Recent content from Gail Rosenblum
U's Michael LuBrant pivots to teach death rituals to mortuary science students in COVID world
He guides future funeral directors through end-of-life rituals.
Children's Minnesota resource navigator drawn to helping families much like hers
Community Connect is an initiative of the Children's Minnesota health care system partly funded by a grant from Kohl's Cares.
AchieveMpls launches student support fund to address trauma of pandemic, George Floyd killing
AchieveMpls has launched the MPS Student Support Fund to offer mental health counseling, school-based programs and interventions to let students know how deeply they are valued.
Facing hardship during COVID, these Minnesotans find comfort in levity
These Minnesotans regained control and strength during pandemic times in an unusual way: laughter.
Head of Mpls. Domestic Abuse Project builds on rich history of helping in new COVID reality
DAP has worked to end intergenerational violence for more than 40 years, with bold and inventive strategies that bring everyone to the table for success.
As recycling surged in Twin Cities with COVID-19, Eureka pivoted to respond
How did the company manage the inevitable surge in recycled material coming from homes and apartments now doubling as offices, day cares and more?
Blue Cross gender services consultant brings years of work in transgender community to new role
It's rare for a major health insurance company to create a position called "gender services consultant."
New leader of Minneapolis' Be The Match breaks down stem-cell process, busts myths
The international nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis provides lifesaving blood stem cell therapy to people of all ages around the world.
In the age of COVID-19, Minn. author looks to 'poetry therapy' to soothe the soul
It turns out poetry as an agent of healing was recognized in the ancient world over 2,000 years ago, she says.
Minneapolis trainer on race and trauma shares ideas for how we talk to each other now
In this wrenching moment for our city, he encourages us to continue to have productive conversations.
Midwest union leader talks safety, shopping smart and his hope for life after COVID-19
Utecht is president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663, a union of more than 13,000 members in Minnesota and Iowa, including 1,850 at the JBS pork plant in Worthington.
American Indian OIC leader offers ways to stay proactive in job search during pandemic
His message for all of us: Tough passages are an opportunity to rethink, recharge and re-engage.
Minnesota leader of Humanity Alliance connects the dots between health disparities and food insecurity
The nonprofit organization's first program rescues food about to be discarded and turns it into high-quality and healthful meals delivered to families who lack access to good-tasting nutrition.
Former Twin Cities management consultant shifts gears to help us live with intention
Tracie Bluse Ward says that challenging times are often the best times for personal growth.
COVID-19 testing Minnesota's already fragile mental health support system
Meet the leader of a statewide network of 32 community-based mental and chemical health programs that serves approximately 180,000 Minnesotans annually.
These Minn. health care heroes are fighting on the front lines against COVID-19
Meet the people putting it all on the line during the coronavirus crisis: "We are going to look out for each other."
This week, our inspiration comes from readers across the Twin Cities
We've compiled a growing list of selfless, creative and often courageous acts you've shown toward family members, friends and strangers.
Twin Cities employee engagement leader encourages businesses to embrace fun
Fun Is Good, an employee engagement consulting firm that offers seminars and workshops, lunch-and-learns and keynotes.
6 Minnesotans who were voices of inspiration in 2019
As the year draws to a close, let's be inspired by people who aspire to connect, heal and support their communities.
HandsOn Twin Cities leader shares ways we all can help during pandemic
Here are some practical steps to take from the safety of our homes to help our fellow Minnesotans.
Minnesota author on finding purpose in an age of uncertainty: 'It's an aim outside of yourself'
The senior fellow at the U's Center for Spirituality and Healing believes that it is precisely in times like these that we can gain valuable clarity.
Minnesota public health leader aims to bring equity to Alzheimer's care
Cindy Kaigama knows firsthand the challenges of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease.
White Bear Lake-based Cummins partners with 916 Career & Tech to power high-paying diesel jobs
The Cummins School-to-Work Program will train qualified high school students with the intention of launching them into high-paying jobs in the diesel field.
Minn. teen beats the odds, dreams of building a school in her native Ethiopia
On March 19, this 18-year-old will be one of five honorees at the 28th Children's Defense Fund-MN Beat the Odds celebration.
Veteran Mpls. educators start organization to help everyone screen less, live more
The Minneapolis-based LiveMore ScreenLess offers workshops and workplace consultations, school visits and tips to parents and grandparents, principals and CEOs.
How Twin Cities became one of the largest hubs for workplace diversity, inclusion
The Forum on Workplace Inclusion gears up to welcome about 1,500 people to the Minneapolis Convention Center on March 10-12 for its annual conference.
Peer support groups show promise in helping men facing mental health problems
Mark Meier knows there's only one thing tougher than getting a man into therapy — and that's keeping him in therapy.
New president of Children's Home Society of Minnesota dreams of loving home for every child
It's a time of massive changes in adoption, including a drastic decline in international ones and a huge upswing in the need for families of older children.
Former University of Minnesota regent makes sure black men at private colleges finish and thrive
When Abdul M. Omari was a teen, his parents made some things clear: “You’re going to college. You’re going to get good grades. And…
Minn. restorative justice leader sees this method as best opportunity to heal trauma
Donna Minter deals with what she calls a public health epidemic every day, even though "few know how to talk about it or are willing to address it."
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.
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.
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.
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?
For this award-winning Minnesotan, the climate crisis is personal
Aletta Brady created a web-based platform, called Our Climate Voices, to humanize the climate crisis by gathering and sharing personal stories.
Turn the 'getting' season into 'gratitude' season with help from Twin Cities nonprofit
Sarah Aadland has gathered loads of research confirming that altruistic kids are happy kids. And what better time than December to practice?
Hennepin County social worker helps at-risk parents thrive
Danielle Monsrud has a personal connection to Hennepin County's Parent Support Outreach Program.
Hamline University's social justice leader is a winner at getting out the youth vote
Nur Mood looks into the future every day — in the form of the bright young people walking across his St. Paul campus.
After a century away, Tewa pots return to their native lands near Santa Fe
Their return is due to a historic two-year collaboration between leaders at the Poeh Cultural Center and representatives of the Smithsonian Institution.
Minneapolis' Eastside Food Co-op makes food access 'FARE'
People of limited means are often denied the health benefits and simple pleasures of fresh fruits and vegetables.
A rabbi, a pastor and an imam walk into a … dialogue about shared values
The "Interfaith Amigos" are serious about their mission to reject the idea of "otherization."
HealthPartners cardiologist says we need to stop denying the dangers of vaping for teens
His particular concern is young people with developing brains who have taken to vaping like candy.
International community puts stamp on 150th anniversary of the postcard
Here's why the postcard still matters to so many people.
New Brighton's Community Support Center stays with people until they're ready to launch
Once it accepts a case, the center has been able to stop almost 100% of evictions.
Former Eden Prairie fire chief sparks a new conversation about the safety of his peers
Among their often-unspoken dangers: high rates of cancer and heart disease, as well as mental health challenges
St. Louis Park financial adviser lessens money worries for widows with free services
The nonprofit Wings For Widows offers free services, including financial coaching, during this difficult time.
Teen Youth Summit at Minneapolis museum explores how creativity can lead to societal change
On Oct. 5, the Minneapolis Institute of Art hosts its first "Creative Fuel" youth summit.
This Minnesotan is doing her part in the fight to make local communities more walkable
Ellen Pillsbury helps lead the Minnesota Department of Health's Walkable Community Workshops.
Minneapolis time-management guru turns procrastinators into goal-setters
For 30 years, the Brooklyn Park-based owner of Uniquely Yours Consulting has been helping people, mostly by getting out of their own way.
New roommate matchmaker Rumi connects caregivers, people with disabilities
Blake Elliott, vice president of operations for Rumi's parent company, Bridges MN, explains why he feels the timing is right for this service.
Minnesota is No. 1 in AmeriCorps members: 'I love to see these kids'
AmeriCorps — sometimes called the domestic Peace Corps — is demonstrating measurable success, aided by a robust Minnesota presence.
Hero Plumbing owners build community by offering free use of spaces throughout Minneapolis
A local couple have made four intimate spaces available for free to all community members who need a spot to gather.
Tutapona offers emotional healing to victims of war, including Minnesotans
More than 50,000 victims of unspeakable trauma have begun to reclaim their lives thanks to this nonprofit's forgiveness model.
Reviews: 'Maybe You Should Talk to Someone,' by Lori Gottlieb, and 'At Briarwood School for Girls,' by Michael Knight
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone By Lori Gottlieb. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 412 pages, $28.) Few mysteries are more intoxicating than what goes on…
Edina divorce lawyer creates cards to help couples communicate better and maybe stay together
What if couples had a way to proactively practice talking to one another, not about kids or money stresses or in-laws, but about their own needs, vulnerabilities and desires?
5 Twin Cities tweens find a way to 'make a difference' on summer break
A look at an unusual gifted-and-talented summer school class offered through West Suburban Summer School.
A remarkable creative space reopens in St. Paul's Lowertown
The Creators Space is a creativity center and coffeehouse that provides space and tools for creative people to incubate ideas.
Helping Hand Companies is labor of love on Minneapolis' North Side
The north Minneapolis business teaches local youths work skills and self-sufficiency, with plenty of fun still included.
Twin Cities philanthropist sees our best hope for common ground in Citizens Juries
For 45 years, Ned Crosby has randomly selected a microcosm of the population to gather and listen to and learn from experts on pressing societal issues before respectfully brainstorming solutions.
New nonprofit Let Grow urges parents to land those helicopters and let kids be kids
How do we let go? Minnesota native Diane Redleaf has a suggestion: Practice.
Minnesota Tool Library offers savings by sharing 5,000 tools
The nonprofit, among the Twin Cities' best-kept secrets, offers classes to the public as well.
Golden Valley-based Headwaters offers disaster relief with children's books
Storytelling can be a powerful tool in disaster recovery.
Why more millennials should consider a financial planner
Twin Cities financial planner Monica Eckberg shares her philosophy on how young people should save money.
Retired St. Paul cop Melvin Carter Jr. helps young black men rewrite their script
Sgt. Carter, father of St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, is the founder and executive director of Save Our Sons.
Colleges courted to increase women head coaches over the next 5 years
The Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport has released its annual report card to document progress, or lack thereof.
A quest to collect stories of kindness has driven her to 39 states (and counting)
Mary Latham's remarkable cross-country road trip collecting stories of kindness in every state, including Minnesota, will be turned into a book.
Elk River fifth-graders combat bullying by adding kindness to the curriculum
Elementary school kids start their own club to stymie bullying and promote kindness.
Minnesota project uses video stories to find forever families for kids in foster care
Meet Kaycee Stanley, the woman behind the Robbinsdale-based nonprofit the Reel Hope Project.
Retiring Women's Foundation CEO happy to make room for new generation of female leaders
Lee Roper-Batker's leadership has led to changes in laws and police training.
'You changed my life': Mpls. law professor celebrated for all the lives he impacted over his 40-year career
David Weissbrodt is a pioneer and mentor in human rights.
Should you give money to people on the street? Homelessness experts weigh in
To give or not to give? That's the question many of us struggle with as we see a person holding a cardboard sign at freeway exits or along busy pedestrian malls.
She brings a public health approach to keep Minneapolis youths safe from violence
Sasha Cotton worked for years for state and federal agencies before feeling called to more grass-roots work as youth violence prevention coordinator for the city of Minneapolis.
St. Paul's PCs for People readies to expand reach as leveler of digital playing field
The St. Paul-based nonprofit is celebrating 20 years of getting refurbished computers and low-cost internet into homes across the United States.
'Cabin Cooperative' idea mixes affordable housing with Minnesota culture
Luke Nichols' passion is housing instability, because "you just never know who" will be caught in its grip.
Grieving Eden Prairie father devotes his life to ending the distracted-driving epidemic
"In every teenager on the road, I see my daughter," Vijay Dixit says of his new mission.