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Please give a warm welcome to our new Youth Visibility Coordinator, Molly! We're so excited to have her here.

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Access Coordinator Pete just stopped by with his son, SPNN'S littlest fan!

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We asked folks at St. Paul Open Streets What do you love about walking and biking in St. Paul? We love the answers! Head over to our Facebook page to see all the pics.

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CTEP members worked with inner city youth on a cool documentary project

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These guys to collaborated to make this song/music video about their lives and music.

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Our Community Productions department has made some pretty nifty videos over the years. Here are some of the things they've done.

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In March, SPNN Youth Programs Coordinator Kao Choua Vue traveled to Laos as part of a Jerome Foundation Travel & Film grant. She has some amazing stories from her trip.

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Some students who immigrated to the US in the past 3 years worked with the youth department to tell their stories of refugee camps and where they came from.

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Meet the Doc U Participants: Angelo Woods

Angelo was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota but raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From a young age Angelo lived with violence. He was introduced to drugs and alcohol at age eight, which took on a full time indulgence at age twelve. Angelo started running with a street gang at the age of ten and was kicked out of two junior highs and five high schools. Despite all this, Angelo maintained a 3.5 G.P.A. Aware of his intelligence, and regardless to encouragement from others, Angelo did not feel worthy of it. After many years of strife, Angelo has been attending a program called TWIN CITIES RISE! Through all of this, Angelo has realized that, although challenging, change is not hard at all. As Angelo puts it, “It is not hard to choose right over wrong, but, I understand, a lot more than most, I understand that it is very, very challenging. I was blessed to live long enough too finally except the truth; most of my friends did not get that blessing.”

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Meet the Doc U Participants: Ruffo Romero

Ruffo Romero was born in Mexico City on Easter Sunday, 1963, to his mother, father, and four sisters. Ruffo starting learning English in school. After graduating from high school, Ruffo worked his way from bank teller to manager, studied law, became the operations manager of stationary and paper company and eventually started his own business where he sold office and school supplies in his neighborhood for eleven years. After coming to St. Paul ten years ago Ruffo has worked as a custodian and setting up audio and video systems at schools and churches, completed classes at the Hubbs center in St. Paul and at the American Red Cross, earning certifications as a Nursing Assistant and in Home Healthcare.  In his spare time, Ruffo volunteers regularly for the National Kidney Foundation as an interpreter for community outreach and kidney health screening events. Ruffo’s love for learning has led him to taking many classes, and contributed to his love of reading. Ruffo loves to meet new interesting people, be it through class, work or just riding the bus.

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Andrew has been involved in @spnnyouth since 2005. First as a youth participant, then a mentor, and he spent the last year as our CTEP AmeriCorps member. Thank you, Andrew, for your many years of dedication to youth media!

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Meet the Doc U Participants: Dennis Peoples

Dennis was born in Pontiac MI, moved to Minnesota in the early 1990s to raise his children. Dennis was introduced to photography and videography by his stepfather (a world war 2 Vet) who had cameras from all around the world. Dennis developed his love for the visual arts from this experience and his experience playing guitar at an early age, both learning classical as a young child and continuing his music education by graduating from Mcnally Smith College of with a degree in Audio Engineering and guitar performance. Dennis also continued his pursue his love of photography and video production by attending MTC-MCC for one year.  

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Vice-President Walter Mondale has some thoughts about whether we should have a female president. (x)

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Meet the Doc U Participants: Katey DeCelle

Katey grew up in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood, attended St. Paul Central High and graduated from Metro State with a degree in Screenwriting in 2005. Katey has  adapted a few short stories into hour long films for Hoback Productions, and worked with other local production companies doing production assistance and wardrobe.  Most of her adult life has been spent working with developmentally disabled adults and teens. In 1999, becoming a PCA (Personal Care Assistant) for a young man named Devin inspired her to work with other individuals with disabilities and become involved with many programs that work with persons with disabilities; St. Paul’s Adaptive Rec program, Minneapolis Public schools with Autistic students, IDI, MN Special Olympics powerlifting team and as a unified partner in bowling and flag football. In 2009, Katey began volunteering and working with KFAI Radio eventually starting her own music program at the station (Fused Funk, Sun eve 12-2am) and also producing contracted stories for the station. In the last year, she has been involved with the ReelAbilites film festival conducting interviews for an upcoming film. Katey is currently living in the Midway neighborhood with her 18 month old daughter.

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Meet the Doc U Participants: Robin Magee

Robin Magee has been a lawyer, educator, and activist for over 20 years. She has mostly focused her efforts in the areas of race, policing and religion. She is a native of Detroit, Michigan. 

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Visit Original Link

30 years ago Walter Mondale ran for president and made history with this announcement.

A few weeks ago he talked about this at the Westminster Town Hall Forum.

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Meet the Doc U Participants: Lashunda Jackson

In 1977, in Dallas Texas Lashunda Jackson was added into this game we call life. As the oldest of three, although very close in age, Lashunda efficiently did the job of big sister. When she had her own children (2 girls and a boy) she instilled in them the value of a good education. Lashunda’s educational background in 911 dispatch and communication, law enforcement and criminal justice prepared her for her current work as a community organizer, focusing on youth programming, public policy and community health. Her goal is to continue creating Frogtown Connection, a non-profit for youth organizers. Lashunda hopes to use her education and life experiences to help others, “I will always be someone who searches for the greater good in everyone and every situation”.