East Side Freedom Library

East Side Freedom Library The East Side Freedom Library preserves and promotes knowledge about Saint Paul's East Side, including labor, immigration and more.

What comes to mind when you hear "public housing"? For a lot of people, it’s a negative stereotype.....focused on rundow...
08/31/2026

What comes to mind when you hear "public housing"? For a lot of people, it’s a negative stereotype.....focused on rundown buildings rather than the actual policy decisions, racism, and disinvestment that shaped them.

For this month’s Third Thursday, we’re teaming up with Trilingua Cinema to screen The Pruitt-Igoe Myth—a documentary breaking down the real story behind St. Louis’s most famous housing complex.

After the film, we’re hosting a live Q&A with Twin Cities public housing residents to unpack what this history means for our own neighborhoods today.

📍 East Side Freedom Library
🗓️ Thursday, Sept 17 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM
🎟️ Free! Walk-ins welcome (RSVP link in bio if you want to let us know you're coming)

Come hang out, meet people in the movement, and let’s talk housing justice. ✊🏽

📩 Questions? Email [email protected] or [email protected]

If you’ve been looking for tangible ways to support trans and nonbinary refugees arriving in MN, come through to East Si...
08/31/2026

If you’ve been looking for tangible ways to support trans and nonbinary refugees arriving in MN, come through to East Side Freedom Library for our monthly info session.

We'll be sharing how you can help create a safe place to land—whether that’s opening your home as a host, offering relational support, or helping out behind the scenes. Zero pressure or obligation to commit to anything on the spot; just space to learn how to help build safety, trust, and belonging here in the Twin Cities.

🗓️ Join us on September 3rd which is the First Thursday in Sept | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 East Side Freedom Library (1105 Greenbrier St, St. Paul)

📩 Questions or want to RSVP? Reach out to [email protected] or call/text 651-207-4926.

Join Ward 7 Councilwoman Cheniqua Johnson for a community conversation regarding the upcoming closure of the Dayton's Bl...
08/30/2026

Join Ward 7 Councilwoman Cheniqua Johnson for a community conversation regarding the upcoming closure of the Dayton's Bluff Library.

This is an opportunity to learn more about the closure, ask questions, share your concerns, and discuss how we can collectively advocate to keep essential library services in our neighborhood.

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, September 24th

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Metro State University – Ecolab Room (Room 302), located on the 3rd floor of the Library and Learning Center & Dayton's Bluff Library.

We are so grateful that for over 10 years the Karen Organization of Minnesota has chosen to host their Weavers Circle an...
08/25/2026

We are so grateful that for over 10 years the Karen Organization of Minnesota has chosen to host their Weavers Circle and Summer Program at the East Side Freedom Library.

Please check out this new article by the Sahan Journal!

🎤 This year we're honored for our Labor Solidarity Picnic to welcome three incredible speakers who are doing the real wo...
08/24/2026

🎤 This year we're honored for our Labor Solidarity Picnic to welcome three incredible speakers who are doing the real work of standing up for workers across Minnesota.

Max Graves, Outreach Coordinator and Labor Liaison of "End Slavery in Minnesota," will share their campaign to restore the rights of incarcerated workers and push for legislation guaranteeing legal minimum wage for all workers, no exceptions.

Tricia Ryshkus, RN and member of the Minnesota Nurses Association, will speak on the growing threat of corporatized healthcare in our state, and how her union is fighting not just for nurses and healthcare workers, but for every patient who depends on them.

And we'll hear from Dave Cook, President of the St. Paul local of the American Postal Workers Union, and Greg Teigland, President of the Minneapolis local, on the federal government's threat to privatize the Postal Service and interfere with our right to vote by mail.

Beyond the speakers, we've got a full afternoon planned. Live music will fill the air courtesy of the Twin Cities Labor Chorus and Emmett Doyle.

🧺 There will be picnic food and soft drinks for everyone.

💰 And don't miss our silent auction, where every bid goes directly toward funding ESFL's Labor & Solidarity Programming in 2027.

✊ This picnic is about more than one afternoon together. It's about showing up for each other, learning from the people doing the work, and building the kind of community that makes solidarity real.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Bring your family. Bring your coworkers. Bring your union siblings. Everyone is welcome.

Come join us at Moon Palace Books on Monday, October 26th at 7:00pm for a conversation with journalist Sonali Kolhatkar ...
08/23/2026

Come join us at Moon Palace Books on Monday, October 26th at 7:00pm for a conversation with journalist Sonali Kolhatkar about her new book, Breaking ICE: Community Defense against State Terror and MAGA Fascism.

Sonali will sit down with three Twin Cities voices you'll want to hear from: Yohuru Williams, historian and Founding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas; Peter Rachleff, labor historian and co-founder of the East Side Freedom Library; and Shannon Gibney, award-winning writer and educator.

Breaking ICE brings together conversations with over a dozen organizers, lawyers, artists, labor leaders, and scholars working on the front lines of immigrant justice. Sonali traces the impact of ICE raids, surveillance, and intimidation tactics, and shows how communities from Maine to California are building solidarity and fighting back.

Bring a friend, grab a seat, and stay after for the discussion. Everyone is welcome.

Details:

Monday, October 26th at 7:00pm
Moon Palace Books
RSVP HERE: https://moonpalacebooks.com/events/6080820261026

ESFL Comrades: Our Labor Solidarity Picnic is only a month away! I am disappointed to report that Brass Solidarity is u...
08/14/2026

ESFL Comrades: Our Labor Solidarity Picnic is only a month away! I am disappointed to report that Brass Solidarity is unable to join us due to a prior engagement. There may yet be additions to the program, but let's get our promotions out into the world. Here are details that you can include in the social media description of the event. Please edit as you see fit.

The East Side Freedom Library invites you to join us -- and each other -- for our annual Labor Solidarity Picnic on Saturday September 12, from 1-4pm. Weather permitting, we will be on the beautiful front lawn. Picnic food and soft drinks will be provided.

This year's theme is "Labor and Freedom." Our speakers will include:

⚫️ Max Graves, Outreach Coordinator and Labor Liaison of "End Slavery in Minnesota." He will tell us about their campaign to restore the rights incarcerated workers and advocate for legislation that will ensure payment of the legal minimum wage to all workers.

⚫️ Tricia Ryshkus, RN and member of the Minnesota Nurses Association. She will tell us about the growing threat of the corporatization of healthcare in Minnesota, how her union is fighting not only for nurses and other healthcare workers but also for patients.

⚫️ Dave Cook, President of the St. Paul local of the American Postal Workers Union, and Greg Teigland, President of the Minneapolis local of the American Postal Workers Union. They will tell us about the federal government's threat to privatize the Postal Service and to interfere with our right to vote by mail.

We will also hear from ESFL staff about their activities and projects.

All of our speakers will offer us strategies and invitations to get involved in making life better for all working people.

And we will be invited to sing along by: The Twin Cities Labor Chorus Emmett Doyle and others

Bring your appetite, your singing voices, and your solidarity!

🗓️ A piece of Minnesota labor history is coming home to ESFL.On September 19, we're hosting the launch of Fight & Win: M...
08/13/2026

🗓️ A piece of Minnesota labor history is coming home to ESFL.

On September 19, we're hosting the launch of Fight & Win: Minneapolis Teamsters Strike, 1934 by John Hanson. Peter Rachleff, who mentored John through the writing of this book, will give the introduction.

John wrote parts of this book right here at the East Side Freedom Library. Coming full circle feels like the only way to launch it.

🗓️ Saturday, September 19
🕰️ 2:00–4:00 PM East Side Freedom Library
📍1105 Greenbrier St, Saint Paul

Copies of the book will be available to purchase and half of the proceeds are being reinvested BACK to the library! Light refreshments provided.

Ready to take control of your energy bills⚡️? Join us for a FREE Home Energy Savings Workshop on Tuesday, August 18th fr...
08/12/2026

Ready to take control of your energy bills⚡️? Join us for a FREE Home Energy Savings Workshop on Tuesday, August 18th from 5:30–7:30 PM at the East Side Freedom Library (1105 Greenbrier St, Saint Paul, MN 55106)!

Whether you're a homeowner or renter, this workshop is packed with practical info to help you save money and stay comfortable year-round. Here's what you'll walk away with:

🔌 A better understanding of your home energy usage and how it impacts your bill
🛠️ DIY tips and tricks for cutting energy costs on your own
💰 Info on money-saving upgrades for your home
🏠 Options for free or reduced-cost energy upgrades you may qualify for

Light food will be provided, plus you'll walk away with FREE energy-saving supplies and gift cards to Kendalls ACE Hardware. 🎁

This event is brought to you by Good Energy Connections, East Side Freedom Library, Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), all working together to make energy savings accessible to everyone in our community.

📍 East Side Freedom Library, 1105 Greenbrier St, Saint Paul, MN 55106
🗓️ Tuesday, August 18th | 5:30–7:30 PM

Have questions? Reach out to [email protected] or call (612) 208-9331. ¡Él habla español!

East Side Freedom Library is hiring an Operations Manager to help lead our day to day operations and keep our small, mis...
08/10/2026

East Side Freedom Library is hiring an Operations Manager to help lead our day to day operations and keep our small, mission-driven team running strong!

In this role, you'll manage vendors and office operations, coordinate employee benefits and hiring, and help run our shared events calendar alongside staff and contractors. You'll also partner with our contract accountants to track grant funding, coordinate accounts payable and receivables, support financial reporting, and help with annual audits, plus lend a hand with special projects like our annual appeal and fundraising events.

We're looking for someone organized, relational, and genuinely committed to social justice and community building, ideally with nonprofit administration or grant management experience. Living on Saint Paul's East Side is a plus.

⚫️ 0.75 FTE, exempt, approx 30 hours a week
⚫️ Salary $40,000-$45,000 depending on experience
⚫️ Benefits eligible (health, dental, vision)
⚫️ Hybrid, onsite 2-3 days a week plus some evenings for events

Ready to help us build a stronger East Side together? Here's how to apply:
⚫️ Write a short document sharing your story and why this role and ESFL feel like the right fit for you
⚫️ Attach your resume or a list of your experience
⚫️ Combine both into one PDF
⚫️ Email it to [email protected] with the subject line "Operations Manager"

See more information here: https://jobs.minnesotanonprofits.org/job/operations-manager-saint-paul-minnesota-109892

Priority deadline is Friday, August 28. We can't wait to hear from you!

Address

1105 Greenbrier Street
Saint Paul, MN
55106

Telephone

(651) 207-4926

Website

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