Tomorrow is the last day of school in Minneapolis. This is an important date this year because it means all the neighborhood kids will be out of school and hanging out during the day. I’ve gotten to know a handful of kids and a lot of the neighbors since we moved and the weather has gotten warmer, but I think the summer is going to increase our relationships in the community by leaps and bounds.
I’m really excited to get to know more of the kids and families in the neighborhood. Just recently I’ve been helping a couple kids with some bike fixing projects in the area (which got me thinking, it would be cool to have a Red Bike project around here). And summer also means they’ll open the water park just a couple blocks from our house, lot’s of fun there.
At the same time I want to be sure to get to know parents and families, not just kids. That will take a bit more effort on my part, but I don’t think it will be difficult.
I’m really excited for the coming months, the opportunity to really get to know the people and families that make up my community. I’m proud to say that I know nearly everyone on my block, and we’ve barely had a month of warm weather. Knowing names and brief introductions is a far step from really getting to know people, but it’s more relationships on my block then I’ve ever had. I think that’s credit to our neighborhood, friendly, outgoing, and willing to look out for one another.
We love living here.
Photo credit: Todd Baker
I agree summer is going to be great. We’ve already met some of the kids and their families down here in South Mpls. But MPS schools don’t actually get out until June 11 so it is less than 1 week!!! Woot!
And about the bike sharing – they are going to pilot something similar during the RNC in both Mpls and St Paul. Supposedly if it works well they’ll keep doing it.
Yeah, I jumped the gun on this one. I just assumed all since I heard one kid say Friday, but after seeing a few more kids, I realized it’s next Wednesday.
Forgive me Nick, but have we met?
Some of my friends who work with kids in the city say it is essential to get to know the parents because they have the most influence on the kids when they’re younger.
We’ve been trying to get to know the kids in our neighborhood too, so I’m with you all the way on this!
Ariah, I don’t believe we have ever met.
The red bike thing sounds like a great idea.
I really admire your intentional neighborliness, I’m going to try something in my apartment and see what happens.
Richard,
Yeah it sounds great, but from what I’ve found out recently about Madison people abused the system and it didn’t work.
But, I also heard something actually might be in the works by the city to make it happen. We’ll see.