A Media Social-The Alley Annual Meeting on November 16

• AMEN CORNER: in collaboration with Ventura Village Neighborhood Association
• Backyard Initiative
• “Soukousize” Dallas and Siama, African and Reggae
• Margeaux Davis: Rhythm and Blues vocalist
• Dave Moore: “Son of Boston (Agitator)”-a rap-poem about Wendell Phillips
• Dee Henry Williams: Amen Corner Planning Team and Stage Manager
• Barbara LeShoure: Blues, Chicago style
• Leola Althea Johnson: “Honey Boo Boo As a Political Figure: A Convergence of News and Entertainment
• Christopher Toliver: Spoken Word

Related Images:

AMEN CORNER: in collaboration with Ventura Village Neighborhood Association

”¦excerpted from a one-year report written by Jason Rodney, Amen Corner.

July 2012 marked the one-year anniversary of Amen Corner at Peavey Park, Thrones Plaza. The project successfully engages residents and visitors in Ventura Village in dialogue, relationship, and action.

The name was derived from the Amen Corner phenomenon which has a long history in American lore. It was made famous by James Baldwin”'s play, “The Amen Corner”, as an arena where an African American minister used her speaking skills to explore truth and obtain the support of parishioners. Supporters of her point of view were put in a special section of the congregation, the Amen Corner, where the people would indicate agreement by shouting in unison, “Amen”, or “let it be”.

The Amen Corner in Ventura Village uses a “soapbox” or “open mic” by which to engage residents.  Listening and documenting is also used as a positive way to reflect the comments of neighborhood people and to support their participation.

The Amen Corner outcomes include:

Learning more about the neighborhood; people, stories and issues

Building relationships with neighbors and community organizations

Documenting perspectives or stories that need to be heard

Creating effective ways of responding to what we”'re learning

Getting people engaged with the Community Engagement Committee and/or Ventura Village Neighborhood Association

Come and Speak Ones Truth on Thursdays & Fridays from 4:00-6:00 p.m.,… Read the rest “AMEN CORNER: in collaboration with Ventura Village Neighborhood Association”

Backyard Initiative

The Backyard Initiative is a dynamic partnership between Allina Health and its neighbors to improve the health of residents in the seven neighborhoods immediately surrounding the Allina Commons, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, and the Phillips Eye Institute. In collaboration with the Cultural Wellness Center, the Backyard Initiative supports residents as they draw upon their own knowledge, skills and cultural values to care for themselves, their families and their neighbors. Research shows that social conditions ”“ including isolation and a lack of social support ”“ have a profound impact on health.

Backyard residents have formed Citizen Health Action Teams (CHATs) that implement prevention and wellness pilot projects to improve community health. Check out information about the Backyard Initiative and all of the CHATS at: www.allinahealth.org/backyard

Alley Communications provides leadership and representation to the COMMUNICATIONS CHAT. Together, the Backyard Initiative, Alley Communications and the Communications CHAT are proud to invite you to this wonderful event where we celebrate the wellness and vitality of our Backyard Community through so many vibrant ways of communicating: Spoken word, song, poetry, cartoons, speaking, and conversation. Come and find out more about the Backyard Initiative CHATS! Discover what Alley Communications has in store for the coming year! Be a part of it all!… Read the rest “Backyard Initiative”