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Nice Ride bikesexpand intoSo. MinneapolisChicago Avenuebusinesses savorlocal connectionWisdom lauded byMinnesota BusinessMagazinePage 2Page 3Page 7LongfellowNokomisMessengJune 2013 Vol. 29 No. 4www.LongfellowNokomisMessenger.comYour communitynewspaper since 198221,000 CirculationIs Minneapolis targeting students ofcolor for suspension, transfer?Critics see race and class inequalities in systemBy TESHA M. CHRISTENSENDoes Minneapolis PublicSchools target students of colorwhen deciding who gets suspended and who is transferred toanother school?Some charge that it does,and say that the system is fundamentally flawed.“Transfers represent largerproblems of race and class inequalities in the district,” observed South High School student Elise Sommers.South High parent LynetteVizenor pointed out that thisspring, her daughter will graduate with only one-fourth of theNative American students whoentered the All Nations programwith her in ninth grade. The resthave dropped out or received academic transfers out of theschool.“There is still segregationand racism,” Vizenor remarked.“There is a problem with administrators.”SUSPENSIONS ANDTRANSFERS INSTEADOF EXPULSIONSMinneapolis Public Schools(MPS) hasn’t expelled a studentin 10 years. Instead, it has reliedon a system of out-of-school suspensions and academic transfers,moving an average of 277 students each year.Statistics show a racial disparity. At South High, NativeAmerican students make up only6.7% of the student body, yetthey accounted for 17.5% of theout-of-school suspensions in2009 (the most recent year statistics are available through the U.S.Department of Education). Blackstudents comprise a quarter ofthe student body but made uphalf of the school’s suspensions.Overall in the school district,52% of the suspensions are ofAfrican American boys comparedto a mere 6% of white boys,pointed out Kate Towle, the adultBecketwood-LOLA Art Fair scheduled for June 15adviser of South High School’ss.t.a.r.t. (students allied for racialtrust).Critics charge that the systemitself is racist, and that there’s noindication that students of colorhave more disruptive behaviorthan white students.In March, Brandon RoyceDiap of MN Solutions Not Suspensions spoke to s.t.a.r.t. aboutthe racial gap in suspensions andother disciplinary actions. “Wetalked about how the language ofdiscipline policies is unclear, allowing teachers to interpret themwith their own biases,” recalledTowle.POLICY CHANGEDIN 2012 FOLLOWINGLAWSUIT BY STUDENTWhen student journalist EliseSommers began researching anarticle for the school newspaper,the Southerner, on the district’snew transfer policy, she discovered that many don’t know thedetails of the system.“Every level of administration I talked to at South (deans,vice principals, principal, otherdistrict people) were unsure as tothe exact process of administrative transfers,” said Sommers.The Minneapolis PublicSchool district’s new transfer policy is supposed to clear up theambiguity surrounding academictransfers, but it is still too early tosee whether the revised systemwill make a change, according toSommers.The policy was revised in Au-"We need to honestly address how our systems entrench racial, social, andcultural inequalities, not just in discipline but every aspect of our structures," says South High student Elise Sommers.gust 2012 following a lawsuitJonah Kaplan and his familylodged against the district afterhis transfer from Southwest toWashburn.The policy was expanded tooutline communication to families about the transfer, as well asobjection and review.“The main reforms that needto happen across the board withadministrative justice in the district is to introduce more transparency,” said Sommers. “Parents, teachers, students, and administrators need to be involvedin the conversation of how bestto balance the student’s needsand the community’s.“We also need to honestlyaddress how our systems entrench racial, social, and culturalinequalities, not just in disciplinebut every aspect of our structures.”RESTORATIVE MEASURESPROGRAM SEEKS TOADDRESS UNDERLYING ISSUESA report from the Council onCrime and Justice in 2008 pointed out that studies have shownlittle evidence that suspension isuseful to prevent future studentmisbehavior. It cited a 1998study that showed that out-ofContinued on page 16If you aren’t a Messenger Facebook friend,you might have missed this last month:The necklaces (above) were designed by Shirley Dahlgren, one of theartists who will be participating in LOLA show.Becketwood Cooperative and the Longfellow League of Artists(LOLA) are partnering to sponsor an Art Fair and Sale on Saturday,June 15. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Becketwood, 4300 West River Parkway.The show will feature the work of about 30 Longfellow artistswho will display and sell their hand-crafted items including jewelry, paintings, textiles, sculptures, and photos.The June 15 show will serve as a preview of LOLA’s annual ArtCrawl on August 24 and 25.For more information, call 612-746-1002.New documentary opening on Frac Sand Mining Performance of the ANCIA Saxophone Quartet FaithEvangelical Spaghetti Dinner Cinco de Mayo week at Midtown Global Market Laughing Waters Studiohosting 10th annual art sale South High graduate awarded a Fulbright Scholar appointment RiverviewApartments receives a Best In Real Estate Award “Storytelling from a Transgender Perspective” atNokomis Library Seward Garage Sale registration and sale Falls 4 All Committee awarded VolunteerGroup of the Year Award What was selling at the Midtown Farmers Market Minnehaha Academy boys’varsity baseball team takes part in “Miracle League” East Lake Library Spring Book Sales Classes openon honeybees and how to keep them Meeting of the Longfellow Faith Forum Nokomis Library sculptureto be re-installed after renovation Tapestry Folk Dance Center celebrates 30 years Art exhibit on thehuman form Lake Street Council receives Mpls Heritage Preservation Award Transition Longfellowshows film, “Edible City ” MN Transportation Museum looking or volunteers Cooking demos at Midtown Farmers Market Photos from the Unity in the Community event 38th annual Conf for Neighborhoods held in Minnehaha Park Longfellow Garden Club’s annual plant swap New documentary opening

Nice Ride bikes come to South MinneapolisBy JILL BOOGRENThe green bikes are goingeven greener, as Nice Ride Minnesota expands its bike share network to reach local parks andtrails.Look for stations at LakeNokomis, Minnehaha Park, WestRiver Parkway, Coldwater Spring,and Fort Snelling. Thanks in partto a National Park Service grantto support its Alternative Transportation Project, it will now bepossible to explore the Mississippi River using Nice Ride bikesfrom Fort Snelling up to WebberPark. This section of the river ispart of the Mississippi NationalRiver & Recreation Area.Usually stations are placedin high density areas, sometimesat the request of developers whowant stations nearby, said Melissa Summers, customer care manager for Nice Ride Minnesota.But people often request stationsnear the parks (Lake Calhoun isone of its most popular stations).“We’re really excited to beable to expand into the areaalong the river,” said Summers,suggesting it’s a good way to letpeople try the service. “It makesit a lot more convenient.”Hennepin County also provided funds to add stations alongtransit corridors. One is at LakeStreet and 27th Ave. S., nearGandhi Mahal, and two more arealong the Hiawatha light rail1885 University Ave.St. Paul, MN 55104651-645-7045Publishers:Calvin deRuyter, Tim NelsonManaging Editor:Denis WoulfeAdvertising:Denis Woulfe - 651-917-4183Colette Mullenmaster - 651-494-8047Photographer:Stefanie BerresPeople take Nice Ride bikes out for a spin across the Sabo bridge. (Photo provided by Nice Ride Minnesota.)line, now called the Blue Line,near the 38th St. and 46th St.LRT stations.“Having the bikes at railstops is pretty smart,” said DebAlper, who has been involved ina multi-year project as a volunteer with the Sierra Club’s LandUse & Transportation Committeeto produce “Great Transit Trips toParks,” a map and guide to taking transit to parks. While theirguide emphasizes transit options,they know biking can be an important part of the trip.As an example, someonecould take a train or bus to the46th St. station, then hop on aNice Ride bike to explore theriver and parks.“For folks who don’t havebikes or who have visitors coming and need an extra bike, theseare key spots,” said Alper. Sheadded that the stations are particularly well placed for those whowant to stay on trails and aren’tas comfortable on roads.Nice Ride bikes are designedfor quick trips, so having morestations along a route is key. Additional usage fees kick in afterjust 30 minutes, so the idea is toride from one station to anotherand park the bike. Then whenyou’re ready to ride again,whether it’s after a quick visit ora full day of work (or play), youpick up another bike and go tothe next stop. There is just onefee of 6 for the day (or peoplecan get an annual subscriptionfor 65), and you can take asmany short trips as you like within that 24-hour period.Bike sharing serves bothcommuters and leisure users. According to its annual report, NiceRide found a majority of ridershave a one-year pass, and amongsubscribers, most trips are forwork, school and to run errands.But plenty of people get daypasses as well.Over 575,000 trips havebeen taken on the green bikessince their launch in June 2010.The season runs from Aprilthrough November.Blue Cross and Blue Shield,Nice Ride’s title sponsor, alsohelped fund the stations, bringing the total to 170 stations andover 1500 bikes in MinneapolisSt. Paul. Of the 24 being addedto the network, nine stations arein the the Longfellow Nokomisneighborhoods.Ride on!Details and a map of stations areat niceridemn.org. 5.00 OFF on Mani & Pedi(Offer expires June 27, 2013)1814 East 66th Street Richfield MN 55423(by Target - next to Subway)612-866-0186Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 9am - 6pm, Sun 11am-5pmProduction/Illustrations:Bob WasilukContributing Writers:Iric Nathanson, Deborah Brotz,Jane McClure, Tesha M. Christensen,Sherri Moore, Tom Gilsenan,Jan WillmsNow, communicate with theLongfellow/NokomisMessenger electronically!Now it’s easier than ever to keep in touchwith the Messenger. Letters to the editor andnews releases for publication can be sent viae-mail at denis@deruyternelson.com. Besure to send copy in the body of the e-mail,and please mark whether the copy is a letter,a news release for publication, or perhapsjust your thoughts on the last issue. Don’tforget to write!The Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger is amonthly community publication in theLongfellow and Nokomis areas ofMinneapolis, owned and operated bydeRuyter-Nelson Publications, Inc. Allcorrespondence should be sent to theMessenger, 1885 University Ave., #110,St. Paul, MN 55104. Editorial and advertising offices can be reached at 651-6457045. Our fax number is 651-645-4780.All rights reserved. The contents of theMessenger cannot be reproduced without express written permission of thepublisher. Copyright 2013.Page 2June 2013 Messenger www.LongfellowNokomisMessenger.com