the alley Newspaper | News & Views of Phillips Since 1976

“Get-Togethers” Enliven Community

Written by editor on 08 June 2014

Many Minnesotans romanticize and await the Great “Get Together” Minnesota State Fair as a signal of end to summer and of ”˜back to school” and Fall.Â

Many residents of South Minneapolis begin “get togethers” much earlier beginning at MayDay and happening every week somewhere throughout the neighborhoods. The “get-togethers” range from family bar-b-ques to block parties, park festivals, independence day events, National Night Out and, of course, watching sporting events at local parks and stadiums.

Some “get togethers” happen spontaneously, others are planned months ahead and some are annual repeats replete with traditional games and foods.

The photos here are of the 17th Avenue ”˜Tween 27th and 28th Streets Block Club that began their 3 or 4 for this summer on May 10th. Their block club “get to together” depends on the hosting leadership of Rose Gbadamassi with dependable back-up help from Claudia Sagos who also took these photos.

Larger festivals this summer are:

East Phillips Fest June 22nd

Midtown Phillips FestivalÂ

National Night Out August 5th

Mad Dads Senior Pride Day August 15th

Related Images:

Running Wolf Fitness Center and Connie Norman

Written by editor on 08 June 2014

By Lydia Caros

Connie Norman was the face of Running Wolf Fitness Center (RW) for 4 years. She was a tireless worker who believed in the program and in promoting health in the local Native American community. She was a teacher/trainer for the Living In Balance classes at NACC and offered the classes to other Native organizations for years, as well as training community members to teach the class. Managing the Running Wolf program was a natural extension of those efforts. When NACC and IHB started to co-manage the Running Wolf program, it was clear that funding was going to be the most difficult issue. The clinics tried very hard to provide funding for the program; but neither clinic was able to fund the entire program out of their operational funds. Both clinics spent a significant amount of staff time and funding, but their financial support was meant to be temporary. It was made clear at the onset that outside funding was going to be necessary.

Connie worked valiantly to keep RW going. Funding continued to be a challenge, and we think that foundations may have been wary of funding a project that had TWO non-profits managing it, since RW was not an independent entity.… Read the rest “Running Wolf Fitness Center and Connie Norman”

St. Paul”'s Lutheran Church & In The Heart Of The Beast Puppet And Mask Theater to Expand Phillips Avenue of The Arts This Summer

Written by editor on 08 June 2014

Our goal is to “re-brand” Midtown Phillips as an arts destination through engaging neighbors to create powerful works of public art that connect the community.Â Connected neighbors creating beautiful arts pathways will help build a safer, more united community.Â Our plans include:

Build the May Day Parade route along Bloomington Avenue into a year round visual showcase for murals, banners, gatherings and performances.
Integrate native plantings and urban agriculture with mosaics, photography and poetry, along the “Green Arts Pathway” (First leg: 15th Avenue, Lake to 27th Sts.)
Implement quality workshops in murals, puppets, projection, theater, mosaics, poetry, stilt walking, photography and other arts at Heart of the Beast and St. Paul”'s, as well as in community gardens, residents”' yards and other groups.
Organize one-on-one conversations and actions with the Avenue of the Arts area, energizing the remarkable talents of Midtown Phillips people.
Train adults and youth artists in Midtown to be “Arts Pollinators” developing their artistic talents and building strong connections with other residents.
Develop formal and spontaneous celebrations along the Avenue of the Arts, to celebrate the neighborhood and invite others to join.

Watch for more details!