‘Miscellany’ Archives
Diverse applicants wanted for Minneapolis boards and commissions
By THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS Twenty-seven City boards and commissions have openings for appointments this fall. The City seeks applicants with a diversity of backgrounds and experiences representing the demographics of Minneapolis to strengthen the work of the City. City boards and commissions offer a direct way for residents to advise City leadership about topics important to them. Translation and interpreting is available so all residents can participate.Applications will be accepted through Oct. 31. Find more information about the openings on the City website.The City of Minneapolis has more than 50 volunteer-based boards, commissions and advisory committees that help shape key policy decisions, represent their community in the City’s administration of services and supply valuable insights. Boards and commissions have brought forward recommendations that resulted in: Renter protections.Wage protections.Bicycle safety infrastructure.Gender-neutral restrooms.Public art.A ban on [...]
Meeting Sue Hunter Weir
By JOHN ANDERSEN “Gee, I didn’t know that.”When Sue Hunter Weir writes an article for the alley, getting that response from a reader makes her smile. Yesterday we met in person and talked about her volunteer work.Back in the 1990s there was a false narrative about the “poor, pitiful people” in the “crime ridden” Phillips Neighborhood. Sue, a longtime resident, got fed up with it. So, she hatched the idea of researching and writing about the lives of the people buried in the local Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery. She wanted to tell a more accurate story.After having published more than 200 biographies over a 25-year span, she has completely changed that narrative.In our chat, Sue started by mentioning John Effert, an unskilled railroad laborer who died in a work accident in 1911 and is buried in the cemetery. Effert, an activist, had only been in the USA a few years. He was a Russian Jew who had been part of a plot to overthrow the Russian Army, and therefore [...]
Introducing Jake Ryan!
Jake Ryan’s illustrations will be gracing the pages of the alley for a little while, adding pen and ink flare to some of our articles. He kindly drew our namesake as an introduction. Can you spot which article he illustrated this month? Jake is a South Minneapolis born illustrator, copywriter, whiskey distilling DJ, who loves the outdoors and art in all its forms. He generally spends his time lurking around cafes, going to shows, and running.
