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katie howie

@by_a.thread_saintpaul

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downtown saint paul stories
in collaboration @saintpaulparks & @stpldowntown. also @_katiehowie sharing snippets of life & work, in that order❤️

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To quote my friend Mikkel, "We are a target because we are diverse. Because we are unified. Because we live so well. It's how we lived before they showed up and it's how we will live when they are gone. It's how we live now under their cruelty."

Saint Paul and Minneapolis are My Home. They are My Heart. Saint Paul is where my family has lived, and lived safely, for five generations.

And I am scared. I am scared for my neighbors and my family and my friends and my children and myself. I am begging ICE to leave Saint Paul. To leave Minneapolis. To leave Minnesota. And to abandon this senseless, cruel regime. #katiehowie by @by_a.thread_saintpaul

What a thrill to be included in the @mspmaghome top 100 people, places and trends influencing our cities now✨ It's the icing on the cake of an incredible year of projects, portraits and stories.

Thank You to my talented friend, editor @kellykegans and @madison.bloomquist for the beautiful write-up. We continue to be connected by a thread✨ #katiehowie #khcreative #byathread #byathreaddowntownstories #authenticimages #thankyou by @by_a.thread_saintpaul

A belated Thank You to everyone that came out on Friday night to support Downtown Saint Paul Stories!

I've shared a collection of images to both tell the story of the evening and highlight the authentic connections made✨

Additionally, here's an annotated excerpt from the words I shared:

"I want to thank you all for being here and for being in relationship with me and my work. And for being in relationship with the city of Saint Paul.

Thank you to Andy Rodriguez, the innovative director of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation. Andy is currently expanding what it means to be a park and making our city so much more dynamic in the process.

Thank You to The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance for partnering with us on the project and this special evening.

Thank you to Clare Cloyd & Emma Burns, who helped connect me with participants and then shared these speciaI stories broadly.

A big thanks to the crew of amazing women who helped me put this little event together in under 7 weeks - Courtney Morris, Liz Carey-Linskey, Kate Frye and JLor - Many Thanks.

Thank You to Gambit Brewing and Lost Fox for the yummy appetizers and libations. Thank you to Niny Salem for the lovely music. And thank you to my friend Nicki Oliver for slinging merch!

Thank you to my family. Thank you to my amazing daughters and beloved parents. And to my partner in all things, Chris.

And finally. A heartfelt thanks to each and every participant that took a chance and returned my email. And then didn't block my texts when I kept messaging and asking you to explain one of your ideas just a tiny bit more🙃).

My Mom, Marianne McNamara, said it best to me via text this week, "This project put a light on ordinary, amazing people, and it's beautiful to see. These are the people who make our world tick. Because of them, the world runs smoothly. They're unsung heroes. Thank you for celebrating them." Well, Friends. It's been an honor.

Thank You all for believing in the power of art, in the power of connection AND in power of our beloved Downtown Saint Paul."

#katiehowie #byathreaddowntown
#parksproud #thankyou

* Photo 10 courtesy Shannon McWalters & photo 11 courtesy Joaquin Rosales. by @by_a.thread_saintpaul

By a Thread Friends & Family♥️

The exhibit opening and celebration is TOMORROW, September 26, from 5-7pm in Mears Park♥️

There will be food, beverages, music and my first ever limited edition batch of merch♥️

Mayor Melvin Carter will give a lil' keynote at 6pm and I'll follow him with some project musings. And after that, the main event- A wonderful panel of participants fielding questions from the audience and sharing what it was like participating in Downtown Saint Paul Stories♥️

I truly hope you can join us for an evening of conversation and connection♥️

#katiehowie #khcreative #byathreaddowntown #byathread #parksproud #artinthepark #celebration by @by_a.thread_saintpaul

We’re all connected by a thread... 🧵 Check out this pop-up art installation in Mears Park on Friday! 🎨📸

“By A Thread” (@by_a.thread_saintpaul) by Katie McNamara Howie is a Downtown St. Paul Stories project in collaboration with us—the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance—and @saintpaulparks.

The installation is live in the park now and showcases 60+ pieces from the project, highlighting the people and stories of Downtown St. Paul and helping make StPL a city that works for us all through stories of human connection.

Come celebrate with us this Friday, Sept. 26 from 5-7pm! 👏 by @by_a.thread_saintpaul

By A Threaders! Parks & Rec installed the exhibit in Mears Park today with Courtney leading the way on the stickers and Phil and Steve hanging the posters on light posts. I helped place every single image and had a blast doing it. Any imposter syndrome I had melted away as the exhibit took shape.

It is really, truly impressive to take these Downtown Stories from the pages of Instagram and my website and see them printed and interacting with the public.

Everyone that walked by was curious and wanted to engage with both us and the images. I shook hands, shared the project and further grew the By A Thread Fam.

Of course, I hope I see you on Friday, September 26 from 5-7pm when we celebrate alllllll the people that made this happen. But, if you can't make it, it's up NOW through when the snow flies. When you stop down, take a photo and give me a tag - I would love to see how you interact with the images♥️ #katiehowie #khcreative
#byathread #byathreaddowntown #parksproud #mearspark #installday #authenticstories #authenticstorytelling by @by_a.thread_saintpaul

My pop-up art installation is just ten days away! This flyer created by my friends at the city has alllllll the important details, but please, message me with any questions. I hope to see you there❤️

PS :: I'm gonna have merch! #katiehowie #khcreative #byathread #byathreaddowntownstories #parksproud #mearspark #popupartshow by @by_a.thread_saintpaul

Pedro Park was created on land donated to The City of Saint Paul by The Pedro family in 2009, who had operated a successful luggage business on the site since 1914, with the understanding it would become a park. After years of development and community involvement, including the demolition of the Public Safety Annex Building, the park is now being fully realized as a green space in Downtown Saint Paul. And today is the grand opening celebration from 4-6pm (you should absolutely go, there is still time to get in on the ribbon cutting and refreshments)✨

I had the good fortune to stop by Pedro Park last week and I was amazed by how comfortable it felt. The grade of the site has been completely changed - the old park could feel a bit precarious, but the new park feels the opposite - both safe and welcoming to people of all ages and abilities.

There is an engaging playground, wonderful green space with native plantings, a fenced dog park, a beautiful mural made by a local artist and many other micro-moments. The reimagining of Pedro Park is nothing short of spectacular. What a gift Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is to its community! They clearly understand that we're all connected by a thread🧵❤️

#katiehowie #khcreative #byathread #byathreaddowntown #saintpaulstories #authenticstories #parksproud #pedropark #grandopening by @by_a.thread_saintpaul

Dayna Martinez, Executive Director of Twin Cities Jazz Festival, continues with what she thinks is next for Downtown, "I think Downtown and Lowertown can be thriving again with more residents, more businesses, and more people coming to have a great time no matter the time of year. I and my team will be helping with the "great time" part with Jazz Fest every June!"

Dayna really loves Mears Park, "It's such a beautiful, well-kept park and an oasis in the city. Plus, it's where The Jazz Fest is... If I can make one person smile because of the music we bring to Mears Park through Jazz Fest, I think I have done my job."

When asked if there was anything else she wanted to share, Dayna said, "Please mark your calendars! The dates for Twin Cities Jazz Fest next year are June 19-20, 2026!" (2 of 2 parts)

Thank You, Dayna for sharing your Saint Paul Story. I love how passionate you are about Jazz Fest AND Mears Park. I'm looking forward to seeing you in Mears Park later this month for The By a Thread Exhibit and Celebration✨

#katiehowie #byathread #downtownsaintpaul #parksproud #lowertown #mearspark #jazzfest #authenticstorytelling by @by_a.thread_saintpaul

Dayna Martinez, Executive Director of Twin Cities Jazz Festival, shares with the project, "I have worked in Downtown/Lowertown since I moved to Minnesota in 1994 (except for 2 years when I moved to New York). I worked at The Ordway for 25 years and then started at Twin Cities Jazz Festival in 2023. I have always lived in South Minneapolis and worked in Saint Paul. It's a nice balance."

"I love that there is the Lowertown neighborhood and that it is a quaint, historic part of town. I love the art scene - visual art, performing art - it's all here! We do need more businesses to move in to Lowertown and we need to create more incentive for folks to come Downtown to enjoy themselves. Holding more free events is a big part of that. It's getting better, though! I love the events that Saint Paul Parks and Rec have been holding this summer!" (1 of 2 parts) #katiehowie #byathread #downtownsaintpaul #parksproud #lowertown #mearspark #jazzfest #authenticstorytelling by @by_a.thread_saintpaul

Hello, Katie Howie Creative Friends and The By a Thread Community!

It's been a hard week here in our Beloved Twin Cities. And I feel we need each other more than ever. I want to thank each and every one of you for sharing this space with me - What a gift we are to each other❤️

As a way to celebrate our beautiful By a Thread Community and Downtown Saint Paul Community, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation and myself are planning a By a Thread exhibit and celebration!

It will take place on Friday, September 26 from 5-7pm in Mears Park. There will be art from Downtown Stories, live music, food and drinks from local businesses, as well as a keynote by Mayor Melvin Carter and a panel featuring several By a Thread participants and myself.

I would love for each and every one of you to come! And to bring your friends, family and colleagues. I will have my husband, children and parents with me❤️

And hopefully I will have you there, too. Because as you know, we're all connected by a thread.

With Gratitude,

katie***

PS :: If you want to experience the entire project, it can be found at the link below (there are just a few more stories to post):

https://www.katiehowie.com/byathread/downtown-saint-paul-stories

#katiehowie #khcreative #byathread #downtownsaintpaul #byathreaddowntownstories #parksproud #mearspark #exhibit #celebration by @by_a.thread_saintpaul

Joaquin Rosales, Captain with The Saint Paul Fire Department, continues, "The second function of the group is to offer community outreach and education in hopes of bridging the gap between the Fire / EMS services and the Latino Community. Every community has their own set of hurdles they deal with. To name a few specific to Latinos, are the fear of calling 911 due to challenges associated with undocumented individuals in their homes, or the requirements and pathway to get into the fire service in general. I think it’s easy to forget that not everyone has grandfathers, uncles or dads who have been there before to show them the way. I look at my own self and never did I imagine that I could or would be a fireman. That’s the gap that we’d like to bridge. It’s done by awareness, by being out in the Community, building bonds and being visible. I call it “organic recruitment”. Some people look at this and think - “ah man, that’s a handout”. I laugh. That’s not a “handout”. It’s a hand out. Like, I’ll put my hand out to you so you can shake it, because I’m there. I’m in your neighborhood. I’m at your block party, your church, your school. If you like what you see, then I can show you how to get it. But we’re not going to give it to you. Not going to just “hand it out” to you. If you want it, then you need to come get it. LOS Bomberos is how we make our Department stronger. Our connections to the residents we serve, more impactful. It's how we make our City an even better place to live and to work." (4 of 4 parts)

Wow. Thank You, Joaquin. You've really pulled back the curtain and shared your experience - I am so grateful to you, and all of Engine 8, for letting me photograph The Station and tell your story. Also, LOS Bomberos is amazing✨ #katiehowie #byathread #byathreaddowntown #parksproud #spfd #authenticstories #authenticstorytelling by @by_a.thread_saintpaul