In Brief February 2021

International Film Festival
MSP Film Society announces the 40th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF40) will take place Thursday, May 13 through Sunday, May 23, 2021. Due to the ongoing pandemic, MSPIFF40 will be a hybrid festival, with films and panels presented primarily in the virtual world, while plans are in motion for several outdoor screenings, as long as state and local COVID-19 orders allow. Details will be released in the coming months. MSPIFF40 Festival Passes are on sale now at mspfilm.org.

Mysticism in music
Sophia Pendergast, a board member of the Minneapolis Theosophical Society, will lead a discussion on esoteric influences on music in a Zoom webinar 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22 sponsored by local Theosophists. For more information, call the Minneapolis Theosophical Society at (612) 208-6485 or go to facebook.com/minneapolistheosophicalsociety.

Classes at Mississippi Market
Mississippi Market transiConed its in-person cooking and wellness class program to a virtual platform starting in April of 2020.The co-op has served 2,860 people through its online education program since the pandemic began. This is an over 200% increase in participation. Class instructors are local and over 50% identify as BIPOC, bringing a rich variety of culinary skills and recipes to the community. Register for upcoming classes for free at msmarket.coop/event.

Career Labs continue in 2021
The Community Career Labs program will be extended through 2021, thanks to Community Development Block Grant funds. The Career Labs provide free workforce and career support to residents who have experienced job loss, a reduction of hours, a change or loss in income, or faced job insecurity. Career Labs are available by reservation at the Saint Paul Public Library Dayton’s Bluff, Rice Street, Rondo Community Library and Sun Ray locations.

Umbrella exhibit at SMSP
The Smallest Museum in St Paul is hosting an exhibit from the Umbrella Cover Museum through February 2021. The exhibit includes umbrella covers (sleeves) from around the world, a vintage fire hose umbrella cover from Bristol, England and a banana-shaped umbrella cover, marketed as the “Um-Banana.” The exhibit is viewable seven days a week, 24 hours a day, as the SMSP is viewable from the sidewalk. It is located at 2399 University Ave., just outside Workhorse Coffee Bar.

Aim to improve food access
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded a $35,000 planning grant to Campus Compact of Iowa and Minnesota and Hamline, St. Catherine, and Augsburg Universities, to strengthen food insecurity programs and support student-led efforts to collaboratively explore next steps.