‘The Bubbles Man’ leaves legacy of peace

Thank you Ms. Christensen, for the opportunity to provide the world, with a peek into Melvin Giles, as a personal Friend! And Non-Stop National/Community Leader. I will earnestly Miss my Friend, however, he now walks with me, Forever in my Heart and Spirit ALWAYS. PEACE”

Alex Smith

Melvin will be remembered as a PEACEFUL LOVE WARRIOR, because he could do so much in speaking truth, conveying passion, wisdom, a sense of equity and empathy, taking FUN seriously, all in his own larger than life way. May Peace Prevail On Earth”

Diane Dodge

From Gavin Edwards

You could tell who Melvin was by his colorful and bright outfits, his smile, and excitement in his voice when he spoke. I never questioned that Melvin was someone who brought people together. He brought both optimism and realism which helped me to stay strong during these difficult times in our country. Melvin will always be remembered as someone with a bright, enthusiastic personality that made the world a better place. I would use the words love, peace, sunlight, kindness, joy, excitement, colorful, and wise to describe Melvin.

While I was only familiar with some of Melvin’s projects I do know the impacts of the mini forest site at Pilgrim Baptist Church that he helped build and cultivate. Not only does this mini forest contribute towards bringing a vast amount of people and communities together, but has also led to new opportunities. From tree education activities with Maxfield Elementary students, community citizen science programs, and collaboration with students at the University of Minnesota Melvin helped bring so many people together to help do good. The mini forest at Pilgrim will help to restore tree cover, reduce temperatures, and give habitat for wildlife in Rondo. Most importantly however, this project has allowed for more opportunities to create good and bring people together, continuing Melvin’s legacy.

Melvin’s legacy is too expansive to be described in words. He did so much for people and the betterment of local communities beyond what anyone could imagine. Who he was and what he stood for will forever be a role model and inspiration for me and what I do with my life. Melvin was so special, and that’s because unlike most people in this world he devoted himself to others and showed unconditional love to the people he knew. People like Melvin give me hope that there is still good in people and that creating a better future is possible for this planet. He is an extraordinary individual who’s hard work and love will still drive change even now that he’s gone.

From Anika Bowie

As the city councilmember for the area where Mr. Melvin Giles built deep roots, I can say without hesitation, he was the kind of joyful, vibrant presence you’d picture when you think of someone with a heart of pure gold.

I had the honor of attending, speaking, and celebrating at this year’s Community Peace Celebration, where hundreds gathered to uplift the spirit of peace and unity that Melvin championed. With his signature purple beard and bottle of bubbles, he took his last blow, but his joy lives on in all of us.

We will continue to carry his light, spreading the joy and legacy of “Mr. Bubbles” far and wide.

Melvin Giles aimed to bring peace to the world, and he set about doing that by planting gardens and over 50 peace poles in St. Paul.
The respected Frogtown and Rondo elder, age 66, died in his sleep on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at his Woodbury home.
“I think the biggest difference we all can make is just being who we are and kind of like letting our inner light shine. I try to live the four agreements of being truthful with my word; not taking things personal; not making assumptions and just doing the best I can,” he told a group of students from Open World Learning Community in St. Paul through a program entitled Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song organized by troubadour Larry Long of Minneapolis in 2014.
“Melvin was a living example of these words of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world,’” said Long.
“Melvin conquered fear through prayer and blowing Peace Bubbles. ‘Bubbles, not bullets,’ he would say. Whenever there was tension in the room Melvin would stand up and blow bubbles. Immediately the stress would subside. Folks would start to laugh and begin to listen to each other, instead of fighting.”
His nephew Anura Si-Asar pointed out that Melvin started using bubbles to bridge a gap of distrust between the Black community and the St. Paul Police Department in the late 1990s by offering police officers bubbles for the domestic calls. “He thought that giving kids bubbles and even blowing bubbles when investigating domestic violence in residential settings would help children to decompress from the tension/stress and possibly create a healthier perception of police officers,” said Si-Asar.
“Melvin believed that peace was something we could grow, like a seed in the ground, if we nurtured it with care and intention,” observed his niece Angel Giles- Jordan. “Through the Peace Poles, he gave people a place to pause, reflect, and recommit to that vision.”
He worked with students at the Imhotep Science Academy run by his nephew Si-Asar to create a 15-foot solar-powered illuminating peace pole honoring his late partner Mary Salter that is installed at Western Sculpture Park.
The annual Frogtown Peace Celebration in June was a place Melvin could be found each year. He helped start it 29 years ago. He was also a founding member of the St. Paul Pluralism Circle, a group that facilitates circle gatherings focused on racial healing.
Diane Dodge met Melvin when they were part of a group meeting at the old Wilder building using the PBS series, “Race: the Power of An Illusion” as the lesson plan. They bonded immediately, recalled Dodge, and began working together on countless projects, encompassing Peace Poles, community gardens (both are among the co-founders of the Urban Farm and Garden Alliance), anti-racism workshops (as speakers/leaders and as participants), food justice and food sovereignty, reclaiming neighborhood spaces with express input by the neighborhood residents (through organizations such as District 7, District 11, Bethel PAC, Model Cities, etc.). Around 2010, they became co-facilitators of the Reconciliation Lunch Group, which met in person until COVID-19 and then pivoted to online. “The idea was to have a place where people could come to eat lunch together and talk about things that weren’t normally discussed openly... usually due to systemic inequity,” said Dodge. “Melvin has always been passion and generosity personified, nearly always putting the needs of others ahead of his own. He was polyrhythmic, polychronic and on-the-go almost constantly. ... Melvin’s authenticity, integrity, bravery and ability to put himself into so many situations without dominating were legendary.”
He earned many awards, including the Martin Luther King “Dream Keeper” Award in 2003, the McKnight Foundation “Virginia McKnight Binger Awards” in Human Service in 2005, the “Outstanding World Citizen” Award in 2008, Bethel University’s “George K. Brushaber Reconciliation Award” in 2009, the “Morrill Hall/Rachel Tilsen Social Justice Award” in 2011, the Blooming St. Paul Garden Advocate Award in 2017, and the Elders Climate Action “Good Ancestor” award in 2024. Following his partner’s death, he became a registered organ donor and part of the LifeSource Check the Box campaign.
“Melvin’s lasting legacy is one of a great man who was selfless, powerful, and peaceful. He radiated good energy, and was charitable. His impact on the Saint Paul community, organizations, individuals, and beyond will continue to be felt for generations, and even as an ancestor, his impact is forever operating,” said Jamila Pickett.
On Sunday, July 6, there was a dinner in honor of Melvin. Urban, Farm & Garden Alliance (UFGA) Leadership team member Kerry Morgan was among more than 75 people who attended, representing “what Melvin cultivated – an intergenerational, interracial community dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of all, but especially the residents of the Rondo and Frogtown neighborhoods. There was an abundance of bubbles, food, tears, the color purple, and sharing of stories,” said Morgan. She added, “We are overlapping circles of his influence and with his passing it has become evident that we must carry on and extend the gifts that Melvin bestowed upon us. He saw and lifted up the best parts of each of us. He connected us to one another and to the land. That is his beautiful, peaceful legacy.”
Princess Titus worked with Melvin through the Metro Food Justice Network, and was a fellow member of the Black Legacy Leadership Initiative curated by the Cultural Wellness Center. ”Melvin always has big dreams for our people and big things that we deserved and he would profess them. I enjoy standing next to a man with such courage and dignity pointing in the sky to where I saw the dreams that he had for our Black people, and all people.”
“I will remember his kindness, diplomacy, inclusiveness, and strategically deployed bubble juice,” said Patricia Ohmans. She met Melvin more than 30 years ago when her husband, Anthony Schmitz, was running the Frogtown Times newspaper, and became solid friends with Melvin when they advocated for the creation of Frogtown Park & Farm. In the early 1990s, Melvin traveled to South Africa to advocate for compassion and tolerance toward people with HIV. “He came back to speak about his travels to a group of health care professionals I was teaching,” Ohmans recalled.
“From tree education activities with Maxfield Elementary students, community citizen science programs, and collaboration with students at the University of Minnesota, Melvin helped bring so many people together to help do good. The mini forest at Pilgrim Baptist Church will help to restore tree cover, reduce temperatures, and give habitat for wildlife in Rondo,” said Gavin Edwards, an intern with Renewing the Countryside. “People like Melvin give me hope that there is still good in people, and that creating a better future is possible for this planet.”
Bethel University professor Claudia May met Melvin when he was teaching at Bethel, and served with him on the Bethel University Frogtown-Summit-U Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC) where he was co-chair. “He was a consummate collaborator,” observed May. “He treasured caring for the environment. He planted seeds of hope through sowing plants and trees for present and future generations to enjoy. Melvin is Rondo. He joined so many Rondo neighbors in their fierce commitment to nourishing community dignity and confronting injustice.”
The son of a traveling Baptist preacher who worked on the railroad, Giles was a constant, grounding presence in the family, according to Giles-Jordan, one of his 18 nieces and nephews.
Brooks Funeral Home is handling arrangements. A service is expected the first week of August.