Creating Community Connections in Nokomis East: We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For

On any given Thursday afternoon in June and July, people can find a group of folks doing

arts and crafts at the Nokomis Library. Supplies like coloring books, various crafts and puzzles litter the tables as people chat with one another over shared creative activities. What’s behind these activities is beyond an arts and craft session, rather they are an intentional effort in mindfulness and community connection as part of a series called Community Care Hours, hosted by NENA’s Community Care Steward intern, Audrey McCann. In this position, Audrey offers spiritual and emotional support to members of the Nokomis East community, with a goal to be a comforting, grounded presence.

Audrey began her work with NENA and the Nokomis East community in early June as part of her educational goals and requirements as she works to complete two Master's Degrees at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities while training to become a Unitarian Universalist minister. Audrey was drawn to NENA as her local site partner because of the trust NENA has built with the community and the opportunities already in place for community connections. Originally from Texas, Audrey moved into the Nokomis East community about 2 years ago. Before that, she began her journey into ministry after learning about Universal Unitarianism and realizing she could become a trusted leader within that congregation. As an aspiring UU minister, she “listens to people’s emotional needs and reflects back what she hears” rather than using evangelical or religious language. 

Audrey leading Mindful Creativity.

The Community Care Hours series is an opportunity for individuals to gather with one another in a shared space to practice mindfulness, create connections, and experience community. In addition to Mindful Creativity at the library, Audrey hosts a Rest and Relaxation Community Care Hour at the Morris Park Recreation Center on Monday afternoons. This event will include things like guided meditation, relaxation exercises, and reflection activities. Seeing herself as a cultivator, Audrey shares “I am cultivating spaces for people to make connections.”

In addition to the Community Care Hours, Audrey is offering spiritual and emotional support through one on one meetings and conversations with community members, providing an opportunity for people to share and be vulnerable in a safe and confidential environment. Audrey believes the Nokomis East community has what it needs within the members of the community to heal and thrive, even in the aftermath of traumatic events like Operation Metro Surge. “They can trust themselves”, Audrey explains, and offers space for people to do this with a multi-dimensional approach based on actively listening to the community and its’ members, rather than one-size-fits all.

In her time with NENA, Audrey has already experienced the community’s craving for connection. “If people are given the opportunity to connect, they will do it.”, she shares, noting she has had requests for chats, mindful moments, coffee, and connections across a wide range of topics, not only those who are hurting or in crisis. Audrey prioritizes creating a welcoming environment for people with a non-anxious, non-judgemental approach. Her goal is to foster community connections that extend beyond her time as a Community Care Steward. Through her work with the Nokomis East community, she strives to help community members develop relationships with one another. “The qualifier here is being a neighbor, not a minister,” Audrey states; “we are humans, developing relationships is what we do.”

Audrey will be interning with NENA through the end of July and invites community members to schedule individual conversations and group gatherings, and welcomes any other ideas for connections. She is also available at the Minnehaha Food Shelf and Nokomis East Food Shelf during their distribution days through July (all are welcome to meet with her, not only food shelf participants). 

To schedule or to learn more, contact Audrey at audrey.mccann@nokomiseast.org

(612) 440-7732.