There are many important programs at East Side Neighborhood Services. Here are few you can add to your calendar:

FREE Financial Empowerment Sessions at East Side
Budgeting to Create Emergency Savings
January 14, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Learn how to use your current budget to build a realistic savings for life’s unexpected but sure-to-happen emergencies. Call Camri (612) 787-4068 to register.

Prepare and Prosper FREE Tax Preparation
Tuesday evenings, Thursday evenings, Saturday mornings
January 23 – April 18 at East Side
Prepare and Prosper will provide free tax preparation to low-income individuals and families. There is no need to sign up – service is walk-in only. The order in which clients are served will be determined randomly. Everyone present at the sign-in time, which is 5:15 pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and 8:15 am on Saturday, has an equal chance to be served and to be seen first. Please do not arrive more than 10 minutes before the sign-in time. Those arriving after the sign in time will be served if there is time.

Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance
Mondays and Wednesdays January 25 to April 13
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at East Side
12 week class to reduce risk of falls by improving balance, muscle strength, flexibility, and mobility through coordinated movements in a slow, circular, flowing motion. $10 suggested donation pays for 24 classes. Contact Brenna Horn to register: 612-787-4055 or [email protected]. Tai Ji Quan: Moving For Better Balance is sponsored by the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging in the 7 county metro area.

FREE Tax Assistance for Seniors – February 1 to April 13
Monday afternoons and Wednesday evenings beginning February 1 through April 13
AARP will be providing free tax assistance to low-income senior and disabled individuals at East Side. Assistance is by appointment only and may be made in person or by calling the front desk. Volunteer tax preparers will be here Monday afternoons and Wednesday evenings beginning February 1 through April 13. Appointment times fill up fast, so if you know anyone that could benefit, encourage them to call early. (612) 781-6011

Twin Cities Snowshoe Shuffle
Saturday – February 6 – 9:30 AM
The biggest snowshoe race in Minnesota! Participants come from around the country to participate in this fun and challenging winter race. All proceeds benefit Camp Bovey, a summer youth program of East Side. For more information, visit www.snowshoeshuffle.org

40th Annual Senior Appreciation Valentine Luncheon
Thursday, February 11, 2016 – 11:30 AM seating
Admission by ticket only – Cost $4.00
Community members 55+ welcome.
Tickets can be purchased at: the Senior Food Shelf (1801 Central Avenue NE) or at East Side Neighborhood Services (1700 Second Street NE). Call 612-781-6011 with questions.

FREE Financial Empowerment Sessions at East Side
Strategies for Paying off Debt
February 11, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Learn the shortcuts that lenders and debt collectors don’t want you to know and begin your journey to financial freedom! Call Camri (612) 787-4068 to register.

Living Well with Chronic Conditions – Six week workshop
February 16 to March 22 – Tuesdays – 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Contact Brenna Horn to register: (612) 787-4055 or [email protected]

Date: January 18, 2016
Time: 6:30–7:30 pm
Location: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center
Address: 4055 Nicollet Ave. S
Cost: Free!

Join the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) for their annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Monday, Jan. 18 from 6:30–7:30 pm at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center (4055 Nicollet Ave. S, Minneapolis).

The celebration will be emceed by Chad Jackson, Senior Account Executive with the Minnesota Twins. Trent Tucker, District Director of Athletics – Minneapolis Public Schools and “Retired NBA Basketball Player,” will give a keynote presentation, and there will be a performance by Minnesota’s Own, Three-Time Grammy Award-Winning, “Sounds of Blackness.”

The MPRB will present its “Living the Dream” award to Frank White for his dedication and commitment to our community. The “Living the Dream” award honors an individual, business, or community group who has demonstrated dedication and distinguished service to the MPRB and the lives of Minneapolis residents.

Special presentations and guest speakers also include: Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, Sandra Richardson from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Council, and spoken word by S’sence Adams and Baby S’sence.

The celebration will also mark the conclusion of the seventh annual “Feeding the Dream” Food Drive. Residents are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items at their local MPRB Recreation Center through January 18.

The community service project was initiated in the fall of 2009 and since then more than 10,000 pounds of donations have been collected. This year, all donations will go to The Aliveness Project and Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate. Refreshments will be available following the program. For more information, please visit www.minneapolisparks.org/revmlkday or call 612-230-6400.

Join Council Member Jacob Frey for his 2nd Annual State of the Ward Address and Third aWards–annual awards presented to Third Ward residents in the categories of Leader, Local Business, Neighborhood Project/Initiative, and Youth Leader.

“The Third aWards are a chance to acknowledge our amazing residents and small business owners that help make the Third Ward a dynamic place,” said Council Member Jacob Frey.

Individuals interested in making a nomination should write a brief description of the accomplishments that deserve recognition. Please submit Third aWards nominations via email ([email protected]), fax (612-673-3940) or by mail to Council Member Jacob Frey, 350 South 5th Street, Room 307, Minneapolis, MN 55415 by Wednesday, January 27, 2016.

The State of the Ward and Third aWards will take place Wednesday, February 3, 2016 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Minneapolis Event Center, 212 2nd Street SE. Please R.S.V.P. early by calling 612-673-3126 or emailing [email protected].

Good news, Bottineau: Some unused NRP funds designated by the City for Bottineau Neighborhood have unexpectedly turned up and we, as a community, need to vote on how we are going to use that money. And you will have that opportunity at our first community meeting of the new year at East Side Neighborhood Services (1700 2nd St. NE) on Thursday, January 28 at 7:00 p.m.

At our December meeting, the BNA board discussed funding priorities in the Neighborhood and voted to recommend that we reassign this money—$46,340.85 from an old commercial loan program—to the current housing grant program that benefits Bottineau property owners and helps keep our neighborhood’s housing stock in good shape. If that sounds familiar it’s because you’ve read about it in the Gazette before—it’s the Bottineau Matching Grant program that provides up to $2000 for home improvement projects.

To reassign this money from an old NRP strategy to a current neighborhood priority, we need the community—a.k.a. you—to ratify the board’s recommendation.

But that’s not the only NRP money available to be reassigned: another $9000 in uncontracted funds from an NRP I bike path strategy has also turned up and the Board has voted to recommend using these funds to engage neighborhood residents in other meaningful ways. One thing the Board wants to do is again fund the family reading program we piloted in 2014. A popular and effective program, it worked with immigrant families to better prepare their children’s reading skills and, thus, their ability to succeed in school. Volunteers read books to children and every week each child was given a book to take home.

Other potential uses for these funds include translation services at meetings; youth arts programming via Juxtaposition Art, or via workshops organized in conjunction with resident artists at the California Building; and Movies in the Park—something we can all enjoy.

But, again, this is something for our community to vote on, and other ideas—for how to use this money to engage neighborhood residents—are certainly welcome. To propose an idea, though, you need to show up. In fact, the world is run by people who show up.

Join us and help make Bottineau beautiful.

Position Available

Hope Community is seeking to hire a lead facilitator in their Youth Stewards program. The position will be direct work with youth engagement in food, environment and leadership opportunities.

Details about the position can be found by clicking here. The position is also listed on the MN Council for Non-Profit’s webpage: http://www.minnesotanonprofits.org/job-details?id=107666

Interested applicants can submit letter of interest, current resume and a sample 30 minute lesson with youth in the garden to:

Alisa Hoven, Program Coordinator
Email: [email protected]

Deadline for interested applicants is December 31, 2015.
They will offer interviews mid-January 2016.
The position will start early February 2016.

You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown

Thursday, December 10 – 12, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Thomas Edison High School – 700 22nd Ave. NE. – Minneapolis, MN 55418

“Very family friendly—less than two hours with an intermission.  $8 for adults, $6 for students – tickets sold at the door.”

Edison’s Winter Choir Concert

Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 7 p.m.
Thomas Edison High School – 700 22nd Ave. NE. – Minneapolis, MN 55418

“Join us for an evening of music performances by Men’s/Women’s Concert Choirs and Varsity Choir. This a a FREE concert and these performances will be enjoyed by all ages.”

Edison’s Winter Band Concert

Wednesday, January 13, 2015 at 7 p.m.
Thomas Edison High School – 700 22nd Ave. NE. – Minneapolis, MN 55418

“Join us an evening of music performed by Edison’s Concert Band, Rock Band and selected students from the guitar and piano classes. This is a FREE concert and these performances will be enjoyed by all ages.”

Win Two Tickets to Paradise!

Be a big winner at the California Dreamin’ art crawl on November 13 (5-10 PM) and November 14 (Noon to 8 PM). How? By winning a raffle for two round trip tickets to California.

Raffle tickets will be sold only at the event. Bottineau Neighborhood Association (BNA), the raffle’s sponsor, will also be selling beer and wine in the California Building lobby during the California Dreamin’ open studio event with proceeds benefiting Eastside Environmental Quality of Life (EEQL) and BNA. Beer & Wine sales are sponsored by Fulton Brewery, River Liquor Store and The Sample Room.

• One prize of a $1000.00 gift certificate for Sun Country Airlines will be awarded to the winner
• Drawing will be held on Saturday November 14, 2015 at 8:15 PM at 2205 California St NE Minneapolis MN 55418
• You must be 18 or older to purchase a ticket or win prize

Northeast Farmers Market Winter Market
Third Saturdays, November – March, 10:00am – 2:00pm
Norseman Distillery
451 Taft Street NE, South loading dock
Minneapolis, MN 55413

[MINNEAPOLIS – November 4, 2015] The Northeast Farmers Market announces the 1st annual Winter Market located at the Norseman Distillery. Support local food vendors and artisans during the winter months and celebrate the community spirit of the Market.

Expect music from DJ The Ring Toss Twins, children’s activities, and more. Meet new friends, visit with familiar faces, and shop local!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Saturday, November 21st
Saturday, December 19th
Saturday, January 16th
Saturday, February 20th
Saturday, March 19th

Sign up for the NE Farmers Market newsletter to get the vendor schedule and each month: northeastmarket.org
Invite your friends: Facebook Event Page
Find full vendor list here: Vendor List

Special thanks to Norseman Distillery for making the Winter Market possible.

The Northeast Farmers Market is on its sixteenth year of operation and is located in the parking lot of St Boniface Church. It is the oldest community based market in the Twin Cities and has been named the top Farmers Market for two years by “City Pages”.

For more information email: [email protected]

Store To Door Volunteers using Tablets for Shopping and Updated Online Ordering

Store to Door (S2D) partners with 500 volunteers a year to take client grocery orders over the phone and enter it online, shop customer grocery orders, and provide administrative support.  In an effort to stream line their systems and improve their customer service, Store To Door has made updates to it’s online order taking system and has added tablets to shopping. Store To Door is a nonprofit grocery shopping and delivery service for senior 60+ years old in the seven county metro area.

Store To Door recently updated its online order taking system -Volunteer Order Takers are assigned four seniors, calling two one week and two the next week. Order Takers use their own phone and computer/tablet to connect to S2D’s online/internet ordering system. The grocery ordering system has comprehensive list of Cub grocery items. Orders are entered into the system while the senior tells their grocery order over the phone. Volunteer Order Taker Julene notes “S2D staff listened and learned what is needed to make this [the order taking] process even better.”  This Virtual Volunteering makes it easy to volunteer at home, during a lunch break or in any other location where you have online access. Because of the dangers of snow & ice, Store To Door adds over 200 clients in the winter months which means they need 50 additional volunteer order takers.  Order Taker Training is scheduled for Monday, November 9  1-2:30 p.m. or Thursday, November 19  6-7:30 p.m. at Store To Door’s offices in Roseville.  There is a current need for Order Takers who can call clients on Sundays, Mondays and Fridays.

Store To Door is also busy training volunteer shoppers to use tablets as they shop client orders – Volunteer Shoppers use an electronic tablet to fill individual grocery orders during a shift at one of five Cub Foods locations (Bloomington, Crystal, Maplewood, St. Anthony, or St Paul).  Shopper shifts begin at 6AM and end about 10AM, Tuesday-Friday.  Volunteers do not pay for groceries nor do they deliver them to clients.

If you are interested in attending an order taker training or would like to learn more about volunteer shopping and other volunteer experiences at Store to Door please contact Carolyn Swenson, Volunteer Program Coordinator at 651-642-1892 or [email protected].

Contest Details:

The Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights, the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights, Minneapolis City Council, and the Minneapolis Mayor are pleased to present the 2016 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest. This contest is open to all Minneapolis students in the 9th, 10th, and 11th grades.

The topic for this year’s contest is: Dr. King’s vision is alive and well through the work of current civil rights activists. What kind of impacts are these activists making on the current political and social landscape, and how do you see their work influencing the future?

Provide and properly cite all direct quotes from at least two current leaders/activists in your essay, and give their contact information for verification purposes. You can use information gathering techniques such as interviews, reaching out to organizations/houses of worship doing civil rights work, attending community meetings, and much more. Essays may be from one to three pages in length and address the selected topic. Completed entry forms with parent’s signature must be attached to the back of the essay. All submissions are due by November 16th, 2015.

Teachers can request a member of the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights to visit their classroom and to assist students with the essay topic. To request a visit, please contact the commissioner listed at the bottom of this letter.

Additional packets can be found on the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights website, here.

All contest winners will be notified in January, 2016. There will be three winners chosen from each grade level.

The contest winners will receive a gift card to be awarded at a ceremony before the Minneapolis City Council in January 2016, in the following amounts:

First Place $ 300.00
Second Place $ 200.00
Third Place $ 100.00

There will be a reception after the award ceremony to honor the winners. Teachers, parents, educators and others are invited to attend. Students will have the opportunity to meet and take pictures with the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights members, Minneapolis City Council members and Mayor Hodges. Interviews may be requested by the media. The first place winners will have an opportunity to read a portion of their essay at the awards ceremony

Completed Essays should be returned no later than Monday November 16th, 2015 to:

Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights
Attention: Christian Taylor, MCCR Liaison
350 South 5th Street, Room 239
Minneapolis, MN 55415
[email protected]