News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Monday January 12th 2026
BYI Teams Creating Connections and Resources for Health
By Janice Barbee, Cultural Wellness Center
In the last two months the BackYard Initiative Update highlighted the work of eleven Citizen Health Action Teams (CHATs) that have been working over the past year to improve the health of BYI residents. There are a total of 14 CHATs now meeting in the Backyard community and this update highlights the work of the other seven CHATs.
The Backyard is defined as the approximately one square mile area surrounding Allina”'s corporate headquarters. Residents of these seven neighborhoods in south Minneapolis have been supported by the Cultural Wellness Center to develop and implement their ideas for community health improvement since December of 2008. Allina has been contributing the funds for these projects, with additional support from Twin Cities LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation).
Each of the CHATs is growing the community”'s capacity to increase residents”' knowledge and skills that help people to take better care of themselves.
12. Project S.E.L.F. CHAT: This team began under the leadership of a young Somali man who had a vision for strengthening the connection between youth and elders in the Somali community by open mic performances, storytelling, and dialogue. The CHAT has hosted an event every month, except during Ramadan, has held two open mic events, two mother-daughter events, several story-telling sessions for young children, and a large community picnic last summer.… Read the rest “BYI Teams Creating Connections and Resources for Health”
Keep citizen journalism alive!
Mind And Body Unite
By Peter Molenaar
After thirty-three years of hard labor in the neighborhood iron foundry, one would expect this writer to have resolved the question surrounding the apparent duality between mind and body. He certainly has had ample time to think about it with his nose before the grinding wheel.
It is a vexing problem. If after all our efforts, the duality remains un-refuted, a concession must be made to agnosticism. Which is to say: The door is then left open to the possibility of a transcendent spirit worthy of being called God.
In my student days, there was a course which examined the structure of the brain and the correlation of its sectors to various functions. However, I found no correlation between brain morphology and, for example, the infinite complexity of my visual field on a lovely spring day. The professor inquired as to the nature of the disappointment. “I remain mystified!” was the response.
The plot thickens”¦
As fate would have it, I have made several appointments with South Point Community Acupuncture. The human pin cushion reclined. His contemplations resumed.
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