Opinion | Southwest Connector

Tesha M. Christensen lives in south Minneapolis and owns the Southwest Connector, as well as the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger and Midway Como Frogtown Monitor. Drop her a line at tesha@swConnector.com.

We’re a newspaper, yes, but we know that we need to be more than just the printed paper that lands on your doorsteps each month. We’ve got a website where we put additional content and … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 10/16/24

Conversing - Oct 2024

I’m voting for bergman The voters who live in Minneapolis Public Schools District 6 have a clear choice on Election Day: We can choose a candidate mired in the controversies of the past or we … more

10/16/24

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

Anxious, curious, angry with no internet service

I’m experiencing anxiety. As I begin to write this Stories and Journeys column, I am aware that I am without Internet service. That has just been confirmed with the over the phone help from my … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 10/16/24

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

Larry LaVercombe is a writer, filmmaker, and activist, born in Detroit and arrived in Minneapolis in 1975. He lived in a treehouse in San Diego before getting an MFA from the USC Film School. He writes most days, and as Team Larry he has been selling residential real estate in Minneapolis for 26 years.

Have you noticed home sales are down but prices are up?

Check it out: This graph at right indicates the number of closed sales in our Southwest Minneapolis area over the past 10 years. You will note the “COVID spike.” Then note: The average … more

By Larry LaVercombe | 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

The CCCA would harm marginalized communities

The Black community has faced many hurdles, yet we have shown remarkable resilience and unity in rebuilding and strengthening our neighborhoods. When I came to America from Jamaica as a young … more

By Tommie Beevas | 9/18/24

Minneapolis for a lifetime? Debatable

I recently attended my first Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Aging meeting. I am convinced that in the city of Minneapolis elders/seniors don’t exist. There is such a thing as the … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 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

Here’s what’s happening locally

The two biggest questions in local real estate are: 1) How is the Aug. 17 new rule about real estate commissions going to affect us? 2) What is going on in real estate? Regarding the second question: … more

By Larry LaVercombe | 8/21/24

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.

Wellness and spirituality

Recently I have been invited to become a course director for the Integrative and Functional Medicine fellowship at the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute. The topic for my course for the … more

By Michele Rae | 8/21/24

On becoming an octogenarian

UPDATE REGARDING DEWAYNE TOWNSEND AND MARCEA MARIANNI'S NEW REALITY Text message from Marcea July 3. DeWayne passed away around 10 p.m. July 2. An important voice and significant presence is no more … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 7/24/24

Anna Bonavita is a former physicist with a passion for culture, cuisine and environment. Born in a small village in Bulgaria but swept up in the waves of globalization, she claims several countries as the source of her cultural identity. Her travel nonprofit, Esperienza, provides small-scale, immersive experiences. She is also the founder of the Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/St. Paul, the Italian Film Festival, and The Communal Table.

Italian travel: Think differently

This time of the year many of us begin to dream of traveling to distant places. As Baby Boomers, we often possess both time and money to allow us to make yet another memorable trip to (where … more

By Anna Bonavita | 7/18/24 | 1 comment

Reconnecting, streaming, thinking in pictures

RECONNECTING WITH STORIES AND JOURNEYS From time to time I need to remind myself what I am tasked to do when it comes to writing Stories and Journeys. I am tasked to write what I’m … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 7/18/24

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

Green party candidate should be part of forum

The decision by the League of Women Voters to exclude Green Party candidate Toya Lopez from the upcoming Minnesota House of Representatives District 61A forums is a disappointing one. It is … more

7/18/24

Suzie Marty is an artist and curator at Everett & Charlie art gallery in Linden Hills. She is also an avid supporter of buying local, and a marketing specialist for the Southwest Connector. Contact her at ads@swconnector.com.

The sound of healing love

I had the pleasure of experiencing a sound bath by Royce Vagnier. It transcended me into a beautiful, relaxing, and healing place. For many years I have dipped my toe in different realms … more

By Suzie Marty | 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

Striking labor disputes in the City of Parks

Consistently rated in the top 3 park systems in the country, our beloved Minneapolis parks have a labor problem. The largest bargaining unit of unionized workers at Minneapolis Park and Recreation … more

by Michael Wilson | 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