Opinion | Southwest Connector

Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice steering committee.

TRUST This column revolves around three kinds of trust. There is the Donald L. Hammen Trust. There is what I call the Stories and Journeys Readership Trust, as well as the Elder Voices … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 7/6/23

Traveling to places like Belize has challenged Talia McWright's storytelling and writing abilities, and allowed her to experience the world in new ways. (Photo submitted)

Gen Z needs stories, too

Across many cultures and generations, storytelling has played an immense role in our understanding of the world. It is the tradition of storytelling in all its unique forms that connect us all. … more

By Talia McWright | 6/21/23

A student sits for a video interview in a classroom at DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis. (Photo by Alex Simpson/Unsplash)

Minneapolis can shock the world

Everyone loves a redemption story. After a few rough years, Minneapolis has a chance to write one. The city is in recovery mode and charting a new path forward, but not everyone is convinced we are … more

By Eric Ortiz | 6/14/23

Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice leadership team.

I see signs of spring in my life

Dear Reader: This column is about signs of spring showing up in my life experiences and awareness. So, buckle up! If you have read this far you have taken the plunge into the river (flow) of life … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 6/14/23

6 key facts you need to know about Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom. This momentous occasion is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and grow, while renewing our commitment to the pursuit of liberty and justice for all. Fact … more

By Dr. Artika Tyner, dr.artikatyner@gmail.com | 6/14/23

Bob Galligan is the director of government and industry relations for the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild (mncraftbrew.org), a not-for-profit organization that was founded in 2000 and is made up of more than 180 Minnesota brewery and brewpub members. The Guild showcases the talent of Minnesota’s craft brewers and promotes Minnesota’s brewing industry by sponsoring festivals and special events, including the MN Brewers Conference and MN Brewers Cup, the State Fair’s Brewed in Minnesota exhibit, All Pints North, and Autumn Brew Review. The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild’s mission is to promote, protect, and grow a robust Minnesota craft brewing industry by building a healthy beer culture and community that allows for independent brewers, industry stakeholders, and craft beer fans to thrive.

Revolutionary cannabis bill will benefit craft breweries

The Cannabis Legalization Bill, HF100/SF73, was passed in the Minnesota legislature and was signed into law by Governor Walz. This bill, a result of months of hard work, provides a boost to many … more

By Bob Galligan | 6/14/23

The Bell family is even more interesting than you think.

The best of humanity is all around us

The Bells are not your average social media influencers. They are a family of 10 with seven adopted children. Heather Bell is the matriarch and keeps everything running with her husband, Luke, in the … more

By Eric Ortiz | 6/2/23

Goodbye, vic, and thank you

I am aware that there would be no All Elders United for Justice without the vision, leadership and guidance of Vic Rosenthal. This is my goodbye and thank you to Vic Rosenthal. Sadly, Vic passed away … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 6/2/23

Note, the B-Line traffic plan calls for only one lane of eastbound traffic, with cars and the buses sharing one lane. There will be a center lane for turning traffic. Travel westbound will have two lanes with one lane designated as a bus lane. This 4 to 3 conversion was piloted on Lyndale Ave. last year.

B-Line buses and cars shouldn't share one lane on Lake St.

In a case of good intentions backfiring, Hennepin County has planned a B Line express bus route that will crawl along Lake Street at the pace of stalled traffic. This will result from its lane … more

By Dan Kennedy, Longfellow business owner | 5/26/23

Eric Ortiz lives in the Wedge with his family. When he’s not community building, he’s the director of media for Big Edition and writes bilingual children’s books with his kids. Their first book, “How the Zookalex Saved the Village,” is available in English and Spanish.

Welcome to the happiest place on earth

The happiest place on Earth isn’t Disneyland. It’s Finland. For the sixth year in a row, Finland was named the happiest country in the world, according to the 2023 World Happiness Report. … more

By Eric Ortiz | 5/23/23

2017 photo from “Immigrant Journey Project” at Theater Mu. (Photo submitted)

Theater Mu celebrates AAPI heritage month

In 1992, Theater Mu was founded in St. Paul to tell stories from the heart of the Asian American experience, and now, we are in the middle of celebrating our 30th anniversary season. Four world … more

By Lianna Matt Mclernon | 5/17/23

A teacher with students having fun at Ella Baker School in Minneapolis.

We are all in this together

Tony Robbins must be doing something right. After 45 years of life coaching, the 63-year-old motivational speaker is still motivating. That’s no easy feat in today’s world.But it’s … more

By Eric Ortiz | 5/5/23

What I’ve learned about fasting after 10 years

I’ve been fasting for 19 days per year towards the end of winter every year for over 10 years. As long as the sun is up, I don’t eat or drink anything. This practice is surprising to most … more

By Eddie Glenn | 5/5/23

Let's think beyond fortress-like police stations

The recent proposal to reopen a police station in our community is bringing back painful memories and opening old wounds for many of us, me included. I served on the City Council, representing the … more

By Cam Gordon | 4/27/23

The fifth police precinct (3101 Nicollet Ave)

In thinking about the future of precinct buildings, would you prefer...

4/26/23

A sinkhole opened up at 27th Street and Girard Avenue in Uptown Minneapolis on Easter Sunday.

Watch out for that sinkhole

Good news. Minneapolis is back in the top 10. According to Extreme Weather Watch, this winter ranks third for the largest snowfalls ever recorded with 89.9 inches. And it’s only April.The most … more

By Eric Ortiz | 4/19/23

In light of Justin Jones and Justin Pearson’s expulsion, some Minneapolis leaders appear rooted in a conservative ideology

On Thursday, April 6, Tennessee Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson were expelled from their House seats by the Republican super majority who determined these young Black Representatives … more

By Daniel Schmidt | 4/19/23

Awarded

I have recently been made aware that TMC Publications CO, which includes the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, Southwest Connector, and Midway Como Frogtown Monitor, received 20 awards at the recently … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 4/19/23

Hodan Hassan is the 62B Minnesota House Representative. Contact her at rep.hodan.hassan@house.mn.gov.

Working to strengthen renter rights

One of my top priorities this session is strengthening rights and protections for renters in Minnesota. We are in the middle of a housing crisis, with rental prices soaring and affordable, quality … more

By Hodan Hassan | 4/19/23

A student at Ella Baker School in Minneapolis shows his work and progress.

Focus on what’s strong, not what’s wrong

Everyone has a gift. That gift is a talent or passion. But not everyone gets to use their gift, talent or passion. Sometimes, people are not invited to share their gifts. We see this a lot. There … more

By Eric Ortiz | 4/6/23