As life goes by on 46th avenue South

Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice steering committee.

August 14
I’m sitting in the front room of my house. Outside my front window looking out on 46th Ave, I’m watching my favorite movie. I call it "As Life Goes By." People are going by walking on foot, riding their bike or driving their vehicle. A squirrel goes by in my front yard. Later, I see a chipmunk followed by a bird landing on my front step.
I can’t help wondering if the people traveling by in my movie know what I know. Do they know that a hostile take-over of the United States government is taking place? The authoritarian takeover appears to be well underway. No sign of a military takeover of 46th Ave. today. And if you have read this far you have taken the plunge into the river (flow) of life experiences that is Stories and Journeys.

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY SOCIAL SECURITY
As I watch "As Life Goes By," I am aware that Social Security is 90 years old today. And for 90 years this program has paid earned benefits in full and on time. Now that is in jeopardy. At a time when 10,000 plus baby boomers reach retirement age every day, the current administration has pushed out 7,000 Social Security experts and replaced them with an AI chat box. Between this chat box and overwhelmed phone lines, the administration is putting up barriers between us and our earned benefits.

KAREN SHOWS UP AT ELDER VOICES (TELLING OUR STORIES/SHARING OUR JOURNEYS)
A reader of the Southwest Connector. Taking a break from her job. Turns out that back in January of 2022 she read a Stories and Journeys column headlined, "Sometimes I’m an activist because I must be." That column stuck with her. Now at this point in her life, given the world in which we live, she is exploring her identity as an activist feeling it’s something she must be. How does she express that part of her?
There were no easy answers coming forth as to what it means to be an activist in 2025. I did, however, state that for an Elder Voices topic it’s something I intend to bring up for myself at every Elder Voices meet up I attend going forward. And so, dear reader, do you share Karen’s exploration of what it means for you to be an activist? How are you pursuing it? Tell yourself, tell others or tell me via tesha@tmcp.com. And thank you Karen for taking the action of showing up at Elder Voices to tell your story and share your journey.
After re-reading that column I discovered some clues that I might build upon for articulating my identity as an activist today. Clues in the words, “I am not an activist by nature. I tend to be introspective, a meditator, a writer of reflective words, but there are times when I am an activist because I can’t help myself. The need becomes too obvious and I am convinced I can contribute. The common good requires that we do what we are able to do.” A starting point: the common good.

WORTH FIGHTING FOR!
News from Epworth United Methodist Church (3207 37th Ave. S.) where I used to write for an in-house publication called the Epworth Echoes: The first Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. a group of concerned neighbors meet at Epworth. They meet to talk about ways to be more active in the community, in politics, to share ideas and information to fight for justice. The group is called Worth Fighting For! Neighbors working with neighbors for justice. Any one is welcome. Just show up.
There’s that word justice. Maybe another clue in my search. Justice and the common good.

NEWS FROM LONGFELLOW-SEWARD HEALTHY SENIORS
After 20 years on the job as executive director, Mary Albrecht has retired. A party was held in her honor July 29. I showed up.

ELDER VOICES (TELLING OUR STORIES/SHARING OUR JOURNEYS)
The meet ups take place the last Friday of each month for anyone who shows up, 10 to 11a.m. officially at Turtle Bread, 4205 E.34th St. Look for the table with the Elder Voices sign.
In gratitude. Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice Board of Directors.