Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

St. Paul COAST Unit members include (left to right) officer Lori Goulet, social worker Sally Vanerstrom, and officer Jen Hale. They respond to mental health calls, as well other crises. (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

Police officers, social workers ride together on crisis calls

While communities everywhere are calling for a changed model of policing, a small unit within the Saint Paul Police Department has been taking a different approach for almost three years. In March of … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/14/21

Student Engagement and Advisory Board Member Kalid Ali said, “I take every opportunity that comes my way as if it were the last one, for the betterment of myself and for others.” (Photo submitted)

Achievement gap growing

The first quarter grades for this year are in for St. Paul Public School students, and it appears that racial disparities are growing worse with distance learning.In 2019, Minnesota ranked 50th when … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/14/21

Keystone expands

Soaring demand for food has strained Keystone Community Services’ food shelves, including its longtime space at 1916 University Ave. A new community food site, which will house an expanded food … more

By Jane McClure | 1/14/21

Kids learn patience, love and kindness through working and playing alongside dogs to boost self-esteem, emotional awareness, frustration tolerance and treating other people with respect. (Photo courtesy of Canine Inspired Change)

Canine Inspired Change hopes to bring healing through three deep dog breaths

Seven-year-old Danielle Graczyk sat on the kitchen floor of her one-level house, curled up into her dog, Sally. The blankets wrapped around her comforted the two to sleep. Sally had been brought to … more

By Makenna Cook | 1/14/21

Open Cities Health Center provides free care

A woman came into Open Cities Health Center (OCHC), 409 N Dunlap St., St. Paul, crying. She had just lost her job and didn’t know how she’d pay for the insulin she needed. Without … more

By Chloe Peter | 1/14/21

Students and their teacher in a College Readiness class at the Hubbs Center in 2018, which prepares students for college level work in reading and writing. (Photo submitted)

Hubbs Center offers free job training for English language learners

When Talita Silva left her small town in Brazil to work as an au pair in St. Paul last December, she dreamt of using her two-year visa to travel the U.S. and improve her English in order to one day … more

By Emma Harville | 1/14/21

Ain Dah Yung Center bridges gap for young adults transitioning to stable life

On University Avenue in St. Paul, yellow, green and red paint covers the walls of a new housing unit for homeless teens and young adults to transition into living independently. The Mino Oski Ain Dah … more

By Emma Eidsvoog | 1/14/21

HEALING

Eleven young activists connect on Zoom with Irreducible Grace Foundation (IGF) team members every other Sunday afternoon. These student activists listen as the IGF team members talk about how to … more

By Molly Korzenowski | 1/14/21

Youth in Model Cities created art on the side of the Victoria Theater Arts Center after the murder of George Floyd. | Submitted Photos by Crystal Vital-Schwartz

Coaches walk alongside youth to keep them out of prison

Bryale Winters, joined by his colleague, Crystal Vital-Schwartz, knocked on the door of a 16-year-old youth’s house for their initial meeting. As the youth’s community coach, … more

By Jhenna Becker | 1/14/21

The two Foodmobiles make multiple stops in St. Paul each week, offering food choices. Find the schedule at keystoneservices.org. (Photo by Logan Murphy)

Keystone brings food to community through foodmobile program

For some people in need, going to a traditional food shelf brings feelings of anxiety and shame. About seven years ago, Minneapolis-based nonprofit Keystone Community Services had an idea to change … more

By Logan Murphy | 1/14/21

Together

As the school season ends, Megan Phinney, coordinator of the Children’s Gardening Program at Urban Farm and Garden Alliance (UFGA), gets ready for new and returning children to flood the … more

By Savannah Romero | 1/14/21

ComMUSICation looks ahead to next stage

Youth participating in ComMUSICation programs speak many different languages including Spanish, Hmong, Karen, Oromo, Somali, Thai, and Vietnamese. The common language they all share, besides English, … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/14/21

Let’s practice being optimistic

Happy grateful New Year Monitor readers,I started writing this month’s column full of hope and gratefulness for surviving 2020. However, I can’t recall ever wanting a year to end and … more

By Melvin Giles peacebubbles@q.com | 1/14/21

{ Monitor in a Minute } January 2021

Homeless camps to closeThe push to close homeless encampments and relocate people goes on this month. St. Paul and Ramsey County officials are trying to get the homeless into shelter and out of the … more

By JANE McCLURE | 1/14/21

In Brief JANUARY 2021

Dale St. work pausedRamsey County’s Dale Street reconstruction project in Saint Paul All I-94 entrance and exit ramps at Dale St. and Interstate 94 opened to traffic on Nov. 19 at the … more

1/14/21

PPGJLI children’s book takes top award in Minnesota Author Project contest

The children’s book, “Justice Makes a Difference: The Story of Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire,” has been selected as the winner in the first annual Minnesota Author Project … more

1/14/21

Niqui, April and Sean of St. Paul Camp Support with just some of the supplies they bring to the encampments. The group collects supplies at 2161 University Ave. W., on Wednesdays and Fridays, 3-7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. They always looking for clothing, camp stoves, towels or tents. (Photo by Jan Willms)

How will homeless weather winter?

Whether working for the state, the city or on the front lines, workers addressing the homeless situation in Minnesota strongly agree on two things: affordable housing is desperately needed, and the … more

By JAN WILLMS | 12/9/20 | 1 comment

Trash fees increasing

What St. Paul’s residents pay for trash collection will increase in 2021. But the usually contentious issue of organized collection drew fewer than half a dozen public comments during a … more

By JANE McCLURE | 12/9/20

‘Mr. Rondo’s Spirit: a story of a man and his community’

According to Rondo resident, educator, and artist Ericka Dennis, most children she meets don’t know the real story of the historic Rondo neighborhood. Dennis currently works as a Family Liaison … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 12/9/20

Frogtown Green volunteers planted the chestnut seedings around the perimeter of Frogtown Green’s Our Village Community Garden at Pierce Butler and Milton avenues. (Photo submitted)

Chestnut trees planted in Frogtown garden

By Rennie GaitherThe legendary chestnut tree, once dominant in the ancient forests from Connecticut to eastern China and Japan, stands firmly among the pantheon of classic American trees. This forest … more

By Rennie Gaither | 12/9/20