MinneCulture

Roller skating is making a comeback in the Twin Cities, but you don’t need a traditional rink to join the movement. One local skating collective is turning breweries, parks and pop-up spaces into places to roll, connect and, yes, fall down. KFAI’s Alison Young takes us inside a beginner lesson to meet the man behind the revival.This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCultures comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

MoonStone Mpls is a queer owned small business in the Longfellow neighborhood in South Minneapolis. Owner Brenna Wernersbach is devoted to community participation and supporting independent artists. The shop sells a variety of natural history, literary and metaphysical items along with hosting special events and classes. KFAI’s Dixie Treichel went to meet Brenna and learn more about MoonStone Minneapolis. This story was written and produced by Dixie Treichel. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Saint Paul’s Walker West Music Academy is thought to be the oldest community music school in the nation founded by Black musicians. Opened in the 1980s during turbulent times in the Selby/Dale neighborhood, Walker prides itself on offering affordable, accessible and high-quality music instruction. What makes Walker West so special is their emphasis on a particular style of music-making called the “Saint Paul Sound,” a high-energy synthesis of jazz, gospel and improvisation. KFAI’s Alison Young sat down with the new Executive Director, Dr. Charles Morgan to learn more about this inspiring place where people of all ages can grow through music. This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Tristan Jurkovich grew up loving the outdoors, but he never thought he’d pass that love on to a new generation until he became a reluctant - at first - father figure to two young boys. This story was written and produced by Tristan Jurkovich. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Find more stories on our website: https://kfai.org/tag/minneculture/

Look around your car and try to count how many safety features there are: seat belt, a padded dashboard. And then there are the hidden ones: air bags, crumple zone, reflective stickers. Almost every part of a modern day car, from the volume knobs to the shape of the hood, is designed with safety in mind—but it wasn’t always that way. Though driving is still quite dangerous, it used to be worse, and back in the 1950s one University of Minnesota professor put his body on the line to make automobiles safer. KFAI’s Matthew Schneeman has the story.This story was written and produced by Matthew Schneeman. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Ojibwe singer-songwriter Keith Secola, known for his song "NDN Cars," has been earning national attention in recent years for his contributions to film and television, including songs he wrote for the hit show "Dark Winds." But Secola remains deeply connected to the Iron Range, where he grew up. KFAI’s Sheila Regan caught up with Secola to learn about his songwriting process and his collaboration with Rich Mattson of Sparta Sound in Gilbert, Minnesota.This story was written and produced by Sheila Regan. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Sisters Camelot is a collectively run nonprofit with a focus on sustainable living through food justice and waste reduction. They’ve been providing free groceries at food share sites since 1997. KFAI’s Rmay Rivard caught up with the volunteers on one of the pick-up days. This story was written and produced by Rmay Rivard. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. 

In the 19th century, the Minneapolis Industrial Expo, an event intended to rival the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, made an impact on the history of Mexicans in the state. In 1886, the festival hosted 56 musicians from Mexico as headliners, and at least one of those musicians — Luis Garzon — ended up staying and becoming a community leader here. Meanwhile, Luis’s brother, Gabriel Garzon, and band leader Juan Macias, wrote tunes for the band that would be published as piano sheet music, the first published material by Mexican artists in the state. KFAI’s Sheila Regan tells us about this historic visit and efforts to preserve and share the story of Latinos in Minnesota.  This story was written and produced by Sheila Regan. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Minnesota is home to three distinct iron ranges, each with a rich history of immigration, industry, and outdoor recreation. KFAI’s Rmay Rivard takes us on a journey into the past and present of Minnesota’s iron range. This story was written and produced by Rmay Rivard. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

When you picture the life of your favorite author you might imagine some elevated life of thought and sophistication—but that’s far from the case when they’re on a book tour, which can be relentless and stressful. Journalist Matthew Schneeman’s uncle Tim Hedges specializes in helping those authors get from A to B (and catch some Zzz’s) when they come to town. After thirty years of being a media escort, Tim has some pretty great stories to tell. This story was written and produced by Matthew Schneeman. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.