Author Archive
Tough Love & Anarchists
by Peter Molenaar Just south of Lake Street and just west of Chicago Avenue, there appears to be a significant block of resistance to the home foreclosure crisis. Bobby Hull, Vietnam War vet and life-long worker, will not be moved. Quite right: face death, pay taxes, pay the Man, have your home equity stripped, bail out the banksters, and then face eviction. The Occupy Movement is now mobilized to defend the Hull family. Yes, folks, the Occupy forces have retreated from the downtown “Peoples”' Plaza”, but yet meet continuously, are active on many fronts, and will reclaim territory come spring. Blustery late afternoon, February 17th”¦ A celebratory street festival was under way in front of the Hull residence ”” such a fine sequence of Hip Hop artists and speakers it was. Excellent work, but here is the catch: In no small measure the event must be credited to young people who identify as “Anarchists”. Lucky for me, I tended an outdoor [...]
“The Story You Are About To Hear Is True!” ”¦and it is written by or about YOU!
The Communications CHAT of the Backyard Initiative is excited to announce a new, monthly column beginning next month on this back page of The Alley Newspaper. Every month, we hope to inspire readers of this paper by offering at least one amazing story portraying the acts of kindness, courage and caring that occur each and everyday in the area called the “Backyard”. There are 45,000 people within 15,000 households in the Backyard area (one square mile arounf the Midtown Exchange) Can you imagine the volume of stories that must be sizzling beneath the surface just waiting to be told? ”¦. Stories of compassionate neighbors who do something nice for someone else day after day. Stories of courage about people who face incredible hurdles but love their children passionately, keep them safe and help other people”'s children, too. Stories of youth who are meeting with great success in school or contributing to their community with wonderful art. [...]
Backyard Initiative Update
By Janice Barbee, Cultural Wellness Center Citizen Health Action Teams 14 Citizen Health Action Teams (CHATs) have been working just a few months, some for a year, and some over a year. 140 BYI residents have participated in a CHAT. The BY is one square mile area around the Midtown Exchange. Residents of those seven neighborhoods have been supported by the Cultural Wellness Center to develop and implement their ideas since December, 2008. Allina Health (recently changed from Allina Hospitals and Clinics) has contributed funds for these projects, with additional support from Twin Cities LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation). CHAT projects demonstrate the creativity, resourcefulness, energy, and commitment of community residents. Here is a quick, alphabetical summary of the work of seven CHATs; 7 more next month. 1. Anchor Families CHAT: established two “Anchor Families,” one in Central Neighborhood and one in Powderhorn Park [...]
