More than 40 people — readers, writers, podcast listeners, videographers, copy editors, board members and a few folks curious about who we are and what we do — joined the Streets.mn annual summer picnic on August 5, 2023.
This year’s picnic was held at Boom Island Park in northeast Minneapolis; the picnic location alternates each year between the two Twin Cities. “We try to find a place that’s centrally located and accessible by bike, walking and transit,” says Streets.mn board member and events committee chair Jeb Rach.
“Our main aim with the picnic each year is to allow readers, writers and Streets-curious people to meet up, socialize and network together, and to put some faces to the names that we see online,” Rach says. This year, we also need to raise money to keep Streets.mn going.
Self-appointed “grill master” and board treasurer Mike Allen cooked up veggie burgers, hamburgers and hot dogs. Side dishes and desserts, as always, were potluck style.
Streets.mn is run and staffed almost entirely by volunteers and operates primarily through donations. In the midst of an important fundraising campaign, the organization hosted a raffle at this year’s picnic, bringing in over $350.
“Guests could win tickets to a Loons soccer game, an opportunity to be on the Streets.mn podcast or prize packs with donated delights from local bike shops and Metro Transit,” says Christina Neel, a Streets.mn contributor and committee member who organized the raffle. “It was a huge success!”
A picnic isn’t a picnic without cornhole, bocce ball and other outdoor games, though talking and getting to know one another seemed to be the main attraction.
“We met some brand new aspiring contributors, new podcast listeners and readers who are excited to get involved in volunteering or perhaps serving on the board in the future,” says Rach.
Couldn’t make it to the picnic? Check out the Streets.mn homepage to subscribe to the (almost) daily feed, donate or become a contributor. Stay in touch!
Photos by the author unless otherwise noted