News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Friday December 26th 2025
PHILLIPS 50+ WELLNESS PROJECT: 6,175,139 Steps and Counting
By the Phillips Wellness 50+ Team
The bright green shirts never fail to grab attention as the Phillips Wellness 50+ walkers move along Park Avenue in Minneapolis. Drivers honk, passersby wave. The walkers get lots of positive support from the community.
The green-shirt-clad walkers have taken more than 6 million steps on the way to our goal of 35,200,000 steps along the 45th parallel. It”'s all part of the “Phillips Round the World Challenge,” an effort of Phillips Wellness 50+. None of us can walk around the world by ourselves but together we can achieve the most audacious goal. Twenty to 30 people (out of about 50 on our roster) gather each week for the group walk, and then track their steps throughout the week.
After each walk, the group gathers for conversation, learning and supporting each other. Guest presenters provide information to help us improve health and well-being. For six weeks this spring and early summer, Donald Warneke, a University of Minnesota Extension educator, talked about good nutrition.… Read the rest “PHILLIPS 50+ WELLNESS PROJECT: 6,175,139 Steps and Counting”
¡Agua es Vida! Water is Life!
BY BELEM GOMEZ and TALIA HANSEL
The Young Leaders Program of St. Paul”'s Church and the Semilla Center for Healing and the Arts will be exploring themes of watershed education, conservation, and activism this summer. As emerging leaders in our communities, we want to bring an awareness of the importance of water in our lives and change the way we think about water as a resource.
By creating boulevard gardens along 15th avenue and 28th Street, we Young Leaders hope to filter water from our alleys, gutters, and rooftops through our boulevard gardens. Every drop of rain that runs into the street goes directly to the Mississippi River, without being treated. Native grasses and other plants will help to cleanse the runoff which is beneficial to our lakes and rivers. As we learn new skills in leadership, art installation, and gardening, we will be able to problem solve and think critically about our communities in relation to our water lifestyles.
We Young Leaders are working to make our communities more beautiful, from our neighborhood streets into the Mississippi River! Learn more about watershed protection at our block party on July 15 (10 am to 2 pm) on the 2700 block of 15th Avenue, and at Lake Streets Open Streets on July 23.… Read the rest “¡Agua es Vida! Water is Life!”
“I, Daniel Blake”
By Howard McQuitter II
“I, Daniel Blake”
*****
“I, Daniel Blake” winner of the Palme d”'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016, is another example of director Ken Loach”'s (“Cathy Come Home” [2006]), “Kes “[1969], “Ladybird, Ladybird” [1994) body of work as a master at giving the working-class their due on screen.
Daniel Blake (Dave Johns), 59, a widower and carpenter, from Newcastle, England (in northern England) has recently had a heart attack and told by his doctor he should take some time off. Things begin to get much worse when he makes his way to the harsh bureaucratic system. He goes to Jobcentre Plus and finds the people there cannot or will not help in his plight. While waiting there, he meets Katie (Hayley Squires), with two small children, who is getting the shaft too. Security personnel force Katie (and the two children) and Daniel too, out of the office when he stands up for her.
Daniel does an act of mercy by taking Katie and her two children to his place. Katie and the younglings are homeless just arrived from London. Katie”'s landlord kicked her out when she complained of a leaky roof. All four form a strong bond in the desperate circumstances they face.… Read the rest ““I, Daniel Blake””
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