‘Cover Stories’ Archives
A Chinese Lunar New Year celebration at the Midtown Global Market
By J. MARIE FIEGER & MEGAN BENEDICT This Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, January 18. 2020 was a free public event featuring live music, a traditional Chinese Lion dance by Ha-Family Entertainment, Chinese Heritage Foundation activities, a free kid”™s craft table making dragons, specially staged, decorative photographs and performance by the Minnesota Chinese Opera. The Lunar New Year is the largest and most important holiday in Chinese culture. During this 15-day celebration, families and friends unite to decorate their homes, watch fireworks and spend time together. In the Chinese Zodiac, 2020 is the Year of the Rat. Those born in the Year of the Rat are said to be instinctive, alert in nature, sophisticated and filled with spirit, wit, vitality and flexibility. Trung Pham and his family, owners of Pham”™s Rice Bowl at the Midtown Global Market, were sponsors of this annual community event. COURTESY OF MIDTOWN GLOBAL MARKETAs the [...]
Manhood rites of passage ceremony celebrates 15 Black male initiates
By ELDER ATUM AZZAHIR AND MINKARA TEZET, CULTURAL WELLNESS CENTER Cultural Wellness Center Manhood Rites of Passage Initiates: Jamal Williams, Christian McCleary, Corey Byrd, Jamir Williams, DJ Brooks, Trea Edwards, Sha-suAdili, Jaleel Simpson, Monte Moldonada, Jaron Major, Darrin Lofton, Quadree Drakeford On Dec. 11, 2019, the Council for Black Male Success and the Cultural Wellness Center held a Manhood Rites of Passage ceremony at the Minnesota Historical Society. The men, who ranged from 11 to 27 years old, completed an 11-week cultural self-study curriculum designed by the Cultural Wellness Center. The curriculum and the Rites of Passage ceremony stem from the Cultural Wellness Center”™s research into African people, traditions and rituals since ancient times. “In order for black men to move ahead and become leaders””to become the backbone of their community””they need to recover the culturally grounded manhood that was lost during [...]
Phillips Community is focus of syringe disposal pilot program
By LINDSEY FENNER The City of Minneapolis is piloting a project for syringe litter clean up and disposal, centered around the Phillips Community. The project is in response to the concerning amount of syringe litter Phillips residents encounter on a daily basis. The City began doing syringe litter sweeps in July and August along Bloomington Avenue, the Greenway, and adjacent alleys. Most recently, in November, the City installed ten Syringe Drop Boxes in and near Phillips to continue to address the issue. The boxes will be emptied weekly and can be easily reinstalled if the location needs to be adjusted. According to a city spokesperson, 800 syringes have been collected from the Drop Boxes between November 6 and November 27, with the majority collected at 25th and Bloomington. In addition, there will be a pilot of 30 syringe disposal buckets for use by businesses and non-profits. The project is currently funded by a grant from the National Association of County and City Health [...]
