Peace bubbles

Show up, make A difference

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Hello Monitor readers,
We are making it through another incredible and unpredictable year of COVID-19, climate change, and uncovering on-going racial, gender, personal-self-identification, and health-care and housing injustices, and another critical national and local elections. Wow, when will we get a break to breathe and just be grateful for doing the best we can with what we know or think we know?
I’m happy that we are learning to let go of past historical guilts, shame and blame that keeps us trapped in distractions of fears and the current dysfunctional values of isolation and corporate entitlement welfare and greed. I am glad that I live in a city that is willing to take a chance in giving leadership another chance to fulfill the awesome task of balancing the best quality of life for our residents. As a Black man who grew up in the Twin Cities with colorful kids, including White kids, it is refreshing to have two mayors who can think and act critically about critical matters instead of being color, climate, and public safety blind. Is it possible to give city leadership 8-10 months without complaining or doubting their efforts to sort out, repair, and make progress on healthy solutions from past bad and not good policy choices?
I’m also happy that I have an ample number of organizations and friends that I can ask to share their work, desires, and progress with the Monitor readership. This month, I’ve recruited the St. Paul Public Library. The library, in particularly, the Rondo Community Library (formerly the Lexington Library) has always been a safe and welcoming space for me and my community since my elementary school days. And, yes, it was because of one person, Mrs. Green. She made the library an environment for fun and learning. As a kid, school field trips to the Lexington Library were absolutely fun and adventurous; and when they put in the capacity to show movies like at the movie theaters, it was outstanding! Today, the Rondo Community Library is like my second home; the staff are welcoming and have so much patience with folks who may not yet appreciate the wonder and value of a city library. Although, library staff are not classified as First Responders, St. Paul Public Library staff are indeed Essential Super Workers. During this season of gratefulness, I encourage you to visit your neighborhood library.
The following is a message from the St. Paul Public Library, particularly for the greater Midway area residents.
“The start of the school year always brings a fresh energy to libraries. Across Saint Paul, libraries are bustling with people connecting to wifi and working from study rooms, students dropping by for help with homework, teens hanging out and exploring new tech, community groups holding meetings, readers checking out books and hearing authors speak about their work, and families playing and learning together.
As we continue to come back into safe connection with each other, please stop by your library and see what is there for you, your friends and neighbors, and your family. Starting Nov. 13, we are open more Saturday mornings, Sundays, and Mondays.
Drop by one of our Homework Centers for a space to study or connect with a volunteer tutor, open Mondays – Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m. at Rice Street and Mondays – Thursdays from 4-7 p.m. at Rondo. Teens can check out Createch, a tech and maker space, Tuesdays – Fridays from 5:30-7:45 p.m. at Rice Street and Wednesdays from 3:30-5 p.m. at Rondo. Talk to a social worker Mondays and Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m. at Rondo. Discover the joy of reading and singing with young children at Storytime at Rice Street on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., Rondo on Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m., and Hamline Midway on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m.
At Saint Paul Public Library, we take seriously that our city’s public libraries belong to the people of Saint Paul. Through conversations with community, we set a goal of investing in library spaces that are safe, inviting, affirming, and comfortable for people of all cultures, abilities, and communities. It is this goal that’s at the center of the vision for transforming the Hamline Midway Library. It is this goal that is driving a larger vision for all of our libraries in Saint Paul to work for all people as dynamic, inclusive neighborhood resilience centers.
We have an exciting opportunity to imagine and design new possibilities for the Hamline Midway Library, and we need you! Sign up to receive information about future community engagement and design sessions at sppl.org/facilities-direction. Join us in making this big vision true for libraries across Saint Paul, including Hamline Midway.
Discover more at www.sppl.org or 651-266-7000. Remember, your library is just that – your library. We hope to see you soon!”
Be enlightened, visit your community library and if you are in the Hamline/Midway community, please continue to engage with your library in the visioning and designing process of a new 21st century library for your community. Redevelopment is always a work in progress depending on who shows up. Hamline/Midway residents who have been showing and standing up are making and will continue to make a difference! The library, like other city systems are learning to truly listen and act as community members request and demand, which is our collective right!
Happy Thanksgiving and please be grateful and respectful to the stewards of Mother Earth and send a holiday note to our governor and lt. governor to halt and stop operations of Pipeline 3. We have wiser and better productive ways of providing energy and employment for Minnesotans other than using outdated, destructive, and depleting methods for business practices and utilizing natural resources. The trees and plants, sun, wind, and rain and snow love to cheerfully nurture us freely for recreation, business, and for healing our minds, bodies, emotions, and souls.
Keep the positive vibrations flowing and stay optimistic!!!!
May Peace Be In the Rondo, Frogtown, Hamline/Midway, Como, & Surrounding Communities...
May Peace Be In Our Homes & Communities…
May Peace Prevail On Earth (MPPOE)!!!!
BE SMART! DO YOUR PART! Get Your Vaccination Shots!!!

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