Community Envisions Healthier Air Quality in Phillips

By KAYLEE MIRON & MADDIE YOUNG, Community Journalists-in-Training

Community members are concerned about the impacts of the high levels of pollution in the Phillips Community, and they’re trying to do something about it.

“Particularly in Minneapolis, there are higher rates of asthma, chronic lung conditions, and allergies in Black or Brown communities,” stated Marcus Milani, a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota and co-chair of the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic.

According to data from Minnesota Compass, this is no different in the Phillips Community, where 73.8% of the population is made up of Black, Brown, and Indigenous peoples.

Asthma and other chronic health issues directly impact the long term health of a community and it is concerning community members. One such community member, Carol Pass, spoke with The Urban Activist, about the issue of asthma.

Reporter’s note: Carol Pass passed away in May 2024.

“We’ve become family, friends, and we’ve watched one kid after another get asthma or heart conditions and stop going to school. Don’t want to go to school anymore.… Read the rest “Community Envisions Healthier Air Quality in Phillips”

Food Shelves, Farmers Markets Respond to Food Access Issues in Phillips

By AUTUMN FITZSIMMONS and KYRA VENNA, Community Journalists-in-Training

Food access is the idea that all people in a community should have access to healthy and affordable food. In the Phillips Community, that has historically been a problem.

“With the community’s limited access to better grocery stores, there has been an increase in patients with hypertension and diabetes related to the limited access to healthier foods”, said Marcus Milani, Doctoral student at the University of Minnesota and Co-Chair of the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic (PNC).
The Phillips Community was at one point, according to reporting from Minnesota Native News, considered a food desert because there is limited access to healthy and affordable food. Whether or not the community remains a food desert is a question that is difficult to answer.

Community health workers like Milani believe that if the community had more grocery stores in closer walking proximities then those same community members would have greater access to affordable healthier foods.

Many residents in the Phillips Community are only able to access the bigger grocery stores if they have access to a vehicle.… Read the rest “Food Shelves, Farmers Markets Respond to Food Access Issues in Phillips”

Filling the Resource Gap for Single Parents

By PRECIOUS MATLOCK, Community Journalists-In-Training

Single parents face their own unique challenges and may struggle to find the resources they need to support themselves and their family. There are resources available to our single parents in Minneapolis, however, and there are lessons to learn from that same community.
The list below is a non-exhaustive list of resources available for single parents in the Minneapolis region.

Food
“There’s not enough resources for parents in Minneapolis,” said Travis M, author and chef.

Joyce Uptown Food Shelf provides food to the community via appointment although emergency bags of food are available anytime they are open. However, they are not currently accepting appointments for new shoppers due to high demand.

Hours
Monday: 10am – 4:45pm
Tuesday: 9am – 4:45pm
Wednesday: 12pm – 4:45pm
Thursday: 11am – 6:45pm
Saturday: 9am – 1:45pm
Website: https://www.joyceuptownfoodshelf.org/
Address: 3041 Fremont Ave S, Minneapolis, MN. 55407

Harvest from the Heart is a food distribution center in South Minneapolis that generally stocks local and seasonal produce as well as food from local retailers. Shoppers do not need to provide an ID when they visit – just a phone number and zip code – and visits are limited to once a week.… Read the rest “Filling the Resource Gap for Single Parents”