CTK SOWERS » Northside Initiatives

CAN Do for PQ

dkelley — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:22:01 +0000

The is a Lenten project for all CTK parishioners. Grab a 10-ounce can (like a soup can) and clean it out and set it in a frequently traveled space in your house — then keep tossing in coins during Lent until the can is filled. As a constant reminder, wrap it in a “CAN Do for PQ” label if you saved one from the Herald at the beginning of Lent. Bring the cans, bulging with money, to church on April 10th — and then on the next Sunday, Palm Sunday, a representative number of cans will be offered at the altar as a Lenten gift. And the gift — as much money as is collected from the cans — will be given to the Patchwork Quilt program, which is heavily supported by CTK. Father Dale, David Nassif and Adele Della Torre are on the board. Patchwork Quilt, started over ten years ago at the Church of St. Philip on the north side (CTK’s sister parish), is instrumental in keeping kids on the north side off the streets by providing after school programs geared to all ages.

Easy Chairs, Tough Topics = Big Success

dkelley — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:16:44 +0000

Over two dozen parishioners participated in the first of the Sowers series of “Civil Civic Dialogue — Easy Chairs, Tough Topics” on Sunday, October 3rd. For an hour the participants shared thoughts and suggestions on the subject for the day: “The Catholic Church and Politics — can we separate the two — should we?” Participants eagerly look forward to the second and third in the series. The second will be in the Social Hall before 9:30 Mass on October 17 starting at 8:00am: suggested subject, “Religious Tolerance or Desecration at Ground Zero?” The third will be after Mass that same day starting at 10:45am in the Old Sacristy: suggested subject, “Do Corporations Have Social Responsibilities?” All parishioners are invited and are welcome. Additional topics on future dates will be suggested by the participants and might include subjects such as workers’ rights, healthcare, world poverty, human rights, homelessness, racism. Please join in the dialogue.

NAZ and the PEACE Foundation reaching kids to be COLLEGE READY

mcolbert — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:01:21 +0000

Do you know the disturbing fact that MN has one of the largest gaps in the nation between African-American and white children? In fact, the gap on 4th grade reading scores is the second largest in the nation (Education Trust’s Education Watch Minnesota Fall 2006). Working to change this in North Minneapolis, the PEACE Foundation is the lead organization collaborating with The Northside Achievement Zone or NAZ. The “Zone” is a 255-block area on the Northside. CTK and many parishioners have been proudly supporting the work of the PEACE Foundation for several years.

Sondra Samuels, President of the PEACE Foundation, explained in a wonderful Star Tribune editorial page article on July 13, 2010, how it works. ”Our NAZ approach is three-pronged – engaging families, having excellent schools, and building a community that supports education. The 60 organizations involved have agreed on common goals. We weren’t making progress working on this alone – but together we’re aligning our service to be more effective. It’s the village going viral.” The article stated that by the end of the summer, NAZ expects to sign up 200 families in the Zone to work with ”NAZ Connectors” to help them get services in areas such as housing, health care, employment counseling, and prenatal care. The idea is that successful families and communities will produce healthy, successful students.

This effort is modeled after the acclaimed successful Harlem Children’s Zone in New York City. Founder Geoffrey Canada dramatically improved student achievement in a 97-block area of Harlem by supporting kids and families from before birth to college. Our Minneapolis local Northside Achievement Zone states in their February 2010 news brochure that after two years of collaborative visioning and structuring, they are operational and poised to significantly alter the educational outcomes on the Northside. The three action areas – Opportunity Alignment, Education (early childhood through college), and Family Engagement – work together in the Zone toward the outcome of ALL KIDS COLLEGE READY!

Please visit the PEACE Foundation website www.citypeace.org for more information, and to stay in touch with all their continual work, get on their “E-lert” email list.

30 CTK’ers Tour Northside Businesses

dkelley — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:10:20 +0000

Reactions by 30 CTK’ers who spent the morning of Saturday, March 6th, aboard a comfortable tour bus visiting developed and developing sites on the Northside have been universally enthusiastic. In answer to the question, “Was the tour what you expected?” the response was generally, “Much more than expected.” Tour guides were Sarita Turner, Director of the West Broadway Business & Area Coalition (who spoke after Masses on February 20th and 21st), and City Councilman Don Samuels who both did a magnificent job of introducing us to and impressing us with the impressive developments along West Broadway. The tour made stops at the following impressive Northside ventures:

* Lundstrom Center — the longest running performing arts center, and training facility, in North Minneapolis.

* Good Sports Bar and Grill — which used to be a hangout for gang members and has been converted to a beautiful bar and grill which has “the best food in the city of Minneapolis.”

* Juxtaposition — an arts center whose mission it is “to empower youth and community to use the arts to actualize their full potential.”

* Bean Scene — a coffee house which used to be on a corner of West Broadway which attracted gang members but which is now right in the center of West Broadway and attracting a “regular clientele.”

* Catalyst Community Partners — a consortium of invested partners who have converted the historic old building in which we stopped and also the Five Points Building across the street which will house KMOJ and a restaurant.

* El-Amin’s Fish House — a wonderful food emporium, currently mostly for take-out but now being expanded to a sit-down restaurant with an outdoor patio.

Enthusiastic comments included the following: “Would love to have a chance to go in a group again and patronize these places,” “This was truly a great trip — I was very moved by all the people/business owners we met along the way — some great people doing really great things” — ‘I was impressed that they are renovating historic buildings when I know it would be easier to tear them down” — “I wanted to see more” — “I think we should run this again and get another 30-40 people. Don’t let a good thing die.”

“Flow” Down West Broadway and Enjoy the Northside’s Annual Arts Spectacular

dkelley — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:37:33 +0000

Here’s a wonderful opportunity to support the Northside and at the same time spend an enjoyable couple of hours at the Peace Foundation’s annual FLOW:Northside Arts Crawl. Over 200 Northside artists will be featured in this annual display on Saturday, July 20th, from 3 to 8 pm. Stroll along West Broadway and enjoy visual and performing artists “doing their thing” — dance and drill team performances, art-making activities, live music, art in “real time,” and art, art, art. Also food! Check out www.FLOWnorthside.org for event details, including performance schedule, event route, and shuttle information.

City Council Member Don Samuels to speak at CTK Forum After Mass Sun. May 31

mcolbert — Sun, 24 May 2009 20:50:23 +0000

Please plan to stay an hour after 9:30am Mass on Sun. May 31 to hear the ever-inspiring Don Samuels. You’ll be glad you did – as those were who heard him speak at CTK previously!

Don Samuels is City Council Member for Ward 5 in North Mpls. and is co-founder of the PEACE Foundation – Public Engagement And Community Empowerment – connecting regional partners and local residents in collaborations to end violence. CTK has been a supportive partner with the PEACE Foundation since its inception about 5 years ago.

Learn of the progress of the PEACE Foundation and Northside issues. Hear of the HOPE in this JOURNEY of continuing partnerships for PEACE.

Get energized – grab your coffee and come to the Auditorium for this inspirational forum!

Sign Up for GO! Northside 5K Run/Walk

dkelley — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:04:20 +0000

Christ the King parishioners have always been strong supporters of and participants in this annual pull-together and fund-raiser for the Peace Foundation. This year should be no exception. The event is scheduled to convene at 10:00am on Saturday, May 30th, at North Commons Park, 1801 James Ave. No., and the Race/Walk will start at 10:30.

To register: Call 612-521-4405. Fees: $25 standard rate, $10 youth rate (under 18). For information: Call Tomi Kean at 612-285-7095.

Features:

Friendliest race in the Twin Cities, with GO! cheering squads lining the course.
Cash prizes for top finishers.
T-shirts for all participants.
Finish Line Festival from 11:00am to 1:oopm at the newly renovated North Community YMCA Youth and Teen Enrichment center.

Help Reduce Violence on the Northside

dkelley — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:33:24 +0000

BECOME A NORTHSIDE ALLY.

There are all kinds of ways — some simple and some more involved — that you can become a “Northside Ally” and add your little bit to helping reduce violence on the Northside. Here are some of the simple ways the Peace Foundation recommends:

Stay Informed – Sign up to receive regular Peace Foundation E-lerts on www.citypeace.org and stay abreast of events, activities, and issues related to violence prevention on the Northside.
Spread the Word – Inspire other parishioners, friends, family, neighbors to sign up to receive E-lerts
Take a Bus Tour – The Peace Foundation sponsors a fascinating and educational bus tour of the Northside on the fourth Saturday morning of every month. Council Member Don Samuels leads the tour.

And here are some more involved ways to help:

Attend Monthly Gathering the Movement forums – The Peace Foundation sponsors these forums on the fourth Thursday of every month at its headquarters on West Broadway. Each month you can learn more about public policy issues and how to support the movement.
Be a Mentor or Tutor – Sign up with a Peace Foundation partner organization that sponsors mentoring or tutoring on the Northside.
Come to the Northside – Attend vigils when homicides occur, locate businesses on the Northside to support or visit.
Help Build Resources – Support resource development efforts for the Peace Foundation and the Northside by pledging funds yourself or helping to raise funds.

Patchwork Quilt/Kwanzaa Kids’ Programs

mcolbert — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:25:17 +0000

PATCHWORK QUILT KIDS’ CLUB & KWANZAA TEEN PROGRAM

PATCHWORK QUILT is a variety of kids’ programs, formerly at The Church of St. Philip, now merged with Kwanzaa Programs held at two church locations: 3700 Bryant Ave. N. and 2100 Emerson Ave. N. These after school programs were started by the late Fr. Greg Tolaas when he was pastor at St. Philip’s to help and mentor kids in the Hawthorne neighborhood. In the children’s often complicated lives, PQ is where they find sustaining relationships, meals, a safe place, academic support, homework help, and computer use. The PQ staff benefits from volunteer help with either the meal and/or with the program so please consider this wonderful chance to spend once a month or more with these endearing kids. Christ the King has volunteers helping there now. The programs are:

Patchwork Quilt Kid’s Club (grades 1-6) focuses on strengthening academic skills, reading, computer competency, nurturing relationships, and includes sharing a healthy snack together. Runs Mon-Fri 2:30 to 6:00pm, at 3700 Bryant Ave. N. Volunteers needed Tue., Wed., or Thurs for any or part of the time frame.
Kwanzaa Teen Program (ages 13-19) runs Mon-Fri 4:00-8:00pm at 2100 Emerson Ave. N. Volunteers needed to provide a meal Mon, Tue, or Thurs any time between 4:00 and 7:00pm or to help in the computer lab at the 3700 Bryant Ave. N. location.
Technology Outreach for teens and adults. Computer assistance for teens and adults on Saturdays at the 3700 Bryant Ave. N. location.

For more information contact Mary Colbert at mary.colbert@ctksowers.org. Or sign up with PQ Volunteer Coordinator Diane Beving, 612-270-0923, dbeving@thepatchworkquilt.org

The PEACE Foundation 2009 Calendar

mcolbert — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:57:49 +0000

The movement underway to end violence on the Northside is working! Violence has been down close to 50% on the Northside this year. Your involvement in PEACE Foundation events, forums, and initiatives has been one part the solution, along with a host of other connected actions. We need to build on this momentum by staying focused and keeping active on the Northside.

Partnering with the PEACE Foundation means to join neighbors and community leaders from North Minneapolis, and members of the PEACE Partner Ally Groups forming around the community to…

Break bread with partners and allies from across the region
Build relationships across the divides that usually separate us
Get educated and informed about what we can all do to change the system
Support strategies to reduce violence on our blocks
Strategize on how the movement for local peace will prevail

Location of Gathering the Movement monthly forums:

PEACE Foundation Offices, above the Cookie Cart, 1119 W. Broadway Ave. (between Emerson & Fremont). Enter back door/park in alley. Forums include a light dinner. If you would like to carpool from the CTK parking lot at 6pm, contact Tomi Kean at 612-285-7095.

These forums are the 4th Thursday of the month except for during the summer months when they have other events at various times. Usually at least 2 or 3 from CTK attend – so it’s easy to join in!

2009 Calendar for PEACE on the Northside
Note: Schedule subject to change. Go to
www.citypeace.org or call 612-521-4405 for
event details and an up-to-date schedule.

January
12th – Ally Partnership Workgroup
22nd – Gathering the Movement Forum, 6:30pm
24th – Northside Community Tour, 10am
February
16th – Northside Day on the Hill
26th – Gathering the Movement Forum, 6:30pm
28th – Northside Community Tour
March
26th – Gathering the Movement Forum, 6:30pm
28th – Northside Community Tour, 10am

April 13th – Ally Partnering Workgroup 23rd – Spring PEACE Summer Event
25th – Northside Community Tour, 10am
May
12th – Ally Partnership Workgroup
16th – Northside Community Tour, 10am
28th – Gathering the Movement Forum, 6:30pm
30st – GO! Northside 5k Fun Run/Walk &
Finish Line Festival
June
19th – PEACE Summer/Games Street Party
Participate in these events critical for communitybuilding
on our most violence-weary blocks.
27th – Northside Community Tour, 10am
July
10th & 17th – PEACE Summer Street Parties
Participate in these events critical for communitybuilding
on our most violence-weary blocks.
18th – Northside Community Tour, 10am
25th – FLOW, A Northside Arts Crawl
Enjoy Northside visual and performing art on
Broadway with thousands of other neighbors from
the Northside and the broader community for this
PEACE Games art event.
August
17th – Ally Partnership Workgroup
22nd – Northside Community Tour
27th – Gathering the Movement Forum, 6:30pm
September
24th – Gathering the Movement Forum, 6:30pm
26th – Northside Community Tour, 10am
October
10th – 6th Annual PEACE Ball
22nd – Gathering the Movement Forum, 6:30pm
24th – Northside Community Tour, 10am
November
16th – Ally Partnership Workgroup
19th – Gathering the Movement Forum, 6:30pm
21st – Northside Community Tour, 10am
December
17th – Gathering the Movement Forum, 6:30pm
(Holiday Party and End-of-Year Celebration)

Northside Community Tours
Driving bus tour focusing on the assets and challenges in
North Minneapolis lead by Council Member Don
Samuels. Reservations needed.