Art in all directions

Utility boxes on East Lake St. feature 20 Longfellow artists

Longfellow is home to some amazing artists. And now more people know about them thanks to an art installation along East Lake Street that features 20 artists.

Earlier this year, 10 utility boxes along East Lake Street and five on the Midtown Greenway were covered with artwork. The 10 boxes on East Lake Street are under the "I'm A LoLa Artist" theme, which is a series of public art installations the Longfellow Community Council (LCC) and the League of Longfellow Artists (LoLa) have coordinated throughout the neighborhood.

In 2012, a series of 56 posters were placed in storefronts along East Lake Street that included an image of a LoLa artist, an image of their art, and a quote from them as to why they do what they do. This idea was replicated on the utility boxes.

"I believe there are double benefits to the art on utility boxes: it takes what can be an eyesore and makes it visually interesting," said Longfellow artist Bob Schmitt of Laughing Waters Studio. "But also it is featuring not just the work of artists, but the work of artists who live/work in this particular Minneapolis neighborhood."

"The primary goal of the project is to prevent and reduce graffiti," noted Spencer Agnew of the Longfellow Community Council (LCC). "Utility boxes in their natural state are a blank canvas for graffiti and are frequently tagged. Other neighborhoods, like Kingfield, have had success preventing graffiti by installing public art. LCC has taken a similar approach in the past through mural projects at neighborhood commercial buildings, but this is our first utility box art project."

Schmitt was responsible for selecting which artists were featured on the utility boxes. With an eye to whose work would look good enlarged to that scale, Schmitt also factored in compatibility with another work and coolness of their quotes.

His own work is featured at Lake and W. River Parkway. Schmitt is a landscape painter, art teacher, designer, gardener, with a passion for children and their families.

“I paint the landscapes I love (Lake Superior, Minnehaha Falls) but in the traditions of Chinese brush painting. I hope to convey hope and peace in my work,” said Schmitt.

Before pursuing art full-time by opening Laughing Waters Studio, he owned a graphic design business for 25 years. See more at http://www.laughingwatersstudio.com.

“The whole experience of LoLa has been this uncovering of an incredible group of artists residing in this little corner of the city,” observed Schmitt. “In the past, Lowertown, NE Minneapolis, Seward were known to be hotbeds of artistic talent and showcased in their art crawls. Who knew that this quiet little corner of Minneapolis contained so many and such a variety of art and artists.”

He added, “Another richness of LoLa, and by extension this great streets project, is that it represents people who are professional artists and making their living that way, to people who are just creating for the love of creating, to inexperienced or young artists who are just beginning to show their work.”

The utility box project was funded by a grant from the city of Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling Division through the "Innovative Graffiti Prevention" program.

ABOUT LOLA
The League of Longfellow Artists is dedicated to bringing to light the treasures of artistic expression created by artists living or working in the Greater Longfellow neighborhood of south Minneapolis (the geographic area defined as east of Cedar Avenue to the Mississippi River, and south of 28th Street to the Crosstown).

Having begun in the summer of 2009 as a small grassroots effort initiated by artists Anita White and Bob Schmitt (and creatively named by neighborhood activist Shirley Nielson), LoLa now flourishes as an annual art crawl that is managed as an artist-run community.

During its first year, 42 artists were featured at 20 different sites. Last year, it had grown to 69 sites and 115 artists. This year, expect 150 artists at 80 sites.

LoLa is committed to raising the visibility of local artists in the Longfellow neighborhood and to building a true sense of community for these artists.

Throughout the year a variety of informal gatherings are offered to support neighborhood artists around topics, types of work, use of electronic media and more. Learn more at lolaartcrawl.com.

Gandhi Mahal owner seeks self-sufficiency for his restaurant

This year he has invested in 12 garden plots scattered throughout the city, a tilapia tank in his basement, and rickshaws that avoid the use of fossil fuels

by Tesha M. Christensen

Be the change. Start small. Lead by example. Lake Street restaurant owner Ruhel Islam believes this is how you build community.

After a 2010 trip with HECUA (Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs) to his home country of Bangladesh, Islam, the owner of Gandhi Mahal restaurant, came back inspired. He was no longer content to just talk about the issues. He wanted to take action.

In 2011, they planted a garden in the backyard of employee Riz Prakasim, who resides in the Corcoran neighborhood. They planted late, but still managed to harvest 2,000 pounds of vegetables. This year, they have recruited 12 partners in Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs. Each landowner has provided a plot for a garden. Some are small, such as the single raised garden bed at Minnehaha Liquor and the containers outside Gandhi Mahal’s doors. Others are larger. There is a site manager for each location, and one coordinator to oversee them all. High school and college students are tending the gardens.

This year’s goal is to grow 10,000 pounds of vegetables. Some of the produce will be used fresh. Some will be frozen and canned for use over the winter in Gandhi Mahal’s kitchen.

Having homegrown vegetables is just one piece of Islam’s overall plan to be self-sufficient. He also intends to raise his own chickens, farm tilapia and possibly shrimp in his basement, and place bee hives on his roof (for honey in his signature mango lassi). Islam is not sure how long this overall effort will take and what pieces will come first, but he is confident his dream will be achieved.

And when it does, Islam hopes to offer a complete economic model for others.

Part of Islam’s drive to be self-sufficient is rooted in his own culture and home country of Bangladesh, where he grew up on a far that his family still runs.

“I want to know where the food is coming from that I cook here,” explained Islam.

Islam is also concerned about the food chain here in America. As a restaurant owner, Islam has faces food shortages this winter. He was unable to buy eggplant, corn oil or naturally raised chicken from wholesalers. Onions tripled in price, and ginger rose from $18 to $28 a case to $50.

The food industry is not secure, he pointed out. Most of the farmers in the U.S. are over 65, and young people are opting for careers in medicine or law instead of agriculture.

“Gardening is very important,” said Islam.

There is no long-term supply of food, and the problem of not enough food for people becomes apparent during disasters.

Islam pointed out that the American food system is based on fossil fuels. He encourages others to buy local and grow local.

 “We’re hoping to chain people’s mindsets about how we view and interact with our food chain,” said Prakasim. “A food chain based on fossil fuels is not sustainable.”

Islam noted, “Food is the true wealth.”

A PLAN TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT

By late summer, Islam hopes to install a 500-gallon tank in his basement to house tilapia. The waste will be used to fertilize gardens and grow the cilantro, tomatoes, chilies and more they use in the restaurant. The tilapia themselves will be fed with chicken scraps.

“We are starting an aquaculture,” noted Islam.

He is also working with researchers at the University of Minnesota that are dedicated to making basement gardens a reality. New technology will port sunlight from the roof into the basement with zero loss. “We really want to work on the cutting edge of technology to propel indoor farming forward,” said Prakasim. He pointed out that Europe is 20 years ahead of the United States. “We’re playing catch-up,” Prakasim observed.

Another slice of Bangladesh will hit local streets later this summer when it is time to harvest vegetables from Gandhi Mahal’s 12 garden plots. Rickshaws are being specially built to transport vegetables from the garden to the restaurant and thereby avoid using any fossil fuel.  A Kickstart campaign will kick off on Thursday, July 11. Proceeds from dinner at Gandhi Mahal that day will go towards the campaign.

“I can’t wait to see those,” said Islam. “It’s very exciting.”

In the kitchen, all the used cooking oil is gathered and picked up by Cat Biodiesel for use as biodiesel.

“Teamwork makes this possible,” stressed Islam.

He operates on the principal that the more you give, the more comes back to you. Every Tuesday night, 10% of every meal goes to MN350, a group dedicated to building a climate movement in Minnesota. Proceeds from dinner every second Wednesday go to the Midtown Farmer’s Market.

Islam offers a community room for use free of charge to non-profits and community groups such as the Longfellow Restorative Justice Committee and the Longfellow Business Association, two groups he is active in. Other groups, such as the Permaculture Research Institute and HECUA, have held classes there.

A few months ago, the restaurant was designated a World Peace Site.

“We have to be the change we want to see in the world,” said Prakasim. It’s a lesson he’s learned from Islam, and one he’s passing along.

It’s been just five years since Islam opened up his Lake Street restaurant, but he has joined the ranks of those who have made a mark on the community and transformed East Lake Street into a place that can stand as its own destination location.

The new E. Lake Street

by Tesha M. Christensen

Lake St. between the river and Hiawatha is no longer the vacant space people drive through on their way to the busier sections west of Hiawatha.

Instead, it is coming back to life, filling up with innovative new restaurants and businesses.

In the past few months, two new restaurants have opened their doors on Lake Street: Parka Restaurant at 4023 E, Lake St. and Zeke’s Unchained Animal at 3508 E. Lake St. Forage Modern Workshop has opened next to Parka in the former carpenters’ union building.

The redevelopment will continue with a new grocery store at 3815 E. Lake St. and two new tenants at the former Molly Quinn’s building.

Plus, the installation of artwork on utility boxes along Lake St. has brought the creativity of the area up a notch.

“Let’s be honest, 10 years ago East Lake was a bit of a dump,” remarked Kris Kiel of HOLOS Creative.

Today, the energy on E. Lake St. helped Longfellow earn one of City Pages Highest Distinctions: 2013 Best Neighborhood.

ART ON THE STREET

The utility box art installation along E. Lake St. features 20 local artists on 10 utility boxes, all members of the League of Longfellow Artists (LoLa), which helped coordinate the project with the Longfellow Community Council (LCC).

 “I believe there are double benefits to the art on utility boxes: it takes what can be an eyesore and makes it visually interesting,” said Longfellow artist Bob Schmitt of Laughing Waters Studio. “But also it is featuring not just the work of artists, but the work of artist who live/work in this particular Minneapolis neighborhood.”

 The primary goal of the project, according to Spencer Agnew of LCC, is to prevent and reduce graffiti. “Utility boxes in their natural state are a blank canvas for graffiti and are frequently tagged. Other neighborhoods, like Kingfield, have had success preventing graffiti by installing public art,” he observed.

The utility box project was funded by a grant from the city of Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling Division through the Innovative Graffiti Prevention program.

TRANSFORMATIVE WORK

For several years now, East Lake Street has been struggling. Redevelopment on E. Lake St. in the 1960s and 70s replaced much of the traditional retail storefronts with auto-oriented designs. That, coupled with lingering effects from the 2006-08 reconstruction project and the economic downturn, left the street inactive. There have been more commercial vacancies on this portion of Lake Street than the rest of the Street from Hiawatha to Lake Calhoun combined, according to Redesign.

“Vacancy levels lead to blight and disinvestment. People feel like their neighborhood is not being taken care of,” noted Eddie Landenberger of Redesign, who has been helping to change that trend and fill empty buildings.

“It’s transformative work,” stated Landenberger.

Most recently, Redesign has focused on the vacant Molly Quinn building at 3300 E. Lake St. A collapsed foundation had doomed the property to vacancy since 2008. There wasn’t a bank that would provide capital until Redesign stepped in and cleaned up the messy issues. “It was one of those impossible buildings,” remarked Landenberger.

By fall, there will be two new tenants at 3300 E. Lake.

The former Peterson Machinery site is also undergoing a $4.5 million transformation. A few buildings will be razed and the Peterson structure renovated to house a grocery store with character.  Owner Joel Ahlstrom envisions a store that will resemble the one his grandfather once ran years ago at 2700 17th Ave. S.

LIVE LOCAL, SHOP LOCAL, HELP YOR NEIGHBORS

The E. Lake St. area has had the dubious distinction of having one of the highest vacancy rates in the city of Minneapolis, noted Scott Cramer of Northern Sun (2916 E. Lake St.).

He has seen recovery start at the Lake and 27th triangle and spread out from there.

Even at its worst, E. Lake St. was supported by a wonderful community that believed in living local, shopping local, and helping your neighbors, noted Kiel.

“Independently-owned businesses like The Craftsman, Harriet Brewing, Gandhi Mahal, and Miller Upholstering recognized something special about the area and chose to open shop here,” said Kiel. “Midori’s, El Norteno, and others stuck around through the challenging road construction and the community supports them.”

Gandhi Mahal’s owner Ruhel Islam is a prime example of a business owner focused on helping his community. Local non-profit organizations are welcome to use a community room in the restaurant free of charge, and he regularly donates food to various worthy causes.

This year, he is embarking on a project to provide his restaurant with vegetables grown from local garden plots, tilapia farmed in the Gandhi Mahal basement, and honey from rooftop hives. Islam hopes to offer a complete economic model for others.

“Teamwork makes this possible,” stressed Islam. (See related story on page ??)

Northern Sun is also leading by example. The first solar garden in Minneapolis will soon be installed on its rooftop. It will have the capacity to produce 40 kilowatts of clean, solar energy—enough to power 8-10 homes.

“There are wonderfully creative businesses opening up all the time that draw people from all over the city – Harriet Brewing, Trylon Microcinema, Peace Coffee, Gandhi Mahal, The Craftsman, Longfellow Grill, Prairie Woodworking, Merlin’s Rest, and the list goes on and on,” said Kiel.

The irony, according to Kiel, is that the residents haven’t changed much over the past 10 years. “We’ve always know this was a great place to be!” said Kiel. “The biggest change is that the secret is getting out and more people are choosing to live in this area.”

“I see younger folks moving in and asking for amenities they’re used to going to malls for and wanting them in their neighborhood,” said  Landenberger. They want variety and choice, he added.

“Lake Street is a destination location and a awesome commercial corridor to frequent,” stated ZoeAna Martinez of the Lake Street Council.

Affordable family fun at Como

One spot has it all: pool, zoo, amusement rides, and conservatory

by Tesha M. Christensen

Kids and water go together like peanut butter and jelly. If your kids are anything like mine, they spend the summer asking for pool days.

Give them their wish without stretching your budget.

An affordable afternoon is as close as Como Regional Pool Park. There’s no need to drive out to the suburbs anymore. My family of four bought a family pass of $16 for the day. Those with more than five in the family pay an additional $3 for each person.

Got a smaller group? The fee for children under 48 inches is $4.50, and those under age 16 is $5. Adults are $6.50 and seniors cost $6. If you don’t want to get wet, pay $2 for a non-swimming deck fee. Those coming with more than 10 people qualify for reduced group rates.

You may want to check out the family season pass. For $195, your family can swim whenever they want at any of the city’s three water parks: Como Regional Pool Park, Highland Aquatic Center and the indoor Great River Water Park.

Open since June 2012, the city-run Como Pool has something for everyone.

The younger kids will love the zero-depth entry area with sprinklers, and the water fun table situated under a shade canopy. There are three waterslides kids of all ages can enjoy that empty into a two-foot-deep area. The wide slide was a big hit with my four-year-old daughter. It’s not easy to find waterslides she go on, let alone a slide she can ride with a parent.

Older kids (and parents) will love the zip line, cliff jumping area, and aquatic climbing wall.

There’s also a 25-yard lap pool with basketball hoops, and a 400-foot lazy river.

Plus, you can feel good about swimming in a pool that has half the chlorine of others, thanks to sphagnum moss filters.  St. Paul was the first city in the nation to adopt sphagnum moss treatment in its municipal pools and with its partner, Creative Water Solutions, Inc., won the Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention in 2011. Other green features at the one-year-old water park include high-efficiency Neptune-Benson filters in the mechanical room that allow the pool to use less water than conventional filters; 12 solar tubes on the roof heat that water for the showers and concession stand; and rain gardens in the parking lot that reduce run-off.

Open swim hours at Como are weekdays from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Learn more about the pool at the St. Paul City web site http://www.stpaul.gov.

LOTS MORE TO DO

When the kids are done swimming, check out the many other attractions that are just a hop, skip and a jump away. (Browse http://www.comozooconservatory.org/) If you’re like us, you might not have time to see everything in one day, but we’ll be back.

THE CAROUSEL

For just $2 a person, you can take a spin on Cafesjian’s Carousel. Originally located for 75 years at the Minnesota State Fair, it is now owned and operated by the nonprofit organization Our Fair Carousel, Inc. Volunteers have restored the carousel to its 1914 appearance. It was installed in a new pavilion next to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory in 2000.

THE ZOO

Como Zoo’s gorillas got a new home in June 2013 when the Gorilla Forest opened. The larger space of 10,000 square feet is about two and half times larger the former outdoor space. The new exhibit is raised so that visitors get an eye-to-eye, up close and personal views of the gorillas.

Admission to the zoo is always free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer.

Como Zoo features a seal island, a large cat exhibit, a variety of aquatic life, primates, birds, African hoofed animals and a world class polar bear exhibit. Don’t miss the ever popular Sparky the Sea Lion’s show, held weekend days at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

COMO TOWN

Soar like an eagle 85 feet in the air on Como Town’s newest attraction, an exhilarating zip line. A double seat comfortably and safely accommodates two riders from one end of the amusement park to the other. There are more than 18 rides and attractions in Como Town, including the Splash Zone. In addition to the paid rides, there are free entertainment, events, and activities for the kids. After 4 p.m., an unlimited ride wristband is $14.95.

THE CONSERVATORY

Don’t forget to bring mom to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory before your day is over. The conservatory’s half acre indoor and outdoor facility features several wings dedicated to a variety of plant life including bonsai trees, ferns, orchids and seasonal flowers.

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES | Clean up Lake Hiawatha tonight, attend Mosaic Fest tomorrow

By Tesha Christensen, Neighborhood Notes
May 16, 2013

There are two community events planned in the Standish-Ericsson neighborhood this week.

SHORELINE CLEAN-UP
On Thursday, May 16, volunteer for an hour to perform a quick clean-up of the Lake Hiawatha shoreline.

SENA will supply: Bags, cotton gloves, and grabber/pickup tools.
You supply: You, in shoes/boots that can get dirty, and long pants to protect legs when walking through brush.

To show their appreciation for taking care of the neighborhood, Buster's on 28th is offering to buy the first 12oz beer/pop afterwards for all participants.

“Meet some new neighbors, clean the lake, and get a free drink,” urges SENA staff member Bob Kambeitz. “It's a win, win, win! We'll be meeting at the Lake Hiawatha Park building (at the corner of 44th St. and 27th Ave.).”

Email bobk @ standish-ericsson.org if you plan to attend. Please include how many will be in your party.

MOSAIC FEST

Roosevelt High School’s annual Mosaic Festival is set for this Friday, May 17 from 3:30-7:30 p.m.
Mosaic Fest is an annual event at Roosevelt, celebrating the cultural mosaic that makes our community special.

In fair weather, meet on the practice football field just south of the school building (enter on 30th Ave S/40th St S via the parking lot.) If it rains, the event will be in the school gym.

Food trucks will be in the parking lot. Student groups will sell cultural foods including Arabic, Asian, French and Oromo. Bring some cash to buy tickets for food items.

There will be a talent show, featuring student singers, the Jazz combo, Aztec and Oromo dance, and a Somali fashion show. There will be information and activity booths for kids of all ages.
“We hope to see you there! Come out and celebrate spring's arrival,” urges Julia Schumacher.

UPCOMING EVENT:
•  Annual Neighborhood Blood drive will be on Garage Sale Saturday --June 15, 10 a.m.-3:00 p.m. outside of Nokomis Pet Clinic (2917 E 42nd St).  There wil be juice and cookies.

NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES | Doodle Bird Design + Gifts opens in Ericsson neighborhood

By Tesha Christensen, Neighborhood Notes

May 14, 2013

 

 

A new gift shop has moved to the 42nd St./28th Ave. intersection.

Doodle Bird Design + Gifts held a sneak peak last weekend. It will be open Wednesday to Saturday, May 15-18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located at 2803 E 42nd St., Minneapolis, MN. Call (612) 345-7961. Check it out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doodlebirddesign.

Billed as Minneapolis's newest little store that is big on MN talent, folks are encouraged to stop by and check out locally made art and gifts.

IN OTHER BUSINESS NEWS:
• The non-profit courgeous heaRTS has opened at the Cedar/42nd St. intersection. The mission of courageous heARTS  is to co-create experiences with young people by offering them a safe space,  built with the intention to  heal and empower- Through expressive arts, community building, and leadership development. More at http://www.courageous-hearts.org/.

• Mighty Swell at 3109 E. 42nd Street has closed. The last sale was held March 2 and 3. While the storefront has closed, the Facebook page announces: “Big things are planned for the future of Mighty Swell, so stay tuned!”

• Around the corner in the same building, Vintage Barber has also closed.
 

Meet your new police chief

Janeé Harteau sees role of chief as that of a parent

by Tesha M. Christensen

Minneapolis’ first female police chief didn’t set out to hold the highest position in the city’s police department.

“Little girls don’t generally grow up wanting to be police officers, let alone the police chief,” Janeé Harteau pointed out.

Her goal, instead, was to be really good at whatever position she held. As Assistant Chief to Chief Tim Dolan from 2010-2012, “I was just trying to be a really good assistant chief,” said Harteau, who is openly gay.

In hindsight, Harteau sees how all of her past experiences over the last 26 years prepared her to be chief.

“Looking back now, I can clearly see I was meant to sit in this chair,” she said.

Her past positions include working as a patrol officer on the street, hostage negotiator, SWAT team member, supervisor on the Street, Narcotics, Organized Crime and the Gang Unit, commander of the Crime Lab, inspector of the First Precinct in downtown Minneapolis, and Deputy Chief of the Patrol Bureau. She was the first president of the SafeZone collaborative and helped create of the Downtown Courtwatch Program. Early in her career, Harteau and former patrol partner Holly Keegel filed a discrimination and sexual harassment complaint against the Minneapolis Police Department that led to changes in policy and training, plus disciplinary action against several officers.

“Every experience gave me the insight, skills, and fortitude I need,” Harteau observed.

ROLE OF CHIEF THAT OF PARENT

Harteau is one of only three other women leading major city police departments in the United States right now; the others are Kimberly Jacobs in Columbus, Ohio, and Cynthia Lanier in Washington, D.C.  The total number of female police chiefs in the United States is not high, at only 2%, according to the Center on Women and Policing. In Minnesota, only 11 of 342 police chiefs are women. Despite being in a profession dominated by men, Harteau does not try to act like a man, but instead stays true to herself.

“I have the eye of an eagle and the heart of a lion,” she noted.

Harteau is quick to recognize that each decision she makes has a human impact, and thus she doesn’t decide anything lightly.

“I see the role the role of chief as that of a parent,” Harteau said. She knows that not everyone will agree with all of her decisions, but she works hard to be accountable, operating on the principle that “sometimes a little explanation goes a long way.”

Calling herself a “futurist,” Harteau stated, “I see this department five years from now and how good we are.”

Some people question: if things are working well now, why not leave it be? “If you don’t nurture it, it won’t continue to be good,” Harteau observed. Because of that, she has focused on training since taking over the department. In early February, days off were cancelled so that all staff could attend a two-day training session focused on law enforcement practices. As part of the training were her guidelines for commitment, integrity and transparency, part of the path to what she labels the Minneapolis Police Department 2.0. The last major training initiative at the police department was in 1997, and it was focused on new technology.

Harteau is proud of the department as it is now, pointing out, “We’re trendsetters nationally in a lot of ways.” Hot spot policing tracks emerging trends and patterns, and randomized patrols ensure that officers go through a problem area in 15-minute intervals.

Harteau aims to “get cops out of cars and bring a beat philosophy to neighborhoods.” She recognizes that no one knows their neighborhood better than the people who live there, and she wants to engage their help to understand crime trends and manage problems.

Sharing information on the positive things officers are doing is also important to Harteau, who plans to use social media to accomplish that goal.

A PEOPLE-BASED JOB

After graduating from Duluth Denfield in 1982, Harteau, who is of French Canadian and American Indian heritage, entered a medical secretary program, but quickly learned it wasn’t for her. “I knew I wanted to be more than an office worker,” she explained. She heard about the two-year law enforcement program at Hibbing Community College and enrolled there. Harteau joined the Minneapolis Police Department in 1987, and has been here ever since, working her way up the ranks.

Harteau values police work for its connection to people. “I can’t think of a job more people-based than policing,” she observed.

Officers see both perpetrators and victims, and often work with people at their worst. How does she keep from getting cynical? “When the tragedies occur, I’ve always focused on the good things,” Harteau explained, such as the victims she can help. She reminds herself that she sees only a small percentage of the population that is bad. She makes sure that she has friends outside of law enforcement to give her perspective. And she spends time with her 14-year-old daughter.

Harteau also makes time to give back to her community. She currently volunteers at Youthlink, a non-profit that serves homeless youth; and Cornerhouse, which provides resources for abused children.

MINNEAPOLIS IS HOME

Minneapolis “feels like home” to Harteau. She’s had the option of leaving many times over the past 26 years, but could never say goodbye to the Minneapolis community. “I like the mix here,” she explained. “I like the department. We’re a much more educated department here than in other cities.” Only Minnesota and California require that their peace officers earn at least an associates of arts degree.

Education is a priority to Harteau, who earned a bachelor’s degree in police science and a master of arts in public safety administration, both from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from St. Mary’s in March 2013. She is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute of Police in Boston, Mass. and the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s Police Staff and Command School where she was the Franklin Kreml Leadership Award winner.

Harteau is not only a student, but also a teacher. She currently trains law enforcement leaders nationally for Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety and is an Assistant Professor at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in the School of Police Science.

A frequent traveler because of her teaching role, Harteau is always excited on the return flight when she sees the Minneapolis skyline. It’s a view she loves, and when it comes into view Harteau knows she’s home. “There’s not much you have to leave for,” she observed. In particular, she values Minneapolis for its arts and culture.

HARTEAU UNPLUGGED

When she’s not working, Harteau stresses “unplugging” from technology. She and her life partner, Holly Keegel (a sergeant with the Minneapolis Police Department), disconnect from their own cell phones (Harteau has two). They have not yet gotten a cell phone for their 14-year-old daughter Lauren, and Harteau tells her that someday Lauren will thank her for it.

“I want her to stay engaged in the moment,” explained Harteau. She doesn’t think that can happen when people are “hyper-engaged” in text-messaging, Instagram, and Facebook at the same time.

With two parents on the police force, it isn’t surprising that Harteau’s daughter is considering a career in police work, too.

Harteau stated, “It would be cool if she was walking in the door when I was walking out.”