Written by Ann Luce
Our North Minneapolis Rotary Club has several focuses with the intent of enhancing life in North Minneapolis and drawing attention to the positive aspects of living on the Northside. For several years we have challenged students from North Minneapolis or who attend North Minneapolis schools to write about how they can make their neighborhood or school a more peaceful place. While we had responses when we had schools and libraries help work on this project, we have not had many in the last few years. So this year we are making an effort to participate with students in this process. This is what we ask: North Minneapolis is a thriving and beautifully diverse community. Please write or record about how you can build peace in your community.
This year, besides asking students to write an essay, this Peace Project is open to spoken word and music or performance pieces. This is to allow students to create written and spoken word pieces, as well as art and poetry, to speak out and focus on creating a more peaceful neighborhood. We realize that there is violence throughout our city. We struggle with knowing that our young children are often exposed to situations at home, school or in their neighborhood involving bullying, name calling and violence. Talking to students and enlisting their help in dealing with violence and working toward a more peaceful world is something that is a part of the mission of the Rotary Club of North Minneapolis.
In the month of February and part of March, several members of our club participated in a program sponsored by Wellspring Second Chance Center — Where Art and Violence Meet — a violence prevention program for 7-17 year-olds. This was conducted at Urban Ventures and included presentations in art from an artist, music workshops with musicians, a presentation from a young African American who has taken astronaut training, and a writing presentation. The students and their family members who came were very receptive and involved.
On April 1-4 during Spring Break, the same program — Where Art and Violence Meet — was held at Sanctuary Church. Once again, young artists and Rotary members worked with students and talked about Creating Peace in their communities.
If you or your children are interested in getting information and an application for the Peace Essay, you can find it at rotarynorthmpls.org/, or email northmplsrotary@gmail.com. We hope to hear from you, and we hope to work together with our community to make a more peaceful future.
Ann Luce is the chairperson of the Education & Literacy Committee of the North Minneapolis Rotary Club. She is a founding member and is dedicated to supporting Northside youth on their education and literacy journeys.
The North Minneapolis Rotary Club meets online every Tuesday by Zoom from 7:35-8:35 a.m. and welcomes Northside community members and professionals to get involved. It is always looking for guest speakers who are making a difference in our community. Contact northmplsrotary@gmail.com to request the link.