Wedge Co-op in Minneapolis awards support good work in the community

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The 17th annual WedgeShare awards ceremony, held January 17 at the Wedge Community Co-op, honored work being done by nine local non-profit organizations.Josh Resnik, the Wedge Co-op’s new CEO, said that overseeing a philanthropic program that gives a portion of the co-op’s annual profit back to the community is one of the most satisfying parts of his job. Since 1997, Wedge Cooperative member-owners have awarded more than $600,000 in WedgeShare grants to organizations whose work aligns with the co-op’s values. Resnik explained that all nominees must advance the International Cooperative Alliance’s Principle #7, demonstrating concern for the community. To be eligible, an organization must also be non-partisan, non-sectarian, and engaged in activities related to the natural environment, health and wellness, natural foods and sustainable agriculture, community involvement and capacity-building, or cooperative-related activities. Members vote on WedgeShare grant recipients at their annual fall meetings. In October 2012 they decided that these organizations would divide a total of $75,000:•       Emergency Foodshelf Network•       Open Arms of Minnesota•       Water Legacy•       Minnesota Food Association•       Community Design Center of Minnesota•       Centro Campesino•       Great River Greening•       Midtown Farmers Market•       Cycles for ChangeTwo organizations were showcased. Michael Venker, a board vice president, spoke on behalf of Open Arms of Minnesota, best known as the state’s only nonprofit committed to preparing and delivering free healthy meals tailored to the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, ALS, breast cancer and other diseases. Venker also highlighted lesser-known efforts, such as ensuring that children living in South Minneapolis’s Phillips neighborhood, where Open Arms is based, have access to healthy foods in the summer. A world away, he said that Open Arms has been working with communities in sub-Saharan Africa to provide food and technical assistance to people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Midtown Farmers Market was recognized for its committment to providing all community members with better access to healthy and affordable foods. Continue Reading

Penn Gas Stop joins Appetite for Change Healthy Corner Store Project in North Minneapolis

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If you look closely between the two ‘No Trespassing’ signs on the outside of Penn Gas Stop, an improved addition is advertised on another sign — fresh produce. As a part of the Healthy Corner Store Project, the station located on the corner of Penn and 26th Avenue N. in Minneapois has just ramped up its supply of healthy “grab and go” options.“We wanted to do this for a long time and I just think we needed a little push, “ said store manager Fouad Bazzine. “There was an incentive too, because most people ask for fruits and vegetables all the time anyway.”Penn Gas Stop is one of more than a dozen corner stores in North Minneapolis taking part in the project, which kicked off January 4 at this location. The Minneapolis based Appetite for Change program, the City of Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support and the West Broadway Business and Area Coalition teamed up to create the initiative, which encourages healthy eating in communities with minimal access to healthy foods.“Now we have things that we haven’t had before. It’s like a store. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | We Take S.H.O.T.s

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There are only so many things that will get a college student motivated enough to wake up at 7:00 on a Saturday morning and walk 5k on an autumn day in Minnesota when it is barely above freezing te

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Minnesota Karen community celebrates warm St. Paul welcome

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“Minnesota may be cold, but the hearts are warm,” said Priscilla Aung, one of the first Karen refugees to arrive in Minnesota more than ten years ago. Now, approximately 6,500 Karen live in the state, making St. Paul home to the fastest growing Karen population in the United States.The Karen are an ethnic group from the mountainous border region of Burma and Thailand, where they are the second largest ethnic group in each country. The community has suffered a tragic history of being persecuted by the Burmese military junta for over 60 years. Several hundred refugees from other ethnic groups in Burma, including the Kachin, Mon, and Shan, have also made Minnesota their home. Continue Reading

NAMI helps people living with mental illness confront profound challenges

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People who struggle with mental illness continue to face barriers at every turn, according to Sue Abderholden, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Minnesota. “The current health care system for children and adults living with mental illnesses continues to this day to discriminate against people needing mental health treatment and supports to achieve wellness and recovery.”Abderholden explains that, “If mental health treatment is covered under private insurance, what is covered is variable.” She adds that, “Few private plans cover the model mental health benefit set which is included under MA (Medical Assistance) and MinnesotaCare.” Furthermore, it is not yet clear how components of the Affordable Health Care Act designed to ensure equity and parity will be implemented.Curious to learn more about NAMI and how health care reform and changes in Medical Assistance may impact people with mental illnesses? Want to take action on policies that impact the rights of those living with mental illness? Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Minnesota (NAMI Minnesota) and Twin Cities Media Alliance this Saturday, Sept. 8, at 1:00 p.m., to find out what you can do. You’ll also discover how to use new media tools, especially Twitter, to connect and advocate more effectively. Continue Reading