Semilla Youth Leader’s creative art work on the front steps and doors of St. Paul’s Church on 15th Av was highlighted in the alley, September 2024. This month the alley presents the completed work of art celebrating the different cultures, old and new, that make our Phillips Community as vibrant as the colors in the mural. Visit the mural in person for the full glory at 2742 15th Ave So.
Earlier successful petition rejected by the city on technicalities
By MINNEAPOLIS FOR COMMUNITY CONTROL OF POLICE COALITION
On Thursday, September 12th, 2024 at 5pm in front of the charred remains of the former 3rd Police Precinct, Minneapolis for Community Control of Police (M4CCP) and Twin Cities Coalition for Justice (TCC4J) organizers held a rally announcing the relaunch of a petition effort to establish an all-elected Civilian Police Accountability Commission (CPAC). The previous petition for CPAC was launched in 2021, and over the last 3 years community organizers collected thousands of signatures from Minneapolis residents who believe the people in Minneapolis deserve self-determination and substantial police accountability.
In May of 2024, M4CCP organizers turned in 10,208 signatures to the Minneapolis City Clerk’s office, exceeding the minimum requirement of 8,943 signatures needed to get CPAC on the November, 2024 ballot. Close to 5,000 signatures were rejected by the clerk’s office, and organizers had ten days to try to collect the needed signatures. Undeterred, organizers hit the streets for the next ten days and spent long hours conversing with community members to collect the remaining signatures needed. Although organizers collected thousands more signatures,in those ten days, the petition was ultimately rejected by the clerk’s office.… Read the rest “Relaunch of Ballot Petition for All-Elected Police Accountability Commission”
Powderhorn Food Community Co-op, c.1975Early days of the May Day Cafe, c.1996The Mala years Sign painted by Phil VandervaartThe Andy Years Sign painted by Forrest Wozniak
I have to disclose that I have a familial connection to May Day Cafe’s early years, before the doors were even open. I babysat my young niece while her mother spent long days at the old Powderhorn Food Co-op deep cleaning, reconfiguring the interior, developing business plans, menus, finding kitchen equipment, tables, seating… It was a huge amount of work transforming 3440 Bloomington into the beloved community treasure that May Day Cafe became after opening in February 1996.
Mala, my sister, was one of three original partners in the enterprise; within a couple of years she was the only partner left. Mala really set the tone for the Cafe’s personality. She was very generous with the space, letting community groups use it in the evenings for fundraisers or meetings, or donating sheet pans of bars to worthy causes. The walls were opened up to local artists to showcase their work. The bulletin board was crowded with community announcements. There was always a line waiting to order, providing an opportunity to meet a new friend.… Read the rest “Full Circle for May Day Cafe”
