News | Southwest Connector

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)

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

Volunteers assist staff at the ReStore locations. (Photo submitted)

Do-It-Yourselfers love ReStore

Local Do-It-Yourselfers head to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 2700 Minnehaha Ave. to get inspired.The outlet sells new and like-new furniture, appliances and building materials at discounted … 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

Cardboard placed in recycling bins is picked up by Eureka Recycling and sorted at their NE Minneapolis facility. It ends up here at WestRock in St. Paul's Midway neighborhood, where it is remade into one of two types of recycled paper. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Understanding the life cycle of recycled cardboard

For people who care about conserving resources, recycling is a given. But what really happens to all the cardboard and paper dumped in curbside recycling bins? Mike Gunderson is general manager of … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 4/27/21

Calls for justice ring out as Chauvin trial gets underway

When hundreds of people gathered outside the Hennepin County Courthouse on March 8, 2021, the first day of the Derek Chauvin murder trial, they set the tone for the month to come: they would be … more

By JILL BOOGREN | 3/25/21

This map shows the affect that the pollution from the city's expanded public works site will have on south Minneapolis. The site is in the city's Green Zone and sits along the popular Midtown Greenway bike and walking path.

City plans to increase pollution in Green Zone, tear down Roof Depot building in April

The pollution from the city’s proposed plan to expand its public works facility at Hiawatha and E. 26th would affect a majority of South Minneapolis, pointed out representatives of the East … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 3/24/21

'Rudy (in his red hoodie sweater) makes our lives better'

"As someone who lived alone for many years, my dogs and cats have always been an important daily life-line for me, providing consistent companionship, instantaneous cuddles, and immense comfort. My … more

3/24/21