Southwest Connector

Resident asks: Where are city leaders? Why aren't they at 3rd Precinct meetings?

Longfellow business owner, 30-year Longfellow resident and local filmmaker Paul Irmiter doesn't want the 3rd Precinct site reopened at its existing location - and none of the residents he's spoken … more

4/14/23

Brass Solidarity leads friends, family and community members in music and song at the Peoples' Way, George Floyd Square, to celebrate Tekle Sundberg on what would have been his 21st birthday Nov. 16, 2022. Sundberg was killed by Minneapolis police on July 14, 2022.

City’s plan to buy Peoples’ Way met with apprehension

At a neighborhood meeting at Sabathani Community Center on October 24, Minneapolis’ Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED) agency announced plans to purchase the former Speedway … more

By Jill Boogren | 12/1/22

City’s plan to buy Peoples’ Way met with apprehension

At a neighborhood meeting at Sabathani Community Center on October 24, Minneapolis’ Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED) agency announced plans to purchase the former Speedway … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 11/30/22

Toshira Garraway of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, shares a joyful moment with George “Perry” Floyd’s aunt Angela Harrelson, his aunt Mahalia Jones (holding microphone), and his cousin Paris Stevens at a celebration of Perry’s life on Oct. 14, 2022, on what would have been his 49th birthday. (Photo by Jill Boogren)

Family, friends celebrate George Floyd’s birthday

Family, friends and community members gathered on Oct. 14, 2022, at The Square event center (3736 Chicago Ave.) to celebrate the life and memory of George “Perry” Floyd on what would have … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 11/2/22

Running for GFS

The main caretaker for George Floyd Square (38th and Chicago) and members of the team ran in the Twin Cities Marathon on Oct. 2, 2022 to raise money in support of the memorial and an internship in … more

10/21/22

The Calvary Lutheran Church congregation spills into the street to the upbeat music of Brass Solidarity on Sept.11, the last service Calvary will have there until renovation is complete to add deeply affordable housing units to 39th and Chicago. In the interim, Calvary will worship at Iglesia Luterana San Pablo/St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (2742 15th Ave.). (Photo by Jill Boogren)

Calvary church makes room for deeply affordable housing at 39th and Chicago

Sept. 11, 2022, marked the last day of service for a while at Calvary Lutheran Church (3901 Chicago Ave.). It looked a little different on this day, mostly celebratory, a little bittersweet, with … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 9/29/22

WHAT DOES PUBLIC SAFETY MEAN TO YOU?

A few dozen residents filed into an upstairs gymnasium at Sabathani Community Center (310 E. 38th St.) on Aug. 29 to talk about public safety – specifically as it relates to planned road … more

Jill Boogren | 9/21/22

Brass Solidarity plays a few tunes in front of the Arthur and Edith Lee house at 4600 Columbus where an angry mob gathered in 1931 to force the family out. (Photos by Jill Boogren)

GFS: Sowing Seeds of Solidarity

The little white house at 4600 Columbus Ave. S. is a typical south Minneapolis home. It has a garden out back and another out front, where every year in mid-July the Black-eyed Susans bloom. Its … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 8/2/22

REMEMBERING GEORGE FLOYD

People gathered May 25-28, 2022 to commemorate the 2nd angelversary of George Floyd’s death. Others lost to police violence were remembered, and their families, who continue to push for change, … more

6/16/22

MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS AT GF SQUARE OPEN HOUSE

Questions about community input, justice and preservation of the George Floyd memorial dominated feedback at a public works virtual meeting on future reconstruction of 38th and Chicago on April 26, … more

By Jill Boogren | 5/24/22

Angela Harrelson calls the shift that has taken place since the death of her nephew, George ‘Perry’ Floyd, “the Great Awakening.” (Photo by Jill Boogren)

A voice for justice

Becoming an activist in a worldwide movement for racial justice was beyond anything Angela Harrelson would have imagined for her life. But the murder of her nephew, George Perry Floyd, Jr. – or … more

By Jill Boogren | 4/20/22

THE 24 DEMANDS

These are the 24 Demands community members wrote shortly after George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis Police at Chicago and 38th. more

4/20/22

Share your thoughts

Share your input in the 38th/Chicago Ave. project. UPCOMING MEETINGS In person public meeting In-person at the 38 th Street Event Center (3740 Chicago Ave South) on … more

4/20/22

Listening session notes April 14, 2022

4/20/22

City considers redoing Chicago and 38th Ave.

In the next few years, Minneapolis Public Works staff plan to reconstruct the intersection of 38th & Chicago. Here is some information from the city along with links to webpages. Background … more

4/20/22

Bianca Austin (at center, holding microphone), aunt of Breonna Taylor, stands with families who have lost loved ones to police violence in support of Daunte Wright’s family on the first day of Kim Potter’s trial at the Hennepin County courthouse. (Photo by Jill Boogren)

Families of lost loved ones, supporters rally behind Wright family

Families from Minnesota and around the country who have lost loved ones to police violence stood together outside the Hennepin County Courthouse on Dec. 8, 2021 in support of the Wright family. It … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 1/8/22

Did city mislead, downplay public input on 38th & Chicago survey?

Since late 2020 Mayor Jacob Frey has made known his intent to reopen the intersection at 38th St. E and Chicago Ave. S. When interim design surveys were returned in spring 2021, he and city leaders … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 11/30/21

Jennie Leenay, GFS community member and caretaker of The People’s Closet, with their pup Joyoncé. It's important to Leenay that fashion reaches everyday people, and that people feel connected to themselves and their community. (Photo by Jill Boogren)

The People's Closet makes fashion, political statement

Sometimes a revolutionary act is quiet, unseen. Sometimes it’s loud and worn on a shirtsleeve. At The People’s Closet at George Floyd Square, it’s a little bit of both.Born out of … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 11/30/21

Under the direction of Courtland Pickens, Youth Choral Ensemble KNOWN Mpls brings high energy and positivity to the stage. Established in 2019, KNOWN is an audition-based community choir for singers ages 12-25.

George Floyd Global Memorial celebrates Floyd’s 48th birthday

On what would have been George Floyd’s 48th birthday, the George Floyd Global Memorial (GFGM), with community members and supporters, hosted “And Still We Rise,” a celebration of … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 10/28/21

THIS IS WHAT I SEE

Art by Sarajea “Star” Martin, George Floyd Square community member, foundbysara@gmail.com featuring Jay Webb, aka The Gardener. more

Sarajea 'Star' Martin | 10/1/21