 |
Join Us to Celebrate our 19th Birthday!
|
Dear friends,
Can you believe it? The Dignity Center is turning 19 - and we want YOU to celebrate with us! Join us at our virtual birthday party on Wednesday, March 24th from 12pm - 12:45pm. We will host a Zoom open house with participants, staff, and volunteers from The Dignity Center, and you are welcome to stay for the entire event or drop in and out as your schedule allows!
Be sure to mark your calendars now - we can't wait to see you there! If you have any questions about the event, or if you want to submit photos for our slideshow, please contact Mary Martin at Mary@haumc.org. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Yours,
Mary Martin
Director, The Dignity Center |
|
|
"Black History is Every Day of Our Lives"
|
|
|
During Black History Month, our volunteers, staff, and participants at The Dignity Center have been celebrating the Black members of our community and reflecting together on race and racism. For some of our participants, Black History Month is an important time of learning and community engagement. For others in our community, like our participant Sean, Black History Month "doesn't really mean that much" because instances of racism continue to happen. Sean said, "[Black] Brothers are still getting shot in February. I just want to be able to walk around Target without being followed." Sean's comments remind us that we have a long way to go in our work to create a more just society. Rita Lyell, pictured here, is one of our cherished volunteers at The Dignity Center. She comments that for Black folks, "Black history is every day of our lives," because Black people live Black history "every month, 365 days a year." We hope to live into Rita's wisdom, and we commit to doing our part to create a welcoming and safe environment for our Black community members not only during Black History Month, but all year long. |
|
|
The Dignity Center Mourns the Passing of
Presley LC Taylor
|
On the evening of Sunday, Feb. 14, The Dignity Center's long-time participant Presley LC Taylor was murdered in a double homicide. Below, Janet Leick, one of Presley's Advocates at The Dignity Center, offers a reflection on his life.
"I had the privilege of being Presley Taylor's advocate for almost four years. The Dignity Center was an important part of his life. I think fondly of his warmth and friendliness and his ready smile. A lasting memory is seeing Presley at the retreat center, giving us a tour of the grounds and the lakeside, raving about the fishing and the quietness.
In 2019 Presley told me he hoped to go back to the program at Better Futures, and that he was "tired of living life badly." He wanted to move forward with his life. Presley made people around him smile. He was a gracious person who shared his life with others.
May peace be with you, dear Presley, and with your family." |
|
|
|
The Dignity Center is a Ministry of
Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church
|
|
HOURS & LOCATION
The Dignity Center is located at 425 Groveland Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403 | 612-435-1315
Visit us Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 9am to noon
|
|
|
|
|
|
.