The Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights, the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights, the Minneapolis City Council, and the Minneapolis Mayor are pleased to present the 2014 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest. This contest is open to all Minneapolis students in the 9th, 10th, and 11th grades.

Students are asked to write or type an original essay in English addressing this year’s topic. The essay should contain proper spelling and grammar.

The topic for this year’s contest is:

Jokes or comments are commonly made, both accidentally and intentionally, at the expense of certain groups of people. Some individuals and organized groups actively work to stop hurtful speech. What could you do to stop these stereotypical/hurtful comments?

Provide at least 2 specific examples of how language results in the violation of or protection of human rights. Be sure to identify the message, who it is from, who it affects and how it affects them. Reference the United States’ Constitution, the United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights or the United States Bill of Rights in your answer. 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 January 19th, 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 http://www.minneapolismn.gov/civilrights/commission/civil-rights_commission_announcements

You can also click here for the 2015 Parent Consent Form.

All contest winners will be notified by February, 2015. 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 the spring of 2015.

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 January 19th, 2015 to:

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

National Poetry Recitation Contest

Thursday, December 11 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thomas Edison High School – Auditorium – 700 22nd Ave. NE. -Minneapolis, MN 55418

Edison’s level I and II ELL students will be participating in a poetry reading competition and one of Edison’s students will advance to the city level competition! This is a FREE event and is open to the public. Come and show your support while enjoying these poetry reading.

Edison Theater Presents: “Working: The Musical”

“Working”−based on the Studs Terkel book−is a collection of stories and songs based on real interviews asking people in different regions about their occupations. With 5 Tony award nominations and composers such as Stephen Schwartz and James Taylor, it certainly won’t disappoint! Come experience “Working” for yourself!

Where:  Edison High School, 700 22nd Ave NE, Minneapolis
When:  Thursday, December 11th−Saturday December 13th at 7 P.M.
Tickets:  Adults: $8, Students (6-17): $6, Children (5 and under): free

Tickets can be purchased at the door, all proceeds go to Edison Theatre

Casual Conversations in English and Spanish

Wednesday, January 14 from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Thomas Edison High School – 700 22nd Ave. NE. – Minneapolis, MN 55418

Come and see what it means to be a Tommie. Join us on Wednesday, January 14th at 5:30 p.m. in Edison’s Media Center. We will hold two meetings; one in English and one in Spanish. Meet our Principal, Carla Steinbach, teachers, staff, parents, and students. Learn about Edison’s rigorous academic programs, scholarship opportunities, arts and the community, athletics, safety/security, and transportation.  Stay and enjoy Edison’s Choir Concert starting at 7 p.m.

Edison’s Choir Concert

Wednesday, January 14 at 7 p.m.
Thomas Edison High School – 700 22nd Ave. NE. – Minneapolis, MN 55418

MN 6 I Group’s Fourth Annual Somali Photo Exhibit
Another Minnesota Family in the Neighborhood

Date: 12-13-14
Time: 4-9pm
Place: Bottineau Commons Community Room, 1808 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418

This year’s event features the work of Somali photographers and photo journalists Mohamed Barre and Mohamoud Hussain,who document daily life in the Somali community of Northeast Minneapolis. Doing so, they provide a vivid exploration of the ever-changing cultural landscape of Minnesota, as deeply reflected in the lives of Somali immigrants.

The exhibit is free of charge and will take place on Saturday, December 13, from 4-9 p.m. in the Community Room of Bottineau Commons (1808 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis, MN, 55418).

ALL ARE WELCOME

For more information, please contact Mohamed Barre @ 612-703-8639 | [email protected]

Presented by
Mohamed Barre (MN 6 I Group)
Mohamoud Hussain (Isma-Images)

Sponsored by
MN 6 I Group and www.kismaayodaily.com of MN

Wintertide, a Biennial Juried Art Exhibition – CALL FOR ART

Presented by NEMAA & Public Functionary
Sponsored by Cedarwoods Foundation

Download full guidelines and submission information here.
Click here to apply at SmarterEntry.com
Deadline to apply: December 10, 5 PM (Central Time)

Don’t miss this unique, prestigious opportunity to have your artwork included in Wintertide, our inaugural juried art exhibition taking place at contemporary art gallery Public Functionary. All applicants must have either renewed their membership for 2015 or joined NEMAA by the Wintertide application deadline: December 10, 2014. Join or renew here.

An entry fee of $35 (for submission of up to 3 works of art) is required, and the artist must be a NEMAA member for the year 2015. Each accepted artist will have one piece of artwork in the exhibition. The jury process will include 2 rounds. The application materials must be submitted online per the submission guidelines and instructions by December 10 for the first round of blind jurying.

Juried Biennial Exhibitions are an important instigator in the discovery of exceptional work of emerging, mid-career and established artists based on a competitive jury process. In addition to selecting the artists in the Biennial, the jurors will award a total of $10,500 in cash prizes that will be presented at the opening reception, Saturday, January 24th.

Categories

1. Photography
2. Mixed Media (artwork includes two or more mediums)
3. Painting & Drawing (artwork includes only one medium – including printmaking if artist uses only ink)
4. 3D, Sculpture, Object

Prizes

Best of Show: $2000
People’s Choice: $500

For each of 4 categories:
1st place: $1250
2nd place: $500
3rd place: $250

2015 Jurors

• Jean Bevier, Professor Dominican University
• Leslie Hammons, Director, Weinstein Gallery
• Peter Remes, CEO, First & First
• Christina Schmid, Art Critic, Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota
• Tricia Khutoretsky (2nd round juror), Director/Curator, Public Functionary

Timeline & Selection Process

• Entry Deadline: December 10, 5:00 PM (Central Time)
• 1st Round of blind juried selection (images): December 15-22
• 1st Round Artist Notification: December 23
• 2nd Round drop off: January 9, 12 noon – 4 PM, and January 10, 4 PM – 8 PM
• 2nd Round jury selections: January 14 and January 15
• 2nd Round Artist Notification: January 17
• Opening Reception/Prizes Awarded: Saturday, January 24, 7 PM – 11 PM
• Exhibit Dates/Hours: January 24 – February 7, 2015

Please carefully read full guidelines and submission information, available for download as a PDF here.

St. Paul– The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has found that air quality in an industrial part of North Minneapolis recently violated a state standard for large airborne particles.

“Although it isn’t an immediate health threat, this is a situation that concerns us,” said MPCA Industrial Division Manager Jeff Smith. “These larger particles are less of a health risk because they can’t be inhaled deeply into the lungs like small particles. However, any violation of this nature is a serious matter.”

The violation was detected by an air monitoring station near the Lowry Avenue bridge on the west bank of the Mississippi River. Levels of large particles, also known as Total Suspended Particulates (TSP), exceeded the state standard on October 26 and November 1, 2014. This triggered an MPCA investigation into possible sources and corrective actions. That investigation is ongoing.

Smith said, “We know these larger particles tend to be heavier and do not travel far. Therefore the cause of the violation, and any effects, are likely to be within about a quarter-mile of the monitor.”

The station that detected the violation monitors the overall quality of the ambient, or background, air in that area. It does not measure the emissions from specific nearby sources such as regulated industries – which are monitored separately. There may be multiple nearby sources that contributed to the problem.

Monitoring has continued since the violation was identified. Although additional violations have not been detected, the MPCA is looking into all of the potential sources that may have caused or contributed to the violation, and is moving quickly to identify specific actions to prevent future violations.

The MPCA began operating a fine-particle monitor at the site in January 2013, which measures particles of 2.5 microns or less (a human hair is about 70 microns in diameter). Fine particles are of a greater concern to human health because they can be inhaled more deeply into the lungs. The fine-particle monitor was installed partly in response to community concerns about air quality, and has not shown any problems since start-up. MPCA discovered the large-particle violation after it expanded the types of particles monitored at the station in October 2014 to compare with other monitors in the Twin Cities.

“We will continue to follow up to see if the high levels of large particles were isolated to just those two days, or whether they’re part of a larger pattern,” Smith said.  “Despite the fact our investigation is not complete, we’re already taking steps to identify potential contributors and work with them to reduce their emissions.”

The mission of the MPCA is to protect and improve the environment and enhance human health.
St. Paul • Brainerd • Detroit Lakes • Duluth • Mankato • Marshall • Rochester • Willmar
www.pca.state.mn.us • Toll-free and TDD 800-657-3864

All paths lead to the river – it’s time to rediscover the Mississippi!

The Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership has coordinated with Minnehaha Media (a division of Hedberg Maps) to produce the Mississippi River Map-Above the Falls Destinations — a complete map and resource guide to the river and surrounding neighborhoods from the I-694 bridge in Brooklyn Center/Fridley down to the Stone Arch Bridge in Downtown Minneapolis.

Explore the rich cultural and industrial history of Minneapolis’ birthplace on the river and the neighborhoods that grew around it. Venture into the natural areas, parks and trails that straddle the river just north of downtown. Dine and relax at dozens of bars and restaurants in the neighborhoods of the North Loop, Northeast and North Minneapolis.

These maps are 12” x 18”, full-color (folded to pocket-sized), FREE and available at Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership events, their sponsors, select retail, restaurants and coffee shops, parks and recreation centers, schools, neighborhood and community centers throughout Downtown, North and Northeast Minneapolis and throughout the Twin Cities — over 80 locations.

To see the area of coverage, please visit: http://www.minnehahamedia.com/gw/missriver_mpls_upper/index.html.

Above The Falls Destination Map is sponsored by Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership.

(Click here for a printable pdf)

Monday, December 1, 6-8pm

If you’re going to attend a budget discussion, you might as well go to the one with local craft beer. Join Council Member Jacob Frey, Council Member John Quincy and Sandy Christensen from the City of Minneapolis Finance Department as we talk about this year’s city budget process over beers.

To read the 2015 proposed budget or see a list of highlights, check out the city’s budget page here. There will also be a public hearing at City Hall to receive comments and adopt the 2015 budget on December 10th at 6:00 p.m.

The event will be held at Dangerous Man Brewing Co located at 1300 2nd Street NE on Monday, December 1 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The Potter’s Pasties food truck will be parked out front. Please RSVP to help us plan.

Sunday, December 7, 12:30 – 3:30 pm

Ard Godfrey House, in Chute Square Park at corner of University and Central

Enjoy light refreshments, musical entertainment and guided tours of the oldest remaining wood frame residence in Minneapolis, built in 1849.

The home will be decorated for the holidays in the modest style of the era, and the Woman’s Club guides will be dressed in period costume. See how the Godfrey family might have celebrated the holidays in the new community at St. Anthony Falls. Children are welcome and will receive free Godfrey House buttons.

Admission is free (but donations are suggested and welcome). No reservations required.

Sponsored by the Woman’s Club of Minneapolis. For more information or to arrange group tours: 612-781-8791 or http://www.ardgodfreyhouse.org

Mark your Calendar for the 2014 Holiday Train!

2014 Holiday Train (click here to see flyer)
Wednesday, December 10, 7:30 – 9:00 pm

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train arrives at approximately 8:30 pm. Come to Shoreham Rail Yard, 2800 Central Avenue NE, for a night of live musical entertainment, kid’s activities, horse-drawn hayrides and refreshments. Support the food shelves of ESNS by bringing a cash or non-perishable food donation to the 2014 Holiday Train. This is the only stop in Minneapolis, so don’t miss the train! (Please share this within your community. If you would like copies made to distribute, you can call (612) 781-6011 to have them printed, then pick them up at East Side.)

More Upcoming Events:

How to Ride the Bus and Light-Rail
Tuesday, November 25, 10:45 am
A Customer Advocate from Metro Transit will be at East Side to help Seniors learn the ins-and-outs of using Metro Transit. Call for more information 612-781-6011.

MNsure Assistance
Every Monday, 11 am – 1 pm
Need help signing up for MNsure?  Every Monday a MNsure Navigator is at East Side Neighborhood Services. Call Laura for an appointment 612-781-6011.

Tai Ji Quan – Moving for Better Balance
Mondays and Wednesdays, through  Nov 24, 1-2pm. Free!
Come and experience a combination of Tai Chi and moving to create better balance. We are in the dining room at ESNS. Come 10 minutes early to complete a needed form.

Renters Rights
Tuesday, December 9, 10:45 – 11:45 am
A free presentation at East Side. Open to seniors.

10th Annual Twin Cities Snowshoe Shuffle (click here to see flyer)
Saturday, February 7, 2015
For more information, please visit www.snowshoeshuffle.org