‘Cover Stories’ Archives
GET IT FRESH THIS SUMMER
courtesy WAITE HOUSE Teens garden at Waite House by Tesha M. Christensen At the Waite House, they”™re nurturing a healthy foundation by growing fresh vegetables and then working with kids on an business venture. In all, Pillsbury United Communities, which runs the Waite House (2323 11th Ave S,,), has five spots in the Phillips neighborhood that they farm or sign the lease to provide technical support for community members to have their own plots, according to Food Systems Manager Ethan Neal. Who is involved in your gardening program? Ethan: One of our gardens, which is located behind the Phillips Community Center where Waite House is located, is entirely kept by a group of 14 and 15 years old. They worked with our chef to develop a new salad called La Fresca. They grow the food in back and sell it to another nonprofit called Roots for the Home Team, who then in turn makes the salads for Minnesota Twins games. Our kids then go to the Twins Games on [...]
Reducing harm
Southside Harm Reduction Services working to distribute and pick-up syringes, provide naloxone, and reduce stigma for those using drugs TESHA M. CHRISTENSENLuce Guillen (left) carefully places a used syringe into a container held by Michael Neil on Saturday, Aug. 24 during a clean up on the Midtown Greenway, Lake and Bloomington. Neil, a former user himself, says it is important to not just pick up the syringes, but to get to know the people who are homeless in order to know what they need. Plus, then he has some who save their syringes until the next time they see him, knowing he”™ll dispose of them properly. “I let them know we love them,” said Neil. “It”™s a reflection of where I come from, too.” By Tesha M. Christensen When Jack Loftus and Jack Martin saw a gap in services for safe injection equipment and more access to naloxone to prevent deaths from opioid overdose, they started Southside Harm Reduction Services. Two [...]
Join Nice Ride for $5
By Tesha M. Christensen Nice Ride Minnesota Executive Director Bill Dossett (front right) rides with Council Member Kevin Reich, chair of the Minneapolis City Council Public Works Committee, at the launch of the Nice Ride dockless system last September. The non-profit is now partnering with Lyft to offer pedal-assist ebikes, as well. Things are changing fast for shared mobility in Minneapolis, and Nice Ride is working to keep up with its evolving users. This summer, bicyclists had access to the original green docked bikes, new blue dockless bikes, scooters and pedal-assist ebikes, introduced in late July (see related story on page 3). “Nice Ride Minnesota over the years has really attempted to ensure that the organization is community-centered,” remarked Nice Ride Minnesota Program Ambassador Alexis Pennie. “It has taken the collaboration of Nice Ride with many community partners ”“ especially those focusing on community health outcomes in Black, [...]
