fundraiser focused on opulence

weekday afternoons. “Proceeds will go for charitable work of the Society for the Blind,” the newspaper article noted.

Other charities and groups helped with the tours, including the Junior League, Kiwanis Club, Civic and Commerce Association, Minnesota State Sunshine Society, League of Catholic Women, Council of Jewish Women and the Minneapolis Woman’s Club.

The 27th floor apartment, which had a $100,000 price tag, had its “luxurious” furniture and art on display. Visitors could also go to the tower’s observation deck and get a view of Minneapolis.

It seems ironic that people who had visual disabilities would be unable to enjoy the spectacle of a fine apartment and beautiful views. The timing of tours of opulence also seems insensitive today, when so many people suffered during the Great Depression.

The suite was designed by Wilbur Foshay, whose meteoric financial career crumbled under the weight of the Great

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Editor ............................................................................................................................................................................................ Jane McClure

Depression. At the time of the tours, Foshay faced mail fraud charges. Foshay, who made his fortune in utilities, planned to house his business enterprises and himself in his namesake tower. He invited 25,000 guests to the dedication ceremony in 1929 and gave each a gold pocket watch.

Weeks later, the Foshay business empire went into receivership. Foshay never lived in his beautiful suite.

The 32-story building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is hailed as a fine example of Art Deco architecture. It is considered to be Minneapolis’ first skyscraper. It is now the W Hotel –Minneapolis.

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From page 1 lack of culturally specific services and the complexity of getting proper care for someone in crisis. Problems of all types are especially acute in Greater Minnesota, where there are severe staffing shortages and fewer resources.

Legislators and community members spoke of their own experiences trying to help family members get needed mental health services, or in getting help from themselves. One foster care provider described the months she and her family struggled to help a teen who needed services.

“If our system can’t do better for these kids, who will?” said foster parent Abigail Morgan.

"I think this is going to be record investments because we're in a record crisis," said Rep. Jessica Hanson (DFL-Burnsville). She is sponsor of a

Surplus

From page 1 their rally days, with the large ARRM and MOHR rally at the end of March after this issue of Access Press went to press. comprehensive bill aimed at improving children's access to mental health services and providing more assistance for families. She is also involved with 988 legislation.

Advocates are being urged to continue contacting legislators about their priorities, to make sure issues are included in larger bills.

Advocacy groups continue to post legislative updates, so those are great source of information. The Minnesota Council on Disability offers updates as well as a bill tracker. Several news media outlets also offer bill trackers.

Editor Jane McClure compiled the March legislative coverage.

“We hear stories all the time. ‘I can't get care for my kid. I sat in the ER for hours’ . . . I have personally navigated the mental health system. It is not easy to do,’” said Hanson.

Patrick Rhone, chair of the Mental Health Minnesota Board, described his years of live with mental illness. He focused on the need for culturally services when a BIPOC person is in crisis. “I’ll be honest, I’m a Black man,” he said. “I’m not going to call 911. We know how that’s going to go.”

Craig Warren, CEO of Washburn Center for Children, also spoke of the need for culturally specific resources as well as more resources for children’s mental health. Warren described the mental health system he works in as something “cobbled” together. Washburn has seen demand for services explode since the pandemic, with a waiting list that has tripled.

“Kids and families are suffering now,” said Warren.

Warren and others spoke of the need for more people to see who in the mental health field as a career choice. There is especially a need for BIPOC and LGBTQ-plus mental health providers. But since rates have not kept up with costs, it is more and more challenging to even hire and pay providers. New hires have not kept up with the number of people who have retired due to burnout or aging out of the system.

The need to raise Medical Assistance reimbursement rates was cited by several speakers. While the state is studying the rate structure, advocates are calling for changes now as a bridge rate.

Ashley Kjos is CEO of Woodland Centers in west central Minnesota. She was one of the speakers focusing on the rate issue, saying that the rates paid to behavioral health and substance abuse treatment providers need change.

“We have been underpaid for decades. It is time for us to get paid what we are worth,” Kjos said. She said more centers will close if rates aren’t addressed.

Rate increases and the ability to pay more would especially help providers in Greater Minnesota, Kjos said. Woodland has at least 15 open jobs at a time, something that would have been unheard of not too many years ago.

The center also has more than 100 people waiting for services.

Lt Gov. Peggy Flanagan urged those present to keep working for and demanding what they need for mental health. “You are the experts in your own lives,” she told the group, noting that they know best about their own lives and lived experiences.