Merriam Park resident Patrick Redmond of Patrick Redmond Design has been selected as an honoree for The Irish Echo’s 2021 Arts & Culture Awards. The virtual awards celebration was broadcast from Ireland on April 23. According to the The Irish Echo newspaper, the awards honor arts and cultural figures of Irish American ancestry who have kept spirits up since the pandemic began with their arts and cultural endeavors. Redmond is a designer, artist, author and retired educator.
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library has elected Na Eng, Bryce Miller, Deepa Nirmal and Mani Vang-Polacek as new trustees to its board of directors. Eng is communications director for the McKnight Foundation and a resident of Ward 3. Miller is a partner in the downtown Saint Paul law firm of Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh PLLP and a resident of Ward 1. Nirmal is an associate vice president for RBC Wealth Management U.S. and is a resident of Ward 4. Vang-Polacek is a human resources director at the University of Minnesota and lives in Golden Valley. Outgoing board members include Jim Bradshaw, Scott Burns, Pat Harris, Vineeta Sawkar and Mike Zipko. Members are elected to three-year terms that are renewable up to three times. For more, visit thefriends.org.
The Minnesota Asian Pacific legislative caucus has elected state representatives Tou Xiong (DFL-District 53A) and Kaohly Her (DFL-District 64A) to serve as its new chair and vice chair, respectively. Their terms will run through the 2021-22 session. Xiong will be the second chair for the caucus, which was formed in 2019. Her, who is also currently the DFL House majority whip, returns as vice chair.
Partners in Policymaking is welcoming applications for its eight-session leadership training program that will start this fall at the Crowne Plaza Aire in Bloomington, near the Mall of America. Adults with disabilities and parents of young children with developmental disabilities will be trained at no cost. The monthly two-day sessions will be held on Fridays and Saturdays from September-May (no session in December), with the March class held on Sunday and Monday so participants can visit legislators at the Capitol. Childcare and respite allowances are given, and mileage and meals are covered. Applications are due by July 9. Visit tinyurl.com/z8x59ep6 or contact Brenton Rice at brenton@togevents.com or 651-242-6589.
The Jewish War Veterans of the United States was recently honored for its 125th anniversary with a proclamation from the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. The JWV was established in March 1896 by Civil War Veterans in New York City, and now has more than 15,000 members. The board also commended Department Commander Lou Michaels of Minnesota Post 162, 331 and 354, the Ladies Auxiliary, National Commander Jeff Sacks and all of the JWV’s achievements.
Ananya Chatterjea, the artistic director of the Ananya Dance Theatre (ADT) at 1197 University Ave., has received the 2021 A.P. Anderson Award for her significant contributions to the cultural life of Minnesota. A professor of dance at the University of Minnesota, Chatterjea founded ADT in 2004.
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