Midway Como Frogtown Monitor

IN BRIEF May 2022

GREG RATHERT NEW VICE PRESIDENTSaint Paul College President Deidra Peaslee announces that Greg Rathert has been named the college’s new vice president for academic and student affairs, … more

5/11/22

Students from Como’s Braided Journeys program participated in an immersive experience at the Mdewakanton Sioux Community Culture Center.

Exams, honors, activities and celebrations

AP Exams Hundreds of Como students are taking Advanced Placement exams during the first two weeks of May. The national tests administered by the College Board allow students to show what they know … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 5/11/22

"Wallin saw every scholar as a whole person, and now that I am on the alumni board, I hear that over and over again. It makes such a big difference," said alumni board member Minette Saulog.

Wallin helps students rise

“A Minnesota story” is the description president and CEO Susan Basil King uses when she tells about the beginnings of Wallin Education Partners, an organization that makes college … more

By JAN WILLMS | 4/16/22

The Como Theater Department’s production of Disney’s “High School Musical” was staged on March 18 and 19 in the Como auditorium .(Photo by Como senior Soren Sackreiter)

Como students shine with 'High School Musical'

Following months of preparation, and after a two-year hiatus caused by the global pandemic, Como students finally had the chance to shine on stage with three performances of Disney’s … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 4/14/22

AmeriCorps Director Sonali Nijhawan (center) Yasmin Gelle, Pazau Vang, Kayleigh Kaminski and Meghan Erickson at Phalen Lake Elementary in St. Paul.

Local Reading Corp members recognized

Minnesota Reading Corps is the nation’s largest state AmeriCorps program. During AmeriCorps Week, March 13-19, the commitment of the more than 1.2 million Americans who serve their communities … more

4/14/22

Saint Paul College gets $500,000 grant

Saint Paul College GETS $500,000 GRANTSaint Paul College will receive $500,000 to increase postsecondary access and success for American Indian and indigenous students and their families.“We … more

4/14/22

CO-STRUGGLING

The past year has been less challenging for Dr. Jason Sole and his abolitionist work, in spite of the ongoing pandemic and the social unrest across much of the country.The Hamline adjunct professor, … more

By JAN WILLMS | 3/17/22

View of Katherine Kierland Herberger Gallery / Community Commons / Gallery 110 with objects installed for the exhibition "Racism as a Public Health Crisis: Youth and Professional Artists Respond" at Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Exploring ‘Racism as a Public Health Crisis’

As an art teacher at St. Paul’s Como Park High School, Sydney Willcox seeks to connect student creations with their own lived experiences.A recent collaboration with local artists allowed that … more

By ERIC ERICKSON | 3/17/22

TEENS PROTEST

Teens from across the Twin Cities walked out of class on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, and gathered at Central High School in St. Paul to protest the use of no-knock warrants and stand up to police violence … more

by TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 3/17/22

School of Leadership for Public Service to open

The School of Leadership for Public Service, a free pubic charter school, recently announced that it will be opening in the Saint Columba school site in the fall of 2022. The School of Leadership … more

3/10/22

Students participated in a career fair at Como Park High School on Feb. 23. (Photo by Eric Erickson)

Students check out options during career fair

Thirty representatives from businesses, industries, and trade groups shared information and opportunities with interested Como students during the school day on Feb. 23. Students signed up for … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 3/10/22

St. Paul City School second graders took a field trip to Base Camp where they got to rock climb. (Photo courtesy of St. Paul City School) St. Paul City School has received a $475,000 Full Service Community Schools grant (over 2.5 years). “This money will provide an opportunity to truly understand the needs of the community and resources to support families,” remarked executive director Meg Cavalier. “The Family and Community Center in the new building will connect the school, families, and the community with access to health care, mental health support, food, legal, employment, and housing supports. It is truly our dream to be a wrap-around community school and we are thrilled that this is coming!”

From school to youth center

A longtime Frogtown school will be transformed into a youth center housing up to 16 young people. On Jan. 21, 2022, the St. Paul Planning Commission Jan. 21 unanimously approved a conditional use … more

By JANE McCLURE | 2/10/22

Mayor visits students at St. Peter Claver

Scholars at St. Peter Claver Catholic School were treated to a lesson on leadership when Mayor Melvin Carter visited the school on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. Mayor Carter, whose dad is a St. Peter … more

2/10/22

Sam Skinner and Chikamso Chijioke will represent Como at the National Speech and Debate Tournament. (Photo by Como debate coach Deb Hansmeier)

Students consider real-world issues, think critically on debate team

For a second straight season, Chikamso Chijioke and Sam Skinner qualified for the Minnesota State Debate Meet. Competing in the policy division, the duo advanced to the quarterfinal round of the … more

By Eric Erickson Social studies teacher | 2/10/22

Build virtual ice castle in Minecraft

Build a virtual ice castle in Minecraft during the 2022 Saint Paul Winter Carnival.The online event on Sunday, Jan. 30 from 2-5 p.m. is being hosted by Victoria Theater Arts Center (VTAC) in its … more

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN | 1/11/22

“This museum is not just for the Hmong people, but for everyone to come and learn more about Hmong history, art and culture,” said Txongpao Lee, executive director. It is located at 375 University Ave. (Photo submitted)

Hmong Cultural Center Museum expands

The Hmong Cultural Center Museum at 375 University Ave. in St. Paul is not trying to be the Hmong Smithsonian, according to Mark Pfeifer, director of programs at the Cultural Center. Instead, he said … more

By Jan Willms | 1/11/22

Dr. Buffy Smith, interim dean of Dougherty Family College, see herself in the experiences of the students there. She was the first person in her family to attend college. (Photo submitted)

Dougherty Family College offers students a great start

A two-year college through the University of St. Thomas is tailored to motivated, underrepresented students who have encountered barriers in pursuing a college degree.Founded in 2017, the Dougherty … more

By MARGIE O’LOUGHLIN | 1/11/22

Students encourage others to get involved with Youth Vote program

Every month the League of Women Voters St. Paul (LWVSP) hosts a program in the series “Our St. Paul: Learn with the League.” The Nov. 30, 2021 Zoom/Facebook Live program featured Como … more

1/11/22

Jackson Elementary’s 268 students will be split up.

Galtier, Jackson schools to close

After 111 years in the Midway, Galtier Elementary will close its doors at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. So will Jackson Elementary, a Frogtown mainstay since 1880, and three other schools on … more

By JANE McCLURE | 12/11/21

YWCA St. Paul will display and house an art piece commissioned by St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter reflecting the city’s People’s Prosperity Pilot, an economic program initiated in 2020. People’s Prosperity Pilot supports St. Paul’s low-income families of color with a goal to create a model that addresses monetary inequities. As part of the People’s Prosperity Pilot, Carter selected Alan and Nicole Milligan, owners of the Milligan Studio, to create a piece of art reflecting the intention of this economic program. The work aligns with the YWCA mission of eliminating racism. “We are excited to have been selected to share this beautiful artwork, Altitude, with our community,” said YWCA St. Paul Chief Executive Officer Gaye Adams Massey. The artwork will be on display permanently in the window on the second floor allowing people to view this as they walk through the neighborhood. The Milligan Studios had Danny Diamond, a friend and musician, compose and play a musical piece to accompany the art. A QR code will allow viewers to hear this melody simultaneously. (Photo submitted)

BRIEFLY December 2021

Center for Social JusticeUnited Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities has received a grant of $1,000,000 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish a Leadership Center for Social Justice that will … more

12/11/21