Career Pathways charter school moves to Hamline Midway

Move brings students closer to job opportunities and partnerships with local businesses and organizations

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
A small charter school focused on developing career pathways in middle and high school has moved to the Hamline-Midway neighborhood.
Career Pathways opened its doors to students on Sept. 6 at its new location, 1355 Pierce Butler Rt.
Photo right: Landlord Raj Saraf (left), Career Pathways Executive Director Dr. Joan Arbisi Little, and school board member and teacher Liz Lonetti sign the lease on the new building at 1355 Pierce Butler Rt. (Photo submitted)
The charter school, which opened in the 2015-16 school year, was formerly located in the Whittier neighborhood of South Minneapolis. Last year it had 95 students and 17 staff members. With a larger building this year, staff members hope to expand by 20 to 30 students this year.
However, the school intends to remain small and has capped its enrollment at 175.
“Our advisory based groups are mixed age, and with so many staff, classes are small,” remarked Career Pathways Executive Director Joan Arbisi Little. “We will always be a small school with small classes.”
A graduate of St. Paul Open School, Arbisi Little is a strong believer in experiential learning—learning about something by doing it. “With our focus on career pathways, we help kids stay focused on discovering their own strengths and future opportunities,” said Arbisi Little. “We are a small international school where all are welcome and where all students and staff are known.
Photo left: Eight of Career Pathways’ 11 licensed teachers at a summer symposium in July 2017. Teachers used the time to make plans for the new school year. (Photo submitted)
“As a public school, we are open to all students. Students and parents are attracted to our small size and our focus on job readiness.”
Focus on real world skills
The original board chose to start a career and college-orientated school where students could have early and consistent exposure to the ideas that would grow naturally into plans for post secondary education.
Students participate in a variety of programs that focus on real world transferable skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, interpersonal, and the “soft skills” that make one a strong team member.
One of the reasons for relocating to the Hamline-Midway neighborhood was to put students near a wide variety of industries and post-secondary schools where students can participate in internships, jobs, and postsecondary education opportunities (PSEO).
Photo left: School board member and teacher Liz Lonetti and two juniors hang out near the Welcome Desk. (Photo submitted)
“We are thrilled to be in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood because the community has so many opportunities to offer our students,” stated Career Pathways School Board Member Liz Lonetti. “The building will allow us to create workshop, aquaponics, and technical training labs in and around the school.”
Business leaders who would like to partner with the school are encouraged to contact Career and College Counselor, Amina Adan, at amina@cpathmn.org.
Education beyond four walls
Part of the school’s mission is to connect students to the greater community around them. “It extends education beyond the four walls of a school and enriches learning,” remarked Arbisi Little.
One of those programs is Street Law, which partners with local law schools to send their students into high schools as volunteers who present on law topics and how students can leverage the protections of the law and understand its limits.
Photo right: Minneapolis College of Art and Design President Jay Coogan looks at art with Career Pathways middle school students on a college visit last year. (Photo submitted)
YouthBuild offers students the opportunity to learn about the building trades. The organization provides mentoring and job site construction opportunities.
Resources Inc. hires Career Pathways students to work in the school as lunch servers and helpers. This program is especially good for students who don’t feel confident going out into the community to work, remarked Arbisi Little.
Students who are interested in concurrent enrollment work with Lake Superior College to take courses at Career Pathways with an approved teacher or online. Psychology is a favorite for juniors and seniors.
One of the graduation requirements is having a resume on file. “Students have enthusiastically caught on how to phrase job experiences in resumes, and I think they see how much potential they have when their hard work is written out, and they look up things they can learn to improve their resume,” said Arbisi Little.
Each student is also required to work a minimum of 40 hours as a volunteer or in a real job before graduation, and to create a post-graduation plan. The school maintains contact with the supervisor to make sure that things go well for both the student and the partnering organization, according to Arbisi Little.
Another unique feature at Career Pathways is Genius Hour—a time where community experts come in to offer special opportunities.
There’s also the Maker-Space, a place where students can go to build and create art or prototypes. “It looks a lot like an art studio at this time, but we envision it growing to be more of a shop class,” said Arbisi Little.
Design Thinking, the process of defining a problem, empathizing with the audience, brainstorming solutions, creating prototypes, testing, and launching the solution, is another unique feature of the charter school.
Career Pathways is a teacher led-school, with teachers making decisions in a democratic way. “Like a dentist clinic or law office, the professionals who work with the clients (in our case the students) make the decisions,” explained Arbisi Little. “As the executive director, it is my responsibility to support their decisions carefully watching student achievement, financial stability, and community relations.”
90% of students are bilingual
Some of the founding leaders of Career Pathways were immigrants and helped make sure that bilingual students would get a strong foundation before going to college and joining the work force.
A third of the students at Career Pathways are ESL learners, and close to 90% are bilingual.
“We offer newcomers a sheltered environment where they can learn the language and the culture alongside their peers while being supported by staff who have been through similar experiences,” remarked Arbisi Little.
Individualized graduation plans
At Career Pathways, staff members work with each student to create an individualized graduation plan. “We sit with each student and help them prepare for graduation by listening to their dreams, helping them chart out goals and designing a plan for graduation,” said Arbisi Little.
Staff members identify the standards students need to meet and what unfinished graduation requirements are on a student’s transcript. Then they plan a student’s schedule combining interests with project-based learning, more traditional “core” classes, and, when appropriate, blended or online learning.
“Many of our students have college aspirations; those students can enroll in PSEO  and other college readiness options,” stated Arbisi Little.
“Other students are excited to start working, so we provide mock-interviews and resume help, and connect them with volunteer organizations to help them improve their resume.
“In addition, we often have students that are working part time and need their jobs. We understand that work experiences have taught these students many skills, and we give them work credit.”
All students are required to meet the same requirements that the Minnesota Department of Education has set for public school students through out the state.
Career Pathways is a member of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) and partners with two other area charter schools for athletics. The girls and boys soccer teams are just getting started, and basketball teams will be forming later in the fall.
Middle school grades 6 through 8 have a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) focus with opportunities for hands-on learning to prepare students for high school while opening their eyes to career possibilities.
The benefits of a combined middle and high school include the inter-age learning opportunities. Groups of students of all ages learn cooperatively and from each other and create an atmosphere of respect and empathy.
For more information, browse www.cpathmn.org.

This article appeared in the September 2017 edition of the St. Paul Monitor. 

Solar panels supplying 10.9% of energy used at Nokomis Beach

Installation funded by Xcel Energy, part of public/private partnership to add solar projects to five Minneapolis parks

Story and photo by TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
The new solar power installation at Nokomis Beach is up and running, and will soon supply an estimated 10.9% of total annual energy consumed at the beach. Plus, it created more shade.
An 18-panel array was mounted atop a large shade structure near Sandcastle restaurant (photo right). Sandcastle remained open during the construction, which began this spring and ended in August. The panels were connected to Xcel’s equipment and began generating electricity for Lake Nokomis Park on Aug. 17.
First solar installation paid for by Xcel grant
The 7.4kW solar installation is estimated to provide 9,578-10,321 kWh per year.
The Titan 410W Mono PV Modules with reflectors were manufactured by TenKsolar in Bloomington. Installation was done by Sundial Solar and Merit Electric under the direction of Graybar Electric.
The construction cost (not including design and other related design and administration costs) was approximately $180,000.
“The project is the result of a great partnership,” said Benjamin Johnson of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB). “It was primarily funded by Xcel Energy’s Renewable Development Fund, but the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has also provided $150,000 in funding as a match to the RDF grant.”
MPRB applied for an Xcel Energy Renewable Development Fund grant in 2013, and learned in 2014 that it was among 20 out of 67 applicants to receive funding.
The $969,741 grant helped fund five projects. The largest, at Parade Ice Garden, has 374 solar panels in 21 sections, which generates roughly 15% of the building’s annual electrical consumption. Each solar panel is paired with a reflector panel to maximize energy density.
“It’s great to partner with the Minneapolis Park Board on their energy efficiency work and their first-ever solar installation at Parade Ice Garden,” said Lee Gabler, Xcel Energy Senior Director of Customer Strategy and Solutions. “This solar array is another example of public and private partners, working together, to promote renewable energy use.”
“Renewable energy infrastructure helps to reduce the parks’ carbon footprint, and with the significant costs associated with implementation, I am thankful that we received such a generous grant from Xcel Energy to build out some sites within the system,” stated District 5 Parks Commissioner Steffanie Musich.
Nokomis site one of five
Solar panels have also been installed at Webber Natural Swimming Pool (on pump house roof); East Phillips Community and Cultural Center (roof); and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park (roof of the multipurpose room).
Project locations were selected based on solar orientation (to maximize sunlight exposure), public visibility and distribution across the Minneapolis park system, according to Johnson. Roof capacity and roof longevity were major factors in determining the location for the major installation at Parade Ice Garden.
The original plan to install solar panels at the Lake Calhoun Refectory (Tin Fish) was scraped because the building needed extensive structural modifications to support a solar system. The new Northeast Athletic Field Recreation Center is expected to receive a small roof-mounted solar system in 2018, but it will not be funded by Xcel RDF grant due to timing and funding constraints.
Annually, the combined projects produce roughly 280,000 kilowatt hours, offset 400,000 pounds of carbon, and reduce MPRB electricity bills by roughly $28,000.
The projects also include interpretive and educational programming opportunities about sustainable solar energy for both children and adults in Minneapolis parks.
A mounted educational sign will be installed onsite at Lake Nokomis this fall. The sign will provide information about solar energy and specifics about the Nokomis solar installation. Also, small signs containing a QR code that can be scanned to view a video about the projects will be installed on nearby picnic tables.
“Providing demonstration projects using solar energy makes solar production visible to the community. This supports a culture around promoting renewable energy and sustainability,” remarked Johnson.
Solar benefits
These solar projects not only benefit park users but city residents in general.
“Each solar installation reduces our carbon footprint. Our carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil fuel,” pointed out Johnson. “When we reduce our carbon footprint, it reduces the amount of natural resources we consume.”
Solar power reduces the need to expand the electrical grid, which saves everyone costs on utility bills, as well as natural resources needed for expanding the electrical grid for increased demand.
Solar energy is a ‘clean’ energy source in comparison to other types of energy generation. Photovoltaic solar power makes no noise, creates no emissions, has no moving parts, uses no water or other fuels and requires very little maintenance.
Using solar energy not only saves on electrical costs in the short term but may also be a good long-term investment. Energy prices are rising while the cost of a solar installation is dropping.
This project supports local solar production.
All of the solar installations used solar modules that were reviewed by the Department of Commerce and designated as Made In Minnesota.

Article appeared in the September 2016 Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Minnehaha Academy: #TogetherWeRise

An explosion destroyed a section of the school and killed two, but school proves its community is strong and resilient

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Minnehaha Academy is working to rise together following a devastating gas explosion at the Upper School (3100 W. River Pkwy.) on Aug. 2 that killed two staff members and destroyed the oldest section of the school facility built in 1913.
Nearly 1,000 people wearing the Minnehaha school color red attended a Unity Walk on Aug. 15. The walk started at the Upper School and ended at the Lower School with a ceremonial raising of the flag back to full mast.
Photo left: Minnehaha Academy President Donna Harris greeted each person who walked from the Upper Campus down to the Lower Campus during the Unity Walk on Aug. 15. Over 1,000 people wore the school’s color red and attended the Unity Walk. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
“Two weeks ago we were dealt a blow,” remarked Minnehaha Academy Board Chair David Anderson. “Together we will rise.”
Executive Director of Institutional Advancement Sara Jacobson noted, “It’s important for current students and alums to come together to comfort each other, but also to celebrate the community that we have. The Unity Walk enabled us to thank the first responders, demonstrate our commitment to each other in this tragedy, and most importantly, begin to look forward to what God has for Minnehaha Academy in the future.”
#TogetherWeRise
The school has begun tagging its own social media posts with the hashtag #TogetherWeRise and encouraging others to use it, as well.
“We chose #TogetherWeRise as a hashtag for this experience because we are a caring community, and we know that together we will become stronger, we will grow, we will rise up to be a greater school and to show the community what we can do together,” explained Jacobson.
Photo left: After two weeks with the flag at half-mast, it was brought back to full-mast during a special ceremony on Tues., Aug. 15 at the Lower Campus as the Minnehaha Academy sought to move forward together from a devastating gas explosion. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
Minnehaha Academy President Donna Harris observed, “Together is the pivotal and transformative word. I am confident we will rise from the devastating blow we have sustained as a community because our shared experience of pain and loss has drawn us closer together. So with God’s help, I believe we will rise in unity, with a renewed sense of purpose, hope, and commitment to our mission.”
While the start of the school year will be different, Upper Campus Principal Jason Wenschlag has been assuring students, “We’re going to be ok.”
“It’s going to be a great year. It’s going to bring us together,” said Wenschlag. “We’re going to rally around this. We’re going to be sure to carry on the same traditions and experiences our kids expect.”
Photo right: The Unity Walk gave Minnehaha Academy the opportunity to come together and thank first responders who arrived within minutes of the explosion that rocked the campus, destroyed the center section of the school and killed two staff members on Aug. 2. Here President Donna Harris thanks members of the Minneapolis Police Department. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
On Wed., Aug. 23, the school announced that classes for its high school students school announced that classes for its high school students would be held at 1345 Mendota Heights Rd. in Mendota Heights in the former Sanford-Brown College building. The school has signed a two-year lease at the site which is eight miles south of the Minnehaha campus, and hopes to be back in a permanent location as soon as possible.
Photo right: Members of the Minnehaha Academy pep band, old and new, played during the Unity Walk on Aug. 15, just two weeks after an explosion damaged the Upper Campus and killed two staff members. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
“The process for assessing the structural soundness of our Upper School and conducting rebuilding analyses with a partially destroyed structure is complex, so it is prudent and beneficial for Minnehaha to have a longer time window at the Mendota Heights site if needed,” stated Harris.
Moving forward
Wenschlag was out of town in Chicago when he received the news of the explosion. He hopped on the next flight and was back at Minnehaha Academy by 2pm, but found there was little he could do except pray for those unaccounted for as the authorities were managing the scene of the blast.
Master Mechanical workers had been moving a gas main at the campus, and those inside were given just a few minutes notice before the structure exploded.
Photo left: A fence surrounding Minnehaha’s Upper Campus keeps people out of the property as the investigation is underway. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)
The explosion rocked and set ablaze the center of the upper school at 10:23am, causing a partial collapse of two floors over a sub-basement. After the fire was extinguished, an intensive operation began to find the missing. By the end of the first day, Minnehaha knew it had lost 17-year receptionist Ruth Berg, as well as alum and staff member John Carlson. Nine were injured and transported to the hospital with fractures, cuts and head wounds, including assistant boy’s soccer coach Bryan Duffey.
Since that first day, Principal Wenschlag has been very busy, working long days and moving forward on short nights of sleep.
“We have kids and teachers, but we’re basically starting a school,” observed Wenschlag. They have to find a building to hold classes in, set up food service, arrange for furniture and more.
Classes at the Upper Academy will start two weeks late on Tues., Sept. 5. With some juggling of the schedule, including the removal of the week-long Cultural Field Experience, the 360 upper-class students at Minnehaha will end their school year at the same time as the Lower and Middle students in June.
Meanwhile, the school has continued to move forward as it can. Athletic teams started practicing on Aug. 14 as scheduled. Administrative staff who were housed at the Upper School will be located in temporary offices outside the Lower/Middle School. All faculty were welcomed back to work on Aug. 15.
How to help
The school has received many offers of support from Minneapolis and St. Paul, where 79% of their students come from. To some the school is saying, “We don’t know how you can help now, but we’ll know later,” said Wenschlag.
A letter from President Donna Harris outlined three ways to help Minnehaha:
“1. Pray. Continue to pray for everyone who was involved in the incident, for the families of John Carlson and Ruth Berg, for our leadership team as we make decisions, for our staff, faculty, and students, and for the future rebuilding of the Upper School.
“2. Help. Let us know your expertise. Sign up to let us know how you can be of service during this time. https://goo.gl/forms/PYD7EE4uE9yOKvmf2.
“3. Give. In the rebuilding process, we will make an even better Minnehaha. Your gifts will support the school in this transition and cover expenses beyond our insurance coverage. www.minnehahaacademy.net/giving/givenow.”
Neighbors have offered their help and their support, and several local businesses donated food and coffee. “We are grateful to be in a caring Minnehaha community, but also in a caring Longfellow community,” said Jacobson.
Strong and resilient community
Before the Aug. 15 Unity Walk, Richard Bauer didn’t truly understand what it was about Minnehaha Academy that connected its past and present students, parents, and teachers. But after the walk, Bauer realized how tightly knit the Minnehaha Academy family is. His wife’s maternal grandfather served on the school board, and the following generations have attended school there, including Bauer’s two children. One is currently a senior at Minnehaha.
“It is one of those jewels in plain sight,” said the Bryn Mawr resident.
As he looked around at the crowd gathered for the Unity Walk, Bauer commented, “This is a reflection of Minnehaha—Minnehaha before and Minnehaha today.”
Bauer added, “I’m incredibly hopeful for what the future looks like as they continue to unravel what happened—but also as they continue to move forward as a community of faith—that all the pieces will come together.”
“We are fortunate to have a strong, resilient community and a faithful God,” said Jacobson.
“We believe that the school will become even greater through this experience, and we move forward knowing that our school is so much more than a building—it’s a community. Students and families come to Minnehaha because of the tremendous academic experience delivered by our amazing faculty. That doesn’t change.”

Article appeared in the September 2016 Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger.

Golfers rally to save the Hiawatha Golf Course

Photo above: A group of about 100 Hiawatha Golf Course supporters gathered on Tues., Aug. 15, in response to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board decision on Aug. 9 to shut down the course. They encourage residents to browse their site, SaveHiawatha18.com for more information and to get involved in saving the course. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Following Park Board decision to close course, supporters come together to push back

Article and photos by TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
“We don’t want a beautiful recreational asset turned into a stormwater pond,” Jerry Mullin told a group of about 100 Hiawatha Golf Course supporters on Tues., Aug. 15.
Mullin, an environmental consultant who used to work for Baar Engineering, has lived across the street from the golf course for 20 years. He and other speakers at a rally in support of Hiawatha Golf Course charged that the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board process hasn’t been fair since the beginning, and they want to have more of a say in what happens at the course.
Photo right: Jerry Mullin, and other speakers at a rally in support of Hiawatha Golf Course, charged that the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board process hasn’t been fair since the beginning, and they want to have more of a say in what happens at the course.

Following a flood in 2014, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) learned that the course is pumping far more water off the property than allowed by a Department of Natural Resources permit. The park board began holding meetings in 2015 to update residents on what was happening at the course and to begin envisioning what else the land could be used for if it wasn’t a golf course.
On Aug. 9, the park board approved reducing the pumping from 242 million gallons to 94 million gallons by a 6-3 vote. The course is expected to remain open through the 2019 season.
Supporters push for advocacy
Kathryn Kelly grew up near the golf course, and her mom still resides in the neighborhood. “I believe if they flood this golf course all the houses down there are at risk for flooding,” said Kelly, who was at home during the 1987 flood when the water came up to Longfellow Ave.
Kelly also played golf at Hiawatha as a teenager when she was a member of the Roosevelt High School team. “I think it should stay,” she stated. Kelly doesn’t support the park board idea of putting in parking lots and a pavilion. “I don’t understand how you can build a pavilion on a swamp,” Kelly commented.
Mayoral candidate Nekima Levy-Pound (photo right) told the crowd she believes this situation is another example of the Park Board not listening to the people. “Unfortunately, they have too much unchecked power,” Levy-Pound said. “The November elections are coming up, and they’re very important because we have the chance to change park board leaders.”
Levy-Pound said that she didn’t understand how the park board is moving ahead with closing the course before it has a solid plan for redevelopment or the funds to pay for it.
Levy-Pound questioned, “How can golf be a dying sport at Hiawatha Golf Course if this course is used by so many?” She pointed to the youth that use the course, as well as all the people who showed up for the rally.
“I believe that because of the power of your advocacy, it will remain open,” Levy-Pound said.
Several other candidates for office within the city spoke to the crowd, including Charlie Casserly, at-large park board candidate; Bob Fine, who is running for the District 6 Park Board seat in the southwest section of the city; Bill Shroyer, District 5 Park Board candidate; and Andrea Fahrenkrug, District 5 Park Board candidate.
Shroyer is a 17-year Park Board employee in the forestry and maintenance department. “They’re going to dredge the Mississippi, and they can’t dredge this lake?” he asked.
Shroyer thinks the user numbers generated for the site if it were redeveloped are fake. “I know the food forest isn’t going to bring half a million people here,” said Shroyer. “This is a success, and we’re not going to give it up.”
Andrea Fahrenkrug’s husband grew up playing the course at Hiawatha. She understands that some people don’t like to play golf and don’t use the course. “That’s fine,” she said. “You don’t have to want a golf course. We want a golf course.” She believes that diversity in the activities offered within the park system is important.
Bobbie Warfield (photo left) agreed. “There are 6,800 acres of park land in Minneapolis,” he pointed out. “What are we going to get by having another restaurant in Minneapolis? But this is the only golf course in south Minneapolis.”
Course supporters encouraged people to browse SaveHiawatha18.com for more information on how to get involved in saving the golf course.
MPRB’S next steps
Earlier in August, the MPRB directed staff to organize a process of amending the Nokomis Hiawatha Regional Park Master Plan to accommodate changes to the Hiawatha Golf Course property following the decision to reduce pumping there.
MPRB will be forming a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to determine if some form of traditional golf can remain on the property.
The process to determine the future usage of the course is estimated to take between nine and 12 months, according to a press release. The process to prepare plans and obtain permits will take another 12 months or more. During that time, MPRB will work with the DNR to continue current pumping levels so that Hiawatha Golf Course will remain open as an 18-hole golf course until at least the end of 2019.

Nokomis playground re-opens

Officials and community members including Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Commissioner Steffanie Musich and Nokomis East Neighborhood Association Board President Mike Ferrin, officially cut the ribbon to open the updated Nokomis Community Center playground on Friday, July 28, 2017. The $300,000 cost of the improvements came from 2015 CIP net debt bonds.  Work started in May, and included “logs” for balancing on and “wood” stepping stones made from recycled plastic materials, “tree” poles for climbing, and raised hills. There’s a “birds nest” to play in on one of the three-to-four-foot high raised hills, and a taller structure on another. There will be one tall slide and two smaller ones, a climber, diggers, swings and Willow Thicket. Planners tied the existing disconnected play structures into a single playground through the use of a long concrete border (that doubles as a balance beam for children) and a single container filled with an ADA-compliant surface. Bollards around the playground area had yet to be placed as of the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The project has experienced some delays due to weather.

Avery Asante, 5, of Bloomington tries out the new swing after hopping from log to log in another section of the playground. “We love it,” said his father, Andrew Asante. “It’s nice to go to different parks.” To get a feel for how residents used the old equipment, playground designer Chris Desroches observed it in person and then factored in resident comments before fashioning the new design. Comments were solicited last year three open houses and the Monarch Festival.

“The park board has made significant investments in our neighborhood, and we couldn’t be more thrilled,” said Nokomis East Neighborhood Association Board President Mike Ferrin, referring to the new playground at Nokomis Community Center and the updates at Bossen field.

Four-year-old Faye Saybolt goes down the big slide at the Nokomis Community Center playground, a feature that residents recall having been there in the past and asked for again, according to project manager Beth Pfeifer. “It’s amazing,” said Faye’s mother, Jennifer Saybolt, who lives near the lake.

Max Kyle, age 3.5, of Ericsson, climbs on the raised hills that play off the nature area nearby but don’t replicate it. Kyle attends the preschool program at the Nokomis Community Center and will be seeing a lot of this playground, according to his father, Collin Lyle. “It’s nice that they updated it,” said Lyle. A surprise for the kids includes the old dolphin with teeth and a bowler hat buried in the sand so that children can dig it up. Planners think this lends towards the desire by community residents to keep pieces that inspire creativity.

When it was possible, old pieces such as the pull-up bars and metal arch were re-used. They will also be repainted to match the new items at the playground. The Willow Thicket that has been at the Rose Garden temporarily has found a permanent home at the Nokomis playground. 

Parks Commissioner Steffanie Musich is most excited by the natural play area to the south of the new playground equipment. It is the first like it in Minneapolis and will provide an example of how to do this elsewhere. “So many kids in an urban environment don’t have the opportunity to get comfortable with nature in a tactile way.” (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen)

Photos by Tesha M. Christensen

Appeared in the September 2017 Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger

Well-known Minnesota chef plans to open restaurant in The Capp

Development near 46th and Hiawatha will also include grocery store, other retail, and 150 apartments

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
James Beard Award nominee chef Erick Harcey plans to open a new restaurant next year in The CAPP building, a mixed-use project near 46th and Hiawatha that will include a grocery store.
The restaurant at 3939 46th St. E. will be part of a five-story mixed-use development proposed by Excelsior-based Oppidan Investment Company. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2018.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to develop a restaurant in the Longfellow neighborhood,” Harcey said in a press release. “My team and I are looking forward to bringing an approachable space to the area and a destination for all.”
Name, concept still unknown
The new 4,000-foot, one-story restaurant building (illustration right provided by Oppidan) with outdoor seating will be located on the northwest slice of the property, between the extension of Snelling Ave. and the railroad tracks. The five-story building with the grocery store will be to the east, replacing the current structure that houses Creative Kidstuff’s corporate offices.
Harcey has not yet picked a name for his new restaurant, and other details, including concept and menu, are still in the works.
The new restaurant in Longfellow near Minnehaha Park comes at a time of flux for Harcey, who has recently stopped serving the “Perfect Burger” at his Victory 44 restaurant in North Minneapolis and shuttered the Upton 43 and Dirty Bird take-out in Linden Hills. The Upton 43, known for its modern spin on Nordic food, will be reopening at a smaller location in the North Loop.
Harcey’s deep Swedish roots are at the source of his cooking, according to his website.
“He has never quite recreated, in later life, the joy of coming home from school in Cambridge, MN, and smell, before he even opened the door, that his mother was baking potato dill bread. And it was several long talks near the end of his Swedish grandfather’s life that gave him the ultimate vision for Upton 43. But Chef Harcey is just as influenced by Marco Pierre White’s White Heat, and the insatiable inventiveness of Ferran Adría.”
When he’s not in the kitchen or planning a new restaurant, Harcey might be found coaching one of his four son’s baseball teams or trying to get a fat walleye to bite the end of his line.
No grocery store named yet
Both the restaurant building and the five-story structure with a grocery store, 150 apartments and pedestrian-friendly town center were reviewed by the city’s planning commission on July 17.
“We received project approvals from the Minneapolis planning commission about a month ago and are very excited, but still have some big challenges,” said Drew Johnson of Oppidan.
Photo right: James Beard Award nominee chef Erick Harcey plans to open a new restaurant next year in The CAPP building near Hiawatha and 46th, part of a multi-use development that will include 150 apartments and a grocery store. (Illustrations courtesy of Oppidan)
A grocer has not yet been selected.
“Now that we are approved, we’re going to the market to see who can best meet/achieve the specific land-use requirements of Minneapolis,” said Johnson.
Challenge ahead for the project include funding for the public improvements, including the new city street, Min Hi Line trail project, and relocating the Xcel power poles.
The city approved a variance to increase the maximum allowed gross floor area for commercial use from 20,000 square feet to 47,280 square feet, subject to a few conditions. Staff recommended that a principal entrance, accessible to the public during the open hours of operation, be prominently located at the corner of 46th St and Snelling Ave., and at least one commercial tenant space in addition to the grocery store face 46th St.
The city also requires that architectural elements, such as windows, shall be incorporated on the north, east and west building elevations to prevent blank, uninterrupted walls exceeding 25 feet in width as required by section 530.120 of the zoning code. On the west elevation of the elevator/stair tower and at the upper floors of the corner of the building facing 46th St and Snelling Ave, additional consideration shall be given to ensure the corner of the building is an attractive focal point with visual interest. Also, to be consistent with the zoning code, the exterior appearance of the face brick and thin brick cladding on the insulated precast wall panels will match, and the types of metal panel used will be limited to two, one of which will be an accent material.
At least 32 bicycle parking spaces must be provided for the nonresidential uses. Bicycle parking facilities provided between the building and 46th St. will be oriented parallel to the building. Oppidan was directed to explore relocating the bike parking to a location that is not between the building and a street, as well as options for installing discontinuous curbing to allow the on-site retention and infiltration of stormwater in landscaped areas.
The planning commission also gave a deadline for the project: all site improvements shall be completed by July 17, 2019.

Frogtown Radio WFNU 94.1 FM opening up airwaves in St. Paul

Line-up includes 40 music and talk shows representing all sorts of race, class, culture, and religious backgrounds

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Radio station 94.1 FM WFNU, located in Frogtown, is allowing the St. Paul community to speak for itself. The station covers approximately a 5-mile radius and includes all of the Midway Como Monitor delivery area.
Check out the 40 original shows, ranging from funk, metal, gospel, oddball country, experimental, jazz, and local hip hop music shows. Plus there are talk shows covering many varied experiences from fatherhood, sobriety and recovering, finding self as a Korean adoptee, local businesses, conservative and liberal political talk, high school sports, and spoken word.
“We have a show for everyone!” stated WFNU-LP Frogtown Community Radio Station Director Simona Zappas (photo left, provided).
“Our programmers come from all sorts of race, class, cultural, and religious backgrounds, and bring their own experiences and taste to their shows.”
They are always looking for new people to join the team.
“I’m starting to work on recruiting more women and LGBTQIA folks to join the station because right now most of our programmers are male,” remarked Zappas. “I’m really looking forward to more folks joining our growing station, and I’m grateful to everyone who is already part of it. Everyone puts so much of themselves into their shows, and it really pays off.”
The WFNU broadcast range covers downtown Saint Paul, most of St. Paul’s west side, and a snippet of South Minneapolis. Those not in the coverage area can stream at wfnu.org or on the app which you can find by searching WFNU on either the App or Google Play store.
Four years in the making
It took about four years to get WFNU an FM license. In 2011, President Obama signed the Local Community Radio Act, which opened up a finite number of low-power FM licenses, allowing for new frequencies to create community stations across the country.
“The exciting opportunity caught the eye of the Sam Buffington, the head organizer of the Frogtown Neighborhood Association (The FNA),” recalled Zappas. “Sam was the driving visioning force behind the effort to get Frogtown a radio station. At the time, Frogtown was the only neighborhood in Saint Paul that did not have a free community newspaper to share local news. Radio offered a cheaper, dynamic way to organize the community.”
To drive this project, Buffington brought on WFNU’s first, pioneering director, Julie Censullo.
It was clear the FCC would not do this again, pointed out Zappas, so organizers from Frogtown and Phillips neighborhood in Minneapolis formed the Twin Cities Community Radio Initiative and began working with community members to submit applications to the FCC.
Photo right: Diverse representation and actually reflecting who is part of the Frogtown Community are fundamental to why WFNU exists. The station actively works to recruit and train folks to run their own radio shows. For more information, browse wfnu.org. (Photo submitted)
In December of 2014, the FCC granted the FNA a permit to build a community radio station and broadcast on 94.1 FM. By April of 2015, WFNU had recruited and trained enough volunteers to broadcast its first show. Initially, WFNU only existed online, as money was raised to get an antenna and build a studio.
In August 2016, the antenna went up, and WFNU began broadcasting on FM.
“In most cases, large media groups or corporations administer and project an identity onto a community by either positive or negative portrayals on TV, press or radio. Usually, these portrayals are built from racist, classist and sexist assumptions,” pointed out Zappas.
“Local radio is a great way to buck off those assumptions by having actual community members speak up about what is going on in their lives, their neighborhood, and their world. It’s a great way to share authentic identities by inviting neighbors to share their thoughts and play really good music.”
Using media to share stories
Zappas was hired to work at the station in February 2017. She has loved radio for a long time.
Her high school actually had a small station where kids could DJ during lunch for the rest of the student body. “It was controlled by a group of older boys who thought they were a lot cooler than they were and despite my repeated asks, they would not let me DJ. I figured it was since I’m a girl,” said Zappas.
“So, I spoke up and reminded the group that the station was for the whole student body and not just a select few. That’s really been my mentality and approach to media since then—decentralize the exclusionary power and share it with more folks.”
She studied media and cultural studies at Macalester while climbing the ranks at the radio station to ultimately become a co-director. She also interned and produced an original show at the St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN). Next, she worked in the Youth Department at Neighborhood House as a CTEP Americorps worker and added media-literacy elements to the existing curriculum.
“In my career so far, I have been fortunate to be part of a number of organizations who have been doing fantastic work in community media and media justice,” remarked Zappas. “This work is important to me because using media to share stories, and gain technology skills is an amazing way to feel empowered.”
Since joining WFNU, she has been working to expand the station and build stronger internal policies.
Opening up airwaves to all
“What’s really cool about radio is that the transmitters used have a limit of how far they can transmit sound,” said Zappas. “I know that sounds like a negative, but for WFNU we’re really trying to be St. Paul’s radio station, so with that in mind, how cool is it that our transmitter is strongest in St. Paul!”
Radio is also valuable because it’s one of the cheapest forms of media for listeners to use, and it doesn’t require much digital literacy she pointed out.
Diverse representation and actually reflecting who is part of the Frogtown Community are fundamental to why WFNU exists and why it is so good, according to Zappas.
“Radio is historically dominated by cisgendered, white men, and the ability to move upward in the field is really limited by access to higher education,” she said. “WFNU is determined to challenge those practices by making training in broadcasting accessible to anyone regardless of their background, and to opening up the airwaves to all folks.”
Anyone interested in having their own show can apply on the website. A number of volunteer committees are open to the public to join, including show selection and fundraising, or the general steering committee. To learn more, email simona@wfnu.org.

Article appeared in the August 2017 St. Paul Monitor.