By Melvin Giles Peacebubbles@q.com
“Urban has become the new word for black. Let’s say black students.” – Lucky Rose Flower
“The bonds of our common humanity are stronger than the division of our fears and prejudices.” – President Jimmy Carter
“We can use words to encourage and include. We can use our words to fight oppression and hate. But we must also channel our words into action.” –Stacy Abrams
Hello Monitor readers,
Once again, I must salute TPT and MPR. Great job looking at First Nation, African Americans, and early Minnesota history for the month of October and November. I enjoyed seeing and hearing the stories and information that is finally being affirmed for me and my Summit-University/Rondo elementary through high school classmates. It’s another lesson and example that positive change is taking place, or that the Arc of Justice is moving forward.
I have been grateful for the ongoing meetings, events, and growth opportunities that I continue to experience at Zoom. Some of my friends have expressed that they really can’t wait when we’re back to all in-person meetings/meetings and things are back to normal. I usually smile and reply that I wasn’t very happy with normal. I also often state the obvious: that the growing majority of Black, Brown and First Nations people have never been content with the normal Puritan/Superiority way of life. I find it amazing that some people (including black and brown people) would rather go back to the false and misguided Manifest Destiny philosophy of controlling and dominating the lives of women and non-white people, in order to keep America safe and great. . These days, I think people who think that way might want to buy a plane ticket to Russia; however, I would prefer that you consider participating in a human intervention and release your pain, fears and hates, which I know is a very tough and courageous participatory leap of faith.
CENTER FOR HEALING ARTS FOR BLACK YOUTH
And, speaking of faith, congratulations to the Irreducible Grace Foundation! Here’s an update on this fantastic band from the well-known and beloved Jan Mandell:
Do you know there’s a new safe space for youth right here in Frogtown?
The former St. Paul City School building is now the African American Youth Healing Arts Center (BYHAC). BYHAC will provide cultural, ancestral, and innovative healing processes primarily for Black youth, while creating safe spaces and healing opportunities for Youth of Color. BYHAC is designed by young people from the Irreducible Grace Foundation (IGF). IGF is a St. Paul nonprofit that has been housed at Camphor United Methodist Church for 10 years, led by Executive Director Dr. Darlene Fry. They will now continue to serve the youth of the community through programming in the new building on Virginia Street.
BYHAC will be a multi-faceted center with cooperative values, residential leaders, services, activities and training opportunities for youth throughout the day. All offerings will have an integrative holistic approach focused on health/healing rooted in the African Diaspora. Current spaces include an industrial kitchen, recording studio, ceramics, pottery, painting, weaving studio, performance space, and a full gym with basketball court. The future includes housing for 16 site leaders as they earn, learn and prepare to move into the community. The dream of creating a therapy dog training center is also being worked on.
• Sunday, December 11, 2:30-4:30 pm, Gifts That Won’t Break the Bank: Join us making homemade holiday gifts: candles, granola, decorations; just show up and build community! Supplies and snacks provided.
Ongoing in 2023:
• Gym hours 3:30-8 pm Wednesday and Friday beginning in January.
• Sunday Self Care Sundays: 2:30-4:30 pm Food and activities. Sunday, January 8 and Sunday. January 22
All programming is free. Focus: young people from 14 to 24 years old.
Contact us at info@irgace.org or call us at 651-226-6594.
HOW THE SEASONS CHANGE
And now, some words of wisdom for our transition season in Minnesota.
Since the snow flew in November, have your bones settled in the stillness of winter? Has your breathing changed to withstand the sting of windy days? Have you been able to enjoy the still cold sun? The stillness in the air has an essence of nostalgia, it can be the change of seasons or how we gather for the holidays. Most likely it will be a mix of everything. Reflecting on the year, you may have a lot to sit down with, cry over and celebrate with. I hope that as you look back at your year, you can commemorate how far you’ve come. With warm and windy fall days, like most of us in the Capitol Region’s Basin District, you probably couldn’t rake all your leaves this year. That’s fine! As soon as there is an opportunity, keeping leaves and other debris out of storm drains is a useful way to improve our waterways and prevent pollution from entering the Mississippi River.
As we adjust to our present moment and breathe with the change of seasons, you may be surprised at how quickly winter found us. In times when pain and change find us, collectively or individually, how do we breathe with this change? In matters that seem uncontrollable and hopeless, finding a comfortable rhythm with stillness can protect our hearts and minds. Yung Pueblo says in his book “Lighter”: “Nature is always changing; nothing really stays still. If you look deep enough, you will always find movement. This same principle is true about identity. Your being is in a state of perpetual motion. Nothing in you has been static, even in your most subtle core there is the dynamic movement of change. Just as you may have ways to protect your heart and mind in uncontrollable change, in the watershed, through data collection and observation, we know there are ways we can protect and strengthen the bodies of water around us. Freshwater protection doesn’t just come from watersheds, it can also be done through residents and business owners!
If you’re new to Minnesota or have been here a while, your shoes could be a tell-tale sign that salting season has arrived! We can all prevent chloride (salt) contamination in our aquatic environments by knowing when and how to salt. Although we are sailing in harsh winters, it is important to know that when it is less than 15 degrees outside, salting does not work! The ice is too cold to melt. Knowing when to choose our battle with salting is important. It’s also good to know that the way we disperse is valuable as well, usually about 3 inches between pellets is all you need.
When it seems like less is happening in our neighborhoods and when winter offers its unique silence, we know people are gathering inside, preparing for the coming year and staying warm until spring. Similarly, though the waters appear still and frozen above, in the depths, fish still swim and turtles are buried in the mud. Although the ecosystem slows down, there is still life there. Those beings and habitats bring such a critical balance to our ecosystem. The salt on sidewalks and driveways can look very different from the fish and turtles below; however, there is a strong correlation between our actions and how it affects other beings and their ecosystem, and in turn, our environment.
“The trees in front of you and the bushes next to you are not lost. / Wherever you are there is a place called Here / And you must treat it like a powerful stranger…”, David Wagoner wrote in “Stand Still”.
“Being aware of how and when we salt is crucial to protecting our waters and surrounding habitats. Knowing that there is a place that is here for other beings is important to protect us all. I wish you a safe and cozy winter! To learn more about salting responsibly, visit: https://www.cleanwatermn.org/using-sidewalk-salt-responsibly/,” said Maricella Xiong, community engagement coordinator for the Capitol Region watershed district. .
Stay optimistic and I trust you had a grateful Thanksgiving, and I send you blessings as we move into the Divine Season of Light and a fresh new year!
May peace be in Rondo, Frogtown, Hamline/Midway, Como and the surrounding communities…
May peace be in our homes and communities…
May Peace Prevail on Earth (MPPOE)!
