Voices for racial justice agenda maps out ways to make progress on racial equity

from Minnesota Budget Bites by Ben Horowitz

Policymakers from across the state have begun to pay more attention to Minnesota’s open secret: our economic success story often leaves out Minnesotans of color. Policymakers began an important dialogue between legislative sessions about ways we can reduce racial disparities. Voices for Racial Justice, a group that has been working to build a more equitable Minnesota for more than 20 years, recently released the 2016 version of their Racial Equity Agenda, a policy blueprint for a more equitable state.

In defense of ‘unlustrous’ Bloomington

from streets.mn by Monte Castleman

Recently the Star Tribune ran an article about how “Bloomington Has Lost its Luster“. The article makes the following points:  The housing stock is aging, the schools aren’t that great, and young people prefer the city. As a longtime resident of Bloomington, I feel it’s my duty to respond.  Some of my points I’ve made before in other articles, but it’s time to summarize and consolidate them in defense of the city.

Bernie needs to give Democrats one final parting gift

from Wry Wing Politics by Joe Loveland

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has already given much to the Democratic Party. But even though his chances of being nominated remain slim, he still has a bit more he could give to his adopted party.

Sexism is more than an insult: Who gets to say we’re sexists?

from Thoughtful Bastards by Paul Udstrand

I’ve been watching and participating in the liberal/progressive debate over Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders for months. As a Sanders supporter and a writer/reporter I’ve now had many conversations and arguments about the merits of the two candidates over the last few months. I’m not going to re-enact the debate here but I’m prepared to make some observations.

Call me biased if you want but I’ve come to the conclusion that Clinton supporters are saddled with an unshakeable sense of insecurity born of their chosen candidates obvious weakness and vulnerabilities. These insecurities have led a plethora of facile attempts at discrediting Sanders and his supporters but one that keeps emerging and reemerging is a “sexism” accusation, i.e. Sanders supporters are almost inherently sexist.

One artist’s interpretation of his walk from Minneapolis to Northfield

from Minnesota Prairie Roots by Audrey Kletscher Helbling

WHEN EXPECTATIONS DON’T MATCH reality, it is initially disappointing. But then, when you reflect, perception sometimes changes and an aha moment emerges. Such was the metamorphosis for me regarding Minneapolis artist and writer Andy Sturdevant’s The Via Northfield project  showing now through April 17 at the Flaten Art Museum on the campus of St. Olaf College in Northfield.

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