The first real snowstorm of the winter, as I waited for the bus. It was a busy morning, with a little help from technology. Some students had chosen to take a job qualification test in Spanish, so I found myself pointing Google Translate at their screens so I could provide hints. In another class, I used Gemini to generate random numbers to select writing topics submitted by the students.
Category: In This Together
Endless Injustices
At the Weisman Museum, walked through an exhibition of Harper’s Bazaar woodcut prints from the 1860s, documenting the Civil War. Contemporary artist Kara Walker overlaid some of these prints with paper cutouts depicting the injustices faced by Black people then and now. Another gallery showcased an injustice I had not realized: the plight of Black families who had migrated to Minnesota post-Reconstruction trying to reconnect with lost family members.
Chilly Compliance
Another cold day, another day indoors. As the year winds down, I’ve finally reached that age where the IRS mandates minimum withdrawals from some of my retirement savings. Today, I plugged numbers into an online calculator, then paid myself and the taxman, and thanked my younger self for caring about the seasoned citizen I have become.
VA Visit and Coffee
Met up with a friend at the VA Medical Center LRT Station. We wandered around the expansive facility for military veterans, stopping by the eye department where his wife used to work. Next, we headed to Rick’s Coffee Bar in a residential neighborhood. Named in honor of a service member who took his own life, all profits go to veterans’ causes.
Reflecting on the Past
On my walk, Hubert Humphrey was holding court outside Minneapolis City Hall. He began his political career as mayor of Minneapolis in 1945 and later served as Vice President under Lyndon B. Johnson. Always a champion of civil rights, we could certainly use more leaders like Humphrey today.
Sparks of Inspiration
We asked each learner to write down a subject on a piece of paper that included one of the vocabulary words shown in blue on the board. We then randomly drew two subjects for a writing exercise. I was impressed by the subjects the learners came up with for the exercise, including these examples on the whiteboard. One, in particular, was quite metaphysical.
A Matter of Dignity
It was my annual Medicare physical, a routine appointment that didn’t amount to much. Since a former president bragged about ‘acing’ the cognitive test, claiming it’s incredibly difficult, I’ve opted out. The test is actually quite simple, but the idea of potentially making a mistake on a test he passed with flying colors is unsettling.
When Labor Resists
During my walk through the North Loop/Warehouse District, I discovered a new mural hidden in an alleyway. It depicts a general strike in Minneapolis in 1934. The phrase “One day in July” is a reminder of the violent clash between armed law enforcement and unarmed strikers. According to the Teamsters Union, this strike marked a significant turning point for both the union and the entire labor movement.
Grassroots Power
Took a long way home after resupplying at Seward Co-op. My bike route led me through the Milwaukee Road Historic District where a new interpretive sign has appeared. It reminds us that it is possible to stand up to the Federal Government and emerge victorious. This neighborhood is a testament to such efforts.
United by Schools
As I walked toward the Center for Adult Learning on Lake Street, a sign thanked us for voting in favor of a property tax levy that will raise $20 million annually for technology in Minneapolis Public Schools. On Tuesday, we had voted to approve the levy and elect school board members. Inside the building we maintained a safe space where no one discussed the election.