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Update from the Executive Director
Please welcome our twelve new MCC members (names listed to the right)!
We look forward to meeting you and the unique contributions you'll make to the organization. This weekly Musings update has much to offer. To get the most out of your Trial Membership, I encourage you to attend as many of the weekly featured programs, social outings and volunteer opportunities as possible. MCC members are a welcoming, curious and community-centered group of folks, all of whom look forward to getting to know you!
Members Diane and Tony Hofstede
invite their MCC friends to participate in this year's 5K Bee Run/Walk/River Cleanup Team Challenge - Saturday, April 22, 2017. A fun way to enjoy one another's company while exercising, cleaning up the riverfront and supporting the effort to create a Pollinator Pathway, that extends from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. More info here!
Please join other MCC members for "A Day in the Life" tour
to learn more about homelessness in our community and how St. Stephen's Human Services works to meet the needs of homeless people. To read more click here. Please note registration is required by April 11.
MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.
~ Joan Wright
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Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat
Wednesday, April 5, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Abiitan's Porter Cafe, 428 2nd St S (Note the new location)
 Join us to discuss Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis-that of white working-class Americans. The decline of this group, a demographic of our country that has been slowly disintegrating over 40 years, has been reported on with growing frequency and alarm, but has never before been written about as searingly from the inside. J. D. Vance tells the true story of what a social, regional and class decline feels like when you were born with it hung around your neck. A deeply moving memoir with its share of humor and vividly colorful figures, Hillbilly Elegy is the story of how upward mobility really feels. And it is an urgent and troubling meditation on the loss of the American dream for a large segment of this country.
If you'd like to read ahead, May's book is The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. Have a book suggestion for the Book Chat? Email Barbara Goldner.
MCC members and guests. No registration required. |
Technology Help Desk
Wednesday, April 5, 1:00 - 2:30 pm 
MCC office, 219 Main St SE, Ste 401
Schedule time with a tech support guru and have your nagging technology questions answered during our complimentary Help Desk. Support for both Apple products and PCs is available. After you register, MCC will confirm the time of your 20- to 30-minute one-on-one session. Reminder: Installing or upgrading software and creating accounts cannot be included in the Help Desk session, as they exceed the allotted appointment time.
Registration is now closed. Email Betsy Wray if you would like to be added to the waiting list in case of a cancellation.
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Men's Coffee and Conversation
Thursday, April 6, 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 Craven will be speaking on "Spam: An American Icon."
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Our Turn: A Conversation for Women
Thursday, April 6, 3:30 - 5:00 pm 
La Rive Party Room, 110 Bank St SE
MCC women, you are invited to attend Our Turn: A Conversation for Women. This week, Arvonne Fraser hosts at La Rive on the topic of "Secret Satisfactions in Your Life." Perhaps it is something you did in your career or otherwise without any publicity that helped others directly or indirectly. Remember: what's said in our meetings is confidential. Women tend to be too modest. As President Eisenhower and others have said: "You can get a lot done in this world if you don't have to get publicity for it." Please note: This gathering will conclude with a book exchange from 4:45 to 5:00 p.m. Bring your books!
This group meets every other Thursday, alternating between morning and afternoon times. Locations and topics will change each time.
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Technology Workshop: Technology Tools for Travelers
Tuesday, April 11, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
American Academy of Neurology, 201 Chicago Ave, Training Room B
 Join us for the first in a three-part series focusing on useful apps, accessories and tips for traveling with your iPhone or iPad. The series will cover tools that can help you stay in touch, save money, navigate your way in a new place and discover interesting sites. This first class will cover apps to use for accommodations, transportation and airline travel, such as Airbnb, Lyft, Uber, Roadtrippers, FlySmart, My TSA and more. The workshop is limited to 15 attendees, and it will cover iPhones only, not Android devices. You do not need to participate in all three workshops to attend. Please make sure your device is fully charged, as electrical will not be available in the room.
MCC members sign up here.
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Social Bridge
Wednesday, April 12, 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
caroljordan@millcitycommons.org.
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MN Public Policy: Gun Violence and What We Can Do to Prevent It
Thursday, April 13, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Winslow House, 100 2nd St SE
 After officiating at six funerals for gun violence victims, the Rev. Nancy Nord Bence, an ordained Lutheran pastor, felt called to leave parish ministry and join the gun reform movement. She now serves as Executive Director of Protect Minnesota, the only independent, state-based gun violence prevention organization in Minnesota. Protect Minnesota promotes a culture of health and safety for all Minnesotans by reducing gun deaths and injuries through education, organization and advocacy. Nord Bence will speak to us about gun violence and what we can do to prevent it.
MCC members sign up here.
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Waterfowl Walk
Monday, April 17, 8:00 - 9:30 am
Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4235 E Lake Harriet Blvd 
Each year, hundreds of thousands of birds stream through Minnesota on their annual migrations. The Minneapolis Chain of Lakes is a great place to observe them. In this walk led by Jamie McBride, lead naturalist with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, we'll be watching for geese, ducks, swans, pelicans and more. Bring binoculars and field guides, if you have them (we'll also have some to borrow). The April 17 session will meet at the Lake Harriet Bandshell.
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International Film Festival Screening: "The Chocolate Case"
Monday, April 17, 1:00 - 3:30 pm
St. Anthony Main Theatre, 115 Main St SE
 The Cynthia Froid Group hosts a special free screening for MCC members and guests of "The Chocolate Case." When a 2002 newspaper article casually reported the news of child slavery in the production of cocoa, Dutch journalists Teun van de Keuken, Maurice Dekkers and Roland Duong decided to try and make a difference. Working diligently, their research revealed that child labor was used in every chocolate product, even those with the Fair Trade logo on it, and that big corporations like Nestlé are eager to sweep such information under the proverbial rug. Frustrated that their efforts weren't getting more attention, van de Keuken came up with a novel idea: to sue himself, as a consumer of chocolate, for complicity in child slavery. The case really made it to court, and three years later a verdict was passed. Benthe Forrer's moving documentary is a captivating look at this little-known issue. A reception will follow the film in the River Room at the Aster Cafe.
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Great Decisions: Trade, Jobs and Politics
Monday, April 17, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
DeLaSalle High School, 1 DeLaSalle Dr, Rm D104 
The U.S. political mood toward trade has gone sour. One need look no further than the 2016 presidential contest for the popular narrative: Trade means that China wins, at America's expense. But do the numbers support that conclusion? The metrics used to gauge economic strength-gross domestic product and balance of trade-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. Only then can the U.S. develop appropriate policy solutions for the challenges at hand. Our speaker, Ambassador Ross Wilson, is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council and a visiting lecturer in international affairs at George Washington University. In his 30-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service, he served as American ambassador to Turkey and Azerbaijan, held assignments at several U.S. embassies and served in numerous State Department roles.
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 info@millcitycommons.org.
MCC GD members sign up here. |
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Sunday Brunch Soiree
Sunday, April 23, 12:00 - 2:00 pm
The Landings, 510 River St
 Join your friends and neighbors for the MCC Sunday Brunch Soiree hosted by Sam and Sylvia Kaplan. Please contribute to the potluck by bringing brunch fare to share. As you register, let us know what you'll bring by answering the "Question" that will appear on the screen. You're also welcome to bring your own wine or beer to share.
MCC members sign up here.
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"A Day in the Life" Tour
Tuesday, April 25, 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
St. Stephen's Shelter, 2211 Clinton Ave S 
Homelessness is a significant problem in our community, but not well understood by most of us. St. Stephen's Human Services works to meet the needs of homeless people by providing food, shelter and services to help them return to a more stable life. "A Day in the Life" will help us better understand the causes of homelessness and programs working to address it. We'll visit a mix of shelters, drop-in centers and other services to learn about homelessness. This is a walking tour covering several miles, but accommodation is possible. At the end, our group visits a place that serves free lunch, where we'll have the opportunity to talk with people and better understand their experience. Cost for the tour is $40 per person; reservations are due by April 11.
More information is available
here
.
MCC members sign up here; guests email MCC. Reservations are due by April 11. |
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MCC Program Calendar
Plan ahead! View the MCC April calendar
here.
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News from Members
MCC member Chris Bray wants members to know that Dr. Anne Basting, a University of Minnesota alumna and MacArthur Genius Award winner (2016), will present her lecture, "Arts & Aging: The Cultural Cure" on April 7 at 12 pm. This free presentation will be held at the Rarig Center on the West Bank campus, in the Whiting Proscenium Theatre. Click here for more information or here to see a video of Dr. Basting's work.
Want to watch a mid-week, mid-day Twins game with other MCC members? MCC member Allan Burdick invites you to contact him about purchasing tickets. You can choose the number of tickets you want to purchase ($22/ticket) and the number of games. All seats are in 3rd Deck - Sections 310, 321 or 322 and usually rows 6, 7 and 8. The seats are mostly under cover to protect from sun/rain. For details on games, click here. To purchase tickets, email alburd4057@gmail.com. |
Around Town
Westminster Town Hall Forum
April 11, 12:00 pm, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Marquette Ave
Join Otis Moss III as he speaks on the topic of "Building the Beloved Community." Moss is the senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, former church-home for then-Senator Barack Obama. Since coming to Trinity in 2008, Moss has focused his ministerial work on community advancement, civil rights advocacy and social justice activism, calling attention to the problems of mass incarceration, environmental justice and economic inequality.
Territoriality, Sovereignty and Water: Indian Rights and Law Panel Discussion
April 12, 6:30-8:00 pm, Mill City Museum, 704 2nd St S
A panel of Indigenous scholars and practitioners will discuss water and land rights issues, using Indian law and contemporary issues as a window into broader, long-standing colonial dynamics. They will address such questions as: How do American Indian sovereignty and tribal law intersect with federal law? How are historic preservation laws and mechanisms for protecting cultural sites implemented at the federal, state and tribal levels? What are the roles and responsibilities of citizens?
Global Conversations: Conflict in the South China Sea
April 13, 6:00-7:30 pm, Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall
The South China Sea is a locus of competing territorial claims, with China its most vocal claimant. Join us for a conversation, with Professor Duncan McCampbell, on what is being done to promote diplomacy and prevent tensions from boiling over in the region. For more information or to register for this free event, click
here.
And the Beat Goes On!
April 21-23, various times, Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave
The Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre & Flying Foot Forum present a rhythm-filled evening of flamenco and imaginative contemporary percussive dance. Each company will perform new works of their own, and will join forces to restage an excerpt from the moving
Garden of Names. To purchase tickets, click
here.
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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Please Welcome MCC's Trial Members!
Elaine & Fred Dietrich
Cheryl Grasmoen
Nancy Heinerscheid
Chris & Susan Higgins
Pat & William Kelly
Bruce & Sara Monick
Martha Stortz
Betty Wass
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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.
Guthrie Play Reading
Stone Arch Group
Tuesday, April 4,
6:30-9:30 pm
North Star Group
Tuesday, April 18,
6:00-9:00 pm
Groups will read
"The Bluest Eye"
this month.
Rendezvous
Readers' Book Chat
1st Wednesday of the month, 9:30-10:30 am
Abiitan's Porter Cafe
428 2nd St S
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
April 13 & 27
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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Volunteer Opportunities
Click
here for community volunteer opportunities on the MCC website!
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