News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Friday January 9th 2026
Minneapolis American Indian Center Celebrates 50 Years
By NATALIE RADEMACHER
The Minneapolis American Indian Center opened its doors on Franklin Avenue in 1975 to provide a central gathering space and essential services for the growing Native population in the Twin Cities. During the 1960s and ’70s, many Native people were moving into urban areas due to federal relocation policies that both incentivized and forced relocation from reservations to cities for work.
This year, the center reached a major milestone—celebrating 50 years as the heart of the Twin Cities’ urban Native community.
Since its founding, the center has been a community staple, serving thousands of people through its employment, social service, cultural, education, youth, health, and elder programs. Many more visit for powwows, meetings, community forums, and to shop and eat at Gatherings Café. Located in the heart of the American Indian Cultural Corridor, the center is a place where everyone can experience Native food, art, and culture.
Our programs and spaces have evolved over the years to meet the needs of our people, but we’ve remained steadfast in our mission to provide essential services to the Native community and to help move us all toward a brighter future.… Read the rest “Minneapolis American Indian Center Celebrates 50 Years”
A New Public-Private Park Opens at Columbus and Lake
By MATTIE WONG
This past year, the Lake Street Council has been supporting the transformation of empty lots on Lake Street through their Lake Street LIFT! initiative.
One lot, at the corner of Lake and Columbus, explores what a public/private park could look like and how it might operate.
Designed to be a temporary park because the original owner wishes to redevelop it in the future, this park had to be safe, sturdy, interesting, and removable.
The lot had some challenges that made these goals difficult. Hypodermic needles covered the lot, meaning that to make the site safe, the top six inches of the original soil would have to be scooped and mounded into a hill, compacted, and then capped with one foot of uncontaminated top soil. This method starts the park off on a safe foot.
Natural materials were high priority, and the groundplane consists of crushed gravel, native buffalo grass, and teff. The buffalo grass will only grow to about four inches high, and grows best in hot and dry conditions.… Read the rest “A New Public-Private Park Opens at Columbus and Lake”
South and Roosevelt High Schools Bring Swing Night to the Neighborhood
A night of music and dancing filled the Hook & Ladder Lounge with festive energy the evening of November 19th. Performances by jazz bands from South and Roosevelt High Schools along with dance demos by South High Dance kept the crowd moving!
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