Junior works to brighten hospital stays with gifts
March 4, 2020
What is Packages of Hope? Packages of Hope is emotional-based rather than charity. I put together care packages fit to one’s needs and hand deliver or ship them out to patients. What is the mission of Packages of Hope? Our saying is “giving a different type of care than in a hospital” or also ...
Senior elected as youngest chairwoman for human rights commission
January 21, 2020
What is your role in the city of St. Louis Park? My current role is Human Rights (Commission chairperson) for the city. I was appointed about two years ago and I was reappointed a couple months ago. Our whole thing is bringing support and racial equity to different parts of the city, so a lot of our tim...
Junior commits to prestigious academy
January 9, 2020
What exactly is the IMG Academy? It’s a sports academy in Bradenton, Florida for top athletes. It’s basically just a normal high school. We live on campus, there are dorms and then (they provide) some of the best training facilities in the country. How long will you be there for? I know for sure I’m going to b...
Sophomore creates nonprofit organization
December 18, 2019
What inspired you to create the Pocket Change Foundation? I hated seeing homeless people in the streets and people suffering because they messed up in life or (experienced) a family crisis that put them on the streets. Having to go through that without having hope made me feel sad for them. Wha...
Kiran Alwy competes on Chopped Jr.
December 2, 2019
What did you do to prepare for the competition? “My dad talked to a lot of award-winning chefs and they gave me some tips and then the producers of the show sent a lot of stuff that they wanted (me) to practice and then I just watched Youtube videos.” What are some of your favorite dishes to cook and why...
Senior Will Pinney leads fundraiser for breast cancer
October 10, 2019
What is the October Saves fundraiser? “October Saves is a charity for breast cancer that hockey goalies from all over can be a part of. Goalies create an account on the October Saves website where people can donate. The goalie’s job is to count the amount of saves they get throughout October ...
Junior shares passion through performing
April 26, 2019
What do you perform at your church? I sing and play the acoustic guitar. When did you start playing the guitar and how did you learn? I started playing the acoustic guitar when I was in middle school. I started taking guitar lessons, and over time I just self-taught myself. Do you sing alone o...
Sophomore works on Sports-Check It Out
March 16, 2019
How did you start your business and what were your inspirations? My inspirations (came from) seeing only in the Somali community there were three sports we played, basketball, football and soccer and I wanted to bring more variety to the community. They started out with a program called AdVenture Ca...
Junior plans to graduate early
February 16, 2019
Why are you graduating early? My mom took me out of the country (before I went to Park), and I went to a boarding school (in Somalia), and my boarding school was very strict when it came to educational topics and the education system. So I guess I did a lot of requirements over there, but it was mo...
Junior returns from school in Bahamas
January 20, 2019
Where were you for the first few months of school? I was in the Bahamas. I was in Eleuthera at a program called The Island School. How would you describe what The Island School is? It is a semester school in the Bahamas that requires an application to get in. The school does a lot of free di...
Shirt sales generate change for community
January 16, 2019
What is your project? Lopez: Nietzsche Deuel and I are having a fundraiser to raise money for feminine hygiene products for the homeless in Minneapolis. Deuel: We're trying to raise money to help provide feminine hygiene products for homeless women in Minneapolis. We are raising money through s...
Mission trip to Haiti gives back
December 24, 2018
Why did your family decide to go on a trip to Haiti? The purpose of why we went is because we wanted to help kids (in need). I went there before in seventh grade, (my family) wanted to go back on another mission trip. How did your experience visiting Haiti in the past shape your most recent trip? Th...
Gabriel Kaplan and Talia Lissauer
This story is updated as of 3:30 p.m. March 26. Earlier this month, Echo asked its Instagram followers to submit questions and we did our best to answer your concerns then, and we have reached out again...
Marta Hill, Gabriel Kaplan, Isabel Kjaer, and Talia Lissauer
During a conference call March 25, Gov. Tim Walz ordered all Minnesotans to limit their movement outside of their homes to protect those most at risk from the pandemic — this request includes an extension...
Park is having virtual dress codes over time away from school March 23- 27 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The dress codes are being used to unite the community because distance learning has made it...
Due to school closures, St. Louis Park Public Schools will begin to deliver daily meals to students who rely on free and reduced lunch starting March 23. The meals, delivered by buses to 13 locations,...
