Good morning, neighbors!  It's a wonderful week for Be That Neighbor, and it is filled with summer fun.  Make sure you have all of these on your calendar.

Today at 7:00 pm the wonderful aerialist that performed in Gold Medal Park will be back, and performing in Curry Park, across from the Mixed Blood Theater and right next to Brian Coyle Community Center, 420-15th Avenue South.  You won't want to miss it.

We had the biggest yoga crowd of the season last Saturday, and had a wonderful shared practice.  Please join us this Saturday, August 2nd at 9 a.m by the Gold Medal Park letters.  All you need to do is bring a mat, some water, and a friend.

Missing the Mill City Singers?  Me too!  The final schedule is being worked on and will be out very soon.  Mark September 13th as the beginning of our 2025-26 season at 2:00-3:30.  There are so many reasons to join us and all of them begin and end with joy!

Be THAT Neighbor

Good morning neighbors.  It was a very good week for Be That Neighbor and the week ahead looks good too.

Thank you to everyone who supported the staged reading of Hope 612.  We had a wonderful and enthusiastic audience and our actors performed so very well.  Watch the newsletter for announcements of what comes next for this amazing project.

The Mill City Singers are on summer hiatus and plan to return on September 6th at 2:00 on the 8th floor of the Guthrie.  We have exciting plans for the 2025-26 season and you will want to be part of all of those plans.

Open Eye Puppet Theater is returning to Gold Medal Park on August 2nd at 1:00.  It's a delightful play.  Bring a blanket, some water, and both your own inner child and children that you know.  Don't miss it!

Thank you for all you do to make this community so strong!

Claudia, JD, Jan, Susan, Chuck, Michael, Mimi, and Jennifer

Sahan Journal publishes real news about communities of color—the kind of stories you won’t find anywhere else. We want it to be free for you and everyone else.

‘This is about hope’: Youth-driven play tells stories of racism, drug abuse, homelessness in Minneapolis

“Hope 612,” which will have a staged reading this weekend, grew out of a theater collaboration between young adults in the Cedar-Riverside area and formerly homeless youth.

by Ava Grace

Actor and writer Sam Karpeh hasn’t had an easy journey since arriving in Minneapolis. 

Originally from Liberia, he arrived in Minnesota as a teenager, then navigated homelessness and lost friends to drug addiction while trying to find his footing. A theater program centered in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood helped him find a voice — and hold onto his optimism.

He’s part of “Hope 612”, a staged reading at Theatre in the Round this Saturday. Written and performed by formerly homeless teens and first generation East African and Liberian immigrants — including Karpeh, Mahad Ahmed, Anthony Anderson, Mahamed Salad, and Miske Salad — the show unpacks life in Minneapolis through real accounts of racism, fentanyl abuse and police brutality. 

The play grew from the nonprofit Be That Neighbor’s theater program for homeless youth and youth from the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood in Minneapolis. 

Karpeh has been involved with Be That Neighbor for eight years after meeting co-founder Claudia Kittock through Youthlink, a Minneapolis nonprofit organization that serves homeless young people ages 16 to 24. 

He wrote the characters Miah and Junior, based on his friend Miah who he met while homeless and died from an overdose two years ago.

“Miah was a dear friend of mine that OD’d,” Karpeh said. “And as much as I tried to save her, she didn’t make it. So it kind of stuck with me.”

Karpeh said he had no interest in theater until meeting Kittock. Since then he has written two poetry books titled “Mirror” and “Untitled.” Karpeh said the development of the play was delayed greatly due to COVID-19 and social distancing.

“We all have the same type of wish, which is not to see other people go through [homelessness] and things like that,” Karpeh said. “So, I’m going to call the group ‘Hope 612.’ It’s about Minneapolis, what’s going on in Minneapolis that’s not been looked at as a real issue. Then it becomes a pandemic, corona and fentanyl.”

Sam Karpeh helped write “Hope 612,” which will receive a staged reading at Theatre in the Round on Saturday, July 19, 2025. Credit: Aaron Nesheim | Sahan Journal

The staged reading features nine first-time actors from Cedar-Riverside and includes a community discussion ahead of a full production next year.

Clement Lee, 23, is from south Minneapolis and plays the character Abdi, a basketball coach for Washburn High School who is passionate about his community. 

Lee was drawn to acting while studying sociology at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. He said he admires his character, who learns to advocate for himself due to the harassment and mistreatment from police officers he faces while chaperoning his basketball team. 

He said it is important for community members to attend the reading on July 19 because the stories being told bring light to situations and focus on how community is built. 

“I’m really hopeful towards receiving honest feedback and hopefully answering a lot of the audience’s questions after the performance,” Lee said.

Kittock, a retired professor of education and child psychology, said theater opens doors for youth who have trauma or have not received support from schools because it allows them to use their voice through characters. 

“Hundreds of kids every year say they don’t like to read, and I constantly come back with the right book and you know what happens when you find the right book? They like to read,” Kittock said. “That’s what theater does and all of a sudden they’re reading better and motivated to learn this part.”

South High student Ridwan Ibrahim was raised in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Ibrahim plays Junior, a teen who holds onto his optimism, even as he faces homelessness.

“Junior has … been through a lot,” Ibrahim said. “Been homeless, you know, been through it. And [he finds the] funniest way to get back on his feet and being optimistic just keeps him going and always saying ‘Tomorrow’s a better day.’”

The hope Karpeh holds in his characters Miah and Junior is the hope that neighbors and community members will show up for one another and have humanity.

“The hope is that if there’s a person who knows a person going through that situation [addiction] that hopefully, they can get there in time before it’s too late to help that person,” Karpeh said. “You know they’re going through something and they’re scared to come to somebody, so that’s where they go to run away from their feelings.”

Ibrahim hopes that outside communities will attend the reading and understand that they are not performing a fictional story, but a community’s true story.

Students participate in a staged reading of “Hope 612” in spring 2025. Credit: Provided

Amira Salad, 15, got involved in the production around three years ago through Jennifer Weber, Amira’s coach and director of Cedar Riverside Athletics and Enrichment. Amira plays the role of Miah, a character she describes as charismatic and best friend to Junior, Ibrahim’s character.

Amira said she grew up with Weber, who opened opportunities to community engagement and activity. She said acting helps her express herself without having to use her own words, and she sees her own emotional struggles through Miah’s character.

“I can express myself in a way through a character, her anger and frustration and [her inability] to open up easily,” Amira said. 

Aisha Salad, a sibling of the playwrights, plays two characters, a train passenger and police officer. She said she wants to become an actor in order to bring her sister Miske Salad’s story to life.

“Most people see Cedar [Riverside] as a gangster community with lots of violence and stuff but it’s not really like that,” Aisha said. “It’s actually such a caring community and just a really great place and people don’t see it that way.”

Minneapolis Public Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette and Mayor Jacob Frey were expected to attend Saturday’s performance and community talkback. 

Karpeh said having people attend the reading will “send him off to the moon” as he wants to see the community share space and allow for conversations that might not be easy to have. His biggest hopes are towards the young actors performing and the hope that their motivations will create a domino effect in the community.

“I’m hopeful for a lot of things, that’s the beauty of it,” Karpeh said. 

Myah Goff contributed to this report.

Date: Saturday, July 19

Time: 7 p.m. 

Location: Theatre in the Round Players, 245 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis

Cost: Pay-what-you-can tickets. 

For more information: Visit bethatneighbor.org/programs/youththeater

Ava Grace is currently interning at the Sahan Journal covering underrepresented communities through the University of Minnesota Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

So . . . .Yoga in the Park on Saturdays at 9 a.m.  The rain at that time and day has been incredible and not very conducive to the practice.  We are ALWAYS going to try again, so will be having yoga this Saturday, July 12th at 9 a.m. At this moment, the forecast is for 80 degrees with only a 24% chance of rain.  Let's hope we get the 76% chance of NO rain.

It's a great hour and we will plan to be there and practice with this community.  Thank you for hanging in there!!

Good morning, all. Rain, rain, go away! !  The weather has decided to once again, not cooperate. Yoga is cancelled with the hope of a better forecast for enxt Saturday.  Thank you for your patience with these Saturday showers.
Let's hope for next week.

Good morning all!  

Yoga in the Park will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 28th.  Bring your mat, some water, and a friend and join the community for a glorious hour of yoga.

We have a wonderful week of activities to close out the 2024-25 season of the Mill City Singers.  You won't want to miss any of it.  On Friday, June 27th, the Singers will be performing in Kelley Park in Apple Valley.  Bring a lawn chair and be ready for a fun filled evening of music and community. If you want to practice 'Joy' go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8jt219p_ME. Please plan to be there by 6 pm.

On Saturday, the 28th, Barb and Eben Gillespie will be leading a sing-a-long in Gold Medal Park at 11 a.m.  They will sings songs from the 60s and 70s, so be sure it is on your calendar.  Bring a lawn chair and get ready for a fun-filled time.

At 2:00-3:30 on the 28th, we will celebrate our wonderful season with a potluck in the community room at the Legacy Condos, 1240 South 2nd St.  Bring a dish to share and your beverage.  It's a wonderful way to end what has been yet another season of joy and community.

Be That Neighbor is so grateful for this community of artists. "Community is the spirit that draws people together" (anonymous) Join us!

JD, Mimi, Chuck, Michael, Jan, Jennifer, Susan and Claudia

Good morning all!  The weather forecast for Saturday is much better and, hopefully, rain free.

Yoga in the Park will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 21st.  Bring your mat, some water, and a friend and join the community for a glorious hour of yoga.

The Mill City Singers will be joined by the MacPhail Community Youth Choir at the Twins game.at 1:10.   We will be leading the singing of 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' during the 7th inning stretch.  This is always a wonderful outing and we can't wait!

Next week on June 27th, the Singers will be performing in Kelley Park in Apple Valley.  Bring a lawn chair and be ready for a fun filled evening of music and community. If you want to practice 'Joy' go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8jt219p_ME.

Be That Neighbor is so grateful for this community of artists. "Community is the spirit that draws people together" (anonymous) Join us!

JD, Mimi, Chuck, Michael, Jan, Jennifer, Susan and Claudia

     Barb and Eben’s performance has been rescheduled for June 28th at 11 .m.

Yoga in the Park is cancelled for today, June 14th.  After this week of rain, the park is muddy and squishy, and the grass is incredibly wet . . .oh, and, the forecast is for a temperature of 59 at 9 a.m.
     We hope to see you next week!

Good morning, all.  We have a wonderful Saturday planned for June 14th.  Please remember to check https://www.facebook.com/BeThatNeighbor or bethatneighbor.org for changes due to rain.  We hope that doesn't happen, but . . . .we DO live in Minnesota.

Yoga in the Park will meet at 9 a.m.  Bring a mat, some water, and a friend and join us for a wonderful hour of yoga, practiced with this vibrant community.

Barb and Eben Gillespie will be leading a sing-a-long at 11 a.m. in the park.  They are wonderful singers and even better souls.  Most of the songs will be from the 60s, 70s, 80s or there abouts.  Bring a lawn chair and come sing with your community.

The Mill City Singers will be rehearsing at 2:00-3:30 on the 8th floor of the Guthrie.  This will be our last in person rehearsal of the season.  Next week, we will lead the singing of 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' at the Twins game.  We will be performing in Apple Valley on the 27th and will celebrate a great season on June 28 with a potluck lunch, 2:00-3:30 at the Legacy Condos.

SO much fun!!!

Hope to see you all soon---Jan, JD, Susan, Chuck, Mike, Mimi, Jennifer, and Claudia

  Yoga has returned to Gold Medal Park and we are so happy to invite you to join us.   It can't be easier.  Grab a mat, water, and a friend and neighbor.  Just come and practice yoga with your community every Saturday at 9 a.m. Meet us in one of the most beautiful settings in Minneapolis.  There are no fees, just show up.
     This is the 8th year of our yoga program sponsored by Be That Neighbor. It has become one of our centerpiece programs and only happens because of our donors.  Thank you to each and every one of you who helps us make this and all of our other programs a reality.  We welcome any and all donations. As an all volunteer board, we donate our time and our efforts so that all of your donations go directly to the professionals who lead our programs.  If you would like to help, please go to https://www.bethatneighbor.org/
     See you in a few short days . . .and it is supposed to be a beautiful day. 

Singers---We will be meeting at the Capri on Saturday, May 31st at 2:00 pm.  JD and Fred will be leading an outdoor sing-a-long and we will be singing with our usual enthusiasm and fun.  How do you participate?  Come!  It is as easy and as fun as it sounds!

The schedule for the rest of the 2024-25 season is as follows:
June 7--rehearsal on the 8th floor of the Guthrie, 2:00
June 14--rehearsal on the 8th floor of the Guthrie, 2:00
June 21--Leading the singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame at the Twins game, 1:10
June 27--Concert at Kelley Park in Apple Valley, be there by 6:00
June 28--Potluck celebration at the Legacy condos, 2:00-4:00

Please read your weekly emails as things may and will change as the year progresses. Stay tuned!!

Claudia, Jan, Mimi, Susan, Jennifer, JD, Chuck, and Mike

We are excited to announce the return of Yoga in Gold Medal Park on Saturday, May 24th at 9 a.m.   Yoga in the Park can't be easier.  Grab a mat, water, and a friend and neighbor.  Just come and practice yoga with your community in one of the most beautiful settings in Minneapolis.  There are no fees, just show up.
     This is the 8th year of our yoga program sponsored by Be That Neighbor. It has become one of our centerpiece programs and only happens because of our donors.  Thank you to each and every one of you who helps us make this and all of our other programs a reality.  We welcome any and all donations. As an all volunteer board, we donate our time and our efforts so that all of your donations go directly to the professionals who lead our programs.  If you would like to help, please go to https://www.bethatneighbor.org/
     See you in a few short days . . .and it is supposed to be a beautiful day. 

Singers---I hope this finds you with summer fever!  There are many things scheduled already that we are confident you will enjoy.  Stay tuned for more news in the coming weeks.

We will be rehearsing on Saturday, May 17 on the 8th floor of the Guthrie, 2:00-3:30. We will be practicing both old and new songs. making wonderful music and sharing laughs and hugs.

As always, there are no fees and no auditions.  All the funds needed to support this program come from donors like you.  We welcome any and all donations. Go to https://www.bethatneighbor.org/  Please join us!
 

The schedule for the rest of the 2024-25 season is as follows:
 
May 17, 31 (sing along with JD and Fred at the Capri)

May 19, Music Matters Luncheon at the Depot, 12:00-1:00
 
June 7, 14, 21 (Leading the singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame at the Twins game, 1:10), 28 (Potluck celebration at the Legacy condos, 2:00-4:00)
 
Our season will end on June 27th with a concert at Kelley Park in Apple Valley.  We do this every year and it is always great fun. There will be a potluck celebration on June 28th, 2:00-3:30 at the Legacy condos.

Please read your weekly emails as things may and will change as the year progresses. Stay tuned!!

Claudia, Jan, Mimi, Susan, Jennifer, JD, Chuck, and Mike

Yoga in Gold Medal Park
 

     We are excited to announce the return of Yoga in Gold Medal Park on Saturdays at 9 a.m. It begins on May 24th, which is only a week away.  Yoga in the Park can't be easier.  Grab a mat, water, and a friend and neighbor.  Just come and practice yoga with your community in one of the most beautiful settings in Minneapolis.  There are no fees, just show up.
     This is the 8th year of our yoga program sponsored by Be That Neighbor. It has become one of our centerpiece programs and only happens because of our donors.  Thank you to each and every one of you who helps us make this and all of our other programs a reality.  We welcome any and all donations. As an all volunteer board, we donate our time and our efforts so that all of your donations go directly to the professionals who lead our programs.  If you would like to help, please go to https://www.bethatneighbor.org/
     See you in one week, just 7 short days!

Good morning, Singers and Neighbors. We had the best time in Loring Park. It was a gorgeous day in a beautiful setting, surrounded by our community of singers.  Singing for World Peace Day was perfect.

Today, May 10 is another day for rehearsing on the 8th floor of the Guthrie, 2:00-3:30. We will be practicing both old and new songs. making wonderful music and sharing laughs and hugs.

As always, there are no fees and no auditions.  All the funds needed to support this program come from donors like you.  We welcome any and all donations. Go to https://www.bethatneighbor.org/  Please join us!
 

The schedule for the rest of the 2024-25 season is as follows:
 
May 10, 17, 31 (sing along with JD and Fred at the Capri)

May 19, Music Matters Luncheon at the Depot, 12:00-1:00
 
June 7, 14, 21 (Leading the singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame at the Twins game, 1:10), 28 (Potluck celebration at the Legacy condos, 2:00-4:00)
 
Our season will end on June 27th with a concert at Kelley Park in Apple Valley.  We do this every year and it is always great fun. There will be a potluck celebration on June 28th at the Legacy condos.

Please read your weekly emails as things may and will change as the year progresses. Stay tuned!!

Singers--We are excited to be singing in Loring Park on Saturday, May 3rd at 2:00.  Our portion of the day will last about 45 minutes and it will be great fun.  Imagine a rehearsal in front of an audience with JD urging everyone to sing along.  It is great fun and you won't want to miss it.  Feel unprepared?  Don't worry, we will all sing together, enjoy ourselves, and laugh a lot . . .and don't forget, it is for World Peace Day!

We are singing in the middle of Loring Park, 1382 Willow St. Park on any of the streets surrounding the park and simply walk toward the middle.  You will see us.  If the weather turns rainy, there is a lovely park building where we will sing.  So, rain or shine, we sing for world peace on Saturday.

Please join us!

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Good morning, Singers.  Hoping this email finds you all ready to do some great singing and spend time with a truly wonderful community of singers.  We will be rehearsing this Saturday, April 26th, 2:00-3:30 on the 8th floor of the Guthrie.  Join us!!!  It's free fun and it IS fun.

Our schedule for the remainder of this season is as follows:
April 26 Rehearsal at the Guthrie
May 3 Singing in Loring Park to celebrate World Peace Day
May 10 Rehearsal at the Guthrie
May 17 Rehearsal at the Guthrie
May 19, Music Matters Luncheon at the Depot, 12:00-1:00
May 31st Outdoor sing-a-long at the Capri, led by JD and Fred
June 7 Rehearsal at the Guthrie
June 14 Rehearsal at the Guthrie
June 21 Leading the singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame at the Twins game, 1:10
June 27th Concert at Kelly Park in Apple Valley
June 28 Potluck celebration at the Legacy condos, 2:00-4:00 
Please read your weekly emails as things may and will change as the year progresses. Stay tuned!!

Claudia, Jan, Mimi, Susan, Jennifer, JD, Chuck, and Mike

Good morning, Singers. I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine!

We will not be rehearsing on Saturday, April 19th, but will resume on the 26th.

Our schedule for the remained of this season is as follows:

April 26 Rehearsal at the Guthrie

May 3 Singing in Loring Park to celebrate World Peace Day

May 10 Rehearsal at the Guthrie

May 17 Rehearsal at the Guthrie

May 19, Music Matters Luncheon at the Depot, 12:00-1:00

May 31st Outdoor sing-a-long at the Capri, led by JD and Fred

June 7 Rehearsal at the Guthrie

June 14 Rehearsal at the Guthrie

June 21 Leading the singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame at the Twins game, 1:10

June 27th Concert at Kelly Park in Apple Valley

June 28 Potluck celebration at the Legacy condos, 2:00-4:00

Please read your weekly emails as things may and will change as the year progresses. Stay tuned!!

Good morning, Singers.  I hope everyone enjoyed the week off and are now anxious to sing together again.

We will be rehearsing Saturday, April 12th on the 8th floor of the Guthrie, 2:00-3:30.  Grab a friend or a neighbor and join us.  Just come!  It's that simple and we guarantee a good time will be had by all.

Our schedule for the remained of this season is as follows:
April 12 Rehearsal at the Guthrie
April 26 Rehearsal at the Guthrie
May 3 Singing in Loring Park to celebrate World Peace Day
May 10 Rehearsal at the Guthrie
May 17 Rehearsal at the Guthrie
May 19, Music Matters Luncheon at the Depot, 12:00-1:00
May 31st Outdoor sing-a-long at the Capri, led by JD and Fred
June 7 Rehearsal at the Guthrie
June 14 Rehearsal at the Guthrie
June 21 Leading the singing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame at the Twins game, 1:10
June 27th Concert at Kelly Park in Apple Valley
June 28 Potluck celebration at the Legacy condos, 2:00-4:00 
Please read your weekly emails as things may and will change as the year progresses. Stay tuned!!

Claudia, Jan, Mimi, Susan, Jennifer, JD, Chuck, and Mike