Creating a Healing Space in Nature: A Q&A with Innovative SOULutions’ Farji Shaheer

By: Amanda Fong & Farji Shaheer

May 02, 2023

Category: People of the Parks

Innovative SOULutions is a new, local nonprofit dedicated to preventing gun violence and creating safe and healing environments for community members who have been directly affected by gun violence. The organization provides comprehensive supports and relationships to support toward holistic healing, therapy and resource-connection all year-round.

About the Authors

Amanda, wearing a light teal knit hat, smiles.

Amanda Fong started working at Three Rivers Park District in 2013 and currently serves as the Community Engagement Supervisor. Amanda seeks to build genuine relationships, to be a connector of people and ideas, and ultimately to increase equitable access to outdoor spaces and experiences. She finds a sense of peace in the outdoors and especially enjoys bike rides, family camping trips, being near or on water as often as possible, and hiking along trails all year round. 

Farji sits on a canoe holding a paddle.

Farji Shaheer is a healthcare professional who has worked at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis for over 20 years to provide healthcare assistance and bedside mentoring to those suffering from mental health crisis to traumatic gunshot wounds. Farji is also the founder and executive director of Innovative SOULutions, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals and corporations in engaging and educating themselves on making positive, effective SOULutions around equity, inclusion and diversity.

Deer Study to Begin in Elm Creek Park Reserve

January 24, 2023

Three Rivers Park District is partnering with the University of Minnesota on a research project to monitor white-tailed deer for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, their habitat use, and movement in and around Elm Creek Park Reserve. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. White-tailed deer get the virus from humans and then can transmit it within the deer population. Targeted monitoring will involve placing GPS tracking collars on deer and sampling the same deer for the virus multiple times when possible.

History on Ice: 25 Years of Ice Harvest Celebration at Three Rivers

By: Andy Sima

January 18, 2023

Category: History

Due to poor ice conditions, our 25th Annual Ice Harvesting Day on Saturday, January 21, is cancelled. We’re very sad the event is cancelled, but we invite you to stop by Richardson Nature Center from 10 AM–2 PM to check out our ice harvesting exhibit and display of tools, warm up by a bonfire, and enjoy free kicksledding demos on the trails.

About the Author

Andy S. smiles for the camera in front of a tree.

Andy Sima worked as a historical interpreter at The Landing, before moving to Sweden to attend graduate school in Landscape Ecology. His favorite building at The Landing was the old wooden one. He previously worked as a seasonal naturalist at Baker Outdoor Learning Center and at Philmont Scout Ranch. He loves birds and hiking and writing and sometimes enjoys writing about hiking and birds. Sometimes he makes maps. His favorite bird is, currently, the barred owl. 

Three Rivers Board Elects Commissioner Gibbs as Board Chair, Commissioner Dejournett as Vice Chair

January 11, 2023

The Three Rivers Park District Board of Commissioners unanimously elected Commissioner John Gibbs as Board Chair and Commissioner Jennifer DeJournett as Vice Chair at the Board’s first meeting of the year on January 5. 

Winter Activity Sampler

Jan. 14 | Cleary
Try out a variety of winter activities! Snowshoe, make a campfire treat, cross-country ski or take a winter wellness walk.

https://web2.myvscloud.com/wbwsc/mnthreeriverswt.wsc/search.html?module=Global&keyword=1BLC1040_02,1SCT2210_01 Register Now
Subscribe to