News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Thursday December 25th 2025
Urban Ventures”' Center for Families: A Program for the Whole Family!
BY PRISCILLA BROWNÂ Â
On a cold and snowy night in December, a room is filled with adults and children dressed in their Sunday”'s best, but they”'re not here for a holiday party. They”'re here instead for a graduation.
This wasn”'t a celebration for the kids, but for the adults, both men and women, who were being recognized for the twenty weeks of hard work they invested into strengthening their families. Urban Ventures”' Center for Families equips parents with the tools that help improve the entire family. Some of the topics taught are: parenting dynamics, discipline, communication, conflict resolution, forgiveness and role of the parents.
Staying aligned with Urban Ventures”' new strategic plan, the Center for Families doesn”'t just stop at equipping adults with the necessary skills and resources to lead their families but staff also aim to provide a holistic approach and serve the children as well. While the parents are in their adult education classes, their children (ages 6 months -15 years) are following their own curriculum which mirrors what the adults are learning (and with plenty of fun thrown in!).
The hope is for the whole family to be learning together. An example of this is when the adults are focusing on communication, the children will learn the importance of listening and responding to their parents while even creating their own “listening ears” in the process.… Read the rest “Urban Ventures”' Center for Families: A Program for the Whole Family!”
Transit: War Simulation, SB LII, Giveth and Taketh
BY JOHN CHARLES WILSON
The Super Bowl giveth, and the Super Bowl taketh away. For transit users in the Twin Cities, the Super Bowl mostly taketh away; while the Metropolitan Council giveth the use of our light rail trains to rich tourists who can afford Super Bowl tickets.
Meanwhile, our poor bus drivers are threatening to go on strike during the Super Bowl to call attention to the perfectly legitimate need to have some protection from riders who assault them.
What is to be done? Shall we wait around like sitting ducks for the other shoe to drop? The Council wants to throw us a bone by offering free bus rides to us “regular citizens” on Super Bowl Sunday, while the elite with their game day passes get to ride our trains, all in the name of security.
Sure, we all want the Super Bowl to be a safe venue, but does the Super Bowl want us to be safe? Will security be so concentrated around the stadium my friend calls the “Sinking Ship” as to ignore other parts of town? If I get hit on the head by some robber while waiting for the #2 or the #6, will the police be there to help me, or will they only care about the “chosen ones” ”“ those who can afford Super Bowl tickets?… Read the rest “Transit: War Simulation, SB LII, Giveth and Taketh”
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