Community Engagement at Metro State University

Melodee Strong, the Minneapolis muralist, illustrator and beloved art educator, has died following a battle with cancer.

Known for creating art that celebrates culture, representation and belonging, Melodee spent decades shaping both the Twin Cities landscape and generations of students.

Her murals remain throughout Minneapolis as lasting reminders of the communities she celebrated and the countless lives she touched.

Full story at BLCKPress.com

Join Urban Roots and Saint Paul Public Library for a weekly storytime and garden activity at the Urban Roots Children’s Garden at the Rivoli Bluff Farm and Restoration Site! 📚🌱

📅 Thursdays, June 11-August 27
🕥 10:30-11:30am
📍 749 Arkwright St, St. Paul

See comments for 🔗

Our community partner, Upstream Minnesota, will be hosting a community gathering on Wednesday, June 17th from 5:30-7:30 pm on the East Side of St. Paul at the East Side Freedom Library (1105 Greenbrier Street).

The evening will be filled with food, music, East Side trivia, and fun! We will be talking with community members about their East Side stories, projects, gardens, and all the places they love and enjoy. The beautiful STORYSTREAM TRAILER will be parked onsite to record Eastside stories for those that want to share.

We’ll close out the evening with music from singer songwriter Obsidian James, an Afro-Indigenous artist from Harlem, who now calls MN home.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 17th and we hope to see many of you there!

Plans for a visitor center at the 27-acre nature sanctuary were first hatched when it opened to the public in 2005.

Starting next week, Saint Paul Public Libraries will have opportunities to get free professional headshots!

To learn more, visit sppl.org/events

Metro State Library is open for normal hours on Presidents Day, and all services will operate as usual. We look forward to serving you!

Image Description: Graphic with a blue background and red and white decoration. Text reads, “Monday, February 16, 2026. Presidents Day. Metro State University Library will be open during our regular hours. All services will operate as normal.” The Metro State logo is included in white.

💙Mutual Aid in Action - Supporting Metro State Students💙

Over the past few weeks, many alumni have reached out with care and concern for our students’ well-being and a desire to help during this time. We are deeply grateful for your solidarity and support.

Metro State offers several basic needs resources to support students during times of need. Learn more at 👉 https://www.metrostate.edu/students/support

There are meaningful ways you can offer mutual aid and make an immediate impact:

✨ Student Assistance for Emergencies (SAFE) Fund
Provides direct support to students facing unexpected life emergencies. See below for the donation link.

🥫 Food for Thought Pantry – Food Drive & Personal Care Items Drive
Supporting students and our surrounding community with culturally responsive food and personal care items. We will be collecting items now, through Friday, Feb. 27. Click here for a list of suggested donation items: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oAHJjw5aKPPwe-5VF8r63Gx8dcu_yH4RoA6k16gXM1k/edit?usp=sharing

📍 Drop off items at the Food Pantry (Student Center, Room 106, 690 East Seventh Street, Saint Paul) or at marked donation bins at three locations on the St. Paul Campus. Two bins in Founder's Hall and one in the Student Center entryway. We are collecting items now through Friday, Feb. 27. See the link above for a suggested list of items to donate.

💝 Make a gift:
Support the SAFE Fund or Food for Thought Pantry at 👉 https://www.metrostate.edu/give/give-now

Every act of generosity helps ensure students feel supported, connected, and not alone. Thank you for being part of the Metro State community.