Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

Artwork by Susan Gainen, a resident of the Midway area.

When Art to Change the World director Barbara Bridges saw all the new construction of apartment buildings going up in her Northeast neighborhood she saw potential art buyers and collectors moving … more

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

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

‘Stable Weight: a Memoir of Hunger, Horses, and Hope’

Eating disorders affect every gender, age, race, class, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Longtime Hamline-Midway resident and writer Lisa Whalen knows that only too well. Her debut book was out in … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 3/10/21

Medica moves to Midway, focusing on economic inclusion

Medica hopes to impact the community for the better and create more diversity and economic inclusion by opening its first location in St. Paul.An office with 50 staff members will operate out of the … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 3/10/21

{ Monitor in a Minute } March 2021

Midway Center site of fireMidway 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

St. Paul businesses get $1.6 million after civil unrest

St. Paul businesses have received more than $1.6 million for to recover from 2020’s civil unrest. Another $4.725 million went to help small business affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. more

By JANE McCLURE | 2/11/21

Lexington Station would have 15 units with four bedrooms to allow co-living at $900 a person. Rent for one-bedrooms would be $1,400 and for two bedrooms more than $2,000. Those who voted against the project were concerned this was too expensive to qualify as “affordable housing” in this part of St. Paul.

Lexington Station denied on 8-7 vote

A 288-unit, six-story mixed-use building planned near Lexington Parkway and University Avenue faces an uncertain future. Approval of the site plan for Alatus’ Lexington Station project at … more

By JANE McCLURE | 2/11/21

Swap seeds with neighbors Feb. 20

Seed swapping between neighbors has been happening in the Midway this winter and one more date remains. Hamline Midway residents Anna McLafferty (of Hothouse Horticulture) and Stephanie Hankerson, … more

By Kate mudge kate@hamlinemidway.org | 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

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