Opinion | Southwest Connector

Anthropoidea Feb. 3, 2022

2/3/22

What does it mean to be impartial? Unbiased? Credible?Is a juror unable to be impartial if they have family or personal experience with police brutality?Or, does having experience with something give … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 2/3/22

Peaceful protester at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis. (Josh Hild/Unsplash)

Public safety starts with accountability

Minneapolis has a public safety crisis. Violent crime is up, and young people are at the heart of the problem. We need all hands on deck to find a solution.Tray Pollard is one of those people taking … more

by Eric Ortiz | 2/3/22

Glad you’re publishing

It was great to see the Southwest Connector hit our front step to start to fill the void left by the Southwest Journal… thanks for doing that. Robbin Burnham WACSO (Walkin’ Around … more

2/3/22

A SUGGESTION

Congratulations and thank you for the Southwest Connector! Community newspapers, in my mind, are more important now than ever! As a long time south Minneapolis resident who is now a Northester, … more

2/3/22

Let’s talk more about the GF Square survey

I was so excited to see my first copy of the new Southwest Connector on my doorstep. The hole left behind by the shuttering of the Southwest Journal was large – and your publication appears to … more

2/3/22

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

Sometimes I'm an activist because I must be

I feel gratitude for everyone who has taken the plunge as we navigate the uncertain waters of life experience through my new column, Stories and Journeys. This column is an article I wrote two years … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 1/25/22

Corner of Lagoon and Hennepin, looking south, in 1938. (Minnesota Historical Society)

True progress on Hennepin requires a business plan

Small businesses are the lifeblood of any community. They provide distinctive character to a neighborhood and are the engine that drives a local economy. Without local businesses, there is no local … more

by Eric Ortiz | 1/8/22

Analysis of 2021 RCV elections in Minnesota show growing success

I’m excited to share our analysis of the RCV elections in Minnesota this past November. 2021 has been a historic year for Ranked Choice Voting here and across the country. Bloomington, … more

1/8/22

Thanks! And congrats!

Your newspaper was delivered today and I’m surprised at how much I liked it - mostly because we’re new(ish, 7 years) to MSP, and I’ve never felt a huge connection to a news outlet … more

1/8/22

ANTHROPOIDEA Jan. 6, 2022

by Steward Huntington | 1/8/22

TMC Publications sales representative Denis Woulfe has worked on both the editorial and advertising sides of newspapers, and relishes the opportunity to work with area businesses on developing marketing plans and finding solutions to reaching their audience.

Never forget the power of the written word

A longtime reader and community activist reached out to me last month to say hello, and in the course of our catching up, she shared a snapshot of a column I had written 20 years ago which she had … more

1/8/22

I'm taking the plunge – will you join me?

Imagine that we are standing on the banks of the Mississippi River. It is in fact a few blocks east of where I live in south Minneapolis. Imagine with the writing of this column, I am leaving the … more

By Donald L. Hammen | 1/1/22 | 1 comment

Artika Tyner poses for a portrait in the skyway between Opus Hall and Terrence Murphy Hall in Minneapolis on August 2, 2014. These portraits were taken as part of a TEDx speaking event and conference at the University of St. Thomas.

Breaking schools’ rules: school-to-prison pipeline explained

Schools and prisons should never be in the same sentence; however, the school-to-prison pipeline is real. For far too many students of color, entering the gateway to incarceration begins with a … more

By Dr. Artika Tyner, dr.artikatyner@gmail.com | 1/1/22

MEET TESHA - When a letter that she wrote was published in her hometown newspaper when she was a kid, Tesha M. Christensen was hooked. “I had gotten my first glimpse into the power of the printed word. I wanted more,” recalled Christensen. “I saw how newspapers could be used to generate change in their communities, and how they could inform and engage people.” She started her own paper and later wrote for her college newspaper, The Clarion. Shortly after earning her bachelor’s degree in English from Bethel University, she got a full-time job at her hometown newspaper, The STAR in Cambridge, Minn. – the same newspaper that printed her letter to the editor when she was a child. Christensen worked as the assistant editor and special sections editor of her hometown newspaper for 10 years, serving two counties and a circulation of 21,000 with a twice weekly newspaper. Over the years, Christensen covered a range of topics in Isanti and Chisago counties, from school board levies to new county parks to crime news. “I wrote about what new businesses were coming to town, local musicians, and rodeo shows, and a story about one local resident who saved the life of another,” Christensen recalled. “I love the ever-changing nature of this business, and how I learn something new with each story I write.” In 2012, Tesha started writing for the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger and Midway Como Frogtown Monitor after moving to South Minneapolis. She purchased the newspapers in 2019 when the longtime owners (Cal deRuyter and Tim Nelson) retired, and started her own business, TMC Publications CO. A lifelong learner, Christensen believes in the importance of the local newspaper to collect the stories of the neighborhood it serves. In the past she’s written for Northstar Media, the Isanti County News, ECM Publishers/Adams Publishing Group, Twin Cities Daily Planet, RedCurrent and The Alley newspaper in the Phillips neighborhood of south Minneapolis. She enjoys connecting with journalism students. “I love journalism, and I am passionate about sharing journalism with kids and young adults,” stated Christensen. “They are the future, and it’s so exciting to hear their ideas.” She taught journalism classes at Anoka-Ramsey Community College from 2006 to 2012, and taught for one year at Planet Homeschool, a homeschool co-op in St. Anthony, where she helped launch a school newspaper written by the middle and high school students. At TMC Publications CO, she works to partner with local schools looking for internship opportunities. Christensen appreciates connecting people through neighborhood news and seeks to make it relevant, trustworthy and local. Christensen has served on a variety of committees and boards over the years, and is a co-founder of Team Yarn - Head Huggers (teamyarn.blogspot.com), a small non-profit dedicated to making and donating hats, shawls and lapghans to those battling cancer and other serious illnesses. She lives with her two children and their two cats in a house with a big garden and a Little Free Library. Contact Tesha M. Christensen at 612-345-9998 or tesha@SWconnector.com.

BEGINNING A NEWSPAPER

Welcome, readers of the new Southwest Connector. We’re glad you’ve picked up a copy of our inaugural edition. It’s an exciting time for neighborhood journalism. Thanks for coming … more

By Tesha M. Christensen | 12/1/21 | 2 comments

ANTHROPOIDEA

Stewart Huntington | 12/1/21

Time to build bridges with the whole community

Not every neighborhood issue makes headline news. But some community members in Minneapolis feel like serious concerns are being ignored by the media and their local leaders too. When individual … more

By Eric Ortiz | 12/1/21

Think twice about ConneQT

You may have spent hours researching homelessness, know the severity and the cycle of poverty inside and out, seen people standing on the side of the road with their signs, all of it. But beyond the … more

By ABHA KARNICK | 12/1/21

Advancing pay equity through registered apprenticeships in nontraditional occupations

This year, we commemorated National Apprenticeship Week from Nov. 15 to 21. NAW was first observed in 2015 at a time when women made up just 9 percent of all Registered Apprentices, despite making up … more

by Gina Rodriguez | 11/30/21

Fund local journalism to help communities

A portion of the Local Journalism Sustainability Act (LJSA) was included in the recent Build Back Better bill that was passed in the House. The LJSA, which has bipartisan support in the House, … more

By Dean Ridings, CEO, America's Newspapers | 11/30/21