Podcasts about Metropolitan council

In this episode, we speak with Allison Waukau (Menominee/Navajo), who serves as the Tribal Liaison and Native Relations Coordinator at the Metropolitan Council. She previously worked at the Hennepin County Library and the Roseville School District as American Indian Community Liaison.  Last year, she started a new podcast with Odia Wood-Krueger. Through “Books Are Good Medicine,” the co-hosts explore Native literature with the aim of increasing the knowledge of educators and libraries about Native American books and materials.Allison Waukau lives in Minneapolis with her family, including a young son, and had a dream come true recently when she was selected to participate in Cohort 14 of the Native Governance Center's Rebuilder Program. Allison's podcast with Odia Wood-Krueger can be found at Books Are Good Medicine.

Twelve artists across the state are working on a first-of-its-kind pilot project as Minnesota parks artists-in-residence. Beginning last July and ending in June 2025, each artist is researching a park, trail or park system and developing public art for the area.Participating parks include Battle Creek Park in St. Paul, Lake Bemidji State Park, Granite Falls Memorial Park and more.Amanda Lovelee, a parks ambassador for the Metropolitan Council, and Tettegouche State Park artist-in-residence Sam Zimmerman join MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about the program.

Policy expert and climate scientist Anna Farro Henderson explores how science is done, discussed, legislated, and imagined in her new book, Core Samples: A Climate Scientist's Experiments in Politics and Motherhood. Grounded in her experience as an environmental policy advisor to Minnesota Senator Al Franken and Governor Mark Dayton, Henderson brings readers behind the closed doors of discovery and debate—and illuminates the messy, contradictory humanity of our scientific and political institutions. Here, Henderson is joined in conversation with Tenzin Dolkar and Roberta Downing on getting your voice heard in politics.Anna Farro Henderson is an award-winning writer, PhD scientist, and environmental policy expert. She is a fellow at the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota, teaches at the Loft Literary Center, and works in climate advocacy. She lives with her family in St. Paul, where she makes daily visits to the Mississippi River.Tenzin Dolkar has more than 15 years of experience in policy development, advocacy, community organizing, and management with state and local governments. Dolkar is a council member on the Metropolitan Council, and has previously served as the State of Minnesota's Rail Director and as a policy advisor on transportation, agriculture, and rural issues for Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton.Roberta Downing is a public policy professional with more than 20 years of experience. Downing held a congressional fellowship administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and served on the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions under Senator Edward M. Kennedy; has held several academic and policy-focused positions, including for the offices of US Senator Sherrod Brown and DC Mayor Muriel E. Bowser; and is principal and co-founder of Harper Downing LLC, a Minnesota-based government affairs consulting firm.Praise for the book:“Honest and immersive, this book offers a behind-the-scenes look at how culture (and who crafts it) shapes everything from the sediment the narrator studies to the policies that define climate action today.”—Elizabeth Rush, author of The Quickening“Anna Farro Henderson's deep encounters with Big Science and Big Bureaucracy will help you understand why progress on matters of life and death can be so maddeningly slow; her encounters with herself may help you figure out how to live your own life.”—Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature“With fierce intelligence and wild exuberance, Anna Farro Henderson throws herself headlong into the biggest challenges of our time: how to love fully, create abundantly, and stop the ruin of the precious ecosystems that sustain us.”—Lia Purpura, author of All the Fierce Tethers“Some books are so good I want to shout about them to the rooftops. Core Samples is one of those.”—Vick Mickunas, Dayton Daily NewsCore Samples: A Climate Scientist's Experiments in Politics and Motherhood by Anna Farro Henderson is available from University of Minnesota Press.

In 1964, Wendell Arthur Garrity was United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts – not yet a judge on the District Court of Massachusetts. Ruth Batson was a frustrated parent and civil rights activist – not yet director of Boston's Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity, or Metco, the voluntary desegregation program. Louise Day Hicks was a member of Boston's School Board – not yet the leader of ROAR: Restore Our Alienated Rights – and the face of white opposition to the integration of Boston Public Schools. Ten years later, they would all be major players in the battle to desegregate Boston Public Schools. As the city marks 50 years since Judge Garrity's ruling on busing, we consider the importance of the period before busing – a time expert Zebulon Miletsky refers to as Boston's ‘true civil rights movement.'

Minnesota's solar accessibility has skyrocketed since the passing of the Minnesota Solar Energy Jobs Act in 2013, creating clean energy opportunities for communities across the state. One such opportunity, community solar gardens, have exploded in the past ten years, adding up to 900 megawatts of solar arrays for community benefit. Learn more about community solar gardens in this episode of the Rise Up Podcast featuring Peter Lindstrom, CERTs manager of public sector & community engagement at the University of Minnesota's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and Extension. Get Connected: Rise Up Podcast: https://www.riseupmidwest.org The Energy Fair: https://www.theenergyfair.org The MREA: https://www.midwestrenew.org Email: Info@midwestrenew.org 0:00 Peter Lindstrom Introduction 1:47 MREA Training endorsement 3:07 Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) 6:06 Metropolitan Mayors Caucus 10:13 Changes in Minnesota energy markets 13:55 Community solar subscribers 18:33 Solar garden enabling legislation 23:04 Energy storage and solar gardens 24:03 Solar on Schools program 30:03 What's still needed/magic wand solutions 34:26 Challenges and opportunities in new funding ABOUT OUR GUEST: PETER LINDSTROM Peter Lindstrom is the Manager of Public Sector & Community Engagement at the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) within the University of Minnesota's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and Extension. With a focus on outreach and education, he leads efforts to engage local units of government, including cities, counties, townships, and school districts, in exploring approaches for financing energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements. Peter brings a wealth of experience to his role, having previously served as the mayor of Falcon Heights, MN for 10 years and represented District 10 on the Metropolitan Council. Additionally, his career includes significant leadership positions such as Assistant Director of the Center for Science, Technology & Public Policy at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School, Executive Director of SciMathMN, and Vice President of Public Affairs at the Minnesota High Tech Association.

Sheletta chats with Reva Chamblis, the vice chair of the Metropolitan Council about what's happening with the Blue Line extension project.

It's been a tough time for public transportation. Passengers are slowly coming back to Metro Transit buses and light rail trains after a steep drop during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the average number of riders is still just over half of what it was in 2019, according to Metro Transit. Safety remains a top concern. Passengers in the Twin Cities say it's not unusual to see people openly using drugs or smoking on the trains. Riders and transit staff have been harassed and even assaulted.Reported crimes were up by a third in 2023 compared to 2022, and though assaults are rare and crime has declined in recent months, certain routes continue to attract trouble.In February, a man was shot during a robbery on a light rail train on the Green Line in St. Paul. In early March, a rider was treated for injuries after being stabbed on a Green Line train. Earlier this year, a man died of a drug overdose on the Green Line. He had been found unresponsive when the train pulled into a stop late at night in front of the State Capitol.MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two Metro Transit leaders about how the transit system is addressing safety and expanding some routes.Police and security staff have stepped up their presence. More official staff are starting to ride buses and trains, including outreach workers to connect people with services and TRIP agents, who give directions, explain rules and check for fare compliance.Guests:  Lesley Kandaras has served as Metro Transit's general manager since July 2023. She joined the Metropolitan Council in 2012 as a senior project coordinator and in 2019 moved to Metro Transit, a division of the Met Council, to serve as senior manager-policy development.  Ernest Morales III started as Metro Transit police chief at the beginning of 2023. He spent most of his career with the New York City Police Department, including stints as a deputy inspector and as commanding officer in a transit division in the Bronx. Before moving to Minnesota he served as first deputy police commissioner in Mount Vernon.   Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.  Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.    

Host Robert Pilot and producer Haley Cherry talk weekend events. Plus, Allison Waukau is back but this time in her new position as Tribal Liaison and Native Relations Coordinator for the Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities!

Following an announcement that Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic will step away from leadership due to a recurrence of cancer, Senate DFLers elected Erin Murphy as the next majority leader. The legislature created the Metropolitan Governance Task Force during the 2023 session to study options for reforming the governance structure of the Metropolitan Council, a policy-making body, planning agency and provider of essential services for the Twin Cities metro area. The task force has completed its work, and the report has been forwarded to the legislature. Senator Eric Pratt, R-Prior Lake, co-chair of the task force, joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to assess the success of the panel's efforts.Lawmakers have been meeting with their respective caucuses to decide on priorities and strategies for the 2024 legislative session. House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth joins Shannon to talk about some of the Republican goals for the 2024 session.One of the most unique civil war artifacts on display in the State Capitol is a flagstaff that barely survived the Battle of Gettysburg, and now symbolizes the joining of the North and the South.  Historian Brian Pease explains.

March of the Governors, Governor #32 Harold Levander (Series Podcast #35) Harold Levander (1910-1982) ran for political office once in his long life, in 1966. He defeated incumbent governor Karl Rolvaag, served four years, and never ran for office again. He had been a star athlete in college, in football and track, and a national champion orator. He practiced law in Harold Stassen's firm, where he represented rural electric power cooperatives and the South St. Paul stockyards. As a Republican governor, he helped enact a remarkably progressive agenda that included creation of the sales tax, the Metropolitan Council, and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard, we rebroadcast our coverage of the 1998 hate crime that sparked an international outcry. The report features University of Wyoming Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Association President Jim Osborne, Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer and state Representative Michael Massey, Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center Executive Director Lorri Jean, Human Rights Campaign legal counselor Tony Varona, gay Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank, comedian Ellen DeGeneres, Shepard's friend Walter Bouden and parents Dennis and Judy Shepard, plus music by Melissa Etheridge and Blackberri. And in NewsWrap: a Mauritian activist wins his Supreme Court challenge to the colonial-era law against sex between men, the organization Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities says the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade still refuses to grant it legal recognition, fanatical Christian bikers try to blockade a peaceful pro-LGBTQ march in Beirut, 14 supposedly queer-positive U.S. schools receive bomb threats within a week of being targeted by the far-right Libs of TikTok account, Tennessee gets its first out transgender elected official as Olivia Hill is sworn in as a member of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County, black lesbian Laphonza Butler takes the seat of the late California Senator Diane Feinstein, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Ava Davis and David Hunt (produced by Brian DeShazor).  All this on the October 9, 2023 edition of This Way Out! Join our family of listener-donors today at http://thiswayout.org/donate/

Dairy farmers around the region are facing an oversaturated market. It's been made worse for some farmers in the region when the Metropolitan Council temporarily cut off sewer service to the Hastings Creamery, after the company was notified of six violations of industrial waste permits including a recent leak of milk into the city's sewer system. Now the creamery is hauling wastewater to a plant in St. Paul. The situation is affecting about 45 dairy farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Minnesota Milk Producers Association Executive Director Lucas Sjostrom joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about it.

An in-depth conversation with former CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) of the Minnesota Judicial and Metropolitan Council, Gretchen White. ITAL's own Eric Brown and Gretchen discuss topics including the day-to-day grind of advocating for funding and implementing security protocols, how to prioritize security needs and access risk on a budget, reporting structure, and how to effectively impact change within an organization. Chalk full of tips, Gretchen, has expertise in communicating organizational needs to decision makers and has some priceless nuggets to share with up-and-coming CISO's and those who work under their guidance.  #cybersecurity #CISO #chiefinformationsecurityofficer #careeradvice #organizational #leadership #communication #security #influence #metropolitancouncil #minnesotajudicial #pointofrisk 

Gary Cunningham, the President and CEO of Prosperity Now, a national organization dedicated to advancing racial and ethnic economic justice sits down with host Dr. Sylvia to share his perspective and experience with systemic structures designed to prevent people from building economic wealth and power.  Gary explains how targeted universalism can inform efforts to close the racial wealth gap and the strategic framework and data tools Prosperity Now is creating to drive systems-change solutions that will completely transform our economy.   Gary is a recognized and respected expert on entrepreneurship, job creation, racial wealth equity, housing and economic development and is a sought-after thought leader on building a more inclusive economy. A native of Minneapolis, MN, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy from Metropolitan State University and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. For more than 20 years, Gary has served as a top leader of philanthropic, health care, public policy, and educational organizations. In addition to leading NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, he was Associate Superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools, the Deputy Director of Civil Rights for the City of Minneapolis and CEO of the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA) — a minority entrepreneurial organization — and Chaired the Community and Economic Development Committee for the Metropolitan Council the Twin Cites Planning and transportation agency

The Southwest Light Rail Transit project, a 14.5 mile extension of the Green Line from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie, has seen pitfall after pitfall. A new 59-page state report lays out nearly a dozen ongoing problems with the project. It estimates the price tag for project is now at $2.7 billion, with no completion date in sight. The report from the office of the legislative auditor looks at the planning, cost estimates and how the Metropolitan Council has managed the many turns this project has taken since the project broke ground in 2018. MinnPost's Peter Callaghan has been following the fallout from the project's huge cost overruns and schedule delays. He spoke to MPR News guest host Tim Nelson from the Capitol, where lawmakers got the report Wednesday morning.

The Met Council will vote Wednesday evening on a contract with a security company to place guards at six bus and light rail stations. Metro Transit announced on Tuesday it will close the shelter at the Uptown Transit Station in Minneapolis until it has security there. The number of riders dipped significantly during the pandemic. Recently there's been a lot of talk about safety problems on buses, trains and in the stations, including assaults and drug use. These troubles are not helping Metro Transit recruit drivers and get ridership back to pre-pandemic levels. Drew Kerr is Senior Manager of Communications for Metro Transit and he joined MPR News guest host Tim Nelson to talk about the Metropolitan Council vote and the plan to close stations.

MPR News has learned that the Metropolitan Council blocked a petroleum processor from discharging waste into the regional sewer system following an underground explosion and a series of leaks last summer. This is an evening update from MPR News, hosted by Hannah Yang. Music by Gary Meister.

In this episode, Adam Duininck, government affairs director with the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, talks to F&C reporter Brian Johnson. Duininck talks about his role with the carpenters' union, the upcoming legislative session, and his experience with the Metropolitan Council.

Since his retirement from The McKnight Foundation after 25 years, Neal Cuthbert has beenconsulting with various nonprofits and businesses and recently served as the Interim Co-Executive Director of the Cedar Cultural Center. During his last decade at McKnight Neal wasthe Vice-President of Program where all programs and program staff reported to him and heoversaw an annual grantmaking budget of $90+ million. While VP he helped create a workplace that received a national Great Place to Work awards, national recognition for a highly regarded approach to philanthropy, created McKnight's first approach to evaluation, and led the creation and oversaw the management of several of McKnight's funding intermediaries, including Youthprise, the Southeast Asia Development Program in Phnom Penh Cambodia, and the six rural Minnesota Initiative Foundations, among others.Prior to being VP, Neal was McKnight's Arts Program Director for 16 years. In addition toframing up McKnight's arts program, under his leadership the program received numerousawards and provided between $8-12 million annually to support arts organizations and artistsin Minnesota. In addition to making grants, he developed several reports including anexamination of arts development in the suburbs, two economic impact studies, the impact ofthe arts in rural communities, and the condition of individual artists. He also oversaw theexpansion of McKnight's artist fellowship programs, established the Distinguished Artist Award, and co-developed the artist website, mnartists.org. After the Dance Alliance closed he worked closely with members of the dance community to create two dance community convenings in order to assess community needs and bring people together. Prior to McKnight he was the director/publisher of the monthly art and culture journal, Artpaper, and a planner at the Metropolitan Council in the arts program and housing program where he authored several studies including a study of homelessness, an economic impact study of the arts, and an examination of arts audiences. Neal was born and raised in Detroit and in addition to hisconsulting work exhibits artwork and curates exhibitions and programs at Homewood Studios on the northside of Minneapolis, serving as its Permanent Guest Curator.

Black leaders from Project 21 demand that Verizon reinstate One America News (OAN) on its television platform. In a letter signed by 37 members representing the communities of business, politics, media and faith, Project 21 explained that Verizon did "a tremendous disservice to its subscribers, investors and free speech [and]... is silencing black voices" when it canceled OAN. Verizon stopped carrying OAN on its Fios platform at the end of July. Its cancellation marked the end of a 17-year relationship between the news channel and the carrier. Left-wing groups are aggressively pushing media companies to drop the conservative-leaning OAN from their platforms. In the letter, Project 21 said: "Do what's right for black America, for your investors and for the country by reinstating OAN immediately." In the letter addressed to Verizon Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Hans Vestberg, the three dozen Project 21 signors criticized the abrupt decision that appeased political special interests over viewers, noting this imperils access to information and debate: "Allowing a political pressure campaign to decide which news and information programs Americans have access to undermines free speech and sets a precedent that will only encourage further demands. This is particularly dangerous as this pressure appears to only go one way - anti-conservative and, in this case, anti-black." "You have now projected weakness, inviting those further demands," Project 21 warned Vestberg. It was suggested Verizon's capitulation could lead to the removal of other channels in the future. Among those who signed the letter to Verizon are Project 21 Chairman Horace Cooper; Stacy Washington, a host on SiriusXM satellite radio; Alveda King, founder of speakforlife(.org) and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Star Parker, president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE); Julian Boykin, CEO of Acquisition Consulting Experts; Reverend Albert Sampson, president of the Chicago's Metropolitan Council of Black Churches and Chris Arps, host at NewstalkSTL-St. Louis. A full copy of the letter and its signers is available at https://nationalcenter.org/project-21-oan-letter. Project 21, a leading voice of black conservatives for over 25 years, is sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research. Its members have been quoted, interviewed or published over 40,000 times since the program was created in 1992. Contributions to the National Center are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated, and may be earmarked exclusively for the use of Project 21. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/john-aidan-byrne0/support

In this episode, Metropolitan Council Member John Pacheco Jr. talks to F&C reporter J.D. Duggan about equity, transportation, economic development and his emphasis on public service.

Adam Carter and Jordana Green talk with Research scientist Steve Balogh from Metropolitan Council in the Environmental Services Division about viruses in our wastewater, how long has this been happening, how they monitor and more. He also mentions what they're currently testing for and more.

Youth play a crucial role in envisioning and realizing our future communities, but are often left out of the planning process. In this month's episode we speak with Darcie Vandegrift, a Principal Researcher at the Metropolitan Council, about her research on the relationship between youth and parks. This research aimed to better understand youth experiences in parks by focusing on motivations for participation, barriers to access, and desired activities and amenities. Listen to the episode to learn more about the research process, their findings, and how this information is being used.

This week on “The Learning Curve,” co-hosts Cara Candal and Gerard Robinson talk with Milly Arbaje-Thomas, President & CEO of the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity, Inc. (METCO) and Roger Hatch, co-author of Pioneer's report, METCO Funding: Understanding Massachusetts' Voluntary School Desegregation Program. Milly shares her background as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and deep […]

This week on “The Learning Curve,” co-hosts Cara Candal and Gerard Robinson talk with Milly Arbaje-Thomas, President & CEO of the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity, Inc. (METCO) and Roger Hatch, co-author of Pioneer's report, METCO Funding: Understanding Massachusetts' Voluntary School Desegregation Program. Milly shares her background as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and... Source

This week on “The Learning Curve,” co-hosts Cara Candal and Gerard Robinson talk with Milly Arbaje-Thomas, President & CEO of the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity, Inc. (METCO) and Roger Hatch, co-author of Pioneer’s report, METCO Funding: Understanding Massachusetts’ Voluntary School Desegregation Program. Milly shares her background as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and... Source

Today we're joined by Adrianna Jereb, Transit Justice organizer at MN350, to talk about their campaign to influence the Metropolitan Council's budget to reflect the needs of transit users. Episode summary 00:00 | Intro 04:21 | The three needs 25:51 | Levers of power 34:11 | Connections to other transportation campaigns Urban highway removal 38:44 | Organizer role 46:19 | Outro Connect with us! Bus Rider's Budget Website MN350 Transit Justice Team Adrianna Jereb on Twitter Ian R Buck on Twitter Attributions Our theme song is Tanz den Dobberstein, and our interstitial song is Puck's Blues. Both tracks used by permission of their creator, Erik Brandt. Find out more about his band The Urban Hillbilly Quartet on their website. This episode was hosted and edited by Ian R Buck, with transcript by the indominable Mike Allen. Christy Marsden is our awesome guest booker, and technical assistance is provided by the super professional Brian Mitchell. If you're able to help make sure this team gets paid for the hard work they do, please consider donating. We really appreciate it! Copyright The Streets.mn Podcast is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license. Feel free to republish the episode as long as you don't alter it and you aren't profiting from it.

Georgia Stephens was active as a Dance Theater choreographer, director, writer andsound designer from 1975 through 2009. She moved to the Twin Cities in 1980 toparticipate in the newly formed Independent Choreographer's Alliance (MICA). Throughthis organization, she received numerous performance opportunities and financialsupport for her work from the McKnight, Jerome and Northwest Area Foundations, twoawards from the National Endowment for The Arts, Metropolitan Council for the Arts andthe Minnesota State Arts Board. Georgia was commissioned in 1993 to create anoriginal piece for the New Dance Ensemble and in 1986 for the Zenon Dance Company.She was one of five choreographers invited to create an original dance/video piece withvideographer James Byrne, in his project SOLO!.Although Georgia delighted in the process of interweaving original text and soundscores into her work, she also frequently collaborated with musician David Means.In 1986, Georgia was awarded a Bush Foundation Fellowship for Choreography. Withthese funds, she prepared an evening of new and old work titled Crosstalk, presented atDance Theater Workshop (NYC) in 1987. Performers included Laurie Van Wieren, TomCarlson, Alan Lindblad, Mary Beth Elchert and Mary Abrams. After a brief hiatus toassimilate her journey, she immerged with several evening-length Dance Theatercreations: World Without End Amen, produced by the MN Dance Alliance with JeromeFoundation funds in Extended Play; Omoomofamaliamenia, a collaborationcommissioned by The Southern Theater with the music group Zeitgeist; and severalself-produced theater events for a variety of venues.In 1990, Georgia incorporated as Georgia Stephens Contemporary Dance Theater. Thisgathering of dance performers included John Munger, Wendy Ansley, Diane Aldis,Ethan Emanual Balcos, Jill Haeberlin, and many other guest appearances (Mary Easter,Linda Shapiro, Lisa Carlson, Marilyn Habermas-Scher, Wendy Morris, Marty Winkler,Rebecca Katz). Around this same time, she joined with fellow dance artists Paula Mannand Shawn McConneloug to create SpaceSpace, an informal rehearsal andperformance studio. Georgia created work for this venue almost exclusively until its endin 1999. Georgia then began creating original work for David Means' Nobels eXperimental interMedia Group. They presented several full-length pieces between 1999 and 2005 at Metro State University's Nobels Performance Space, Intermedia Arts, The Walker choreographers' Evening, Patrick's Cabaret, Bryant Lake Bowl Theater and Edison Theater in St. Lous MO. Between 2005 and 2008, Georgia created a series of showings at Bryant Lake Bowl Theater. Georgia's final premiere, Alibi Simile, featuring Jon Spayde, was created for Red Eye Collaboration's 2008 New Work series.During her career she taught classes and workshops at Webster College andWashington University of St. Louis, Ozone Dance, Carlton and St. Olaf Colleges.Georgia still pops up now and again to participate in various ways, as a participant inDavid Means' performances, as a stage arts consultant, and as an advocate for up-and-coming performing artists who push boundaries and challenge perceptual norms. Herwork was always based on the adage, “I move when I speak. I speak when I move.”This realization came to life out of the physical frustration of growing up as a stutterer. Itproduced a fascinating lifetime of liberating words “stuck inside” via breath andkinesthetic release. This, and her background of figure skating, provided Georgia with afoundation for her technique and unique movement style.And finally… THANK YOUA quick read of this biography caused me to realize that a mere mention of who didwhat and when, seems profoundly inadequate. I could not have brought to life my

Data gathered through Census is used to inform planning processes at many levels. The new data for 2020 Census was released by the U.S. Census Bureau in August 2021. But what were the changes in the 2020 Census and how did they impact the results? What did we learn from those results and how do they impact our work? In this episode, Matt Schroeder, Principal Researcher at the Metropolitan Council, walks us through the whole process, changes, results, and how to challenge those results. You can access more information and resources through the U.S. Census Data and Census 2020 page of our website.

www.commsolutionsmn.com-  You know how we say that regional government has it's tentacles everywhere? Enter the Central Mississippi Regional Planning Partnership. Everyone thinks about the Metropolitan Council in the Twin Cities, but most of the state is under regional government through the Minnesota Association of Development Organizations (MADO). The Central Mississippi Regional Planning Partnership fills a void that's not covered by MADO or the Met Council. They have come up with a bold vision for a "complete region", based on the always errant population forecasts. These bold visions always ask for additional walking and bike paths that are interconnected with regional trails. They push life cycle housing, urbanizing our small towns. They try to sell "placemaking", where they center development around certain planning concepts, like mixed use development, transit, and cloistered communities. This group is meant to consolidate government and increase its power. It is not interested in diverse voices. We need to make government local again. That's the only way we have a say in our future. We also give you an update on the "Hutch" Hutchinson drunk Driving debacle. Guess what? Apparently he says that he wasn't driving... it was a cab driver! I guess the case is solved. Don't worry, he won't see any repercussions. Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We've launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy! Don't forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!

Nowadays, the effects of a changing climate are apparent in every aspect of our lives. The uncertainties created by climate change make long-term planning for future investments difficult. As such, ongoing efforts are trying to find a way to better understand the impact of these uncertainties. Staff at the Metropolitan Council, in partnership with academic institutions, have worked to put together a tool to assist local communities with envisioning possible alternative futures based on data on greenhouse gas emissions. In this episode, we expand on this topic in our conversation with Mauricio Leon, senior researcher at the Metropolitan Council and Kaitlin Osterman, student at Macalester College.

The Metropolitan Council's Solar for Vouchers Program provides technical assistance to help multifamily rental property owners install solar panels and reduce their energy costs. Property owners can take advantage of these savings in exchange for a commitment to rent some of their units at market rates to Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program participants. In this episode, Cameran Bailey and Baris Gumus-Dawes talk about the background information, details, and benefits of this program. 

Fr. Thomas broadcasts live from the joint meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops and Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America in Cleveland, OH, to discuss with the participants how the Church, bishops, clergy, and laity work together to make decisions and chart a path forward together in council.

Fr. Thomas broadcasts live from the joint meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops and Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America in Cleveland, OH, to discuss with the participants how the Church, bishops, clergy, and laity work together to make decisions and chart a path forward together in council.

Fr. Thomas broadcasts live from the joint meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops and Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America in Cleveland, OH, to discuss with the participants how the Church, bishops, clergy, and laity work together to make decisions and chart a path forward together in council.

More and more communities have been considering health in their long-range planning and policy discussions. Many have incorporated health in their 2040 comprehensive plans. Staff from the Public Health Law Center, Minnesota Department of Health, and the Metropolitan Council worked on a collaborative project to review over 50 local comprehensive plans and analyze how communities have included public health goals in these plans. The purpose of the project is to use this information to provide technical assistance to other communities and implementation strategies. This episode explores the methodology and findings of this research. 

Deb Barber serves the residents of Carver and Scott County (District 4) at The Metropolitan Council, a position she was appointed to by then Governor Dayton in 2015 and again in 2019 by Governor Waltz. She chairs the Transportation Committee which along with the Land Use Committee is one of the most visible and out-front positions of the Council. Some of the topics we discussed are; What exactly is Met Council? What work do they do for us? How does the Council work with the county and the various cities of Carver and Scott County? How does that work fit in with the rest of the Metro? What does our future look like? Deb is clearly a very competent, committed public servant and I enjoyed our conversation very much. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/greg-anderson29/message

How do you bypass all the lines when renewing your tags? Brenda Wynn is on the podcast today to tell us exactly how to do this! Brenda grew up in Nashville and is a graduate of Pearl High School. She received a bachelor of science and a master's degree in business administration from Tennessee State University. Brenda was appointed Davidson County Clerk by the Metropolitan Council in August 2012.  She was elected County Clerk by the voters of Nashville & Davidson County in November 2012, becoming the first African-American female to win election to a constitutional office in the County.Become a subscriber! Visit us at https://www.patreon.com/nashvilledailyTake a Tour With Us! Use code NASH for 20% off - https://xplrtours.com/TEXT US: 615-392-1358Today's Guest - Brenda Wynn, County Clerk - Davidson Countyhttps://www.nashvilleclerk.com/about/brenda-wynn-county-clerk/Nashville Daily Artist of the Day Playlisthttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/51eNcUWPg7qtj8KECrbuwx?si=nEfxeOgmTv6rFUyhVUJY9AFollow us @ XPLR NASHWebsite -  https://nashvilledailypodcast.com/YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/xplrnashInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/xplr.nash/Twiter - https://twitter.com/xplr_nashNASHVILLE & XPLR MERCH - http://bit.ly/nashville_merchMedia and other inquiries please email hello@xplr.lifeArtists can submit songs to be featured here https://forms.gle/mtkxUCFds7g9e2466

Legislative leaders have reached agreement on an omnibus transportation finance and policy bill that would provide funding for the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety and the Metropolitan Council during the upcoming biennium.  Blois Olson has more in today's Morning Take See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oral argument argued before the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on or about 06/17/2021

Barry Segal v. Metropolitan Council

High demand and record-low supply are pushing housing prices to new heights in the Twin Cities. And developers aren't building enough homes that most people can afford. The Twin Cities has historically had among the highest rates of homeownership in the country, but that rate is falling. At the same time, the region confronts a widening racial gap in homeownership, one of the largest in the nation. If it's bad now, what will it be like in 20 years? Libby Starling talks about the present and future of homeownership in the Twin Cities metro. She is the director of Community Development and Engagement at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Previously, she led the development of the Metropolitan Council's most recent long-range plan for the Twin Cities.

The Metropolitan Council has partnered with the Resilient Communities Project (RCP) to provide support for communities implementing their 2040 comprehensive plans. One of the projects that RCP and the students worked on in the 2020-21 academic year was "Enhancing Woodbury's Urban Tree Canopy." Through this effort, RCP assisted the City of Woodbury with their Tree Canopy plan engagement process and created an engagement toolkit that can be used by any other community. This episode explores the process and results of this project.

Native Lights – Robert Lilligren’s Gift for Indigenizing Leadership Part 2 (Early Years and Mentors)On today’s show, Leah and Cole continue their rich conversation with the visionary leader Robert Lilligren (White Earth Ojibwe Nation) who is the President and CEO of the Native American Community Development Institute, and who serves the 7th District (South Minneapolis, downtown, North Minneapolis and Robbinsdale)on the Metropolitan Council. In this 2nd part of their discussion, Robert Lilligren shares stories about his early years, the elders and mentors who influenced him, and how he overcame his natural shyness and burst into politics, so he could fully embrace his life’s purpose of service.   Robert Lilligren’s impressive leadership experience includes local government (he was the first tribal member to serve on the Minneapolis City Council), he has served on numerous boards for non-profit organizations, and his expertise and impact spans from housing, transportation, community development, and community engagement. Robert Lilligren is an avid reader, a classically trained singer, a year-round bike commuter, and he lives in south Minneapolis with his husband, Steve.  Plus, we highlight a story from our newest member of the Minnesota Native News team. Emma Needham (Red Lake) shares her latest story for MN Native News about Ojibwe language revitalization. Enjoy!

Native Lights is a weekly, half-hour program hosted by Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members and siblings, Leah Lemm and Cole Premo. Native Lights is a space for people in Native communities around Mni Sota Mkoce -- a.k.a. Minnesota -- to tell their stories about finding their gifts and sharing them with the community.On today’s show, part one of Leah and Cole’s rich conversation with the visionary leader Robert Lilligren (White Earth Ojibwe Nation) who is the President and CEO of the Native American Community Development Institute, and who serves the 7th District (South Minneapolis) on the Metropolitan Council. Robert Lilligren shares stories and wisdom from his extensive experience in local government (he was the first tribal member to serve on the Minneapolis City Council), he has served on numerous boards for non-profit organizations, and his expertise and impact spans from housing, transportation, community development, and community engagement. Robert Lilligren is an avid reader, a classically trained singer, a year-round bike commuter, and he lives in south Minneapolis with his husband, Steve.  Please enjoy this deep conversation with this thoughtful public leader, who has done so much to bring Indigenous perspectives about leadership, community, and collaboration to everything he does.  Next week we will present part two of our conversation, and learn more about the elders and mentors who influenced Robert Lilligren’s early years, how he overcame his natural shyness and burst into politics, so he could fully embrace his life’s purpose of service.   Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund. Online at https://minnesotanativenews.org/

In 2020 we experienced an unprecedented pandemic ; we witnessed businesses, schools, and offices close; many of us started working from home; we adopted rigorous health and safety guidelines; and we didn't visit our families and friends. Our Cities suffered similarly, with tax loss, lack of funding, and extenuating circumstances to respond to the communities' needs. Many of them have come out stronger with lessons to take into the future. In this episode, we hear from Todd Graham at the Metropolitan Council about the big picture economic impact of the pandemic, and we talk with Meg Beekman from the City of Brooklyn Center and Anne Kane from the City of White Bear Lake about the measures they have implemented in their communities.

www.commsolutionsmn.com- A couple of months ago we discussed that the MN Republicans caved and passed a $1.9 Billion dollar bonding bill. Well... we have finally found out what's in it. In keeping with tradition, we decide to go over it and let you know what you are now on the hook for. Remember that bonding is a hidden tax because they tell you what you owe in principal, but always leave out the millions of dollars in interest that you'll pay over the long run. These bonding bills need 60% approval in each legislative body to pass. The MN House of Representatives passed it 100 to 34 (including all 75 DFLers and 25 of 59 Republicans). The senate passed it 64 to 3. The vast majority of Republicans are absolutely useless in the pursuit of fiscal responsibility. They try to convince us that it's full of tax cuts. You can't borrow to cut taxes. It gets paid back with our tax money. They gave higher learning $94 million dollars. Minneapolis received $85 million for local projects. St. Paul received $52 million for a bridge. The Metropolitan Council got $55 Million for Bus Rapid Transit. The MN Zoo got $42 Million. It's cities in liberal places, and in conservative places. They are all part the problem. Senators and reps get bought off by the promise of "free money" for their districts. It's just gross, and were in dire need of a culture change. Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy! Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!

There are many people putting forward compelling ideas and visions for the future, and we have been craving a little time to step back and consider these fresh perspectives and how they can contribute to the clean energy future we’re building together. During the second virtual gathering of CERTs' new Energy Futures on October 21, 2020, we explored how energy efficiency and renewable energy work that is community-led and place-based can lead to real change, and has in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Duluth. We heard from Jodi Slick of Ecolibrium3, Jacob Mans at University of Minnesota School of Architecture, and Mauricio León at Metropolitan Council. Read more. The Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) connect individuals and communities in Minnesota to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects. CERTs is a partnership of University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, Great Plains Institute, Southwest Regional Development Commission, and Minnesota Department of Commerce.

Theresa Robbinson, Emily Scott, Jasmin Smith, and Matthew Schneeman discuss a new report from the Metropolitan Council on Housing showing a rise in the number of NYC tenants who cannot pay their rent; the police killing of a man who claimed responsibility for the fatal shooting of a right-wing protestor in Portland; and Russia's coronavirus vaccine. Matt also interviews the hosts for a podcast series he's working on called "A Year From Now."

As project director for Minneapolis-based Prosperity’s Front Door, Judy Johnson is part of an organization that sees housing through the lens of social justice, economic stability and community. The organization — a network of business, community, government and nonprofit leaders — promotes affordable and workforce housing and supports people who face homelessness, evictions and foreclosure, among other goals. In her role with Prosperity’s Front Door, Johnson draws on a wealth of public sector experience. She previously worked the gavel as mayor of Plymouth and is a current member of the Metropolitan Council. Her resume also includes roles with Greater MSP and the Twin West Chamber of Commerce. In the following interview, Johnson talks about her organization and the challenges of creating a housing system that works for everybody, and she explains why housing stability is more important than ever amid a global pandemic.

www.commsolutionsmnm.com- In a previous episode, we discussed a group called the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE). After their collaborating with GARE, the city of Golden Valley came up with a racial equity plan. This is the trendy thing to do in many cities across the nation, including in Minnesota. Equity is a hot buzzword being pushed by the Metropolitan Council and the Minnesota Association of Development Organizations (MADO). It is listed all throughout the Met Council's Thrive MSP 2040 plan and MADO's DevelopMN 2019 plan, and is working its way into local comprehensive plans. Books like White Fragility have really hurt this nation, because they feed into the false white privilege dogma that finds its origins in cultural Marxism's critical race theory. These people are out to make all white people into one of two kinds of racists: 1) those that admit it, throw themselves on the mercy of the woke, and become virulent antiracists themselves, or 2) Those who refuse or are too daft to acknowledge their racism. This second group needs to made to recognize their racism, according to the first group. Golden Valley created the Rising Tides Task Force out of their equity plan. Their purpose is to drive equity across the city. They are hiring a racial equity coordinator to a six-figure salary. The want to change city services, staff/elected official/volunteers, events, and opportunities to be more culturally sensitive. It's important to see what Golden Valley is doing here, so that you are prepared to recognize it in your own city. Also, our favorite ex-mayor is running for school board in District 281. Be afraid... be very afraid. Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode, Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: Community Solutions Music From the Podcast! You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy! Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify!

The Twin Cities’ next light rail project, the $1.5 billion Bottineau or Blue Line, has ground to a halt, after Hennepin County and the Metropolitan Council said Monday that they’ve given up on getting access to a key right of way from BNSF Railway. Also video of George Floyd before he was pinned by a Minneapolis officer was posted online by a British tabloid. The video was available only for viewing by appointment. MPR News evening update for Aug. 3, 2020. Hosted by Tim Nelson and Britta Greene.

Former mayor of Falcon Heights and current member of the Metropolitan Council representing district 10 Peter Lindstrom joins Dana to talk about the policy initiatives that he and the council are working on and his goals for the future on the council.

What happens at the United Nations Climate Conference every year, and why do these international negotiations matter for Minnesota? What can Minnesotans contribute to and learn from this international conference? We asked these and other questions to Climate Generation’s Sarah Goodspeed and the Metropolitan Council’s Eric Wojchik about their December 2019 attendance at the COP25 in Madrid, Spain.

February 18, 2020 George Sprouse is Manager of Process Engineering and Research and Development at the Metropolitan Council of the … More

Milly Arbaje-Thomas joins Justin Reich to discuss the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO), a voluntary school integration program in Boston, Massachusetts. They’ll focus on METCO’s mission, its underlying values, and Milly’s personal experience with the program as a former METCO parent and as its current CEO.Milly’s personal experience with METCOMETCO’s current workRestorative JusticeTeacher Diversity About Our Guest: Milly Arbaje-ThomasMilly Arbaje-Thomas is the CEO of METCO, which is a voluntary school integration program here in Boston. Prior, Milly managed neighborhood antipoverty programs at Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) for 15 years. As Deputy Director of ABCD Field Operations she provided leadership to 14 neighborhood sites and is credited with transforming those sites into integrated, full-service case management organizations serving the low-income community. Additional Resources for Teachers and other Listenershttps://metcoinc.org/ - Learn more about METCOhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I65Ru4ZM9c - WGBH segment on METCO fundinghttps://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/02/18/metco-students-outperforming-those-bps-charter-schools/W4jpFqnOSFxbdvsJu30jXN/story.html - Recent article about METCO performance Transcripthttps://teachlabpodcast.simplecast.com/episodes/milly-arbaje-thomas/transcript Join our next course on edX!Becoming a More Equitable Educator: Mindsets and Practices Produced by Aimee Corrigan and Garrett BeazleyEdited by Kate EllisRecorded and Mixed by Garrett BeazleyFilmed by Denez McAdoo Follow Us On:FacebookTwitterYouTube

www.commsolutionsmn,com- We've been telling you for a while that mass transit ridership has been declining. All the while, government and transit advocacy groups have been pushing for more public transportation. Why would they want to spend money to build something that fewer and fewer people use? That is exactly the opposite of market-driven politics. Mass transit has proven to be inefficient and unreliable, not to mention that it doesn't get most people to where they are going. So in the names of equity and environmentalism, they push for additional lines and routes, an increased focus on moving employment to downtown centers, and the building of Transportation-Oriented Development (TOD) centers that serve dense populations of people. This effort is meant to ratchet up the war on cars and control the movement of people across a region. The Metropolitan Council has finally opened up a bit, saying that the numbers for ridership aren't meeting projections, but they also say that the problem isn't the government solution (it never is), or the increase in companies like Uber or Lyft, it's the sales pitch. Yes, they actually admitted that. Here's the kicker, this isn't just a Minnesota thing, ridership is dropping EVERYWHERE, even in the most liberal of cities. So what does this mean? I wish it meant the end of subsidizing this loser of an idea, but unfortunately it never will. We need to keep our eyes open and watch for the change in messaging. Some things never change... and bad ideas from the government are many of them. Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast!” You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy! Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify, or go out to the PodBabble Podcast Network!

Imagine being the head coordinator for a region comprising seven counties and 188 different communities. Now imagine trying to those places to work together on everything from housing and land stewardship to transportation and energy. That’s new Metropolitan Council Chair Nora Slawik’s job.

For over 50 years, a limited number of students of color living in Boston have been able to enroll in schools in the suburbs as part of the METCO program, run by the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity. Charles Glenn sits down with Paul E. Peterson to discuss who benefits from the program and whether it distracts from larger issues related to urban schools.

www.commsolutionsmn.com- Picture a typical family looking for their first home. The excitement of the search, the satisfaction of stepping into their new house... yeah, we're going to burst your bubble. Housing is not some organic outgrowth of customer demand that brings joy and wonder to everybody. In fact, there is nothing organic about it. It is an industry that has been manipulated, contrived, and designed by developers, manufacturers, special interests, and all levels of government (Federal, state, regional, county, and city/township). The Metropolitan Council tries to force a certain amount of certain types of housing in every city in the metro based on their faulty population growth projections. In out-state Minnesota, government still uses a great deal of power to dictate what kind of housing is to be built and how much of it. Green technologies, trends like life cycle housing, and available funding like bonds, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and tax abatements all set the tone. Listen in and be amazed at how little freedom is actually found in the housing industry. Then get on your local planning commission and make a difference!!! Have you checked out our Spotify playlist? At the beginning of each episode Jason quotes some song lyrics that have to do with the subject matter of the podcast. Andrew never knows what they are, but now he can… and so can you! We’ve launched the Spotify playlist: “Community Solutions Music From the Podcast“! You can listen to Roundabout from Yes after listing to Episode 30 on Roundabouts… or kick back and enjoy a rocking playlist just for the thrill of it. We add a new song every week. Subscribe and enjoy! Don’t forget that you can also subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify, or go out to the PodBabble Podcast Network!

In the recent years, we have seen changes in the climate, resulting in many issues around the country, such as flooding, fire, health impacts, hot summers, and rainy winters. While a changing climate encompasses a wide range of disciplines, planners are in a unique situation to prepare and plan for a better future. In this episode, Eric Wojchik, Senior Planner at the Metropolitan Council, will talk about the regional Climate Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) project, and resources for planners to do similar analysis in their communities. Be sure to check out the Metropolitan Council CVA website, localized flooding and extreme heat story maps, and the Local Planning Handbook’s Resilience plan element.

Carah Koch, Director of Enterprise Content Management for the Metropolitan Council in Minneapolis visits for the first in a series of "I Am AIIM" member interviews. Plus, best-selling technology author, Charles Arthur, discusses his new book Cyber Wars: Hacks that Shocked the World. Listen for action items you can use today. Host, Kevin Craine For more visit AIIM.Org/podcast

Planners use geospatial data on a regular basis. Some use it to create simple maps, while others need data for nuanced projects. Ultimately, maps and data are visual tools that allow for better informed decision making. Geoff Maas, MetroGIS Coordinator at the Metropolitan Council, talks about his efforts in making GIS data in the Twin Cities region open and standardized, and how it benefits the planning profession. 

Carrie goes for a run with the Mayor of Minneapolis, Betsy Hodges! They discuss Betsy's love for distance running, the importance of a healthy diet and the challenges of being a mayor. Recorded July 24, 2017 Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com. Betsy Hodges A Minnesota native, Mayor Betsy Hodges attended high school in Plymouth, earned a bachelor's degree from Bryn Mawr College, and a master's degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin. After serving on the Minneapolis City Council, Betsy ran for Mayor in 2013, and is currently running for re-election. She is married to Gary Cunningham, CEO and President of the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (Meda) and a member of the Metropolitan Council. They have two children, four grandchildren and two cats.

Youth make up a significant portion of our communities and therefore engaging them in planning processes is essential. In this episode, Corrin Wendell, Senior Planner at the Metropolitan Council and founder and executive director of YEP!, a non-profit dedicated to engaging youth, discusses ways to get them involved.

Gary Cunningham, Metropolitan Council Member Minnesota is home to some of the worst racial disparities in the country in terms of housing, workforce retention, and education. Gary Cunningham is working to find ways to change that in his role on the Metropolitan Council. Racial disparities and regional planning: perfect ingredients for comedy.

The debut episode of The Katie Halper Show looks at Donald Trump, his "great relationship with the blacks," and the song he should have played when he announced his presidency. Then Rebecca Carroll and Syreeta McFadden discuss the "transracial mishegas" that is Rachel Dolezal story, and Ava Farkas, the executive director of the Metropolitan Council on Housing talks about what she got arrested and placed in string handcuffs over. Also in the studio are Gabe Pacheco and Reggie Johnson.

CEO/Executive Director, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty