Blog
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
Good morning, Singers and Happy April! It feels like an accomplishment to get to April 1st, doesn't it? We DID it!!
After a discussion with many singers, we have decided to reschedule Saturday's rehearsal so that people can attend the protest at the State Capital at noon on Saturday. https://www.mobilize.us/indivisibletwincities/event/764780/ There were many singers who are planning to attend, so we decided to acknowledge that and rehearse next Saturday,
The schedule for the rest of the 2024-25 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
Good morning, Singers and Neighbors. After a wonderful night at the Capri, we are ready to meet again and make more music. We come together to sing, to laugh, to hug, and to leave feeling more optimistic than we did when we got there. It's an experience like no other.
Join us! Come rehearse with us today at 2:00 on the 8th floor of the Guthrie. We will be working on songs we have sung before and some we have only sung a few times. Remember that we sing songs of optimism and joy and you will leave feeling better than you did when you came.
Bring a friend, a neighbor, or anyone that loves singing and could use a boost to their spirit.
Thank you!!
JD will be performing at St. Thomas University on April 6th. If you are interested, check it out at https://tommielink.stthomas.edu/event/10413711.
The song, 'Together We Stand' can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25MIXWMg_BI. It's such a great song and you may enjoy singing along with this recording by the Winans.
The schedule for the rest of the 2024-25 season is as follows:
March 29 Rehearsal at the Guthrie
April 5 Rehearsal at Involve Mn, 714 Park Avenue
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
For everyone who wants to donate to Be That Neighbor to help us keep the Singers singing, please go to https://www.givemn.org/organization/Be-That-Neighbor. Thank you!
Good morning, Singers! It's going to be a fun week for the Mill City Singers.
We will be singing at the Capri Theater at 2027 West Broadway at 7:00 tomorrow night, March 25th. Plan to arrive by 6 as parking is at a premium. Wear bright colors and plan to have a wonderful time. The Singers will be on stage first, followed by MCYC, and the concluding act will be Capri Glee.
JD will be performing at St. Thomas University on April 6th. If you are interested, check it out at https://tommielink.stthomas.edu/event/10413711.
The song, 'Together We Stand' can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25MIXWMg_BI. It's such a great song and you may enjoy singing along with this recording by the Winans.
Thank you so much for all you do. See you tomorrow at the Capri!
Claudia
For everyone who wants to donate to Be That Neighbor to help us keep the Singers singing, please go to https://www.givemn.org/organization/Be-That-Neighbor. Thank you!
Hope 612
In April of 2024, Be That Neighbor began an exciting new project. Five alumni from the Mill City Players met with Claudia Kittock for over a year to write a play that is based on their experiences growing up in Minneapolis. Three of the writers grew up in Cedar Riverside. Two of them emigrated here with their parents and one was born here. The other two writers experienced homelessness as teenagers and are now housed and employed full time. Each of them has a unique story to tell and it is these stories that comprise the script of Hope 612.
The decision was made my all of the writers to write about the most important problems faced by their community and them personally. They chose racism, fentanyl, and police abuse. As we all went through the process of writing their stories and weaving them into a narrative, it was brought up and universally agreed upon that the theme of this work had to be hope!
Every part of this play is based in the reality of their lives. Each of them has been deeply touched by racism, by fentanyl, and by police abuse. These stories are real and happening in our community. I have known these young adults for 9 years and have heard the stories many times, and each time I hear them, I am moved. When these stories morph into words of hope and they write about what they want the future to be, it is energizing and gratifying. As Miske Salad wrote, “Hope isn’t just a nice idea—it’s an obligation.”
The initial script is finished and we will be moving on to auditions on April 14 and 16. We are looking for 15-18 year olds who want to be part of this play. Rehearsals will be on Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:30-6:00 at Theater in the Round through mid July when we will be performing the play.
We are grateful for the anonymous donors who are funding this production as well as the grant we received from the Minnesota State Arts Board. We are grateful to Blossom Johnson for serving as our dramaturg, we are grateful to Pillsbury House Theater for helping us with summer interns, and we are grateful to every single person who has encouraged us, who has shown an interest. Most of all we are grateful for our incredible writers who gave up a year of their time to tell their stories. Thank you Anthony Anderson, Ahmad Mahad, Mahamed Salad, Miske Salad, and Sam Karpeh. Your courage, your talents, and your heart inspire me every single day.
Good morning, Singers. It is a perfect time to be part of the Mill City Singers. Our rehearsals are fun, the music is upbeat and optimistic, and you won't find a better group of people! We will be singing together on Saturday, March 22nd at 2:00 on the 8th floor of the Guthrie. Thank you, Guthrie for being our community partners and giving us the use of your beautiful classroom We are so very grateful!
Our performance at the Capri Theater is on March 25th. We will be singing at 7:00, and advise that you get there no later than 6:00 as parking is at a premium.
The schedule for the rest of the 2024-25 season is as follows:
March 22, 25 (Concert at Capri Theater), 29
April 5 (Rehearsal at Involve Mn, 714 Park Avenue), 12, 26
May 3 (Singing in Loring Park to celebrate World Peace Day), 10, 17
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.
Be That Neighbor!
Good morning Singers! I hope your week is as bright as the sunshine we are enjoying.
We will be singing together on Saturday, March 15th at 2:00 on the 8th floor of the Guthrie. Thank you, Guthrie for being our community partners and giving us the use of your beautiful classroom We are so very grateful!
The schedule for the rest of the 2024-25 season is as follows:
March 15, 22, 25 (Concert at Capri Theater), 29
April 5 (Rehearsal at Involve Mn, 714 Park Avenue), 12, 26
May 3 (Singing in Loring Park to celebrate World Peace Day), 10, 17
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.
Be That Neighbor!
Good morning, Singers and Neighbors. We are having so much learning new much and singing together.
Join us on Saturday, March 8th at 2:00 on the 8th floor of the Guthrie. We will be working on songs we have sung before and some we have only sung a few times. Remember that we sing songs of optimism and joy and you will leave feeling better than you did when you came.
Bring a friend, a neighbor, or anyone that loves singing and could use a boost to their spirit.
Thank you!!
The schedule for the rest of the 2024-25 season is as follows:
March 8, 15, 22, 25 (Concert at Capri Theater), 29
April 5 (Rehearsal at Involve Mn, 714 Park Avenue), 12, 26
May 3 (Singing in Loring Park to celebrate World Peace Day), 10, 17
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!!
Claudia, Jan, Mimi, Susan, Jennifer, JD, Chuck, and Mike
Good morning, Singers! What a wonderful rehearsal of great new music and amazing sharing from our singers. We began learning the song "Sweeping Through the City' by Shirley Caesar. You can hear her sing it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wgHUc6KZ1k
Rehearsal on Saturday, March 1st will be 2:00-3:30 on the 8th floor of the Guthrie. Come! Sing! Laugh! Make a new friend!!
I have included a poem created by 'our' singer, Mary Morris and Chat GPT. Enjoy!!!!
The Mill City Anthem
In the heart of the city, where the lights shine bright,
The Mill City Singers fill the air with delight
With JD Steele, we rise up strong,
Call and response—yeah, we sing the song!
He’s got the wisdom, he’s got the groove,
Liftin’ us up, makin’ us move.
Clap your hands, stomp your feet,
Feel that rhythm, feel that beat
And Fred on the keys, yeah, he holds it tight,
Playin’ that piano, keepin’ us right.
Chord by chord, like a rolling wave,
He sets the tone, yeah, he paves the way.
And Claudia—she’s runnin’ the show,
Keepin’ it smooth, makin’ it flow.
Schedules tight, she’s got that drive,
Makin’ sure we all arrive!
At the Capri, the crowd goes wild,
Singin’ hymns with that rockstar style.
JD shouts, they sing it back,
Hands in the air, no holdin’ back!
And when we hit that Twins game loud,
We take the mic, we move the crowd!
"Take Me Out," we belt it strong,
Singin’ together, all game long!
Yeah, some days, it’s tough to go,
Tired, worn, feelin’ slow.
But once we’re here, we feel that spark,
Singin’ ‘til we light the dark!
So here’s to the voices, the power, the sound,
Mill City Singers, we shake the ground!
With JD leadin’, with Fred so smooth,
We turn it up, we hit the groove!
See you on Saturday!!
Created by 'our' singer, Mary Morris and Chat GPT. Enjoy!!!!
The Mill City Anthem
In the heart of the city, where the lights shine bright,
The Mill City Singers fill the air with delight
With JD Steele, we rise up strong,
Call and response—yeah, we sing the song!
He’s got the wisdom, he’s got the groove,
Liftin’ us up, makin’ us move.
Clap your hands, stomp your feet,
Feel that rhythm, feel that beat
And Fred on the keys, yeah, he holds it tight,
Playin’ that piano, keepin’ us right.
Chord by chord, like a rolling wave,
He sets the tone, yeah, he paves the way.
And Claudia—she’s runnin’ the show,
Keepin’ it smooth, makin’ it flow.
Schedules tight, she’s got that drive,
Makin’ sure we all arrive!
At the Capri, the crowd goes wild,
Singin’ hymns with that rockstar style.
JD shouts, they sing it back,
Hands in the air, no holdin’ back!
And when we hit that Twins game loud,
We take the mic, we move the crowd!
"Take Me Out," we belt it strong,
Singin’ together, all game long!
Yeah, some days, it’s tough to go,
Tired, worn, feelin’ slow.
But once we’re here, we feel that spark,
Singin’ ‘til we light the dark!
So here’s to the voices, the power, the sound,
Mill City Singers, we shake the ground!
With JD leadin’, with Fred so smooth,
We turn it up, we hit the groove!
#BeThatNeighbor
Baby, it's cold outside! Luckily for all of us, Saturday will be much better and actually pretty perfect for singing together.
Join us on Saturday at 2:00 on the 8th floor of the Guthrie. We will be learning new songs and working on songs we have sung before. Remember that we sing songs of optimism and joy and you will leave feeling better than you did when you came.
Bring a friend, a neighbor, or anyone that loves singing and could use a boost to their spirit.
See you on Saturday!!
Good morning, Singers! We had a wonderful Show and Tell last week with several people still to present. Everyone that volunteered will get a chance and we will do a few every Saturday during our regular rehearsal time. You won't want to miss it.
We are rehearsing on Saturday, February 15 at 2:00-3:30 on the 8th floor of the Guthrie. There will be new songs to learn, familiar songs to sing together, and so much community to share. Bring a friend, a neighbor, and/or yourself and hustle over to the Guthrie for 90 minutes of sheer joy.
The schedule for the rest of the 2024-25 season is as follows:
February 15, 22
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 25 (Concert at Capri Theater), 29
April 5, 12, 26
May 3 (Singing in Loring Park to celebrate World Peace Day), 10, 17
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.
See you soon!
Good morning, Singers. We have a really fun Saturday planned.
It is Show and Tell day. That is a day when JD invites all of us to share something with our community singers. Sing a song, read a poem, share a talent, etc. If you plan to do that, please contact Claudia at cjkittock@gmail.com so she can compile a list. The only limitation is that we ask you to keep it to less than 5 minutes so we can give everyone a chance to share.
JD has mentioned 'The Movement Revisited' many times. It is a project he co-wrote with Christian McBride and plans to teach us some of the music from it. You can watch it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCSETTeD0us
We are having such fun and hope you can join us on Saturday. Remember the people that will be performing NEED an audience and you will have a great time.
Thank you!!
Good morning, all! The Singers are BACK this Saturday, February 1st, 2:00-3:30 on the 8th floor of the Guthrie. Are you interested in singing with an incredible community and spending 90 minutes having fun? Join us.
Don't forget to get your tickets to hear Fred at Chanhassen Dinner Theater of February 2nd, Baritones; Broadway to Vegas. You can get your tickets at https://chanhassendt.com/shows/baritones-101/. It will be an amazing night of Fred-ness!!!
It's going to be an incredible 2025. Stay tuned for more information every week.
Thank you for all you do to make our community. Stronger together!
Good morning, Neighbors! What a gloriously cold week here in Minnesota. If you live here, you KNOW what winter brings, and while we may complain a bit, it is part of the Minnesota Mystique!
Believe it or not, February 1st is just one week from today. Our long winter hiatus is almost over, and we can sing together again as the days get longer and warmer. Join us! Come be part of making great music with fabulous harmonies, amazing people, and an incredible director and accompanist. Listening to JD and Fred sing every week is worth every effort you make to get there.
Please let me know what you want to do for the February 8th Show and Tell. It's a fun thing we do yearly. Everyone is invited to share something with the group--a song, a poem, a hobby, or anything you want the group to know about you. We ask that you keep it to less than 5 minutes and email Claudia at cjkittock@gmail.com so she can get the list to JD.
The schedule for the rest of the 2024-25 season is as follows, and, as promised, there are already a few tweaks:
February 1, 8 (Show and Tell), 15, 22
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 25 (Concert at Capri Theater), 29
April 5, 12, 26
May 3, 10, 17
June 7, 14, 21 (Lead the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame' at the Twins), 28 will be our season ending potluck from 2-4. It's a really fun way to recap our season and start talking about next season.
Our last performance is on June 27th with a concert at Kelley Park in Apple Valley. We do this every year and it is always great fun.
The joy of it all. I didn’t foresee how much joy this would bring, especially through the choir. Music is a powerful force for optimism and healing.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Claudia Kittock.
Claudia Kittock is a retired college professor and founder of Be That Neighbor who lives in Minneapolis. She mentors young adults who have experienced homelessness, serves as volunteer coordinator of Be That Neighbor programs Yoga in the Park and the Mill City Singers, and is a member of the Task Force to end Street Homelessness.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I was searching for something meaningful to do after retirement, so I started attending meetings that interested me. I discovered some truly fascinating ones. As a child psychologist specializing in traumatized teens, I first began volunteering with YouthLink to help kids get their GEDs and joined a task force to end street homelessness. Our community has around 20 percent of its population experiencing homelessness, and they often go unseen. I started to see the ways that I could help, and began talking to others in my downtown Minneapolis community nine years ago about how we could work as a bigger organization. My neighbors came together to build a community that includes everyone — housed and unhoused and we started our nonprofit,“Be That Neighbor.
First we had the idea our community needed more music. We approached a local music school and were paired with renowned singer and choir director J.D. Steele, to start a community choir. On the first day, 29 people showed up, and we realized we had something special. Nine years later, our choir has more than 500 people on the roster, performing everywhere from Orchestra Hall to the Super Bowl. It’s completely free to join. Our board, initially just a group of friends, evolved as we realized we needed to secure funding to keep it accessible to all, and as our organization grew, so did our programming.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
Our neighborhood didn’t have a community 20 years ago — it was an industrial area. Then the warehouses started to be converted into condos, and today 6,000 people live here. But there was no established sense of togetherness– so we began to build one. When we first started the choir, it was meant to be just a fun activity, but soon we realized that art was the best way to bring people together. Our mission became about building community through the arts, sports and other activities with transparent, barrier-free access — no one has to pay; anyone can just show up. Anyone is our neighbor.
When we formed Be That Neighbor, we had two rules: we all had to like each other, and we had to bring different skills to the table. It turned out to be a brilliant idea. We have a fundraiser, an influencer, a grant writer, and even JD Steele as our creative genius. Together, we sit down and discuss our upcoming projects, needs, and goals, and most importantly, we get things done.
One particularly fruitful partnership has been with Cedar Riverside, a nearby neighborhood just six blocks away from us that is home to many East African– Somali and Ethiopian– immigrant families. We wanted to bridge the gap between our neighborhoods and make real connections through our programs. We’ve also launched projects like the Mill City Players, now called Hope 612, which brings together homeless youth and immigrant teens through theater, allowing them to bond over shared feelings of invisibility. This initiative changed lives — every homeless teen involved in the program eventually found housing, and all went on to college or found jobs. We also created a landscaping program to clean up the shared parks spaces in Cedar Riverside, field a competitive East African boys basketball team, make sports available to young women in the same community, offer seasonal free yoga in the park, and support other programs that make a true positive impact on our community on a daily basis.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When we were fundraising for our second choir session, I sent out letters and raised money, but I made a math mistake. I sent thank-you notes saying we had plenty of money, only to realize we were actually short. I called a neighbor with experience in foundations and told her about the mistake. She asked how much we needed, and when I said $2,000, she immediately put a check in the mail. She told me, “If you’re going to run a charity, you have to learn to ask for what you need, and people will step up.” It was a valuable lesson. We are always asking for what we need.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
The most powerful thing we do is open doors. We create opportunities and ensure everyone knows they’re welcome, whether they live a few blocks away or across town. Our programs break down barriers, particularly in communities like Cedar Riverside, where there’s a large immigrant population. We make an effort to be present in their neighborhood and invite them to be part of ours.
We’re truly building connections. At one point, someone in the choir remarked, “It’s too bad we don’t have unhoused people joining.” But we do — they just blend in, and that’s the power of music. It breaks down barriers and brings everyone together.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
One of our original actors was homeless when he joined our theater program. While participating, he was able to find housing, finished his GED, went to vocational school, and became a carpenter. He also wrote two poetry books, is taking college classes, got a dog, and is now looking to buy a car. His journey is one of our greatest successes, but he’s just one example — there are many others.
Coach Jennifer Weber, one of our board members (and the coach and founder of our basketball program and co-founder of our theater program), recently started a landscaping program for youth deeply impacted by chemical abuse. They’ve transformed areas around Cedar Riverside, turning previously neglected and dangerous spaces into beautiful, welcoming parks. The impact has been profound — troubled youth who were once shunned are now approached by adults asking about their work. One participant has even enrolled in a landscape architecture course.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Let us do the work we know how to do. Our organization knows what needs to be done. We need support — funding, volunteers, and people to share our story.
Help with visibility. We’re so busy doing the work that we often struggle to get the word out. Sharing our mission can help attract more support and involvement.
Donations. We frequently run drives for cold weather gear for those who might be sleeping outside in freezing temperatures, and other essentials. We need financial support to continue providing for those in need. Donations can be made at BeThatNeighbor.org.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership means listening and doing the work. I don’t tell people what to do — I ask, listen, and pay attention. That’s how we decide our next steps. Opening doors for people and letting them find what they need is key. For example, I always tell people to come to one choir rehearsal — they end up staying because they feel better afterward.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
Fundraising is a journey. We had no idea what it really meant when we started. We learned along the way.
The resilience and strength of youth. Working with homeless youth has been eye-opening — their integrity and generosity, despite their struggles, are inspiring.
It’s a full-time job. Running a nonprofit takes time and energy, but it’s fulfilling work.
Ask for what you need. If you don’t ask, you don’t receive. Stepping out of my comfort zone to ask for help was a big learning curve.
The joy of it all. I didn’t foresee how much joy this would bring, especially through the choir. Music is a powerful force for optimism and healing.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Community building through active listening. We often assume we know what’s best for others, but real change happens when we take the time to hear directly from the people we want to help. This movement would inspire people to start conversations, listen deeply to their neighbors, and take small, actionable steps toward creating opportunities for all. It’s about being brave enough to try, even if you’re unsure of the outcome. That’s how real connections are formed, and real change begins.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”?
My current favorite is by Gloria Steinem: “I’m not going to pass the torch, I need to keep my torch lit so I can continue to light other people’s torches.” To me, this speaks to the ongoing responsibility of staying engaged and active in what you love. I see it as my role to keep fueling others, to make sure that the good work continues beyond me.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US, with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why?
Mackenzie Scott. She’s been making incredible changes with her philanthropy, focusing on organizations that often go unnoticed but do life-changing work. I think the smaller, grassroots efforts — like ours — are where real transformation begins, and I’d love the opportunity to talk with her about supporting initiatives like ours that build community from the ground up.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow our journey and get involved through our website: BeThatNeighbor.org.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Good morning, Neighbors! I hope 2025 is off to a wonderful start and you are finding a way to stay warm.
In just 3 weeks, the Mill City Singers will return to rehearsing on February 1st, 2:00-3:30, on the 8th floor of the Guthrie. Remember that all you need to do is come!! There are no fees to anyone who wants to sing and no auditions. The board of Be That Neighbor does the work of raising funds to support this and all of our other programs so that participants do not have to worry about being able to afford the fees. Just come.
The schedule for the rest of the 2024-25 season is as follows:
February 1, 8 (Show and Tell), 15, 22
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 25 (Concert at Capri Theater), 29
April 5, 12, 26
May 3, 10, 17
June 7, 14, 21, 28
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.
Please read your weekly emails as things may and will change as the year progresses. Stay tuned!!
I close this email with a quote from C.S. Lewis. "Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." How about today?
Good morning, Neighbors! I hope 2025 is off to a wonderful start. We have been busily working to plan a great year and can't wait to share the information.
The Mill City Singers are on winter hiatus and will return to rehearsing on February 1st, 2:00-3:30, on the 8th floor of the Guthrie. Remember that all you need to do is come!! There are no fees and no auditions. The board of Be That Neighbor does the work of raising funds to support this and all of our other programs so that participants do not have to worry about being able to afford the fees. Just come.
The schedule for the rest of the 2024-25 season is as follows:
February 1, 8, 15, 22
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
April 5, 12, 26
May 3, 10, 17
June 7, 14, 21, 28
July 12
Please read your weekly emails as things may and will change as the year progresses. Stay tuned!!
I close this email with a quote from Wester Hailes. "When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change." May it ever be so!!
Claudia, Jan, Mimi, Susan, Jennifer, JD, Chuck, and Mike