Southside Spotlight: Lori Stone

Residence: Seward neighborhood
Occupation: Executive Director of Seward Neighborhood Group
Organizations: Board Member Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Panelist for Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (in December)

SSP: Are you an artist?
LS: Everybody’s an artist! I sing, I play piano, I play clarinet. I need a bell for my very unique clarinet. I paint. I write. All, of course, when I have time.

SSP: What is one thing people don’t know about you?
LS: I know how to do the hula. Will hula for Guinness! (Because I’m Irish. People know that about me.)

SSP: Where is your favorite place to recreate?
LS: The beach! Any of the lakes! Lake Nokomis is my favorite because it’s close. I love hot, hot weather, 95 degree temperature, blazing sun ...

SSP: Where is your favorite place to drink?
LS: The Dubliner in St. Paul, but locally, Tracy’s Saloon. I like local pubs.

SSP: Your favorite meal?
LS: Sushi, anywhere!

SSP: What do you like about living in Seward?
LS: I like that it’s just a city neighborhood. It’s close to anything—the river, downtown, shopping, transportation ... it has its problems as does everywhere.

SSP: If you could change anything about Seward, what would it be?
LS: I’d like to change people’s perception. I think it’s a safe neighborhood. There’s an increase in crime now. It discourages me that people say they don’t feel safe here. It’s a city neighborhood. We need to work together on proactive solutions to make it a safe neighborhood.

SSP: Who inspires you?
LS: My son, Gabriel. He’s brilliant, he’s honest, he’s creative. And he’s four! I think everybody should be inspired by a 4-year-old.

SSP: What’s the most recent book you’ve read?
LS: Peyton Amberg by Tama Janowitz. Very interesting. It’s about a middle-aged woman struggling with past decisions and is at a point in her life that’s now hopeless, can’t be fixed. There are four points and four places that were pivotal. I love books that flip-flop like that. I think like that.

SSP: If you could change anything in America, what would it be?
LS: Our government. I think it’s scary. But, everything moves in cycles. They’ve lost the big “C,” Compassion. It happened in history, and will happen in the future. I’m nervous because of our current government structure, because so many systems need to change ... education, health care, more. Unless they change as a whole, I don’t think we’ll get to compassion. We’re fighting for ourselves, for the same resources and the same supports. Just to live is difficult. The government doesn’t change anything internally to make people change.

SSP: What do you recommend to people to do?
LS: I always like to tell people to “go with the flow.” I think that’s why they get angry and get stuck in places. Everybody does change. We live in a world of chaos and if you can't go with it, you get stuck. Just relax; don’t judge, and don’t try to control people. Don’t be scared of what’s around the corner. Unless of course, it’s an ax murderer.