National Night Out.

wow.. 2 posts in one day!
Tonight for the first time ever I took part in my neighborhood national night out.

National Night Out in Minneapolis is an annual event that involves all segments of the community in building a healthier, safer community; generate support for anti-crime programs and strengthen police/community relations.
National Night Out is not just one night of the year, but the culmination of year-long crime prevention activity in all Minneapolis neighborhoods: people working together in block and apartment clubs and other networks to prevent and address crime and other neighborhood problems. It is an occasion to celebrate past successes, discuss current challenges or issues, and re-dedicate to collaborative efforts with neighbors, police, businesses and others to improve the quality of life in our city. National Night Out is the largest event of its kind in Minneapolis and the nation.

The best part was that I met some neighbors who actually live across the street. For quite some time we have wondered who actually lives at their house, and who is just "stoppin by." It was so cool to meet Tom & Julia and their kids; Jordan, Tommy, and Eliza. Tommy & Eliza are the same age as Delone and Savannah ( who live below us).

It was hard to get all of the kids together for a picture.

Tom, Jordan, Tommy, Eliza, & Savannah

4 in 4....

Today I decided to take pictures of 4 of my favorite places within 4 minutes of my house...

1) The first two pictures are of the Midtown Global Market. I frequently have meals at the global market, or buy produce there. The building was once the second biggest building in the twin cities, holding Sears Robuck stores. Now, it has multi-income apartments,condominiums, Allina medical center, restaurants from all over the world, shops, and a little grocery store. They also host various events for the community such as salsa lessons, family nights, etc.




2) The second picture is of Powderhorn park. I frequently take neighborhood kids to the playground at Powderhorn. In the winter kids can borrow ice skates from the community center for free. They also offer community ed pottery, basketball, and other activities. In the Spring the May day parade takes place at Powderhorn. This past weekend they had an art festival which was phenomenal.


3) The third picture is of the Greenway. This bike path goes all the way from West River parkway ( Mississippi river) , around the chain of lakes, and to some of the bordering suburbs of Minneapolis. It is a well maintained bike trail, with many community gardens surrounding it. Quite often I bike past kids that I know which is so great.



4) The fourth picture is of the Youth Farm which is two blocks from my house. I would like to get more involved with Youth Farm this next year. This week I ate at a local restaurant that makes all of the meals with vegetables from the Youth Farm. The Youth Farm & Market Project is about youth gardening, cooking, nutrition, and entrepreneurship. It’s about youth connecting to their food and the environment – YFMP youth currently farm 9 garden sites – over 2 acres of urban land in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

now let me see ya do that dance....

Last week I went over to Lacy's to go on a bike ride with her. Her younger brother Aaron decided to entertain us with a few songs/dance moves.

The first one is his attempt at singing "let it be."



The second video is Aaron dancing to part of the Cupid Shuffle. Lyrics can be found here


The third video is Janaya & Aaron doin the Cupid Shuffle.

DinoMights-Powercamp.

This week the DinoMights have been learning about forensics. They truly have become CSI:Minneapolis.

The Mini-Mites & Mites have learned about public service people in our community
( police officers, firefighters...)


The Squirts & PeeWees have been learning about fingerprinting, chromatography, and other aspects of crime scense investigations.

Hope.

Hope- 1.wish or desire: something that somebody wants to have or do or wants to happen or be true 2.confident desire: a feeling that something desirable is likely to happen 3.trust: a feeling of trust


Tonight I left my grad school class with a sinking feeling. Each time I open up my cell phone it has a picture of two beautiful girls, Dekayla & Desiree. On the top of my phone it says "hope." I realized I hadn't seen these two girls in a year. Their family was evicted the apartment complex I lived in last year around this time.

Throughout the summer we would often go to Dairy Queen, or they would come over & play Uno. They also taught me the art of "ships across the ocean."

4 girls under the age of 12 were in this family. A humbling reality was that their mom was a year older than me.

Many of the kids I have gotten to know over the past few years have moved. I have also moved out of some of their lives.
( moving from St. Paul to Minneapolis)

Yet, I have seen several boys grow into young men in the past 3 years and become role models for their younger siblings. I have watched two girls who have been best friends throughout their entire life make solid life choices as teenagers. They even received a service leadership award this Fall. I've seen my neighbor stay home on the weekend, after many of his friends began to join gangs.

I can only have hope for Sha'liece, Desiree, Dekayla, & moody ( that is what we called the 3 year old). They were evicted from the apartment after only living in it for 5 months.

These girls were brilliant, full of childhood wonder and curiosity.. As much as I desire for so many kids to grow up and truly grasp who they are- this does not always happen. This notion spans beyond the urban environment to kids who grow up anywhere. Kids are full of dreams, and they have so much potential.

Chances are I may never see these 4 girls again. I pray that they will hold to truth... I pray that they will grow up to be young women who know their worth and use all of the amazing gifts that they have.

an excerpt from Still I Rise by Maya Angelou...

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Maya Angelou

SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't posted anything for quite awhile. Between summer school, work, and travels it is already JULY!

So far the highlights have been:

- Celebrations with my family.. Birthdays, mothers day & fathers day. It is still an adjustment living so close to my family, but certainly great when an event happens!

-Seeing Obama at the Xcel Center

-The Urban Mosaic of Talent. My friend Sarah & I put on the second Urban Mosaic of Talent at The Hub. We had some amazing acts, especially in the High school category.

-Marta & Billy's wedding. I lived with Marta this past year at the Oakland house.. I was honored to be in their wedding. Delone & Savannah were the most adorable flower girl & ringbearers ever!

-Biking more than driving this summer. Although my tire got a flat today.. =(

- Hiking/camping the Superior Hiking trail with my Dad & brother Dan

-grilling out with the neighbors.

-Hockey in the Hood Camp with the DinoMights.. I actually skated this year.. Before you know it, I will be a hockey player. We have 8 new DinoMights!

-Kids Across America Urban Sports Camp in Missouri. We brought two 15 passenger vans of Dinos down for a fabulous week of camp.

-4th of July at the cabin with my family.


Lacy, Paola, Sandy, Joeny, Nancy, & Lucy on the way to Missouri.


Chris giving a tour of the grounds at the George Washington Carver museum on the way to KAA.



Jacob on the treetops at KAA.


Mi Padre y Madre.



Family birthdays ( Dan & I have birthdays one month apart) The cake started to tip over!


Dave & my sister in-law Liz at the cabin. Dave is such a goofball.



Marta's bachelorette



Delone & Savannah stealin the show at Marta & Billy's wedding.





Barack & Michelle Obama at the Xcel Center.

Community.

My friend Katie showed me this poem today. Her roommate wrote it, the words are incredibly beautiful.

Community
by Emily K. Bright

It is nearly midnight and I'm
scrubbing at the grout.
The dishes, washed,
are put away. This is how I love
the people in my house,
with baking soda and a sponge.
We build our community
from the kitchen out,
knowing eggs or cornbread
stretch a meal to feed
the neighbor boys, who come
when we sit down to supper.
They always join us
when we offer, always ask
to use the phone to talk to girls
They claw through adolescence
and such obstacles I never had to face:
gangs and constant relocations,
Michael's father half way through
his fifteen years for selling. I learn,
I learn from them. Outside, sirens
flash their blue and red again.
I sweep footprints in a pile,
fill the bucket and mop.
So much is beyond my circle of control.
But this house, this place of gathering,
it shines, if only for a few to see,
if only through the morning.