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Update from the Executive Director
Are you ready? It is now the last week of summer. Next week we will be welcoming autumn back to Minnesota. I've noticed a few yellow leaves falling here and there in the breeze. Soon we'll be enjoying more colors and the fresh crisp air that belongs only to fall. Time to unpack those sweaters!
There are many ways to engage with Mill City Commons. We want you to be as engaged as you want to be. Some members attend events, serve on a committee, or volunteer as a board member. Some of you host happy hours, soirees, or make arrangements to use your community room for our programs. Some of you are active in MCC's online
forums where you can virtually connect with other members. Perhaps reading our
newsletters is all you care to do. I've been told that some folks choose to belong because "it's the right thing to do." Others feel they are investing in their own future, paying it forward with their current membership in Mill City Commons.
Whatever your reasons are for belonging or however deeply you are engaged, we appreciate your membership and financial support of our community.
THANK YOU to all of our members! If you're not a member yet or anymore, consider
joining us. If you believe in what we're doing and want to make a gift unrelated to membership, you could do so
here.
Happy Trails, Summer. We'll see you next year!
MILL CITY COMMONS: We learn. We share. We engage. We give.
~ Sara J.B. Foster
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M
en's Coffee & Conversation
Thursday, September 19, 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 every 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 John Cairns hosts with guest speaker Nekima Levy Armstrong. They'll speak on "Racial Inequities in Minneapolis: What should/can be done to deal with the issue?" A leader in the African-American community, Nekima Levy Armstrong is a former law professor at the University of St. Thomas, spokesperson for Black Lives Matter and co-counsel with John Cairns in the pending litigation seeking to declare that parental choice in public schools in Minnesota is unconstitutional.
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MCC Women Connect
Thursday, September 19, 10:00 - 11:30 am 
Mill City Quarter Club Room, 322 2nd St S
At this month's MCC Women Connect, Suzanne Joyce will lead a discussion on women, wealth and wisdom. Even today, only about 15% of financial advisors are women. Why is money talk usually from men to men?
MCC Women Connect's purpose is to gather to connect and grow, sharing our experiences and learning from each other as we adapt to life's changes and transitions. Discussion ideas come from members, volunteer facilitators and a list of suggestions being developed. We meet once a month, from 10:00-11:30 a.m., on the third Thursday.
MCC members sign up here; guests email MCC. |
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Meditation Circle
Tuesday, September 24 & October 1, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Mill City Quarter Club Room, 322 2nd St S
 Mill City Commons members are invited to join in a weekly drop-in meditation hour. This is a time for self-guided meditation; if you're new to meditation, we'll provide a brief explanation to help you get started. Our hope is that meditating with each other may help each of our practices and create a shared energy among participants. Drop-in sessions are on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30 am at Mill City Quarter, across the parking lot from Abiitan. An MCC member will be there to greet you at 9:30 a.m. Please register for sessions you plan to attend so we have an idea of how many to expect. All sessions are free.
MCC members sign up here for the September 24 session; MCC members sign up here for the October 1 session.
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Last Tuesday Happy Hour
Tuesday, September 24, 5:00 - 6:00 pm 
Pog Mahone's Pub & Grill, 903 Washington Ave S
Join us for Last Tuesday Happy Hour at Pog Mahone's Bar & Grill! Hosted by Keith & Polly Nelson, Ken Hartung and Bob & Pam Berkwitz, this gathering is a time to catch up with friends and neighbors over drinks and small bites. Dutch treat--no reservations required. Parking after 5 p.m. is available in the adjacent, closely monitored pay lot, at meters on the street or in nearby parking ramps. If you'd like to stay for dinner, you may make reservations by email with Libby Kvasnicka at libby@pogmahone.com.
MCC members and guests. No registration required.
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Mill City Travelers: The Silk Road with Jim Conaway
Wednesday, September 25, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Stonebridge Community Room, 1120 2nd St S, 2nd fl
 Join us as MCC member Jim Conaway shares about his unusual experiences in Xinjiang Province, China, through images and stories. This province is known as the Uygur Autonomous Region and is in the far most western part of China. According to Jim, it's one of the most desolate and interesting places in the world. Jim, who taught painting, drawing and ancient art history for 38 years at the university level, is now a full-time artist. For many years, he took university students to historic locations abroad for J-term classes, and in retirement, he has led adult group tours to sites in Europe, South American and Asia.
This is one in an occasional series featuring MCC members and their travel stories.
MCC members sign up here.
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Village to Village Conference: What We Learned
Thursday, September 26, 1:30 - 2:30 pm 
Village Lofts River Room, 100 2nd St NE
Join several Mill City Commons members and Executive Director Sara Foster for a panel discussion about what they experienced, learned and took away from this year's Village to Village Annual Gathering in Chicago.
MCC members sign up here. |
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Technology Help Desk
Tuesday, October 1, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
MCC Office, 125 Main St SE, Ste 339
 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-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.
MCC members sign up here.
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Driven to Discover: "Believe Me": Seeking Truth in an Age of Disinformation
Thursday, October 3, 7:00 - 8:30 pm 
La Rive Party Room, 110 Bank St SE
Ask yourself: Can the public navigate a sea of disinformation without a compass? Are the media "the enemy of the American people," as President Trump has declared? Will the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution continue to protect journalists as they perform their jobs? Can democracy survive without a free and responsible press? Jane E. Kirtley, Director of the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law at the U of M, digs deep into the role of the media in an era of "believe me" and disinformation.
This is one in an ongoing MCC program series under the banner "Driven to Discover." The series features University of Minnesota faculty and students sharing current research and programming at the University.
MCC members sign up here.
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MCC Program Calendar
View the full calendar of September events here.
Plan ahead! View the full calendar of October events here.
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News from Members
MCC member Nancy Gardner wants members who live in the North Loop to know that the North Loop Neighborhood Association has an opening on the Planning + Zoning Committee. It's a great way to get involved in the North Loop community and have an impact on the future of the neighborhood. To learn more check out their website:
https://northloop.org. Any interested parties can email
irinagbrown@gmail.com with questions, more information or to throw your hat in the ring. Future openings, coming in January 2020, include board positions for two-year and one-year terms. New board members will be elected at the annual meeting this January.
MCC member Carol Hovey thought members might be interested in a series of programs at the Minnesota History Center. She notes that last year's speakers were interesting and informative and this year's topics may appeal to members. Learn more about the 2019-2020 history forum schedule and topics by clicking
here.
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Ar
ound Town
Urban Currents: The Wall of Forgotten Natives
September 19, 7:30-9:00 am, Cuningham Group, 201 Main St SE, Ste 325
From rural reservations to inner city urban environments, Native Americans face unique challenges finding affordable and culturally appropriate housing options. This challenge came to the national forefront last fall when 200 homeless people set up camp on a strip of land along a highway sound wall near Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. What became known as the "Wall of Forgotten Natives" spotlighted the critical shortage of adequate housing, infrastructure and social services in Native communities. Speakers include Patina Park, Robert Lilligren and Samuel Olbekson. For information and to register, click
here.
Westminster Town Hall Forum
September 24, 12:00 pm, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Marquette Ave
Join guest speaker Kathleen Belew as she discusses "White Power and Paramilitary America." Belew is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Chicago where her teaching and research focus on militarization, violence, racism, and identity in 20th-century America. Her recent book,
Bring the War Home, explores white power activism from its roots in the Vietnam War to its collaboration with neo-Naxi, Ku Klux Klan, skinhead, and militia movements.
Origami for Everyday Organization
September 25, 6:00-9:00 pm, MCBA, 1011 Washington Ave S, Ste 100
Learn how to fold a variety of origami boxes, dishes, and trays that can be used to package gifts, store office supplies, organize a desk drawer, store or display jewelry, serve candy or snacks, or as seasonal decorations. Practice your origami skills on different types and sizes of paper and learn how to adjust paper proportions to create larger boxes and trays. Leave the workshop with a variety of boxes and trays, instructions for creating future items, and a selection of papers for future use. Register
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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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
Aster Cafe
125 Main St SE
Drop in for an afternoon coffee or drink and a casual chat. No reservations
required.
Rendezvous
Readers' Book Chat
1st Wednesday of the month, 10:00-11:00 am
Abiitan's Porter Cafe
428 2nd St S
No reservations required. The next
book is
by Min Jin Lee.
Click here to see what books we're reading at future Book Chats.
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!
Guthrie Play Reading
RiverWest Group
Tuesday, September 17,
6:30-9:30 pm
Reading Sweat this month.
Social Bridge
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.
MCC Women Connect
Join MCC women as they connect and grow, sharing experiences and learning from each other as they adapt to life's changes and transitions. This group meets the third Thursday morning of the month.
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Mill City Commons
Ongoing Fitness Opportunities
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.
Meditation Circle
Tuesdays 9:30-10:30 am
Mill City Quarter,
322 2nd St S
Join us for a weekly
self-guided meditation hour.
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Ongoing Member-Led Activities
MCC Caregivers' Support Group
2nd and 4th Wednesdays,
September-December
10:30 am-12:00 pm
A way to support members and non-members who are in a caregiving role.
Men's Dutch Lunch
Abiitan's Porter Cafe
428 2nd St S
Alternating Thursdays at 11:30 am
September 26 & October 10
This casual, dutch treat lunch alternates weeks with Men's Coffee and Conversation. No reservations required! Questions? Contact
Allan Burdick.
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