We are saddened by the announcement this morning that Governor Tim Walz has decided to end his campaign for re-election. Under his leadership, Minnesota has implemented so many policies that truly help people all across the state.  

We all now know the name Renee Nicole Good and we are learning who she was as a mother, wife, and poet. A full human settling into a life here in Minneapolis, my city and yours. Even though we didn’t know her, we miss her. And we know that she should still be here with all of us.

Online chats organized by city or neighborhood groups share up-to-the-minute details of where ICE is and what location they are targeting. Neighbors are organizing to protect others as they go to and from school, church or grocery shopping. Others are holding vigil outside of mosques during prayer services. Others are collecting food and donations and then delivering the food boxes to those who are too afraid to leave their homes.

Art and artists have always been at the center of political and civil rights movements. We learned the story of Marian Anderson in 1939 singing “America the Beautiful” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial after having been barred from singing to an integrated audience by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger singing This Land is Your Land at Obama’s inauguration, in a moment of hopefulness that seemed to bring us all together, finally. And more recently, our own friend Larry Long, who sang “I Don’t Believe in Violence” at No Kings on June 14th, just hours after we learned of the murder of Melissa and Mark Hortmann in an act of horrific political violence which we will never forget. 

Rather than a typical year-end wrap up, we invited our dedicated volunteers, team leads and steering committee members to share how 2025 has impacted them. This included thoughts on specific events or how they felt earlier in the year versus how they feel now.  And what they have learned about themselves, our country and our community.