FINDING COMMON GROUND IN OUR COMMUNITY

The APMG mission is to enrich the mind and nourish the spirit; to expand the perspectives of our audiences; and help them strengthen their communities. Given that THEIR communities are OUR communities, it is up to us to better understand the communities where we operate if we want to be part of strengthening those communities.

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SCPR Employees Honor Veterans

On Thursday, November 7th volunteers from SCPR participated in a community outreach effort at the VA West Los Angeles to honor our national veterans.  

  SCPR volunteers greeted veterans, helped set up and serve over 300 meals, assisted with a clothing drive, and took souvenir photos of veterans with celebrity guests.

  Many thanks to the following colleagues who volunteered their time and energy to work the event:

  Pam Gurstein

Kelly Kolla

Roy Lenn

Veronica Lopez

Jennifer Miller

Collin Mitchell

Rita Pardue

Konie Phan-McGinty

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Thriving Communities: Small Business

Salvador of Miami, Florida, believes that "more focus and attention to basic infrastructure in cities like Palmetto Bay, Doral, Medley, Hialeah, Miami, and Homestead to support the manufacturing industry bringing jobs back to South Florida" is the biggest way to improve his community. He identifies small and medium manufacturing businesses in South Florida as the real movers and shakers of his community. 

This story was produced with the help of the Public Insight Network. Share your community’s story of real change here.

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Thriving Communities: Handbags for a Cause

“’Georgia’s Girl’ believes that being of service to others is an opportunity, privilege and a blessing. We believe that consumers can impact the quality of life for women and girls through the purchase of a handbag. We come in many shades, however our unique sisterhood and common experiences bond us.  No matter what the storm may be right now in our lives, it shall pass because we know another sister made it through.  And ‘Georgia's Girl’ is proud to play a part in this process. “

  Paulette of Minn., on her business, Georgia’s Girl Handbags, LLC. She makes and donates handbags to various programs and services, including Ready for Success, which provides men and women experiencing poverty, homelessness, or who are transitioning out of incarceration with business attire and accessories. In addition to donating, she sells her handbags, the proceeds of which go to similar causes.

This story was produced with the help of the Public Insight Network. Share your community’s story of real change here. 

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InProgress

Started in 1996, InProgress is a small non-profit that fosters the artist in Minneapolis and St. Paul's underserved youth. Focused specifically in the Latin@, Hmong and Indigenous communities, though open to all, InProgress provides participants with computers, cameras, software, and most other things needed to create any and all digital media art. They also hold workshops on how to operate those things. InProgress believes in empowerment through the art(s) of digital storytelling. As they put it in their mission statement,

"Those of us that work with In Progress are committed to breaking down barriers of geography, class, education, and culture. We use digital artmaking as a tool for public discourse, while building the skills of young people so they may create, teach and lead."

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Thriving Communities: The Community's Music

“Mary and Jerry Kern: the Colorado Symphony Orchestra would not exist today without their incredible dedication and support.”

Terry of Lakewood, Colo., cannot imagine her community without this musical institution and without the Kerns it wouldn’t be quite the place that it is. 

This story was produced with the help of the Public Insight Network. Share your community’s story of real change here. 

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Express Yourself Clothing

Upon first glance, you might think Express Yourself Clothing, is much like any other new and gently used clothing exchange operation. You sell clothes you never wore, and usually end up spending the money you just made on something you find in the store. However, its much more than that. Like its Youth Express sibling, Express Bike Shop, proceeds fund the store's internship program, which gives urban youth the chance to get work experience, and learn the ins and outs of running a small business. Ladies, donate or sell your next batch of unwanted clothes, shoes or accessories here!

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Thriving Communities: Volunteerism

“Volunteering is giving back. Volunteering is a lifestyle.”

- Jean Ann of Minneapolis, Minn., is a tour guide at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, an art collector, a facilitator at Restorative Justice Community Action, a leader of ESL conversations, and an usher at various theatres around the Twin Cities. These are the ways she is working to make her community a better place.

This story was produced with the help of the Public Insight Network. Share your community’s story of real change here. 

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Thriving Communities: Education for Employment

“I love my job because we really help people.”

  - Laura Torres of Minn., on her job as a recruiter at Summit Academy OIC. She helps to seek out and enroll students of all ages at her school. Summit Academy partners with other service agencies to provide vocational training, career counseling, and leadership development, among a host of other services. The school offers morning and night classes, and also provides transportation and childcare. This past spring was their largest graduating class at 230 students.

This story was produced with the help of the Public Insight Network. Share your community’s story of real change here. 

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Express Bike Shop: Full Cycle's St. Paul Counterpart

In addition to the services we expect at a bike shop (repairs, new and used bikes and parts for sale, and a spread of accessories) St. Paul's Express Bike Shop has a mission in mind. Much like Full Cycle Bike Shop in Minneapolis's Powderhorn Park area, proceeds fund the shop's internships, which teach urban and underserved youth both bike mechanics and business skills. The shop is an arm of Keystone Community Service's Youth Express program, which partners with local businesses to give youth work experience. What a great idea. So next time you clean out your garage, consider donating your old rusty bike to this social enterprise!

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Thriving Communities: More Than Just Food

“In five years he has not only built a restaurant business that is a fixture in our community, but he and his operation are a model of sustainable and community business.”

  - Joyce of Minn., on Ruhel Islam, an immigrant from Bangladesh who owns and manages Gandhi Mahal Restaurant in Longfellow, which serves Bangladeshi and Indian cuisine. Cooking produce grown mostly in community farms around the city, using reusable containers for leftovers, and donating to and volunteering for global and local causes around issues of food justice, Gandhi Mahal seeks to provide an eating and gathering place that is healthful and peaceful inside and out. Joyce believes Ruhel to be an unsung hero, as he has brought diversity to the area, something she thinks fortifies a community.

    This story was produced with the help of the Public Insight Network. Share your community’s story of real change here. 

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Posted by Mickey Moore

Saturday, my family joined over 5000 people walking to end Alzheimers disease.  My father had Alzheimers, and our family was greatly supported by the resources of the Alzheimers Association of Minnesota-North Dakota.  We learned to appreciate the moment, and we were directed to studies and support groups.

Alzheimers, one of today's most pressing health issues, has been covered by Minnesota Public Radio from many angles. 

Despite Alzheimers, Couple Holds on Tight to Memories: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/npr.php?id=196250975

Alive Inside, Music Improves the Lives of Alzheimers Patients.  http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/26/daily-circuit-alzheimers-music-alive-inside

Managing Finances AFter an Alzheimers Diagnosis

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/07/daily-circuit-alzheimers-finances

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Thriving Communities: Volunteerism

Posted by Katie Robinson, MPR Intern

As someone who believes that social and economic justice are the most pressing issues her community is facing, Crystal, of Minn., has chosen to highlight Rick Strickler, a volunteer at Our Saviour’s Emergency Shelter (OSH) where she works. OSH provides free educational services, including English speaking and reading, math skills, computer skills, and citizenship preparation. They also offer and emergency shelter, transitional housing, and longer term housing for over 600 people experiencing homelessness each year. Much of this work is done by their 1400 annual volunteers, like Rick:

“He began volunteering at the shelter desk three times a week to welcome and assist anyone who found their way to our door – people experiencing the hardships of homelessness, donors of in-kind goods, dinner volunteers, and even the mail carrier. He greeted them with a smile, baked goods and coffee, friendly conversation, and a grateful demeanor. Everyone looked forward to their next interaction with Rick because he made them feel important and worth his time. Not too long after Rick’s first few months, he desired to increase his volunteer commitment at OSH....No task was too random or beneath him; rather he would initiate any task that would assist the staff and residents of OSH. His generosity was impossible to miss.”

  “This is a picture of Rick and the group he coordinated to serve dinner at Our Saviour's Housing. He is the second person from the right.”

This story was produced with the help of the Public Insight Network. Share your community’s story of real change here. 

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North Country Food Alliance

Posted by Katie Robinson, MPR Intern

In addition to youth, community members and church members showing up to one of last month's community paint parties for the Central Identity Project, there were also offerings of free organic produce. From who, you ask? Well, in the wake some controversy surrounding worker's rights at the food-providing Minneapolis non-profit Sister's Camelot, striking canvassers started their own food-sharing organization, called the North Country Food Alliance. Having just been approved as a non-profit in July, the alliance's main project is gathering and distributing leftover and slightly damaged organic produce from co-ops around the city and delivering it to residents of local food deserts for free. In addition, they also lead weekly wild food foraging trips, and have urban gardening and community meal programs in the works. The Alliance is IWW unionized, completely worker-run, and are looking to grow in the coming months. Look out for them at Twin Cities community events!

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APM/MPR senior leadership had the opportunity to tour the Northside with Northside Achievement Zone Executive Director, Sondra Samuels and Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak.

Education is one of the areas APM/MPR intends to have positive community impact.  The Northside Achievement Zone NAZ) is a nonprofit organization that is taking a cradle to college approach to end generational poverty in North Minneapolis.  At the core is education, and at the core of education success is the family unit.  So, NAZ partners with over 20 organizations to truly address the myriad issues faced by scholars and their families in the zone.  Mayor RT Rybak and NAZ Executive Director Sondra Samuels led the senior leadership team on an empassioned tour of the Northside, including a historical perspective and a visit to Harvest Prep, one of NAZ’s partner schools.  At Harvest Prep, we were priviledged to meet two scholars - both 8th graders.  One who intends to be "the next Bill Gates" and another future scientist.  There are great opportunities to learn more and to get involved.  If you are interested, contact me.

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Post by Mickey Moore, Managing Director of Inclusion and Community Impact

APM/MPR areas of intended impact include education, the arts, health, the economy and the environment.  The work of In Progress in developing young artists sits at the intersection of many of these areas of impact.  I had the pleasure of visiting with Kristine Sorenson, Executive Director on a recent afternoon in the sunny In Progress space just off of Rice Street in St. Paul.  The above photos are from a recent project asking people just to submit  photograph that shows something about their story.

 The best description of their work can be found on the In Progess website:

In Progress is a small non-profit arts center dedicated to paving the way for new voices in the field of digital arts. In Progress has been promoting the voices of newly developing artists since its inception in 1996. The organization offices out of a store front in Saint Paul Minnesota but most of our activities extend well beyond this location. Our artists work throughout the United States in partnership with youth, communities and schools to develop opportunities for young people to develop their skills as digital storytellers.

Kristine's passion for youth and developing artists is palpable and now spans more than one generation. Check out their website and these photograhs from a recent exhibit.

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Thriving Communities: The Creative Class

An original painting by Allan of Portland, Oregon.

Posted by Katie Robinson, MPR Intern  "The point is that there is a Portland whose essence is a gritty, hardcore river city with no tolerance for bullshit. That essence is going to emerge, and people like me, the ignored and marginalized because of snobbery and location, will be finally able to take back OUR city." Allan tells us that the Portland creative class are his city’s unsung heroes. They may not have been successful where they came from, but they’ve built a community in East Portland that is gritty and thriving in it’s own ways."

This story was produced with the help of the Public Insight Network. Share your community’s story of real change here. 

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Little Free Libraries

Ever seen one of these adorable houses?

More than likely, its a Little Free Library. The idea is simple: take a book, leave a book for free. The phenomenon that began in as one small carpentry project in Wisconsin has since spread around the world, not only in the form of little libraries, but in a multifaceted campaign for literacy. To participate, you can do anything from building a little library for your own yard, to organizing community builds, to supporting multiple literacy projects, around the world. Last year, a particularly innovative program used the libraries for another form of community good. Inmates at the the Prairie Du Chien Correctional Institution in Wisconsin, began building the boxes for their communities, as part of a vocational training program the prison offers. Seems like the good these Little Free Libraries can do is endless.