Inspired
January 13, 2020
A remembrance ceremony by the Front Line Foundation, honored the fallen on the anniversary of the 9/11 attack. The memorial featured an honor guard, a

Minnesota foundation expands to give grants to first responders, military members

The Front Line Foundation, formerly Friends of SWAT Minnesota, renamed and expanded in 2018.
Inspired
January 10, 2020
Colleen Tusa posed for a portrait at at Griggs Recreation Center in St. Paul.

St. Paul Adaptive Recreation specialist champions winter activities for everybody

Local park and recreation centers have many affordable indoor and outdoor options, Colleen Tusa says.
Inspired
January 10, 2020
Dr. Dairon Elisondo Rojas, a doctor from Cuba, treats patients in a migrant camp in Matamoros, Mexico, Dec. 6, 2019. Rojas, waiting for asylum in the

On the Texas border, migrant children tell their stories through art

On the Mexican border, migrant children flock to the plaza to learn.
Inspired
January 10, 2020
Hayden Meyers, 4, and Edward Wheat decorate a tiny pumpkin during an activity at Hearts & Minds Activity Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, Oct.

At California's Hearts & Minds Activity Center, old and young teach each other

Activity center brings together children and people with dementia.
Inspired
January 10, 2020
Anoka hockey player Sam Hanks, 15, met Jake LaFerriere, right, after he healed from severe burns.

Anoka teen burn victim makes sure other kids have same positive camp experience he did

The 15-year-old is about to age out of Camp RED, but he's sending other kids there thanks to $5,000 from a fundraising event he organized.
Inspired
January 6, 2020
Hilal Ibrahim's hijab creations are attractive and durable for hospital workers.

Minnetonka hijab designer, 24, fills a need fashionably

The demand only intensified for her while volunteering at St. Louis Park's Methodist Hospital, where she saw a market for both employees and patients.
Inspired
January 3, 2020
Dr. Helen Kim.

Director of Hennepin Healthcare's Mother-Baby Program focuses on the 'Fourth Trimester'

Dr. Helen Kim's work addresses the need for more people to focus on a mothers' health after birth.
Inspired
January 3, 2020
Ceola McClure-Lazo helped her grandson Vail check out some toys he might take home. ] The Minneapolis Toy Library is open three times a week every OTH

A 'toy library' in Minneapolis adds to playtime with environmentally conscious twist

Minneapolis Toy Library responds to a growing desire for affordable and environmentally conscious ways for kids to play.
Inspired
January 3, 2020

Once piling up in storage, lost or forgotten bikes now rehabbed for kids

In this Pennsylvania city, police pluck anywhere from 100 to 200 lost and forgotten bikes from public parks and private properties in a year's time.
Inspired
December 27, 2019
Judy Nelson, rubbed therapy dog "Rocket" head as he visited A.J. Nelson, 17, of Superior, Wisconsin in his hospital room.] Jerry Holt • Jerry.H

U's Rocket on the front lines of service dog revolution in hospital care

The pooch is part of a wave of support animals for individuals and medical facilities.
Inspired
December 27, 2019
Certified financial planner reveals true meaning of 'life planning'

Certified financial planner reveals true meaning of 'life planning'

Amber Miller hopes we'll take the final days of 2019 to ponder a big question: What do we want to do with the rest of our lives?
Inspired
December 27, 2019
Jeff Hegna pretended he had a halo on his head as he goofed around with Susan Jelinki, right, during the Rock Star Book Club at Fraser in Apple Valley

Lakeville couple create enduring book club for people with autism

Rock Star Book Club was started eight years ago by volunteers to create community for a dozen or so adult residents with autism spectrum disorder.
Inspired
December 27, 2019
Upper Nazareth resident John Pequeno started an online fundraiser after his house burned down on Sept. 10, but instead of raising money for himself, P

Grateful homeowner launches fundraiser for volunteer firefighters who tried to save his home

Although the department receives some taxpayer dollars, most of their money comes from donations that go toward purchasing fire equipment and even fuel for the trucks.
Inspired
December 27, 2019
The Lowe brothers, from left, Glen, Don and Cal pose with Cal's daughter Gennifer Wright at Cal's Barber Shop Friday, November 22, 2019 in Jacksonvill

Family of barbers has been cutting hair for a total of more than 200 years

From flat-tops to shags to flat-tops again, this family has been cutting hair for a long time.
Inspired
December 27, 2019
Wyatt Haas, 5, of Montana rides a horse decorated to look like a unicorn. MUST CREDIT: Courtesy of Tamara Choat.

Boy with cancer gets his wish to ride on a 'unicorn'

5-year-old Wyatt Haas of Fallon, Mont., had his dream fulfilled.
Inspired
December 23, 2019
Leo Treadway in the Santa Claus and Joulupukki costume he donated to the Minnesota Historical Society.

Brooks: Latest donation to the Minnesota Historical Society is a Yuletide treasure

Archivists will probably build a mannequin especially for the suit. That's something they've done only one other time, with Prince's "Purple Rain" costume.
Inspired
December 20, 2019
Minneapolis' Edison High School band teacher Lesley Earles is working around the clock to keep music alive in her school where resources are tight and

Edison's 'Mr. Holland' breathes life into dying music program

Over the years, Lesley Earles has worked to pull in community support while tapping into students' interests.
Inspired
December 18, 2019
Salvation Army officials believe there is one person — identity unknown — who has been gathering up $100 bills and putting them in bell

Mysterious 'St. Grand' at it again: now it's $1,500 a pop with each red kettle donation

A mystery donor has upped the ante this year, putting six bundles of $100 bills in Salvation Army kettles since Nov. 29.
Inspired
December 16, 2019
McIntosh resembled a Hallmark Christmas movie set as people celebrated the revival one woman sparked in her adopted town.

Young mother brings a dying Minnesota town back to life

Once struggling, McIntosh, Minn., was revived, seemingly overnight, in a tale of investment and inspiration.
Inspired
December 14, 2019
For many Ugandan girls, these colorful outfits made by University of Minnesota design students are the first new pieces of clothing they’ve owned.

Ugandan orphans treasure clothing made just for them by U design students

Every year since the class began in 2012, they have sent clothes to Blue House Uganda, an orphanage for girls in a small Ugandan village founded by a U alumna.

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Entertainment, arts and lifestyle news, commentary and features, including things to do and reviews from Minneapolis, St. Paul and Twin Cities venues.