Frogtown | Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

Lexington Station and its 288 apartments won’t be built near Lexington Parkway and University Avenue. On a 4-3 vote April 7, 2021, the St. Paul City Council rejected an appeal by developer … more

By Jane McClure | 4/14/21

Trent Bowman is the president of NAREB, a coalition of Black real estate professionals. He said, “Throughout history, people of color have been left out of the homeownership game. It’s about leaving a legacy. It’s about building wealth in our communities. We have to understand the history of housing discrimination, so we can work in the present to leave something for our kids in the future.” (Photo courtesy of NAREB)

Part II: The Twin Cities housing market

In last month’s article about the Twin Cities housing market during COVID-19, real estate professionals characterized the market as “frenzied.” A picture emerged of Minneapolis and … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 4/14/21

Victoria Theater Arts Center establishes a Community Trauma Response Program

All summer of 2020 Victoria Theater Arts Center (VTAC) made a commitment to the Frogtown and Rondo community to help process the trauma in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and other Black … more

4/14/21

Let’s go far together instead of going fast alone

If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.” - An African Proverb Happy Spring Monitor readers, This is such a refreshing time of the year with the return of the … more

By Melvin Giles peacebubbles@q.com | 4/14/21

Frog Food April 2021

Z Akhmetova | 4/14/21

Alatus project sparks debate on definition of ‘affordable housing’, gentrification

Developer Alatus’ Lexington Station mixed-use project is in the hands of the St. Paul City Council, with a public hearing and likely vote March 17 on its site plan. The Minneapolis-based … more

By Jane McClure | 3/10/21

Is Round Two coming?

Minneapolis and St. Paul are braced for civil unrest as the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin commences. City councils in both cities have been receiving updates on plans to … more

By JANE McCLURE | 3/10/21

People find common ground when they come together over a meal and conversation, according to Russel Balenger, who leads The Circle of Peace gatherings in order to promote racial healing and stop violence. (Photo submitted)

The Circle of Peace story

It began as a conversation among neighbors. Russel Balenger remembers when his sons were younger and in a row with a couple of families. “I went to the heads of the families and said we had to … more

By JAN WILLMS | 3/10/21

{ Monitor in a Minute } March 2021

Midway Center site of fire Midway Center at 1544 university Ave., which was extensively damaged during civil unrest in May 2020, again had a fire Feb. 15. The St. Paul Fire Department was called to … more

By JANE McCLURE | 3/10/21

Keep stretching your comfort zone into new learning zones

What is the hardest thing of all? That which seems the easiest For your eyes to see That which lies before your eyes. - Goethe Hello, Monitor readers, Spring freshness is in the air and COVID-19 … more

By Melvin Giles peacebubbles@q.com | 3/10/21

Frog Food March 2021

Z Akhmetova | 3/10/21

Frog Food February 2021

Z Akhmetova | 2/11/21

Set your own special days and intentions

Hello, Monitor readers, Happy Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday, and Happy American Heart Month, Black History Month, National Bird Feeding Month, … more

2/11/21

Kali Terry owns a duplex that provides him a home and also generates income. (Photos submitted)

‘It’s a gamechanger’

Not having access to homeownership can mean missing out on decades of opportunity to grow family wealth through equity. When Kali Terry became the first person in his family to own a home, he flipped … more

By AMANDA WELLIVER NEIGHBORWORKS | 2/11/21

Milan Dennie, owner of King Milan’s Barbershop said, “We’re a standout small business in the neighborhood because we stand for something positive.” (Photo by Margie O’Loughlin)

King Milan’s Barbershop keeps up annual tradition

Milan Dennie owns and operates King Milan’s Barbershop in the Frogtown neighborhood. He has continued a tradition there for years that he started in his hometown of Gary, Ind.: offering free … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 2/11/21

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 | 1 comment

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