Prevention and Care for the Community
By Emily Jarrett Hughes
Wellness resources were a highlight of activities at the October 2 Grand Opening celebration of Indigenous Peoples Task Force’s Mikwanedun Audisookon Center for Art and Wellness.
“What is U=U?” After spinning a wheel, people had a chance to answer questions such as this to win a candy. It sparked conversations about a principle that motivates HIV services: Undetectable = Untransmissible.
If someone is HIV positive, they can take a viral suppressant medication (ART) that makes the virus undetectable in their blood and also untransmissible to others. U=U is one of the key components of IPTF’s commitment to getting to zero: zero HIV transmission, zero AIDS deaths, and zero stigma. Case managers at IPTF can also help people at high risk of contracting HIV find access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
Knowing one’s status is critical so that those who are positive can get the care they need. That’s why IPTF offers incentives for testing – available 5 days a week, and not just for HIV but also for other STIs. Scheduling is recommended (call 612-463-6502) although walk-ins are welcome at 2313 13th Ave S.
People can also pick up a home HIV test kit if they prefer more privacy.… Read the rest “Prevention and Care for the Community”
ABOARD the TIME-SHIP
from Raise Your Voice….
By PETER MOLENAAR
Please note: The following is a patchwork piece which reflects a local story in conjunction with a scholarly article published originally in the June 26 issue of the Monthly Review magazine, purchased from Mayday Books (301 Cedar Ave. S.)
Let’s step into a future we can all thrive in! So read the call to an UNIDOS event held on 9/26/2026 at the All Nations Indian Church (1515 E 23rd St.). Indeed, the space provided a time-ship experience with flashing lights and other such delights, all of which served to invoke an ancient indigenous code: plan ahead now for the seven generations yet to come! But why was this labor of love attended mostly by members of the “boomer” generation? Was there also an AI Robot whispering: you have now entered the Anthropocene!?
Hey, the emergence of a new historical epoch, dubbed the Anthropocene in the late 1940s and ‘50s marked a historical shift, as humanity became the principal geological force in Earth system change. Ecologists warned that operations of the capitalist system were threatening the conditions of life, including human survival. The culminating danger is evident in the ongoing transgression of the environmental limits within which humanity must operate to maintain its own existence.… Read the rest “ABOARD the TIME-SHIP”
Honor Efforts of the Past and Work Together
Toward Future EPNI Success
By JOAN VANHALA
Statement read at October EPNI Community Meeting.
Too many times, in the past, I have witnessed Phillips neighborhood folks attack each other when the money starts to land. Now is not the time for pointing fingers, but it is the time to honor the efforts of the past and work together for success.
I am a 35 year East Phillips resident and am a strong supporter of the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute’s (EPNI) efforts over the years. I have also made a commitment to be on the EPNI Community Advisory Committee. Many, many people, neighbors, and organizations, including Little Earth, have supported EPNI in powerful ways and led, against all odds, to successful achievements. Without this broad support we would never have been able to achieve what we have.
In the past 6 months, the Community Advisory Committee members and many others, have been noticing dysfunctional board practices that are leading EPNI off course:
1. 300 community members who have signed on to a letter outlining grave concerns about the lack of stewardship of the community vision with the current EPNI board of directors.
● We have been watching and now is the time to speak up! … Read the rest “Honor Efforts of the Past and Work Together”