Community

Minneapolis Public Schools to host additional informational meetings on district headquarters proposals

Friday, 16 April 2010 13:47

The Minneapolis Public Schools on April 20 and 22 will host informational meetings to provide community members with the opportunity to learn more about the three proposals for right-sizing district headquarters. These proposals were presented to the Board of Education on March 23 and at a public informational meeting on April 8. At the upcoming meetings, representatives from each of the three firms under consideration will detail their proposals and provide the community with an opportunity to ask questions.

Jamaican judge to discuss his international career in law, human rights May 13

Friday, 16 April 2010 13:41

Jamaican Judge Patrick Robinson, president of the United Nations' International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, will reflect on his career in international law and human rights in a speech at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13, in Thornton Auditorium of Terrence Murphy Hall, at the University of St. Thomas' Minneapolis campus, 1000 LaSalle Ave.

The presentation, followed by a question-and-answer segment, is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. For reservations email linkjaminn@gmail.com. C.L.E. credits have been applied for. A reception follows.

the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation’s Neighborhood Leadership Program

Friday, 16 April 2010 13:27

On Monday, April 26, the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation’s Neighborhood Leadership Program (NLP) will graduate 32 students from its 2009-10 program. The event, to be held at Wilder Center, 451 Lexington Parkway North, in Saint Paul, will feature a reception at 5:30 pm with the program beginning at 6:30 pm. Saint Paul Chief of Police John Harrington will offer the keynote address, and Alicia Huckleby, Saint Paul Public Housing Agency (PHA), will also offer remarks.

“In a world that is networked and where our relationships define our roles, we must have all hands pushing and pulling together for progress to be made,” said Harrington. “The NLP brings residents from various neighborhoods together where skills and relationships develop into positive social change."

Heads up, buddy up!

Thursday, 08 April 2010 13:48

A new safety program launched by the Midtown Greenway Coalition

The Midtown Greenway Coalition, creators of and advocates for the Midtown Greenway, is launching a new safety program this April to encourage safer riding on the bike trail. In America’s #1 bike-friendly city, safety should be a priority. The Heads Up, Buddy Up! safety program addresses that need.

Potential participants in the Buddy Up program will be verified by two individuals already in the program and asked to sign a waiver statement, and then will be given Buddy Up logo spoke cards to display on their bikes. This signifies they are willing to buddy up with other solo riders on the trail. Join the Midtown Greenway Coalition with Heads Up, Buddy Up! to build community and make the biking community safer!

U.S. Department of Education Official Speaks April 13 at St. Thomas

Friday, 02 April 2010 14:54

The University of St. Thomas will host a free, public lecture next month by James Shelton III, assistant deputy secretary for innovation and improvement in the U.S. Department of Education.

Shelton, who will give the 13th annual Julian Parker Lecture for the university’s School of Education, will speak on “Educational Innovation – Challenges and Opportunities,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, in the auditorium of Schulze Hall on St. Thomas’ campus in downtown Minneapolis. A reception precedes the lecture at 6 p.m.

Shelton manages teacher-quality, school-choice and learning-technology programs for the Department of Education. Previously he served as a program director for the education division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He also has worked for NewSchools Venture Fund and co-founded LearnNow, a school-

Volunteers, Students Activate Super Powers to Fight Hunger

Friday, 02 April 2010 14:42

On Thursday, March 25, 2009, students and staff from JJ Hill Montessori School and Hallie Q. Brown Community Center staff and Board Members ducked into phone booths, changed into capes or masks and faster than a speeding bullet, delivered food from JJ Hill to the Hallie Q. Brown Food Shelf as a part of a month-long campaign against the “forces of hunger.”

The effort was the creation of Brande Kraft, a Saint Paul Public Schools Discovery Club group leader at JJ Hill and her students, working with Hannah Ellis, Manager of Volunteerism and Quality Assurance for Hallie Q. Brown. Kraft and her group of students (third thought sixth graders) adopted the Food Shelf in 2009 as part of their school service learning project. Their goal was to show young people that they can make a difference in the world. So motivated were Kraft and her students that they were able to get the entire school involved for the month of March.

Sabathani Senior Center to offer assistance in filing Homestead Property Tax / Rent Rebate claims in April

Friday, 02 April 2010 13:46

Sabathani Senior Center in collaboration with AARP will offer assistance to community seniors in filing their homestead property tax or renter rebate tax forms.

According to Georgia Marinkov-Omorean, Sabathani Senior Center Program Director, the service will be available to people 50 and older on April 15 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Center, 310 E. 38th St. in Minneapolis, Room 106. There is no fee for the program but participants must sign-up in advance by calling (612) 821-2306.

“I encourage all seniors to take advantage of the tax rebate program, which will return money to taxpayers,” Marinkov-Omorean said. “Even if an individual has not yet received a property tax statement, we can look it up. Renters should bring their document supplied by their landlord.”