Business - July 2024

East Side Learning Center welcomes Karmit Bulman as its new executive director. Bulman previously led The Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA) and has extensive experience managing and directing various non-profits. Her notable roles include serving as managing attorney and executive director for organizations such as The Minnesota Legal Services Coalition, The Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, and Avenues for Homeless Youth.

Bulman is also an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota and Metropolitan State University. She authored “The Conflict Consultant’s Handbook” and numerous articles on volunteer engagement, job equity, and race equity. Her career began as a legal services attorney, focusing on youth, housing, employment, and family issues, before transitioning to non-profit leadership.

With over 30 years of experience, Bulman has facilitated collaborative processes, conducted conflict assessments, built coalitions, and provided executive coaching and consulting. She excels in fiscal management, program development, fundraising, and non-profit infrastructure building. Bulman holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and legal studies from Brandeis University and a Juris Doctor from Northeastern University. Her extensive background promises to bring growth and innovation to East Side Learning Center.

 

With a mission to return economic prosperity to North End, Rondo and surrounding communities, The Mali Center has opened its new health and wellness business hub during a ribbon-cutting on June 15, 2024. The Mali Center is located in the heart of North End at 576 Front Avenue and will provide equitable access and opportunity to small, BIPOC and women-owned businesses, as well as nonprofits that prioritize underestimated youth and communities of color. 

“At The Mali Center, we’re providing more than just a hub; it’s a sanctuary where every endeavor, no matter how small, resonates with the power to uplift and transform,” said Tyrone Minor, founder of The Mali Center. “The members of our ecosystem are not just supported, they’re celebrated. As they invest in their dreams, they simultaneously invest in the community.”

The 5,304-square-foot building was formerly comprised of offices, an unfinished mezzanine and warehouse space. The facility has been repurposed into a cutting-edge fitness and training center, featuring premium amenities such as field turf, state-of-the-art training equipment and an immersive golf simulator.

A community of 18 small businesses and non-profits will operate out of The Mali Center and The F.I.T. Lab while simultaneously serving the community. The hub will not only provide an inclusive environment but will act as a community unifier and space that prioritizes health and wellness. Consistent events and workshops will provide ongoing support for small businesses, catering to both newcomers and those aiming for expansion.

The team responsible for bringing The Mali Center to life included: Sunrise Banks; The City of St. Paul; NEOO Partners, an African-American owned-led commercial real estate development and planning firm; and LSE Architects, a Black-owned architecture firm. Ryan Companies US, Inc. served as the general contractor for the project. Construction started in February and was completed in June.

For more information about The Mali Center, visit themalicenter.com. 

 

“Love You, Mean It (Sometimes)” is a hilarious, unfiltered adult humor book, blending the comedic style of “Go the F**k to Sleep” with the relatable chaos of “Bad Moms.” Penned by Como Park resident Libby Hilsendager, it has earned recognition from the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group as one of the standout indie books of 2024.

The book is a finalist in the gift category in the 2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the world’s largest book awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors. The winners and finalists will be honored June 28th at a gala event at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego, Calif., coinciding with the American Library Association Annual Conference.

Juggling a full-time job and the myriad responsibilities of family life, Hilsendager found herself drowning in an overwhelming to-do list, constantly searching for misplaced items and grappling with endless reminders. To spread some joy and stand in solidarity with fellow mothers, she wrote a book detailing various motherhood escapades, employing the whimsy of limericks, and enlisted the talents of her amazing cousin for illustrations. More at www.libbyhilsendager.com.