Soccer Players Guess Where CURA Ambassador Jeff Corn was Born (Answer: England) Continue Reading
One Gear. No Brakes. That’s what velodrome bike racing is all about, that’s the slogan in a promotional video. I did not know that. They have to keep pedaling, though they can slow down by holding back.There are lots of people who do know this; they and curious neighbors with other questions came out Oct. Continue Reading
Summit Academy OIC has been chosen by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority to be the Employment Assistance Firm for the construction of the Vikings stadium in Minneapolis. This means Summit Academy is going to identify qualified workers to help the project meet its goals of employing a diverse workforce.
For the last year or so, Global Groceries has been mostly about exploring ethnic grocery stores and community gardens, searching for the interesting, the foreign, and the exotic. Recently, I had what for me was one of the most colorful adventures since I started writing this column: a few hours inside the world of professional sports.I’m not what you could call a sports fan. My dad didn’t follow professional sports, my husband doesn’t (except for a little bit of MMA, for professional reasons), and few of my friends are interested. When I was invited to a sports media event, although I didn’t know what to expect, I was game. (Forgive the pun.)Granted, this was a food-related pro sports media experience, and there’s nothing that will bring a journalist to an event faster than a sign that says, “free food!” Of course, the sign didn’t actually say, “free food!” It said, “Welcome to Taste of the WILD, VIP Media Sampling Soiree,” an event designed to showcase the new high-end menu choices available for hockey fans this season. Continue Reading
