April Update: Community Conversations, Classes, Brown Bag and More

We had a busy month in March, and have some exciting events planned for the weeks ahead. Scroll down for our editors reports, and to read about our Premack Award, New Normal conversations, upcoming classes, open editorial meeting, and a Brown Bag lunchtime event with former journalist Dane Smith, president of Growth and Justice.

Thanks to Anna Christoforides of Gardens of Salonica for hosting our fundraising dinner on March 24, and to Dr. Angela Mortari and the Greek Dancers of Minnesota for a great performance. The dinner was a sold-out success, and a great time was had by all.

The New Normal: Deciding Community Priorities in a Downsized Economy is the Daily Planet’s year-long project of news stories and community conversations, funded by the Bush Foundation, devoted to finding solutions to new economic challenges in our communities. We’re tackling a different topic every month. Here’s project manager Lisa Peterson-de la Cueva’s report  on our March New Normal conversations:

In April more than 60 people joined us for rich and insightful community conversations on Neighborhoods and the New Normal. A special thanks to WSCO and Hamline Midway, the West Broadway Coalition, Northeast Community Development Corporation and the Lake Street Council for co-hosting. Click here if you’d like to read our comprehensive neighborhood coverage from March.

“Next Up, The State Budget! We’ll be asking participants, “As the legislature and governor clash over a taxes and spending, what should our priorities be for the state budget?” Check out our April calendar of community conversations on the state budget if you would like to attend. We’d love your help! If your organizations would like to co-host a community conversation on the state budget, check out the April dates and locations, and contact lisa@tcdailyplanet.net to find out how.”

Arts Editor Jay Gabler reports:

This month I traveled to Texas to report on the massive South By Southwest music festival, but our biggest readership of the month went to a news scoop: the City of Minneapolis slapped CLOSED notices on the doors of two West Bank buildings with growing reputations for fun but slightly shady parties. On the venue-closure beat, Sheila Regan also reported on the Heritage Preservation Commission’s unanimous vote to allow the destruction of the Oak Street Cinema—our coverage also included quotes and memories from community members with fond memories of the theater. Local movie buffs can dry their tears, though: the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival is coming up in April, and we’ll host pages for readers to rate and comment on every movie in the fest.

You can support our work by donating to the Twin Cities Media Alliance through the GiveMN.org donation website, (http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Twin-Cities-Media-Alliance).  If you prefer, you can send a check to TCMA, 2600 E. Franklin, suite #2, Minneapolis MN 55406.