November 2001
Assistance With Basic Needs
Minnehaha United Methodist Church, 3701 E. 50th St., offers a MinneHarvest of free
groceries—surplus perishables such as produce and breads—the fourth Sat. of each
month, 9 – 10:30 a.m.
The Women’s Cancer Resource Center , 4604 Chicago Ave. S., collaborates with more
than 60 organizations focusing on women’s health, cancer prevention and creating a
healthy environment for all. One of the organizations is Woman to Woman, an African
American breast cancer support project that provides one-to-one support and advocacy for
African American women with breast cancer. To find out more, contact the Women’s
Cancer Resource Center at 612- 822-4846.
The Powderhorn/Phillips Cultural Wellness Center, 1527 E. Lake St., provides activities
that address personal, community and cultural wellness. Classes are offered in personal
health improvement, cultural wellness and community healing. FFI call 612-721-5745.
The Senior LinkAge Line is a free telephone information and assistance service which can
help connect with services including transportation, housing, adult day centers, home
health care, housework, volunteering, hospice care, caregiver support, food/meal delivery,
legal assistance, financial assistance, snow/lawn care, employment, minor home repairs,
health insurance counseling and more. Call 1-800-333-2433.
Life Line Screening is having a community health event that could save many people’s
lives. They will be screening to assess the risk of stroke and vascular disease at
Minnehaha Communion Lutheran Church at 4101 37th Ave. S. on Tues., Nov. 27. Appointments
are necessary, so call 1-800-406-4557.
Volunteer Opportunities
The English as a Second Language Program at Holy Rosary\Santo Rosario Church, 2424 18th
Ave. S., is in need of volunteers.
Volunteers do not need to speak Spanish. A two hour commitment once a
week for a ten week period is requested.
Classes are Mon. - Thu. mornings from 9:30 – 11:30 and Mon. - Thu. evenings from 6:30
– 8:30. Volunteers would work in small groups with students. An on-site orientation
program is offered as well as training through the Minnesota Literacy Program.
To observe a class or talk with a volunteer to get a feel for the
experience, call Sister Colleen Moran, 612-724-3651.
Pillsbury House, 3501 Chicago Ave. S., has several opportunities for volunteers.
Childcare providers are needed for special events. Payment is in
credits, exchangeable for shampoo, detergent, diapers and more, for each hour of service.
English as a Second Language (ESL) instructors are needed for basic
English classes. ESL certificate preferred, experience required. Stipend and credits
offered. For further information call 612-824-0708, x110.
Volunteers sought for Internet Training: Become a tutor for the Minneapolis Public Library
and help others become computer literate by helping patrons access and explore the World
Wide Web. Internet tutors are especially needed at Sumner Library, 611 Emerson Ave. N.;
Northeast Library, 2200 Central Ave. NE; and at North Regional Library, 1315 Lowry Ave. N.
For more information about the library’s Internet Tutor Program, call Janet in the
Volunteer Office at 612-630-6173.
The Division of Indian Work (DIW) is looking for responsible and caring adults to tutor
American Indian children ages 5 to 17. The volunteer commitment is 1.5 hours a week for 10
to 12 weeks during after school hours. Tutors help children with any homework they may
have. For more information contact Andrea Keezer through DIW’s Youth Leadership
Development Program at 612-722-8722, x340.
Many Minneapolis high school students have not yet passed the Minnesota Basic Standards
Tests in math or reading. Volunteering as an in-school tutor is one way to really help
these students. Students who are parents have priority when we assign tutors. Tutors
should have basic math and reading skills, and enjoy the company of teens. This is a
weekly commitment, takes about two hours a week, and lasts through late January and early
February, when the tests will be held. Training will be provided. Call for more
information or to sign up for training at Minneapolis Public School Volunteer Services,
612- 668-3950.
The Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity organizes its 2002 kickoff meeting with plans to
build 69 homes this fiscal year. Find out about volunteer opportunities to help build
affordable housing for low-income families on Sat., Nov. 3, 8 a.m.-12 noon at the Chiron
Middle School at the Basilica of St. Mary, at 17th Street and Hennepin Ave. S.
Imagine being able to help an individual who is struggling to “make ends meet”
receive a refund of over $1,000 simply by helping them complete their tax returns. That is
what AccountAbility Minnesota volunteers do everyday during the tax season. “It is
heart warming to see the look in someone's eyes when you tell them they are receiving a
refund” said Darlene McGee, a long-time volunteer. “People tell me the money
will help them buy a car, pay utilities, and other debts.” Volunteers are needed to
prepare tax returns, review returns and assist with copying and operation of our sites.
Training is provided. For more information please call 651-287-0187, email jbrand@mtn.org
or visit www.accountabilitymn.org.
The Aliveness Project, a Minneapolis-based community center, which provides direct
services to men, women, children and families who are living with HIV/AIDS, has begun
their 14th Annual Holiday Basket Program. This is a gift-giving program, bringing the
holidays to those infected/affected by HIV/AIDS. If you or your organization is interested
in donating your time, talents, goods or services, please call the Aliveness Project at
612-822-7946.
Support
If you think your temper, overprotective tendency and need to control your partner’s
choices are standing in the way of a healthier relationship, think about calling the
Men’s Line, a free service that provides confidential, short-term counseling for men
and boys. The Men’s Line was started over three years ago by the Men’s Messages
Action Team of the Initiative for Violence-Free Families and Communities (St. Paul-Ramsey
County Public Health) as a way of speaking out against domestic violence. The Men’s
Messages Action Team is counting on early-stage abusers and those who witnessed domestic
violence as children to use the Men’s Line to get the support they need to break the
cycle of violence. Call 612-379-MENS (6367).
PEACE African Resource Center
Parents and Elders of Africa in Common Efforts (PEACE), a resource center created for
African immigrants and open to Africans of all ethnicities, offers emergency, employment,
health care and culturally appropriate counseling services. Americans and multilingual
Africans teach English classes Monday through Saturday. A multi-ethnic African
women’s group provides cultural exchange, basic computer and communication skills
training, cooking, sewing and day care provider training. PEACE supports an international
relief orphanage in western Ethiopia.
PEACE is located at 3015 Franklin Ave. For further information call Dabala Rikitu at the
resource center, 612-339-7418, or check out their Web site at www.africapeace.org.
The South Minneapolis Coalition for Grief Support is offering a 13-week series at Our Lady
of Peace Catholic Church on Thursdays from Oct. 11 through Jan 10, 6 -7:30 p.m. Adults who
are mourning the death of a loved one are invited to attend. Guest speakers will share
their own experience and professional knowledge of grief and loss. Small groups for
sharing will follow the speaker each week. Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church is located at
5425 11th Ave. S. For more information call 612-823-8253 or Pat Poulton, the Coalition
Coordinator at 612- 922-0041.
Classes
Pillsbury House, 3501 Chicago Ave. S., offers basic one-on-one computer instruction by
appointment only. Call 612-824-0708, x110 for more information.
The Community Barter Network, a grass-roots program of Pillsbury United Communities,
offers a range of classes, in conjunction with St. Joan of Arc Catholic church, for barter
or a fee. The fees will support programs at Pillsbury United Communities. Orientation to
join CBN is held every second Tuesday, 7- 8:30 P.M., every third Wednesday, 9- 10:30 a.m.
FFI about CBN, the classes and to register for orientation, call Carole at 612-824-0708.
Mind Literary and Art Journal of, by and for persons who have experienced mental illness
or emotional disturbances, is seeking poetry, short stories and line drawings. Payment is
one copy. Contact James Livingston, c/o Walker Methodist Church, Box 7588, Mpls., MN
55407, or call 612-376-7779.
ThreeSmoothStones Studio at 3336 E. 25th St. (across the street from the Birchwood in the
Seward Neighborhood) announces yoga for teens from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. Kids ages 11
to 17 can learn strength and focus while having fun practicing yoga. Call 612-722-7540 for
more information on cost and registration.
Women Achieving New Directions is offering free skills assessments for single moms,
services including ongoing workshops, free childcare on site, mentoring by professional
women and monthly support groups. For more information or to register call Marline at
612-752-8500 or Elaine at 651-604-3516.
Native plants attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife, reduce soil loss and enrich
soil. Learn how to understand and deal with weed laws in your community and win your
neighbors’ approval of your native plantings. Join others who share an interest in
prairie and woodland gardening. The November monthly meeting of the Twin Cities chapter of
The Wild Ones will be held on Tues., Nov. 20, 7:00 p.m. Nokomis Community Center, 2401
East Minnehaha Parkway. For further information, please call 952-927-6531.
Interested in learning more about the Mississippi River Gorge and how this beautiful
wonder was formed through the heart of the Twin Cities? On Sat., Dec. 1, from 1:30 - 3:00
p.m., Friends of the Mississippi River Gorge Stewards will host a Geology Walk-and-Talk
through the river gorge in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis. Longfellow
residents and other river enthusiasts are invited to join in for a fun, outdoor
educational experience. If you are interested in participating in this activity, please
sign up in advance with Katie Galloway, Friends of the Mississippi River, at 651-222-2193
or via e-mail at kgallowa@fmr.org.
Justice
The Twin Cities Coalition to Defend Mumia Abu-Jamal meets at 7 p.m. every Wednesday at the
Arise! Bookstore, 2441 Lyndale Ave. S. Call 651-649-4579 for more information.
All are welcome to join the MN Welfare Rights Coalition and others for a day of
information and action. On July 1, 2002 over 5,000 families will hit the five-year
lifetime limit for welfare in Minnesota. This adds up to 15,000 children. Dozens of
families will hit the time limit every month leading up to July 1. Although lawmakers
passed laws in 2001 to allow extensions to some families, it will cover only about half of
the families, leaving thousands to struggle. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be
information workshops and discussion at Sabathani Community Center. At 3:30 there will be
a Rally to Stop the War on the Poor at the State Capitol in St. Paul. Buses will go from
Sabathani to the Capitol on Dec. 8.
Events
A 4-H group (the 4 “H”s are head, heart, hands and health) for city kids is held
at Calvary Lutheran Church, 3901 Chicago Ave. S., one or two Saturdays a month. So far,
the group has been made up of upper elementary and middle school age children but 4-H is
for all ages from kindergarten to 12th grade. At the meetings they prepare a meal and do
some kind of activity. In the summer they show projects at the fair such as arts, crafts,
cooking, inventions, woodworking, demonstrations or sewing. Anyone interested in getting
involved is invited to call Linda Bowers at 612-823-3767 for more information.
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays is pleased to announce a meeting free
and open to the public featuring Jeffrey Ford, psychotherapist and ex-ex-gay. He will
speak on “How I survived the ‘Ex-Gay’ ministries on Sun., Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.
at Mayflower Church, 35W at Diamond Lake Blvd. Call 651-825-1660 for more information.
On Fri., Nov. 30, Walker Church will host a Children’s Peace Concert, an evening of
stories and songs about peace and peace making. Walker Church is located at 3104 16th Ave.
S. The event is $5 or a donation. For more information, call 612- 721-2145.
The Urban Spectrum Theatre Company will present its holiday production, “The
Nightingale,” written and directed by Judy Cooper Lyle, on Nov. 30, Dec. 1,6 and 7 at
7:30 p.m. and Sundays Dec. 2 and 9 at 3 p.m. at the Central City Theatre in Salem Lutheran
Church on 28th and Lyndale Ave. S. with entrance to the theater on Garfield Ave. “The
Nightingale” is based on the old fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson, and tells the
story of the little bird who sings for an emperor and is made a well-fed and pampered
captive, until she is upstaged by a mechanical bird. This version comes alive with dance,
set to a variety of wonderful music, including flute, electronic, and West African,
choreographed by Marcia Moore-Foster. Funding for this show is provided by a grant from
the Citizens for Loring Park Community Association. Admission is by donation. For more
information, or to make reservations, call 612- 869-5080 #3.
FireHawk Productions presents The Edge Life Expo at The Minneapolis Convention Center over
Thanksgiving weekend and Kari Tauring and Friends’ 3rd Annual Yuletide Ritual Show
“Welcoming The Old Ones” at Patrick's Cabaret on Dec. 21 and 22. For more
information, contact Gina at 651-329-8418.
The Minneapolis College of Art and Design is sponsoring the 2001 student art sale to
promote the talents and skill of MCAD students and alumni, inform the community about
their programs and provide a venue for the meeting of artist and patron. The preview sale
and reception on Fri., Nov. 30, 6-9 p.m. is $20 in advance, $30 at the door. The sale, on
Sat., Dec. 1, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. is free. For more information call 612-874-3793 or go online
at www.mcad.edu/artsale.
Pianist Alexander Braginsky will be featured artist during the St. Paul JCC Symphony
Orchestra's 2001 fall concert at 7:30 p.m., Wed., Dec. 5 at the Jewish Community Center,
1375 St. Paul Ave. The concert is free and open to the public. Call 651-698-0751 for more
information.
The Twin Cities' popular Appalachian folk dance group, The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers, will
reunite with cloggers and friends, old and new, at their 20th Annual Holiday Show, Sun.,
Dec. 2, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Anne Simley Theater, located on the campus of Hamline
University in St. Paul. General admission tickets are $12 in advance, $14 at the door, $5
for children under 12. Tickets are available at Irish on Grand in St. Paul, at the
Homestead Pickin' Parlor in Richfield, or ticket requests may be phoned in to
651-222-5475.
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