Greetings Mill City Commons members and friends,

Some version of physical distancing, being alone together and virtual connecting will remain a part of our new normal. The way we think, work and gather will dramatically be adjusted as a result of COVID-19 uncertainties. What will remain is our strength of human spirit and desire to be a part of a vibrant community like Mill City Commons. We are in this crisis together and the MCC May calendar of stimulating virtual programs is dedicated to building feelings of resolve, hope, peace and possibility.

During the month of May, MCC wants to share the opportunity to participate in virtual programming and is presenting a special opportunity for non-members to join MCC for $25 and enjoy attending up to 5 virtual programs on Zoom . MCC will provide technical assistance to help you Zoom in online. Try MCC out and sign up here for chance to engage in events and build valuable connections.

Friday is May Day and traditionally a day to celebrate Spring , a season of new beginnings. Let us know what you are trying that is new to you. Nurseries and garden stores are open and some deliver if you want a quick pick-me-up of flowers and greenery . If you are exploring new spots away from crowds try making an illustrated map to commemorate your favorite COVID corners. If you've been wanting to try some baking, you can start with an easy 3-ingredient bread recipe . A fascinating website that may be new to you tracks tagged sharks, turtles, whales and dolphins on their travels through the sea. If you have used your Zoom skills and started events, try some new ideas on your calls. Surprise someone with a May Day basket . The tradition started in the 19 ^th century and it is a fun way to celebrate a new neighbor or friend by leaving an anonymous treat at their door reminding them they are part of the MCC neighborhood. 

MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.

~ Elise Linehan (612) 455-3329, 125 Main Street SE, #339, Minneapolis, MN 55414

Virtual via Zoom: Last Tuesday Happy Hour

Tuesday, April 28, 5:00 - 6:00 pm

Your own home via Zoom

Join us for a Virtual Last Tuesday Happy Hour. Make a drink at home and catch up with friends and neighbors via Zoom. Hosted by Carol Hovey, Linnea Olesen and Sabina Sten. Their Happy Hour topic is "What new skills have you learned? Did you finally learn or do an activity that you've always intended to do, but didn't? What old skills have you relearned?"

No registration required. Click here to see the Zoom link and join the program.

Virtual via Zoom: Poetry for the Pandemic Pause

Wednesday, April 29, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

Your own home via Zoom

Did you know April is National Poetry Month? Feel free to pour a glass of wine and join us on Zoom. Share a verse or two from a favorite poem, or simply log on and listen to other members recite their favorites. Together, we can hear and feel the power of poetry during this pandemic pause. MCC Member, Ron Vantine, will help guide the readings and discussion.

MCC members sign up here . The Zoom link can be found in the program description after logging in and in your confirmation email.

Virtual via Zoom: Men's Coffee and Conversation

Thursday, April 30, 7:30 - 8:30 am

Your own home via Zoom

It's caffeine and camaraderie for the male members of MCC and guests! This group meets every other Thursday and is hosted by various members who get the conversation going.

Dan Johnson, recently retired CEO of Catholic Eldercare, will be our guest speaker.

Dan has been one of our community partners for several years. He will share an account of his youngest son's experience with paranoid schizophrenia and his family's ten-year journey with him.

MCC members sign up here ; guests email MCC . The Zoom link can be found in the program description after logging in and in your confirmation email.

Virtual via Zoom: Rethinking Ventilators and Health Care Directives During COVID-19

Tuesday, May 5, 2:00 - 3:30 pm

Your own home via Zoom

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many of us are wondering if we should revisit our Health Care Directives. The answer is, Yes. Join retired physician and MCC Member, David Plimpton, for a discussion on COVID-19 prognosis, effects on the lungs, and potential outcomes with medical intervention. Because COVID-19 is an acute respiratory illness that has the potential to be reversed with the use of a ventilator, David will discuss how to address and communicate changes to your Health Care Directive and end of life options. Ample time will be allowed for questions and answers.

MCC members sign up here . The Zoom link can be found in the program description after logging in and in your confirmation email.

Virtual via Zoom: ALIGHT in a Time of Darkness

Tuesday, May 5, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Your own home via Zoom

Join us as President/CEO, Daniel Wordsworth, discusses ALIGHT’s strategies they’ve taken as well as the challenges and impacts of COVID-19 on these highly-vulnerable populations in various countries. He will also address how they have adapted their critical, ongoing services to help manage the spread of the illness. As the world has shutdown and many cities and businesses gone dark, ALIGHT (formerly known as American Refugee Committee) continues to help those most in need. ALIGHT provides health care and clean water, shelter, protection, and economic opportunity to more than 3.5 million people in 17 countries each year.

MCC members sign up here . The Zoom link can be found in the program description after logging in and in your confirmation email.

Rendezvous Readers' Book Chat

Wednesday, May 6, 10:00 - 11:00 am

Your own home via Zoom

Join us to discuss Know My Name by Chanel Miller. This memoir recounts Ms. Miller’s story of trauma, survival, shame, and isolation that surrounded her as she bravely came forward to share her sexual assault experience. Her story illuminates a culture biased to protect perpetrators, indicts a criminal justice system designed to fail the most vulnerable, and, ultimately, shines with the courage required to move through suffering and live a full and beautiful life.

If you’d like to read ahead, June’s book is The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai. Have a book suggestion for the Book Chat? Email Marsha Blumenthal.

No registration required. Click here to see the Zoom link and join the program.

Spring Birding

Friday, May 8, 7:30 - 9:00 am

Your own home via Zoom

Celebrate spring with a series of five bird-watching walks along the river or Minneapolis lakes! We hope to see migrating warblers and other songbirds. Gregg Severson, naturalist with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, will lead the walks. Participants must bring their own binoculars and field guides, if you have them. Locations for the walks to be announced each week.

NOTE: You don’t have to be a serious birder to participate—this is a chance to learn! And these are not strenuous hikes but rather easy walks with lots of stopping.

NOTE: Due to physical distancing guidelines, this event is limited to ten participants.

MCC members sign up here .

Virtual via Zoom: Vote 2020: Taking Action on Voter Suppression

Monday, May 11, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Your own home via Zoom

In April, we heard from the ACLU on voter suppression issues across the nation. Join us now for Part II of our Understanding Voter Suppression series as Wintana Melekin, Executive Director of Minnesota Voice, will help us understand the practical aspects of what WE can do to help mitigate voter suppression here in Minnesota and around the country. Bring your questions and comments and contribute to this important conversation.

MCC members sign up here . The Zoom link can be found in the program description after logging in and in your confirmation email.

Virtual via Zoom: Overview of the Metropolitan Council: Q&A with Charlie Zelle

Tuesday, May 12, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

Your own home via Zoom

Join us as Chairman Charlie Zelle provides an overview of the Metropolitan Council, including a brief history of the founders, mission, essential services, funding and infrastructure. He will also talk about the Council’s coordination with municipalities and the geographic area they cover, how disputes are mitigated/resolved, current challenges, and notable accomplishments.

MCC members sign up here . The Zoom link can be found in the program description after logging in and in your confirmation email.

News From Members

MCC Executive Director Elise Linehan shares that Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging is hosting a virtual Dementia Friends Champion training on April 30 from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. Register online to receive the Zoom Meeting link and training materials. The goal of a Dementia Friends session is to help community members understand dementia and the small things they can do to make a difference for people living with dementia. Register for this free program here. If you attend the program, let us know!

Elise also notes that the Minnesota Gerontological Society has recordings available for free on their website, including last week's Age-Friendly Conference and their past webinars. Access the recordings here.

MCC members Cecily Hines and Ember Reichgott Junge invite you to Dancing with Heart: Virtual Style! Many of you know the nonprofit Heart of Dance, which brings the benefits of partner dance to 5th and 8th graders in the schools, and most recently to older adults at Abiitan. Tune in to dancing kiddos and seniors on May 6 at noon for a free fundraising event filled with laughter and joy. All you need do is sign up for your unique link: Dancing with Heart 2020. While Dancing Classrooms are cancelled, Heart of Dance still serves educators with much-needed social emotional distant learning content for their students, filling an important mental health need. And for older adults? Watch for the return of Dance for Life at Abiitan when all is safe!

MCC members Karla Ekdahl and Peter Hutchinson hope you might join them for a virtual gathering to hear two really smart people talk about the reforms needed to end the partisanship which is threatening our democracy and so poorly serving our country at this time of crisis. The event will take place on May 6 at 5:30 pm. Learn more and register here.

MCC member Peggy Lucas wants members to know that Murray Middle School is looking for volunteers to listen to students read a book from a virtual library as they practice independent reading. After reading, the student will write a brief reflection of what was read. Volunteers are needed from 2:00-3:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Volunteers can select the day(s) that they would like to participate. It can be once a week or more! For information, call Cindy Thrasher at (507) 299-0144.

MCC member Bob Rinek shares this message from Dean Orton, who recently spoke at the Men's Coffee and Conversation program: "On behalf of the Twin Cities PBS (TPT) staff and board, I want to thank you again for your loyal viewership and interest in TPT’s latest signature series, Minnesota Experience. I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to talk with you earlier this month. As promised, please use the link to watch the Minnesota Experience video. Given your unique location, I would be remiss if I didn’t provide a direct link to Flour Power, our first episode of the series, exploring how milling made Minnesota. I don't think we could have picked a better story to begin this series, and I hope you agree. You can access all of the Minnesota Experience episodes from Season 1 and 2 by clicking here.

Thanks again to Bob and Marcy Rinek and the other founding members of TPT’s Friends of Minnesota Experience, a community of philanthropists providing necessary funding to create new productions, update archival content and offer unique experiences to engage around history. Due to this strong foundation of support, TPT has been awarded a generous matching grant from The Katherine B. Andersen Fund of the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, doubling every new or increased gift to Friends of Minnesota Experience. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Melinda Hoke, VP of Philanthropy, at (651) 229-1240 or mhoke@tpt.org. As we face difficult times, we find that celebrating our history together creates bonds in our divisive world. TPT is committed to sharing the ongoing relevance of Minnesota’s history because we believe that our past is essential to understanding and shaping our future together. We have so many stories left to tell.Keep enjoying TPT. We are honored that you spend time with us. With your help, we promise to keep it up."

MCC member Katie Searl shares that the Facebook page, Minneapolis Volunteer Brigade posts real time needs of people who need help in this pandemic. Updated many times a day, you will find ways to help without breaching social distancing and will learn about ways others are pitching in to make this better. Please go to Facebook and 'like' Minneapolis Volunteer Brigade and the group, Be That Neighbor. We all want to do better and this page will help you do just that. You can also find these posts under the Friends of the Mill District. You can also consider designating Friends of the Mill District as your charity on smile.amazon.com.

MCC member Nancy Gardner shared that this past Saturday's River Clean Up was a whopping success. There was a good turnout and they spent almost 2 hours cleaning up the banks and walkways along the Mississippi. There’s even talk about doing it again.

A special thanks to MCC members: JoAnn Boraas, Patty Connelly, Laura Crosby, Nancy Gardner, Liz and Van Hawn and Penny Hunt.

Photos of the Week

Courtesy of MCC member Will Bracken, taken along the Mississippi riverfront.

Did you know...

~That MCC has a Medical Equipment Loan Program for its members? If you have a medical need, we may have the equipment you are looking for. Consider contacting the office before you buy or rent a piece of equipment. We have a shower chair, raised toilet seat, walker, cane and grabber to choose from.

~That the First Stop Guide has member-recommended service providers? If you're looking for a dentist, tech support, a personal trainer or more, you can find it here. You can send your recommendations to Mary Texidor.

COVID-19

Go to MCC's COVID-19 Response page to see resources, Zoom tutorials and recommendations from members on things to do while staying at home.

Volunteer Opportunities

Click here for community volunteer opportunities on the MCC website.

Forums

Have an extra ticket to an event? Want to talk about the latest movie? Use our member forums to connect with other members.

Have some down time? Help us!

~Send us a short biography (3-5 sentences) for your profile on the MCC website so other members can get to know you (feel free to attach an updated photo, too).

~ Take our survey to help us coordinate connections without infections.

~We would also appreciate it if you took this survey about MCC virtual programming.

COVID-19 Corner

~The MCC Men's Dutch Lunch group was interested in hearing more about pulse oximeters and how they can be used to measure blood oxygen saturation. They also referenced an article about the 1918 influenza and its impact on the Mayo Clinic. For more information, click here.

~Last week's presenter on Caring for Someone Dying at Home, Jane Whitlock, shared this resource from the MN Death Collaborative. It is a hotline staffed by end-of-life doulas.

~ MCC members have also shared this poem, written by Catherine (Kitty) O'Meara:

"And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed."

Zoom In and Join Us

Check out our guides featuring Zoom tips  for computers and laptops as well as iPads to get you comfortable with the controls. Click here to see a video tutorial for Mac users created by Kea at Tech Tutor MN. All of our Zoom tutorials can be found on the MCC website under the COVID-19 response page (found here ).

If you need any help accessing Zoom, we have a tech consultant who is willing to help at no cost to you. Please contact the MCC office to learn more.

Programs with speakers require registration online. Zoom links can be found in the program descriptions after you log in to the MCC website. Closed groups will coordinate sending Zoom links to participants individually via email with Bethany Boom. 

Contact Us

Elise Linehan, Executive Director, eliselinehan@millcitycommons.org

Mary Texidor, Business and Member Services Admin, marytexidor@millcitycommons.org

Bethany Boom, Program and Events Manager, bethanyboom@millcitycommons.org

(612) 455-3329