Funky Minds Becomes a Community Asset.
   By: Tama Westman, Correspondent.

Reprinted courtesy of the Chaska Herald.
Originally posted Wednesday, August 25, 2004 (http://www.chaskaherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=6100)

The City
The historic Funk Bank downtown has been reborn as a safe place for Carver children to create, learn and have fun.

A former teacher with the Early Childhood Center, Edlund, mother of two, said, "Kids are so powerful, they can do so much now." With her heart for children and a palette of love, she draws the gifts and creativity of the community together

Funky Minds recently received a $10,000 grant from the National Compassion Capital Fund. The fund supports grassroots efforts of faith-based operations that address community needs, such as education, health, new Americans and restorative justice.

Edlund's dream child, one of 41 organizations in the seven county area to receive monies, was awarded in the School Success category. Together with volunteers and community leaders who line up to get involved, Funky Minds reaches out to Carver.

Building relationships between community based organizations, educational institutions, business, governmental agencies and faith-based organizations is part of the plan at Funky Minds. "We are not evangelizing. We are working on creating a network of partnerships to create healthy community assets. I believe Christ went out into the community and was with the people. Practicing one's faith within society is part of that," Edlund said. "More simply, it's being a neighbor."

Dragonfly logo

So much of the Funky Minds' story is serendipitous. The dragonfly logo was a design adopted from a favorite Tiffany lamp of Edlund's mother. "It wasn't until later that I learned that the dragonfly is recognized as the protector of children in many Native American cultures. It is a symbol of eternal renewal and of bringing the old forward," Edlund said.

"We have a former bank as our meeting place, how symbolic is that?" Edlund said as she opened the doors to the vault. "A place that once held gold, coins and dollars now values children, families, neighbors and community." The name, Funky Minds, an apparent derivative of the program's location was unforeseen as well.

"When Ralph Bailey, one of Minnesota's top 20 folk writers, visited to share his folk music, he explained that true funk music invites everyone to play his own rhythm and hear the underlying vibe. That is exactly what Funky Minds does. Everyone who comes brings their own rhythm to life, weaving a pattern of community," Edlund said.

Edlund partners with area schools to develop service-learning projects that educate in an enjoyable way. "This is a place to stop, talk and gather, not only for children, but whole families, too. a safe, fun place to learn."

There is a reading loft, an area for crafting, even a place to put on puppet shows and small plays. "A short order cook taught the kids how to make fast French toast," Edlund enthused. "Sue Thompson organizes art adventures and produces a steady supply of ice cream cones via Scoops Dog, across the street."

"No one person could do it all, and you don't always know where you are going," Edlund explained, "But the journey is fabulous. My goal is to develop programs and events that highlight what is going on in the local schools and ultimately build community assets in Carver."

Adoption

Funky Minds threw an Adoption Celebration on a recent Saturday for Bob and Geri Renner. The couple, married 10 years, brought home their adopted child from Seoul, Korea on June 11.

Born Kang Bhain Park, the Renners renamed him Parker Kang Renner. "We 'Americanized' his name," laughed Geri Renner as she held the giggling seven-month-old on her lap. The Renners have two other children, Maggie, 6-years-old, and J.R, who is 3. "Here we were in our forties and wanting to have another child," Geri Renner explained. "We decided to adopt."

"I love him," piped Maggie, leaning in to kiss his forehead.

Parker's adoption is an "open adoption," which means that the Renners agreed to allow the birth parent information, photos and access down the road. "We don't want to strip him of his native culture. We even hope to be able to take Parker to visit Seoul when he is older. A meeting with his birth mother would not be out of the question," Renner said.

"My greatest goal is to bring kids back into the smaller community," Edlund said. "How do we do that? The adoption celebration is the perfect example of connecting the community. We provided a fun way for the community to welcome Parker and get to know each other more."

"In addition to a host of friends, relatives and neighbors, we invited another Carver family with a Korean adoptee to come to the celebration. Their son is 6 months older than Parker," said Edlund. "Who knows? Perhaps their cultural similarities and closeness in age will make for a great friendship with time."

Golf event

Monthly calendars, available in the faux mailbox at the door, are packed with daily activities like pajama reads, guest musicians, sing-alongs, open gym and craft sessions. In September, fun with apples will be highlighted as children learn to make cider and tasty applesauce. "We also have a Mom's Night Out and community leaders meetings. Come and play," Edlund invites.

Recognizing the importance of an outreach program like Funky Minds, Bill Tessman has agreed to host a fundraiser at Dahlgreen Golf Club on Sunday, Sept. 26. To play the four person, 18-hole scrambler or enjoy the dinner afterwards, contact East Union Lutheran at (952) 448-3450 for details.

"The great thing about Funky Minds is that everything is free. There is no emphasis on donations. No registration, no fee and no pressure," Edlund explained. Though there are significant costs to keep the program running, "removing money from the equation is a great equalizer," she said.

"It's easy for folks to just drop in and get involved," Edlund said. To learn more, look for the fluorescent dragonfly in the window and visit Funky Minds the when in Carver, or write funkyminds@gmail.com.