All People's Gathering - September 20, 2003
Sunday - September 28, 2003 2:00 PM posted by Diane Ingram
photographs by K. L. Zimmerman
The All People's Gathering in Elliot Park is an annual celebration of community. Sponsored by Elliot Park Neighborhood Inc., the event focuses on the diversity of the residents, businesses and service organizations who make this neighborhood a model for urban unity.
The event on Saturday, September 20th featured a neighborhood parade, community information tables, art displays and activities for the entire family. Several businesses and organizations provided the picnic feast of hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza and Samoli favorites. Entertainment appeared throughout the event, including Aztec dancers in feathered costumes, an IFP produced film about the neighborhood, the band Calvin James and Bad Influence, who featured a rousing sing along of "Elliot Park", the neighborhood song, and Native American singer and drummer, Anthony Jack who ended the evening with a Native tradition, the good wishes of the "Traveling Song".
Elliot Park and the VLAS Encourage Community Service
Sunday - September 28, 2003 5:30 PM posted by Diane Ingram
In the fall of 2002 the Virtual Lady, Shar Kanan, twisted my arm to volunteer with the stage management at a neighborhood event sponsored by Elliot Park Neighborhood Inc. She had warned me when she accepted her job offer at this nonprofit organization that she had a history of guilting her friends into helping with any community service event she advocated. She wasted no time in using her new circle of limited resources.
In Shar's first month at EPNI she coaxed my music publishing company, Vito Rococo, into sponsoring the writing of the Elliot Park neighborhood song. Songwriter Jim Johnson met with EPNI Neighborhood Action Committee (NAC) Coordinator, Sheila Lynch, learned about the "Master Plan" for Elliot Park urban development and toured the neighborhood to get a feel for the history and culture of the residents. Sheila wanted a sing-along song…easy lyrics and a catchy melody. Jim had a chorus before he left the meeting… "Elliot Park - Calls to me, Elliot Park - That's the place to be".
The All People's Gathering in 2002 was my reintroduction to the lifestyle I had lived in my early adulthood. Yes, I was still technically a Minneapolitan living on the fringes of the suburbs, but I had left my urban conscience back in the early '70s. I had replaced community involvement and volunteerism with service to Xplor International, a professional organization that focused on networking and education of electronic document professionals.
As I participated that day, I found myself thinking about all the values my generation had held in hope for our future... love, peace, harmony, tolerance and a better life for all people. Here in this east corner of Minneapolis everyone was living that dream. People working together had championed affordable housing, created a safe environment for residents and businesses and provided educational opportunities for all ages and all cultures. The community had become a family and I was now a member of the "pod".
Elliot Park and the VLAS encouraged me to offer my talents to community service. I may not be able to swing a hammer or run an after school program, but I can write a little HTML and I'm a friendly face who trys to make every person feel special and unique. One year later, you find me warning my friends "I'm committed to this neighborhood and you must come and help". And guess what? Their arms don't even require twisting. I guess we all still believe in the dream.
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