North Star Stories

Highland Popcorn, a small popcorn shop in St. Paul, has made a significant impact on its community in just one year by providing meaningful job opportunities for individuals with developmental and physical challenges. Under the leadership of General Manager Goog Applebaum, the store partners with Midwest Special Services to employ staff who face barriers in the job market, helping them excel in various roles from popping to packaging popcorn. The employees express joy and pride in their work, creating a strong sense of community and belonging. Through this commitment to empowerment and inclusion, Highland Popcorn is not only transforming the lives of its employees but also reshaping perceptions about the capabilities of individuals with disabilities. [Read Transcript...]

What is a "third place," and why are they key to maintaining strong communities in rural Minnesota and beyond? Sampaguita is a multidisciplinary art space in Aitkin, Minnesota, that was created to give people somewhere to come and "just be." AMPERS is joined by Sampaguita co-owner Richard Lupu to discuss what he has learned from creating Sampaguita, and what community organizers and members might take with them to their own public spaces. [Read Transcript...]

After 25 years, Lisa Cullen retired from military service. She was only in her 40s and wanted to make a career in the civilian world. But doing what? She and her wife Holly Boeckman decided to follow their passion for animals into the world of pet-sitting, though neither of them had ever owned a business or knew the first thing about being an entrepreneur. They founded Oh, Fur Pet’s Sake in April 2022. Within a year, they discovered that they were not only filling a previously unmet need in their area of Central Minnesota, but that they also had more pet parent customers than they could manage on their own. [Read Transcript...]