Featured Stories

Rebuilding More than Houses

Jay Walljasper Wednesday, January 16, 2013

A pair of determined nonprofits, Minneapolis' Urban Homeworks and Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services in Saint Paul, begin by fixing up damaged, foreclosed, and derelict houses--and then go on to help strengthen the surrounding neighborhoods in many other ways.

Affordable Housing, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, diversity, Reuse / Rebuild

Dayton's Bluff, North Side

Emily Torgrimson, founder of Eat for Equity

Emily's Feasts: Eating well and doing good with Eat for Equity

Julie Kendrick Wednesday, January 09, 2013

As a college student, Emily Torgrimson wanted to help with Hurricane Katrina relief. She cooked dinner for friends and collected donations. Seven years later, she's got a national nonprofit on her hands, with coverage on the Today show and plans for a nationwide trailer tour.

Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy

VideoLine: Intercultural Opportunities

Minnesota 2020 Wednesday, January 09, 2013

From our friends at Minnesota 2020, a video about how immigrants and their needs and preferences are helping Minnesota farmers develop new crops and new markets.

diversity, Entrepreneurship, Strong Local Economy

Seward

A Line or Two: The Physics Force Circus

Jon Spayde Wednesday, January 09, 2013

In A Line or Two, I share some of my enthusiasms and discoveries as I make my way around the Twin Cities. Call it an editor's note as blog entry. This week: A "circus" of fun-to-watch physics demonstrations at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Arts and Culture, Higher Education

University, Downtown

Tricia Khutoretsky, Director and Curator of Public Functionary

A New Kind of Art Space: Public Functionary

Anna Pratt Wednesday, December 19, 2012

What is an art gallery? What should it do, not just for the artists it shows and the patrons who view and buy the art, but for the community as a whole? These are some of the questions Tricia Khutoretsky and her colleagues are asking as they prepare to debut a new, and rather oddly named, art space in Northeast Minneapolis.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Strong Local Economy

Northeast

Urbanist Charles Landry on the Twin Cities: reknit the urban fabric, learn to brag

Jay Walljasper Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Jay Walljasper checks in with British urbanist Charles Landry, who recaps his experience touring the Twin Cities, meeting a wide array of local urban changemakers, and applying his principles of city vitality to our reality. And Landry draws some conclusions about how our towns can thrive in the coming decades.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, diversity, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

A Line or Two: The Live Literary Year in Review

Jon Spayde Wednesday, December 19, 2012

In A Line or Two, I share some of my enthusiasms and discoveries as I make my way around the Twin Cities. Call it an editor's note as blog entry. This week: A look back at 2012 in the local lit world, courtesy of a new web site that keeps track of live poetry and prose events.

Arts and Culture, Creative Economy

John Larsen in conversation with Jon Spayde

Young Leaders 1: Architect/Philanthropist John Larsen on Going Beyond Grantmaking

Jon Spayde Wednesday, December 12, 2012

In this first of an occasional series of interviews with young movers and shakers in the Twin Cities, we talk with John Larsen, an architect whose personal giving, and family foundation, support deeply held personal values rooted in personal experiences. For Larsen, philanthropy needs to explore options beyond writing checks--like new partnerships with government.

Creative Leadership, Design, diversity, Philanthropy, Sustainability

Calhoun - Isles

No Coast Craft-o-Rama: A Slide Show

Bill Kelley Wednesday, December 12, 2012

On December 7 and 8, Minneapolis' Midtown Global Market turned hyper-crafty as 96 hand-makers of beautiful, funny, and freaky objects gathered to sell their wares. It was more than a holiday craft fair--it was a celebration of the Twin Cities as a leader in the new crafts movement. Our photographer, Bill Kelley, was there.

Arts and Culture, Creative Economy, Design, Entrepreneurship, Shopping, Strong Local Economy

Phillips

Purple Rice and Papaya Salad at Palace's Pizza

A Line or Two: The Hmong Pizzerias

Jon Spayde Wednesday, December 12, 2012

In A Line or Two, I share some of my enthusiasms and discoveries as I make my way around the Twin Cities. Call it an editor's note as blog entry. This week: Papaya salad, purple rice, or pho with your pizza?

diversity, Entrepreneurship, Strong Local Economy

Payne - Phalen, Summit - University

Microlending and More for Women's Business Dreams: WomenVenture

Elizabeth Millard Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Saint Paul's WomenVenture helps woman-run startups get off the ground with a potent mix of feminist spirit, microlending, and business incubation. But as its clients testify, it's the group's commitment to ongoing support that sets it apart.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Strong Local Economy

Saint Anthony Park

Videoline: Tane Danger on Public Policy Comedy

Tom Niemisto, MN 2020 Wednesday, December 05, 2012

The Theater of Public Policy, cofounded by the improbably named improv guy Tane Danger, uses comedy to probe public issues. Call it improvisational democracy, with real situations, serious intentions, and plenty of laughs.

Arts and Culture, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership

Uptown/Lyn Lake

A Line or Two: Saturday Night at 38th and Chicago

Jon Spayde Wednesday, December 05, 2012

In A Line or Two, I share some of my enthusiasms and discoveries as I make my way around the Twin Cities. Call it an editor's note as blog entry. This week: An evening at the JoyFace Poetry and Arts Collective's pop-up celebration, the Full Blast Bliss Reading and Art Show.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Nightlife

Phillips

Coffee with your Tattoos? Tattoos with Your Coffee? A Slide Show

Bill Kelley Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Shops that pair high-end coffee with edgy, adrenaline-boosting activities are becoming a Twin Cities hallmark. We've got coffee and motorcycles (Bob's Java Hut), coffee and serious biking (Angry Catfish), and now coffee and that artistic test of pain-endurance called getting serious tattoos.

Arts and Culture, Creative Economy, Design, Entrepreneurship, Strong Local Economy

Lake Street, Uptown/Lyn Lake

Kerry Muse, Chief Education Officer of Venture Academy, at the school's proposed site

Venture Academy: Toward a Whole New Level of Learning

Elizabeth Millard Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The education innovators behind this charter school are hoping to create a 21st-century fusion of classroom and digital space, where kids' fascination with technology helps them learn--at their own pace.

Creative Leadership, diversity, Emerging Technology, Entrepreneurship, High Technology, Talent Dividend