Elizabeth Brisbin

Severe cold warming spaces in the Twin Cities

As Minnesota continues to experience fluctuating winter temperatures from mild to frigid, Hennepin County is encouraging those in need to utilize warming spaces during the bitter cold snaps. When temperatures or wind chills reach dangerously low levels, the warming centers listed below will be open during designated hours to provide a safe refuge. All are welcome to seek shelter. For more info, call the Hennepin Shelter Hotline at 612-204-8200.

Daytime

 

Catholic Charities Opportunity Center
Walk-in at 740 E 17th St, Minneapolis
Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Services:  meals, showers, laundry, mail, computer lab,  and storage lockers

Hope Avenue Twin Cities
Walk-in at 1229 Logan Ave, Minneapolis
Open every day, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Services:  meals, showers, clothing closet, haircuts,  AA group, mats

Hennepin County Government Center
300 6th Street South Minneapolis, 612-348-3000
Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., excluding certain holidays.
*The skyway is open until 8 p.m.
No services offered

Minneapolis Central Library
300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 612-543-8000
Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Providing indoor heated space and time-limited computer access. No services offered
All Hennepin County libraries are available as warming centers.
Visit hclib.org/locations for hours and locations.

Peace House Community
1816 Portland Ave, Minneapolis, 612-870-7263
Weekdays, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Hot lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day

Steps of Strategy
1803 Bryant Avenue N, Minneapolis
Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Lunch 12:30 p.m., Dinner 9 p.m.
Case management, laundry, showers, clothing closet

Youthlink (ages 16-24 only)
41 12th Street North, Minneapolis, 612-252-1200
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Metro Transit bus routes 4, 6, 9, 12

Nighttime

 

American Indian Community Development Center (AICDC) KOLA and A3 drop-in centers
Walk-in at 1600 E 19th St, Minneapolis
Open every day, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
50 spots on a first-come, first-served basis
Services: meals, showers, hygiene supplies

Winter overnight shelter beds
Call the Hennepin Shelter Hotline at 612-204-8200 to reserve a shelter bed. During the severe cold, 85 additional shelter beds are made available.
Services: Meals, showers, hygiene supplies

 

Find clothing, food, public restrooms, and other resources at hennepin.us/waypoint.

 

Elizabeth Brisbin

Free flu & COVID-19 vaccine clinic 1-17-25

Community members are encouraged to strengthen their defenses against illnesses this winter at this free flu & COVID-19 vaccine clinic, which is made possible through a partnership with PUC and M Health Fairview! The clinic occurs on Friday, January 17, from 12-4 pm at the Brian Coyle Center, 420 15th Ave. S, Minneapolis (Community Room 1).
Flu vaccines are available for anyone ages 6 months and older; COVID-19 vaccines are available for people aged 5 or older. Interpreters will be available.
This is a free vaccine clinic; no incentives or gift cards will be provided. For more info, contact Fowzia at 612-302-3438 or Aliazar at 612-876-9326.

Elizabeth Brisbin

Make your voice heard at Pizza & Parks

Mississippi Park Connection (MPC) is hosting Pizza & Parks, a community gathering aimed at helping inform Devin Brown, community programs director, and proud Northsider, about the types of adult and family-centered activities community members would like to see and participate in at North Mississippi Regional Park.

As the philanthropic partner to the National Park Service, MPC is dedicated to more than just fundraising—the organization seeks to strengthen the community’s lasting connection to the Mississippi River.

The event occurs on January 28 at 5:30 pm, at 4900 N. Mississippi Dr., Minneapolis. For planning purposes, please RSVP. If you have any questions or cannot attend but still have suggestions, email Devin Brown directly at [email protected].

Elizabeth Brisbin

Creating Together: A free family art workshop

The Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery offers this free event for children (ages 2-8) and their guardians to explore creativity, practice early development skills, and strengthen their bonds through collaborative art activities.

Guardians will gain valuable techniques to support their child’s growth, while children will have the opportunity to build confidence and express themselves through art. Led by youth programmer Sabrina Ford, this event promises a fun and enriching experience for both children and their caregivers.

The event takes place on January 25, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery, located at 1256 N. Penn Ave., Minneapolis, fourth floor. There’s free parking on the ramp. For more info, visit maahmg.org.

Elizabeth Brisbin

Weekends at Wirth: Snowboarding lessons for youth and families

Melanin in Motion invites community members to come out and explore the joys of winter by snowboarding at Theodore Wirth Park. Every weekend from January 11 to March 1, Melanin in Motion offers accessible and affordable lessons for small groups of up to six participants.

Each lesson lasts 90 minutes, and families can join for as little as $0-$15 per child. Pay what you can, with a maximum fee of $15 per participant. Attendees who complete three lessons will earn a lift ticket for their family at Trollhaugen Ski Resort. Register now to secure your spot.

Elizabeth Brisbin

Northside Residents Redevelopment Council presents Tubing Days

The Northside Residents Redevelopment Council is excited to present Tubing Days. This family-friendly event invites people of all ages to enjoy a day of winter fun at the Trailhead at Theodore Wirth Parkway. The event is free and takes place on January 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. RSVP by emailing [email protected] or call 612-335-5924.

Elizabeth Brisbin

2025 MLK Day celebrations in the Twin Cities

Celebrate the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by finding hope through community. The MLK Holiday, observed annually on the third Monday of January, this year falls on January 20. Check the list below to find free and low-cost events to join with others across the state to reflect on, honor, and advance the legacy of Dr. King.

MLK Community Conference
When: January 16 · 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
What: As part of the State of Minnesota’s “One Dream. One Minnesota” MLK celebrations, this second annual conference is brought to you in partnership with Metropolitan State University and features speakers and interactive workshops. There will also be a keynote address, an interactive workshop, and a panel discussion featuring networking and resource booths. Lunch will be provided. Admission is free, but capacity is limited.
Where: Metropolitan State University, 700 East 7th S., St. Paul
More info: https://bit.ly/4h4pR4Q

Sweet Potato Comfort Pie 10th Annual Martin Luther King Holiday of Service
When: January 19 · 1:30-4:30 p.m.
What: Sweet Potato Pie’s annual event returns for its 10th year to honor MLK’s legacy through service, sharing, and celebration. A preshow awards reception begins at 1:30 p.m. featuring the Character Values Photo Exhibit, the Upholding Our Beloved Community Awards, and featured musician Mari Harris. Following the pre-show, live music will be played by Jerome Richardson, Jamela Pettiford and the GQ unit, Shir Harmony, and others. Food and refreshments will be provided. This is a free event.
Where: Metropolitan Ballroom & Clubroom, 5418 Wayzata Blvd., Golden Valley
More info: https://bit.ly/40qaDla

44th Annual U of M Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert: Light
When: January 19 · 3 p.m.
What: With the theme of transforming light to darkness, G. Phillip Shoultz, III, and VocalEssence Singers of This Age, along with others, will perform a tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This is a free event.
Where: Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2128 Fourth St. S., Minneapolis
More info: https://bit.ly/40no4Cu

MLK Community Worship Service
When: January 19 · 4 p.m.
What: The Duluth NAACP invites community members to this worship service to experience a modern-day expression of the Black Church tradition that nurtured the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Where: Peace United Church of Christ, 1111 North 11th Ave. E., Duluth
More info: www.duluthnaacp.org/mlk

St. Cloud State University MLK Community Celebration
When: January 20 · 8-10:30 a.m.
What: St. Cloud State University’s signature MLK Community Celebration will commence at 8 a.m. at the River’s Edge Convention Center. A community conversation will kick off the event, along with the announcement of the 2025 MLK Celebration Humanitarian Award, Dexter R. Stanton Essay, and Visual Art Contest winners, and a keynote address by Dr. Evelyn Hill. This is a free event.
Where: River’s Edge Convention Center, 10 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud
More info: https://bit.ly/40njnIG

35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast
When: January 20 · 8 – 9:30 a.m.
What: Under the theme “One People,” this annual event will honor the life and legacy of Dr. King while raising funds for students in the Twin Cities. This year’s keynote speaker is Michele Norris, senior contributing editor for MSNBC, former NPR host, and the author of “Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race & Identity.”
The Sounds of Blackness will perform, and the Threads Dance Project and the VocalEssence Singers of This Age will offer special performances.
Where: Minneapolis Convention Center (Exhibit Hall A), 1301 Second Ave. S., Minneapolis
More info: MLKBreakfast.com. This breakfast will also be screened at many community locations.

39th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration
When: January 20 · 10 a.m.
What: You are invited to advance Dr. King’s dream at the closing event for the State of Minnesota’s 39th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, one of the oldest and largest celebrations in the nation.
With the theme of “One Dream. One Minnesota. Bridging Legacy with Action,” this closing event features community leaders and performances by Billy Steele and Fellowship Baptist Church, Jamecia Bennett, and Known MPLS. Dr. Yohuru Williams will MC and host a fireside chat by revered elders Josie R. Johnson and Reatha Clark King. To view the recorded live stream of the MLK, Jr. Celebration on January 20, 2025, visit TPT.org.
Where: Ordway Music Theater, 345 Washington St., St. Paul
More info: mn.gov/oeoa/events/2025-mlk-day.jsp

2025 MLK Day Service Project!
When: January 20 · 10 – 11:30 a.m.
What: This annual event offers an opportunity to honor Dr. King’s legacy by serving others. Make a difference on this powerful day by joining other community members in volunteerism at the Minneapolis Convention Center. This event is free but with limited capacity. Register at the link below.
Where: Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave. S., Minneapolis
More info: https://bit.ly/4fQ3M8U

27th Annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
When: January 20 · 10 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
What: This MLK celebration features performing artists, community partners driving clear examples of equity forward work, a complimentary lunch, a fun-filled gift station for kids, and an overall experience founded on the principles upheld by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This is a free event.
Where: Powderhorn Recreation Center, 3400 15th Ave. S., Minneapolis
More info: www.ppna.org/mlkcelebration

KMOJ’s 12th Annual Soul Bowl
When: January 20 · 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
What: Celebrate the Martin Luther King holiday with other community members at KMOJ’s 12th Annual Soul Bowl.
More info: https://bit.ly/3BX44ND

Duluth NAACP MLK Gathering and March
When: January 20 · 10:30-11:45 a.m.
What: The Duluth NAACP will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with this annual march at the Family Freedom Center (Washington Center Gymnasium), starting at the entrance between 3rd and 4th Street on 1st Ave. West and begin on Lake St. between 3rd and 4th Avenue. A rally will follow at DECC-Symphony Hall, 350 Harbor Dr., Duluth, from 12-1:30 p.m.
More info: www.duluthnaacp.org/mlk

Mpls NAACP Martin Luther King Jr. Day Luncheon
When: January 20 · 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
What: The Minneapolis NAACP presents this MLK luncheon that offers food, community spirit, and inspiring history lessons. Admission is $7.88.
Where: ECMN Building, 1101 West Broadway Ave., Minneapolis
More info: https://bit.ly/408gzxZ

ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com presents an MLK Day of Service for Black women
When: January 20 · 12-1 p.m.
What: To honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy with a day of service, podcaster, comedian, and radio host Sheletta Brudidge is inviting Black women to meet her at Tubman Center, a shelter for survivors of domestic abuse, to drop off new and unused bedding and pillows.
Where:  Tubman: Harriet Tubman Center East, 1725 Monastery Way, St. Paul
More info: bit.ly/ShelettaMLKDayofService

MLK Living the Dream Celebration
When: January 20 · 6-9 p.m.
What: As part of the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board’s series of MLK events, this annual gathering offers speakers, live entertainment, and the presentation of the Living the Dream Award. Check the website for unfolding details. This is a free event.
Where: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rec. Center, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S, Minneapolis
More info: https://bit.ly/3C0iiNE

Exploring Creative Actions for Justice
When: January 23 · 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
What: Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by listening to a distinguished panel of civic leaders and change agents discuss, unpack, and apply King’s ideas on creative protest. Panelists will engage students, faculty, and staff around the legacy and relevance of MLK in the context of 21st-century America and their own respective work environments/spheres of influence. The event includes breakfast, a performance by a youth choir, a roundtable dialogue with scholars and activists, a blanket-making service project, and more.
Where: Minneapolis College, 1501 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis (Room T.1400)
More info: minneapolis.edu/mlk

Unity in Colors: A Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration
When: January 24 · 1-3 p.m.
What: Join community members for this unique drop-in program that invites individuals of all ages and backgrounds to contribute to a collective masterpiece. Express your creativity through coloring pieces of art that will come together to form a stunning commemorative board dedicated to Dr. King’s vision of a harmonious and inclusive society. This is a free event.
Where: Sibley Park, 1900 40th St. East, Minneapolis
More info: https://bit.ly/4gNcmqk

Elizabeth Brisbin

Children’s Reading Circle with T. Mychael Rambo

In collaboration with Washburn Library, the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery (MAAHMG) is inviting community members to relish the power of reading out loud. The museum is hosting a Children’s Reading Circle featuring three-time Emmy Award-winner T. Mychael Rambo reading his book “The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands.”

All are welcome to this free event, which takes place on January 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at MAAHMG, located at 1256 N. Penn Ave., Minneapolis, fourth floor. For more info, go to maahmg.org.

Elizabeth Brisbin

Natural Hair Care Student Graduation

 

On November 21, Natural Hair Care Institute graduated a PUC student from their 600-hour-long program in natural hair care and braiding. PUC has a partnership with Natural Hair Care Institute to fund full tuition for eligible young adults (ages 18-24) residing in the City of Minneapolis through a grant from the City.

The program is currently recruiting students for the next cohort starting January 13, 2025. Please contact [email protected] to enroll.

Elizabeth Brisbin

The 2023 PUC Summer Youth Showcase

Rather than enjoying time by the lake or playing video games inside, this summer was spent by our youth interns working vigorously at various social enterprises of Pillsbury United Communities. These students spent a large part of their time working as journalists, theater tech interns, radio hosts, film crews, fashion designers, and horticulture workers. To celebrate the work they’ve done, PUC held a very special celebration at Pillsbury House + Theatre on Thursday, August 3rd with the culmination of these interns’ work on display.

The event began just outside the venue where “inside out cars” were on display thanks to the creative theater tech interns. Inside was a booth with a spectacular sound system set up by KRSM Radio. The KRSM interns maintained a live broadcast of the event throughout the night where people of all ages could go live on the air and give a shout out at the event.

Located on the second floor was a hot sauce competition led by the Growing Good interns which, as many could attest, was incredibly spicy. Beside them was a strategically placed cucumber water stand to help combat the heat of the contest. In addition to that was a free produce table where community members received free vegetables grown by the Food Systems interns. North News and the East Lake Street Cohort had displays across from them with storyboards and photos of the amazing work they had done this summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, a film screening was projected in the theater. The films were directed, shot, and edited entirely by the students and focused on some of the harsher aspects of life in Minneapolis. Following the film screenings was a fashion show put on by interns at Sisterhood Boutique. Unlike some fashion shows, the models walking were the interns themselves who had designed and crafted pieces of clothes using up-cycled materials as a commentary on the fast fashion industry.

Many thanks to the wonderful community members who came and supported our youth interns. An additional thanks to our parters Best Buy Teen Tech Center and the University of Minnesota. This night was a showcase in how investing in our youth can lead to monumental change for a just society.

Elizabeth Brisbin

PUC’s Jovita Morales on the long fight to get Driver’s Licenses for All

Jovita holding a mic at an event.

Jovita Francisco Morales, an Indigenous Mazahua immigrant from Mexico, has organized Latine community members out of our Waite House Community Center in East Phillips for more than 15 years. “Waite House is kind of like my house. So much is accessible here,” she said.  

After years of fighting, she was one of the leading forces that secured Driver’s Licenses for All in Minnesota during this year’s legislative session. At the end of March and the end of a sabbatical she took to focus on advocacy for the Driver’s Licenses bill with her organization Minnesota Immigrant Movement, she spoke with the Pillsbury United communications team about that recent victory, food access as an organizing tool, and the power of Indigenous women. 

Tell us about your relationship with Pillsbury United. How long have you worked here?
I started volunteering in 2002. In 2005, I started work as a regular employee at Waite House. My first job was smoking cessation work. Then I worked at the front desk as a receptionist. Then I worked in the food shelf. And then I started community organizing during our produce giveaway. 60-100 people were showing up to presentations on produce day. We [eventually] organized those people to fight for municipal IDs and Driver’s Licenses for All. It became statewide.  

Why have driver’s licenses for all Minnesotans regardless of immigration status been such an important issue to you?
I have been working for so many years at Waite House, and I see community every single day that is in need of food. To have no hunger in the community, we have to look at the policy that makes people vulnerable. Having licenses will let people work; they will have money to bring food to their tables and there will be less trauma; this has caused trauma for 20 years.  The system has forced people to take risks and made it hard to take care of themselves by removing their right to a license. There’s a lot you can do with a state ID, like rent housing. The economy will be better because of this. 

You’ve been a leader in the movement since the beginning. How did you get involved?
From 2008-2009, collective tables began to form to lead this initiative. At Waite House, we started as Latinas Creativas which became Mujeres en Liderazga and then Mesa Latina, and then Minnesota Immigrant Movement. We wanted Waite House to do training and development to do something in community. That led us to develop the Driver’s Licenses for All bill and to work on getting municipal IDs in the City of Minneapolis, beginning in 2009. 

Tell us about the process of working for more than ten years to get the bill passed.
We asked many legislators to carry our bill in the beginning and they said no, but former Representative Karen Clark said yes right away. She recommended Scott Dibble in the Senate who passed it to Bobby Joe Champion. Clark and Champion became our fighters. Our first bill was introduced in the state of MN in 2010. We weren’t successful. In 2012, the bill passed the Senate but not the House. Then we passed it three times in the Senate but not in the House. We did work all over the state promoting the need for it. We had so many meetings. We did hunger strikes twice. We were camping every legislative session outside of the Capitol. The weather was so cold. We were also sleeping inside the Capitol at times. Governor Dayton said he wouldn’t support the bill, so we went to all his election events. We did a lot of rallies and marches. At one point Republican Rod Hamilton became the house author. He tried to bring other members, but he couldn’t. Finally, Senator Zaynab Mohamed and Representative Aisha Gomez carried it in the end joined by Senator Bobby Joe Champion and Representative Maria Isa Perez Vega. Most of the work being done was women. We started with women and ended with women. 

Tell us more about the work and power of women in this movement.
I come from an Indigenous community where machismo is still there, adopted from colonialism. Women were minimized and forced to do things. This movement proves that women can do so much, even without degrees. I didn’t have the opportunity to finish high school or go to college but have built so much political connection and power. This movement shows the resources we have—they come from the grassroots community members. When you work with your heart, everything you harvest will be love. 

Now that the law is passed, there’s still quite a bit of work to be done to implement it. What is that looking like?
This month we’ve re-visited ten cities around Minnesota doing education and consciousness work. We’re telling people we won; showing them that this is what happens when you don’t give up and you resist. We talk about what the law means, the story of how we got here, and then the bill itself. We want to prepare people to meet the requirements to get a license. We’re talking about responsibility and driving safely. We want people to take care of Minnesota like they’re taking care of their own lives. 

Do you have other dreams for Minnesota? What are they?
If I had more money, I’d create more programs, especially housing. Especially in rural MN, we can do a lot to use the food system to organize people and change policy. I also want to see paternalistic systems dismantled. If we say we want justice for everybody, or if we say we want to empower community, what does that really mean to us? My experience is that organizations minimize us or take credit for the work that community has done. How do we recognize all the good work without territorialism?  

What are your dreams personally and professionally?
I have been asking myself that. One of my dreams is just to be happy and see people happy. When you see a family that has a lot of love, it’s partly because they are ok. Better jobs and better housing create love and harmony in the family. Need gets in the way of love. We have to share resources and remove barriers in order to live equitably. 

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