News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Monday December 22nd 2025
Who Are Our “Leaders”?
PEACE HOUSING COMMUNITY: A PLACE TO BELONG
By MARTI MALTBY
For whatever reason, I”™ve been wondering lately who”™s in charge, or, to put it another way, who is the leader. If a space alien gave me the cliché, “Take me to your leader”, I”™m not sure who I would take him to.
Many years ago, one of my college instructors defined a leader as someone who had followers. More recently, I came across the book Bad Leadership, which argued that many “leaders” were bad at their jobs because they were ineffective, meaning they couldn”™t get others to buy into their vision or the direction they wanted to take their organization. In other words, no one was following them. (The book also argued that some leaders were bad because they did have followers, but they led the followers to make really bad decisions. Think Jonestown.)
I am becoming more and more aware of how many people call themselves “leaders” (or, even more pretentiously, “thought leaders”). Usually this is a gimmick to make themselves sound more important than they are, hoping that it will attract more attention on social media or more attendees at their online events. These people usually recycle other people”™s ideas in new packaging, or they rely on novelty more than substance to keep their “followers” interested in what they are doing.… Read the rest “Who Are Our “Leaders”?”
Library News
By CARZ NELSON
All information listed here is accurate as of May 18, 2021.
CHANGE IS COMING
Library hours and services are expected to expand soon in response to the decrease of COVID in the community. In this rapidly changing environment, you can find the most recent and reliable information on the library website, www.hclib.org.
JUNETEENTH
The library is hosting many online activities to celebrate Juneteenth. Million Artist Movement is helping the community to connect with each other and to reflect on Juneteenth themes, stories and dreams. There are three activities to choose from: making quilt squares, dance, and storytelling. Kits will be available to pick up ahead of time at Hosmer Library for making quilt squares. Check out the Events page on the library website to see all the Juneteenth programs on offer.
CHILL ON THE LAWN
Franklin Library has free Wi-Fi outside the building from 7 AM to 10 PM. They also have chairs on the front lawn when the library is open. It”™s a convenient spot to hang out and log on.
DUE DATES RETURN
HCLib suspended due dates for the past year because of COVID. This policy ended on April 26. Check your online account or paper receipts for due dates.… Read the rest “Library News”
We Are Not Trash, Stop Sweeping Us!
By SOUTHSIDE HARM REDUCTION SERVICES
This last month the Minneapolis Police evicted another encampment of people experiencing houselessness in East Phillips. This is the third time in the past few months that this group has been moved. This eviction was especially violent. About 40 police arrived to forcibly evict roughly 30 residents with no place for residents to move. The police barricaded the area surrounding the camp and forced almost all the community outreach workers out of the camp, searching for people with active warrants and telling residents they had 5 minutes to pack everything and leave. During this eviction, a resident of the encampment experienced an overdose. The police (all of whom are supposed to be carrying naloxone) did not respond. Instead, they continued to stand around and force people to leave the encampment. Fortunately, a fellow resident responded to the emergency by administering naloxone, and the person experiencing the overdose survived, exclusively because of this community response.
These evictions are violent, and they cause immediate and long-term health crises. They prevent people from making progress in finding housing and in achieving health goals. They cause people to lose their tents, identification documents, personal belongings, medication, harm reduction supplies, and naloxone.… Read the rest “We Are Not Trash, Stop Sweeping Us!”
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