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Update from the Executive Director
"Staying involved, active, relevant, having a purpose..."
Isn't this what we all want, no matter our age?
This sentiment was shared at a recent Dutch Treat Social Hour with a University of Minnesota Anthropology major doing research for her Senior paper. She was curious to hear how (and why) urban living benefits older adults as they age. It was a delightful mash-up of youth meets wisdom where stereotypes were upended and new connections were made.
Recently, EngAge MN partnered with CommonBond Communities
in a unique, 10-week storytelling class for seniors. The class explored the power of personal storytelling and was taught by T. Mychael Rambo, a regional Emmy Award-winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer. Those involved created a culminating event -- "The Artfully Aging Radio Hour."
If you were unable to attend this incredible evening of art and entertainment, you may want to tune in Sunday evening, March 12 at 7:00 p.m. (CT) to the live-stream show on
KPFM FM LosAngeles.
MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.
~ Joan Wright
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Technology Workshop: Navigating the MCC Website
Tuesday, March 7, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
American Academy of Neurology, 201 Chicago Ave, Training Room B 
Are you getting the most out of your MCC website? This session is designed for members who are less familiar with all the tools and information the website offers. Executive Director Joan Wright will show you how to both sign up for a program and cancel your registration, where to find member-recommended resources (First Stop Guide), how to access other members' phone numbers and email addresses, how to post to the Forum and more. Bring your computer, tablet and/or phone and get your questions answered!
MCC members sign up here.
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Nuclear Weapons in the New Administration
Wednesday, March 8, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Winslow House, 100 2nd St SE
 Campaign rhetoric and subsequent appointees to key Administration posts suggest confusing signals at best and terrifying ones at worst about U.S. government policy concerning nuclear weapons over the past 50 years. What are the issues and possible actions the new administration has to consider? MCC member Roger Hale, Chairman Emeritus of the
Ploughshares Fund, will share his views. The Ploughshares Fund, through grantmaking, works to reduce and eventually eliminate the dangers posed by nuclear weapons.
MCC members sign up here.
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Men's Coffee and Conversation
Thursday, March 9, 7:30 - 8:30 am 
Elsie's Restaurant, 729 Marshall St NE
It's caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC and guests! This group meets ev
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ry other Thursday and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going. Please register by the Monday prior to Men's Coffee and Conversation. This week, MCC member Doug Baker will speak on "A Gift from the Dalai Lama." He'll relate an experience with "His Holiness," the Dalai Lama, and several of his colleagues. And he'll share a question one of the monks posed to Doug, his wife Carole and their group during an audience. It's a query that has impacted Doug's subsequent years in an important way. Bring some writing materials to capture some notes.
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Our Turn
Thursday, March 9, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Cobalt Condos, 45 University Ave SE, #405
 MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women. This week, Our Turn takes a break from the serious as host Lou Burdick invites you to share stories--humorous, dramatic, comforting, amazing, impactful--about your most memorable restaurant experiences. Often restaurants serve as the stage for life-enriching, magical or sometimes dreadful experiences that have more to do with the people involved than with the food or the setting.
This group meets every other Thursday, alternating between morning and afternoon times. Locations and topics will change each time.
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Author Celebration: Jessica Fishman
Sunday, March 12, 5:00 - 6:30 pm 
Flour Sack Flats, 521 2nd St SE, #512
After moving to Israel, overcoming the notorious Israeli bureaucracy, making embarrassing mistakes while learning Hebrew, serving in an army that is run by teenagers, and serial dating egotistical Israelis, wide-eyed Minnesotan Jessica Fishman finally thought that she had made it, until everything came crashing down. Join us as Fishman, author of the just-published
Chutzpah and High Heels: The Search for Love and Identity in the Holy Land, tells her story and leads a discussion on how travel changes us and our identity. Dick and Peg Kavaney host; light refreshments will be served.
MCC members sign up here.
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So, How's the Mississippi River?
Monday, March 13, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Winslow House, 100 2nd St SE
 How is the health of the Mississippi River? Can I safely swim in it? Can I eat the fish I catch? How are the bald eagles faring? What "new" pollutants are impacting the river's health? The National Park Service partnered with Friends of the Mississippi River to examine the research that helps answer these and other questions, and recently released the updated "State of the River Report." Come and learn about the important trends and emerging issues impacting the health of the river, as well as potential solutions. Lark Weller is the Water Quality Coordinator for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service. Trevor Russell is Watershed Program Director for Friends of the Mississippi River. Lark and Trevor are the co-authors of the "State of the River Report."
MCC members sign up here. |
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State Capitol Tour
Tuesday, March 14, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd
 After more than three years of restoration, renovation and repair, Minnesota's historic State Capitol is open again for visitors. Join us on this guided tour to see the restoration up close and get an overview of Capitol history, art, architecture and state government. Our group leader will check in at the Capitol Information and Tour Center to the right of the first floor main entrance. The rest of group should wait on the front steps for the tour guide. The State Capitol is located just east of the Metro Green Line Capitol/Rice Street station.
MCC members sign up here. |
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Social Bridge
Wednesday, March 15, 3:00 - 5:00 pm
Washburn Lofts, 700 2nd St S
 Join bridge players for a round of social bridge; levels of expertise and experience vary. Bring a partner if you can, and remember to register both yourself and your partner. Questions? Contact Carol Jordan at
[email protected].
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The Future of Higher Education
Thursday, March 16, 7:00 - 8:30 pm 
La Rive Party Room, 110 Bank St SE
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion led by Robert Bruininks, University of Minnesota Professor and President Emeritus. Bob will draw on his experience as president at the U of M to discuss the future opportunities and challenges facing large public research universities in the United States. Bob has the unusual distinction of spending his entire career at one institution-the U of M-as both an academic and an administrator.
MCC members sign up here. |
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Sunday Soiree
Sunday, March 19, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Bridgewater Community Room, 215 10th Ave S
 Join your friends and neighbors for the MCC Sunday Soiree, hosted by Mary & Steve Patnode and Pat Hoven at the Bridgewater Community Room. Please contribute to the potluck by bringing a hearty hors d'oeuvre, main dish salad or dessert to serve at least 12. As you register, let us know what you'll bring by answering the "Question" that will appear on the screen. You are welcome to bring your own wine or beer to share.
MCC members sign up here. |
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Great Decisions: Nuclear Security
Monday, March 20, 7:00 - 8:30 pm 
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Room D014
Nuclear nonproliferation was a top priority for the Obama administration. While the Iran Deal was a diplomatic victory toward this end, major threats persist from both state and non-state actors. Countries like North Korea, Russia, India and Pakistan continue to challenge nonproliferation efforts. The possibility that terrorists will carry out an attack using a "dirty bomb" made from captured nuclear materials looks increasingly real. In a fractious world, what is the way forward for U.S. nuclear security policy? Speaker Margo Squire was a career diplomat for 30 years with the U.S. Information Agency and the U.S. Department of State, serving in Munich, Moscow, Melbourne, Baku, Ankara and Washington, D.C. Squire was a decorated Foreign Service Officer and recipient of numerous meritorious service awards. She holds a B.A. in Russian Language and Studies from Dartmouth College and an M.A. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
Registration on the MCC website is required for Great Decisions members. Sorry, not open to guests; to join the MCC Great Decisions Discussion Group, email the MCC office at [email protected].
MCC GD members sign up here. |
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Foodie Tour: The Food Building
Tuesday, March 21, 10:30 - 11:30 am
The Food Building, 1401 Marshall St NE
 Do you consider yourself a foodie? Then you need to visit the Food Building! Founded by Kiernan Foillard, former owner of The Local and founder of 2 Gingers Whiskey, this northeast Minneapolis gem is home to two artisan food makers. During the tour, you'll learn about the art, craft and care that go into the making of Red Table Meats and Baker's Field Flour and Bread. The tour will end with a tasting of each maker's products. Those who are interested may choose to stay for lunch at the adjacent Draft Horse bistro, which uses Food Building products in many of its menu items. Cost for the tour is $15; please bring cash or a check (no credit cards).
MCC members sign up here; guests email MCC. |
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MCC Program Calendar
View the MCC March calendar
here.
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News from Members
MCC member Ron Vantine shares that there is a "Healthcare Access, Cost and Coverage - What's Next?" presentation on March 23, 5:00-8:00 pm at the Food Building, 1401 Marshall St NE. Jim Eppel, President & CEO of UCare, will lead the discussion with remarks by Ralonda Mason, Legal Aid Supervising Attorney. This presentation is part of "Bar Examination: Legal Topics Served Straight Up," a series of events presented by Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid and partners that examine key legal and policy issues in an informative and lively presentation format.
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Around Town
Global Conversations: Trade and Politics
March 8, 6:00-7:30 pm, Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall
The U.S. political mood toward trade has gone sour but what do the numbers say?
The metrics used to gauge economic strength have not kept up with the realities of modern manufacturing. Obtaining an accurate picture of U.S. economic stature requires a critique of those numbers.
Join a conversation with Professor Varadarajan V. Chari on the development of appropriate policy solutions for the challenges at hand. Free. Registration is required here
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The Role of Women in the Global Agenda
March 9, 6:30-8:00 pm, Walker Art Center Skyline Terrace, 725 Vineland Pl
To mark International Women's Day, join a discussion with leaders from politics, business and civil society to address critical questions that are being raised about the role of women in boardrooms, the halls of government and rural communities around the world. To learn more or register, click here.
She Went to War
March 17-April 2, 7:30 pm, Guthrie Theater, 818 2nd St S
The Telling Project returns to the Dowling Studio with a new project,
She Went to War, centered on the experiences of women in combat. The event is part of the Level Nine Series, devoted to community dialogue about today's most significant topics and questions. Every performance includes a discussion component. Tickets can be purchased
here.
Westminster Town Hall Forum
March 21, 12:00 pm, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Marquette Ave
Frank Bruni, an op-ed columnist for
The New York Times, will speak on "Media In the Age of Misinformation." As a political columnist, he has focused on the nation's divisiveness and what each citizen can do to seek common ground.
Mill City Times is a local website devoted specifically to our neighborhood and a place to go to find out what's happening, whether it's a new restaurant opening, a local event, proposed construction, volunteer opportunities and more.
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Volunteer Opportunities
Click
here for community volunteer opportunities on the MCC website!
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MCC Ongoing Social Opportunities
Dutch Treat
Social Hour
Mondays, 4:00-5:00 pm
Jefe Urban Hacienda
Drop in for an afternoon coffee or drink and a casual chat. No reservations
required.
Rendezvous
Readers' Book Chat
1st Wednesday of the month, 9:30-10:30 am
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express
No reservations required.
Hillbilly Elegy
by J.D. Vance
Rendezvous on 5
Wednesdays, 9-10 am
Guthrie Theater Level 5 Express
Drop in and join your friends and neighbors for fellowship at this neighborhood haunt. This weekly adventure requires no reservations!
Men's Coffee and Conversation
Elsie's Restaurant,
729 Marshall Street NE
Caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC! This group meets every other Thursday at 7:30 am and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going.
Our Turn: A Conversation for Women
Relax and chat with other MCC women. This group meets every other Thursday and alternates between morning and afternoon times. Look for details in the body of this newsletter.
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Ongoing Member-Led Activities
MCC Caregiver Support Group
2nd and 4th Wednesdays, January through April,
10:30 am-12:00 pm
A way to support members and non-members who are or have been in a caregiving role. For
more information,
contact Betsy Wray.
Men's Dutch Lunch
Abiitan's Porter Cafe (Note the new location)
Alternating Thursdays at 11:30 am
March 16 & 30
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact
Allan Burdick.
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| Mill City Commons Ongoing Fitness Opportunities
SBS Class
Thursdays 2:00-3:00 pm G-Werx Fitness,
An exclusive opportunity for members, this weekly class focuses on strength, balance
and stretching to keep you fit and strong.
First time participants, please contact G-Werx Fitness at (612) 767-4415 and arrive 20 minutes early to complete paperwork. Cost varies depending on commitment.
River Walkers Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:30-8:30 am Stone Arch Lofts Riverside Parking Lot
All levels of walkers are welcome for this early morning walk along the banks of the Mississippi River. An MCC volunteer leads each walk.
Hatha Yoga Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:00-9:15 am
Yoga Center of Minneapolis,
212 3rd Ave N, Ste 205
This is an alignment-based class. Purchase a 12-class pass for $132 directly from YCM to use as your schedule allows, or drop in on a class for $12.50. Contact Dena at
612-436-4700 for details.
Drop-ins welcome.
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