Health & Wellness | Southwest Connector

Michele Rae, RPh, MA, NBC-HWC is the founder of The Center Within, LLC and author of “Living From the Center Within: Co-Creating Who You Are Becoming.” She provides holistic coaching designed to accelerate and support personal, professional, and organizational transformation.

When you imagine an ideal healthy world for human beings and all who inhabit the earth, what do you envision? I recently had an amazing conversation with my adult daughter sharing our visions for a … more

By Michele Rae | 6/16/22

"It's such a cool feeling to know we're able to help people in this way," said NACC Operations Manager Ashlee Jallen. (Photo submitted)

Native American Community Clinic combines medical care, classes and Indigenous spiritual practices

A patient who had an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine was having second thoughts. They were anxious to receive the vaccine and did not know if they wanted to continue on the day that they were … more

By CHLOE PETER | 3/23/22

“While CSA stands for ‘Community Supported Agriculture,’ it could also stand for ‘Community Sustained Agriculture,’” observed Andrea Yoder of Harmony Valley Farm. She holds a bucket of ramps.

CSAs enhance farmer/eater relationship

Just what is a CSA?“A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a direct partnership between consumers and local producers,” explained Abby Rogosheske of Seward Co-op. “A consumer … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 3/17/22

The Aliveness Project is working to ease the HIV outbreak in Ramsey and Hennepin counties.

Clinic helps clients not just live, but thrive

The Aliveness Project Thrive Clinic (3808 Nicollet Ave.) recently opened to help stop the spread of HIV through PrEP, a pre-exposure preventive measure. According to the Minnesota Department of … more

By Chloe Peter | 3/6/22

#1) “Garden of Iron Mirrors” installation by Andrea Stanislav

AN EDUCATED TWIST TO WINTER FITNESS:

By SUSAN SCHAEFER Much has been written about the benefits of exercise and being outdoors to beat the blues. According to a recent report from the American Psychological Association, “There … more

By Susan Schaefer | 1/8/22 | 1 comment

March for homeless who have died

A memorial march for the homeless who have died took place Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 at 4 p.m. Braving the cold, about 200 marchers bearing signs with the ages and names of the deceased started from … more

1/1/22

Jerrod Brown, a professor at Concordia University in St. Paul, is the program director for a master of arts degree in human services with an emphasis in forensic behavioral health.

Kids with special needs and COVID-19

The impact of COVID-19 on children with special needs and their parents is immense. Jerrod Brown, a Concordia professor who is the program director for the Master of Arts degree in human services … more

By Jan Willms | 1/1/22

A pair of MiMS runners compete in the full 26.2-mile Twin Cities marathon on Oct. 3. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

POWER OF RUNNING

When Mishka Vertin moved from New York City to Minneapolis in 2014, she hit the ground running. Trained as a social worker, she took a job at Mill City Running while looking for a job in her field. … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 10/28/21

Twin Cities Marathon 2021

10/28/21

Helping professionals need help, too

Coping with the ups and downs of everyday life can be challenging in the best of times. But add COVID-19 to the mix, and those challenges can increase greatly. Jerrod Brown, a professor at Concordia … more

By Jan Willms | 10/28/21

City recognizes problems with expansion at Roof Depot site

Supporters of the indoor urban farm at the Roof Depot site unearthed a city report from June that shows city construction would be "problematic" given the lead and arsenic contaimination in the area, … more

by Tesha M. Christensen | 10/1/21

Ward 9 council member Alondro Cono speaks to the crowd of her own neighborhoods and constituents.

Community rallies in support of indoor urban farm at former Roof Depot site

Supporters of the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm rallied on Thursday night, Sept. 23 in between two votes that will determine the future of the project. On Wednesday, Sept. 22, the city council … more

10/1/21

"You really put yourself out there when you make public art," remarked Lomgfellow resident Taylor Tinkham. "Mostly people are great, but I’ve been hassled by the police. I’ve been yelled at by passersby, I’ve had people comment on my body when I’m drawing. As I approach a space where I’m going to chalk, I’m anxious – but as soon as I start chalking, I feel good.”(Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Longfellow chalk artist creates mindfulness messages on pavement

Taylor Tinkham has been chalking on neighborhood sidewalks for the last two and a half years. She said, “The idea came out of a mindfulness meditation class I was taking as part of my masters … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 10/1/21

Segundo Velasquez, co-founder of Mano a Mano. (Photo by Margie O'Loughlin)

Non-profit sends medical supplies to Bolivia – and shares surplus at home

Joan and Segundo Velasquez founded Mano a Mano in 1994 with the goal of saving surplus medical supplies from the landfill in Minnesota and shipping them to Bolivia, where those supplies were … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 10/1/21

Dancing together through a pandemic

On Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, Ballare Teatro dance instructor Molly Breen (at left) and her Cardio Funk dancers gave a live performance every 15 minutes through the early evening.They danced against a … more

by Margie O'Loughlin | 10/1/21

“For me, this is the most peaceful place on earth," explained Dr. Remi Douah, who is a listening presence at the "Say Their Names Cemetery" near George Floyd Square. "I can easily spend eight hours a day here. It’s not a chore; it’s not an intervention. It’s my way of life now. It’s what I structure my days around.” (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Learn to listen

Dr. Remi Douah is a listening presence at the “Say Their Names” Cemetery near George Floyd Square, just off East 37th Street between Chicago and Columbus avenues. He spends hours there … more

By Margie O’Loughlin | 9/3/21

For Joe Vital, the city's refusal to support the EPNI indoor urban farm at the Roof Depot site is an issue of environmental racism. "It's absolutely frustrating," he said. "I want to see the urban farm happen because every year at Little Earth we bury people. We have the highest rate of asthma and lead poisoning in the city. East Phillips has been the dumping ground for the city since the 1920s. One death should be enough to motivate anyone." (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

1,063 COMMENTS AGAINST, 2 FOR

The city received 1,063 comments from individuals and organizations opposed to expanding the public works facility into the Roof Depot site at Hiawatha and 24th, and only two in favor of it. Instead, … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 5/26/21

Gardening is a family passion for Longfellow residents David, Beth, Elsie (age 12) and Jack (age 9) Gray. Their latest project is a high-tunnel greenhouse and roadside stand south of Moon Palace Books. (Photo submitted)

Fresh food at Minnehaha and E. Lake St.

In a place where many buildings were destroyed by fire, something new is growing.A high-tunnel greenhouse south of Moon Palace Books (3032 Minnehaha Ave.) and Arbeiter Brewing will provide fresh, … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 4/27/21

Minneapolis Home Energy Disclosure program wins Innovation Award

The city of Minneapolis Home Energy Disclosure program was honored with a competitive Innovation Award from the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) on March 23, 2021. Starting with the … more

4/27/21

STABLE HOMES, STABLE SCHOOLS

When a child does not know where he or she is going to sleep at night, studying for that math test loses its importance. Having a roof over one’s head becomes more of a priority than acing the … more

By JAN WILLMS | 1/27/21