June 2, 2016
by Mr. George Dalbo, Social Studies Teacher
Seventh grade Social Studies students have
explored the Payne-Phalen neighborhood in St. Paul as part of a unit on local citizenship. Payne Avenue, the heart of St. Paul’s East Side, is one of the oldest and most diverse areas in the Twin Cities. Although Payne Avenue is in close proximity to MPA, for many students, the realities of the neighborhood seemed initially very distant. My goal was to help students understand the neighborhood in the broader context of the political, economic, and social landscape of the greater Twin Cities.
This project began with an initial, exploratory trip. In three shifts, we took the Metro Transit bus #64 to Plaza del Sol, a small Latina/o marketplace playing host to mostly women-owned businesses, to enjoy an authentic Mexican buffet at Señor Sol. After eating lunch, students toured Payne Avenue’s working-class and immigrant history from the towering former Hamm’s Brewery to the innovative Arlington Hills Community Center. Students traced the early Swedish, German, and Italian immigrants’ footsteps from the industrial sites along Phalen Creek to their homes and businesses along Payne Avenue. These architecturally-diverse buildings now host the markets, restaurants, and community organizations serving the largely African American, Latina/o, and Hmong populations today. Read More