Eric Ortiz | Southwest Connector

Twin Cities community leaders Carmen Robles, left, and Diana Hawkins at a community event in the Hawthorne neighborhood of north Minneapolis. (Photo by Eric Ortiz)

Challenges bring opportunity. So do connections. The other day, I met a Minneapolis fire inspections field operations manager who told me the city's fire department is understaffed . "I … more

By Eric Ortiz | 4/18/25

Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation’s Youth Community Journalism Institute team with friends, family, and collaborators at St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN) on March 10 after producing “Youth Community Journalism — Episode 9: Rebuilding Community in America.” (Photo by Eric Ortiz)

We Have the Power

Our world is out of balance. It has been for a while. In 1980, on Thanksgiving Day, John Trudell , one of the most respected and influential Indigenous rights defenders, delivered an empowering … more

By Eric Ortiz | 3/21/25

Welcome to the land of 10,000 gardens

Focus on what's strong. Not what's wrong. This is the essence of asset-based community development . It's also what sustainable community building looks like and how we can create … more

By Eric Ortiz | 1/22/25

A common sense approach to ending gun violence

Guns kill more children in the United States than anything else. It's a shocking statistic. But it's true. In 2023, firearms killed 4,456 children and teens ages 1 to 19 (out of 46,728 gun … more

Eric Ortiz | 12/11/24

Second- and third-grade students at Centro Guadalupano’s 2024 summer camp. (Rebecca Welty/Centro Guadalupano)

Where immigrant and refugee families find peace

I received a nice, unexpected email a few weeks ago. The subject was “Quick anecdote.” I just wanted to share that one of our new after school students, who came to us after … more

By Eric Ortiz | 11/20/24

East Phillips urban farm vision growing stronger

Good things take time. Look at the East Phillips community's struggle to win control of the Roof Depot site . For a decade, a broad coalition of East Phillips neighbors and supporters have … more

By Eric Ortiz | 10/16/24

We can do more for the opioid crisis

We have a growing problem that not a lot people understand. Behaviors are happening on the streets and in schools that are unprecedented. Principals, teachers, and behavioral specialists can't … more

By Eric Ortiz | 9/18/24

Youth community journalist students from the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation’s Youth Community Journalism Institute at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul with Minnesota House Rep. Maria Isa Peréz-Vega (District 65B).

The power of community journalism

Healing begins with opportunities, and opportunities promote growth. That's why we developed the Youth Community Journalism Institute at the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation . We want to … more

By Eric Ortiz | 8/21/24

Authors at the 2023 Twin Cities Book Festival in St. Paul.

You’re invited to (support) the Twin Cities Book Festival

The Twin Cities Book Festival is Minnesota's largest gathering of readers and one of the region's premier art events. It also might be the best-kept secret in the country . Presented annually by … more

By Eric Ortiz | 7/18/24

Mercado Central, el mercado latino en la esquina de Lake Street y Bloomington Avenue en Minneapolis.

Mercado Central sigue enseñando a la comunidad 'Cómo comprar el estanque'

Ciudad de México está a 2,106 millas de Minneapolis. Pero no tienes que viajar tan lejos para experimentar la auténtica cultura latina. El Mercado Central está a unos … more

Por Eric Ortiz | 7/8/24

A mural in Minneapolis at the corner of Portland Ave. and East Lake St. (Photo by Eric Ortiz)

Something needs to change. We have a plan.

Research shows that negativity is four to seven times more powerful than positivity. We are hardwired for negativity . This negative bias is why we focus more on "bad things" to make sense of … more

By Eric Ortiz | 6/20/24

Metro Transit bus driving on 1st Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. (weston m/Unsplash)

The power of cooperation

Our brain grows every time we make a mistake. Really, it's science . In that case, the world should be filled with geniuses at every turn. So why does it feel like we're surrounded by a … more

By Eric Ortiz | 5/15/24

Minneapolis students at a community solutions event organized by the Strong Mind Strong Body Foundation

We need to make kids America's top priority

It's hard to get a consensus on anything in the United States these days. But one issue unites the whole country. According to " The State of Kids and Families in America 2024 ," a report from … more

By Eric Ortiz | 4/17/24

Mercado Central, the Latino marketplace at the corner of Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue in Minneapolis.

Mercado Central keeps teaching community ‘How to buy the pond’

Mexico City is 2,106 miles from Minneapolis. But you don't have to travel that far to experience authentic Latino culture. The Mercado Central , or Central Market, is a few minutes from any … more

By Eric Ortiz | 3/26/24

Es hora de destacar nuestra humanidad con la inmigración

Todos tienen una voz, pero no todas las voces son escuchadas hoy. Este no es un problema nuevo. Mis abuelos paternos, ambos mexicano-americanos de primera generación que crecieron en Los … more

Por Eric Ortiz | 2/14/24

Youth and elders brainstorm ideas during a community solutions workshop at Walker Library on Feb. 3.

A solution for school disengagement

T he world has changed. Our education system has not. As a result, school is broken . It's so bad that many kids don't go to school anymore. Chronic absenteeism was an issue before the pandemic. … more

By Eric Ortiz | 2/14/24

One happy family: Cal, Eric, Emilia, Maria, and Eva Ortiz. And their dog, Edison (aka Eddie).

Getting more connected in a human way

Happy New Year. Welcome to 2024. Are you happy to be here? Have you already started writing an inspiring 366-page book this leap year (one page for every day)? Or are you still recovering from … more

By Eric Ortiz | 1/18/24

“Human beings are meant to be connected,” stated author Marissa Bader (right) of Linden Hills in response to a question posed by local journalist Eric Ortiz during the first Let’s Connect Coffee Time on Dec. 1, 2023. The next event will be on Jan. 12, 9-10 a.m. at Everett & Charlie art gallery.

Marissa Bader spreads joy to the world

Be a kind human. That has been Marissa Bader's life goal since her dad taught her that how we treat others matters, that no human is less or more important than any other, and to always treat … more

By Eric Ortiz | 12/14/23

Thank you for shopping local. (Jarred Ray/Unsplash)

A little local support goes a long way

Giving Tuesday was on Nov. 28 this year, and it was a rough one. Rough, of course, is a relative term. Giving Tuesday 2023 raised an estimated $3.1 billion in donations to nonprofits, according … more

By Eric Ortiz | 12/14/23

Community stakeholders and youth brainstorm solutions for gun violence at Walker Library on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

Youth have a lot to say about gun violence

Ask 10 people what they think about guns. You might get 10 different answers. Gun ownership is a fundamental right. We need stricter regulation. There are too many guns. There aren't enough. … more

By Eric Ortiz | 11/30/23