News | Southwest Connector

Shawnte Jensen, Anja Standly, and Katie Lindholm

Volunteers assist veterans as part of neighborhood revitalization project

Rebuilding Together Twin Cities helped veterans secure housing as a part of neighborhood revitalization projects in the Morris Park and Minnehaha neighborhoods. On May 25 and May 26, in partnership … more

6/30/21

The morning meeting at George Floyd Square was packed after the city pulled up its cement barriers during the early hours of June 3; within hours, makeshift barricades were placed by community members at each of the four entrances to the intersection.

What's the future of George Floyd Square?

Before the sun rose on Thursday, June 4, 2021, city public works staff, along with contracted members of Agape Movement, worked to dismantle portions of the George Floyd Memorial at 38th and … more

by Tesha M. Christensen | 6/4/21

“Don’t forget why you here,” a speaker says into a megaphone as he calls all the Black men forward. “I’m not a threat to you. I’m not a threat to you.” He repeats this several times among chants of “George Floyd” and “Black Lives Matter.”

1000s attend day-long event at George Floyd Square on one-year anniversary of his death

Thousands of people visited George Floyd Square on May 25, 2021 for “Rise & Remember,” a day-long event to honor George Floyd’s life and legacy on the one-year anniversary of … more

by Jill Boogren | 6/4/21

At eleven years old11-year-old community member Innocynce sings “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the Black national anthem, before the Concert Honoring Families of Injustice or Loss at the Rise & Remember event on May 25th at George Floyd Square. Youth entrepreneur Innocynce also helps run the D.I.H. (Do It Herself) Positive Corner booth at events.

Concert and vigil at George Floyd Square

Jill Boogren | 6/4/21

Memorial Quilt

Artist Sidney Brodie added the name George Floyd onto a square of his memorial quilt, which he presented to Mr. Floyd’s family at the Say Their Names Cemetery in the early afternoon of the Rise … more

Jill Boogren | 6/4/21

The T.O.U.C.H Outreach community patrol in the Aldi parking lot before heading out for the night. Team leader Muhammad Abdul-Ahad is pictured standing center. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Community protecting community

The Corcoran Neighborhood Organization is one of seven groups sharing a $1,000,000 pilot grant from the City of Minneapolis’ Office of Violence Prevention. The grant was awarded to neighborhood … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 5/26/21

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

Storefront protest art on display

On May 22, at Phelps Field Park, Save the Boards, Memorialize the Movement and the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery hosted the first exhibit of the plywood boards of protest art … more

by Jill Boogren | 5/26/21

Lake Street recovery coalition launches campaign promoting racial equity and community health

The Lake Street Leadership Recovery Coalition today announced its new campaign to support equitable recovery across the Twin Cities following the civil uprising caused by the murder of George Floyd … more

5/26/21

Don Larsson and Stephen Greenhalgh in 12th Night

Classics Lost 'n' Found Theater presents Shakespearean comedy outside

Classics Lost ‘n’ Found Theater Company is pleased to announce their Summer 2021 production, 12 th Night by William Shakespeare. The story focuses on a Viola and Sebastian, separated, so … more

5/26/21

Trent Bowman is the president of NAREB, a coalition of Black real estate professionals. He said, “Throughout history, people of color have been left out of the homeownership game. It’s about leaving a legacy. It’s about building wealth in our communities. We have to understand the history of housing discrimination, so we can work in the present to leave something for our kids in the future.” (Photo courtesy of NAREB)

Reimagining dream of home ownership for all

In a recent article about the Twin Cities housing market during COVID-19, real estate professionals characterized the market as “frenzied.” A picture emerged of Minneapolis homes selling … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 5/26/21

Jesse and Marion Dunbar of Happy Earth Cleaning sold their businesses to their workers when they moved back to Seattle, Wash.

So, you want to retire...

Business owners who want to retire have two options. They can sell or just shut down.Christina Nicholson of Nexus Community Partners (2314 University Ave. Suite 18) told those gathered at a joint … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 5/26/21

Students in the Garden Warrior Program worked in the corn crop last summer at the Hugo farm site. (Photo submitted)

DREAM OF WILD HEALTH FROM FARM TO MARKET

Dream of Wild Health is one of the longest operating Native American-led nonprofits in the Twin Cities. Since 1998, they have been working to restore Indigenous relationship with the land, and to … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 5/26/21

Crowd at George Floyd Square jubilant, resolute as Chauvin found guilty

Hundreds of people poured into 38th St. and Chicago Ave. anxiously awaiting the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial with the whole world watching. As Mileesha Smith, standing in front of Peyton Scott … more

By Jill Boogren | 4/29/21

Forging community at George Floyd Square

At the start of the Derek Chauvin trial, visitors from the Metro area of Detroit, Mich., approached the south gate of George Floyd Square at 39th and Chicago. They had just one day left in … more

By Jill Boogren | 4/29/21

BLACK AND ASIAN SOLIDARITY

The Black and Asian Solidarity event, planned after six women of Asian descent were killed in a shooting in Georgia, became an event to express unity for all stolen lives after Daunte Wright was … more

Jill Boogren | 4/29/21

Rise & Remember on May 25

The George Floyd Global Memorial and the community at George Floyd Square will present a day of events for the community on May 25, 2021, the one-year anniversary of the death of George … more

4/29/21

See "Summer of Soul" at an outside event taking place at Como Pavilion on Thursday, May 13. (Photo by submitted)

40 years for International Film Festival

In a year that has seen its share of trauma with the ongoing pandemic and the tragedies of George Floyd and Daunte Wright, the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) has reached an … more

By JAN WILLMS | 4/27/21

Cy Dodson's film includes footage of the mural being painted on the side of Cup Foods – the mural that is now recognizable across the globe. (Photo submitted)

Cy Dodson was there with a camera

Cy Dodson was just there with his camera. The Emmy-nominated Longfellow area filmmaker has recently completed a short film capturing the days surrounding the death of George Floyd.“A day after … more

By JAN WILLMS | 4/27/21

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