Rapp Strategies Rundown – APRIL
HERE’S WHAT WE DID, READ, WATCHED AND THOUGHT ABOUT THIS MONTH
Todd Rapp
Todd R.: Busy month with traveling — Clear Lake and Watertown South Dakota, Duluth, Rochester, Detroit Lakes and Owatonna led the list for work destinations, all following a little minor surgery at the start of the month. The surgery gave me a chance to catch up on some reading and watch a lot of the Masters — the first book of the month was Rory, and I finished Woke Up This Morning (an oral history of The Sopranos) and Heartland (the story of Larry Bird’s journey from small-town Indiana kid to the co-star of the rebirth of college basketball. Started and finished Vladimir, which was kind of weird and a surprising turn for Rachel Weisz, and Death by Lightning, a very interesting drama about the brief national success of James A. Garfield. Lots of recognizable actors in roles in the Garfield drama. Finally, if you are looking for an under-appreciated gem in the Duluth area, try B&B Market in Cloquet. Found a great beef brisket there, and we are going back. That butcher shop proves you can’t judge a book by its cover. Go Wild! Go Wolves!
Rich Forschler
Rich: April was highlighted by all I am learning about the Minneapolis St Paul airport.
In mid-March, Governor Walz appointed me to the Metropolitan Airports Commission. Since then, I have taken the Oath of Office and cast my first vote at a MAC Board meeting. It is a real honor to serve on the MAC Board, but I have a lot to learn. That learning occurs through a well organized orientation process designed by the MAC staff. I’ve been amazed at the complexity of operating an airport. I am starting to understand some of that complexity and look forward to learning more, and doing what I can to insure the airport continues to be recognized as the best airport in the country.
April was also the month to celebrate my 75th Birthday. Our entire family gathered in Minneapolis for a long weekend highlighted by a celebratory family dinner at our home on April 8 and a party at Edina Country Club on April 10 for family and friends. Looking back over 75 years I realize the incredible value of family and friends. I am also thankful for good health and a career that was very rewarding.
Todd Stone
Todd S.: I traveled to Nashville to attend the annual forum of the Issue Management Council — a professional community Rapp Strategies recently joined. It’s an impressive group focused on how issues emerge, evolve, and shape decisions in complex environments. What stood out most was the candor. Conversations went well beyond surface-level trends — into how people are navigating the digital information environment, AI, reputation management, and increasingly complicated public issues.
While I was in Music City, I made time for a stop at the Johnny Cash Museum — a nostalgia binge of the lasting impact of Johnny Cash, dating back to his early days with Sun Studio. One unexpected bit of trivia: Cash made a film about the life of Jesus — The Gospel Road, described as “a musical story of Jesus sung by Johnny Cash.” June Carter Cash played Mary. I remember the couple’s gospel music, but not the movie. Fascinating.
Sean Oyaas
Sean: Sean is on paternity leave.
Meredith Mitts
Meredith: Wow – April was a roller coaster of a month with really fun highs and heart wrenching lows. Something that will stick with me for a while was being able to witness and be a part of church communities that surround people in their times of need from prayer and care packages to addressing physical needs like providing places to stay, preparing food, and lending a shoulder to cry on. In the midst of the chaos this April, I gained two new favorite quotes: “Bureaucracy!? At a time like this?” and “The Church does it better – no paperwork or insurance or waiting periods, just action and help when I needed it.”
Despite the emotional and physical toll this month took on our family, we had lots of sweet moments. We hosted family and friends for Easter and Tasha got to experience easter eggs for the first time. We have a bubble machine going all the time now – much to the joy of the baby and both kitties. We put up nearly 70 photos of family and friends around our house. We went for walks and chatted with neighbors. We cuddled, snuggled, read books, went on adventures, and had a bonfire. Perhaps most excitingly, Tasha learned to say ‘love you’ and I learned to make fancy sourdough bread (chocolate, lavender/white chocolate, and jalapeno/cheddar), two things we have enjoyed sharing with all our friends to bring a smile to their faces.
Julia Schafer
Julia: Happy Taurus season! My twin sister and I rang in the big 3-0 at the end of April with paper crowns, a chilly MNUFC game and a delicious dinner at Hyacinth in St. Paul. I'm grateful for the friends, family and colleagues who made me feel special this month.
Like all Minnesotans, I've been trying to get outside as much as possible. But on the colder, uglier days, I was watching movies. I saw Project Hail Mary twice (worth it in IMAX!) as well as The Drama, which I'm still processing. I also streamed at least four Mission: Impossible movies to while away the time until our next sunny day. When I wasn't killing brain cells, my book club was reading The Berry Pickers. I haven't finished it yet, but it's quite good so far.
Warm weather brings my favorite things: drinks on patios, swimming across Lake Nokomis and Cedar Lake, and weekday evenings that feel endless. As an April baby, I know the best is yet to come this spring.
Alida Mitau
Alida: With spring finally settling in, I spent as much time outside as possible. I took some long walks, enjoyed the fresh air and even spent an afternoon at the park flying a kite with my friend.
I also spent quality time with friends, including a few nights at Minneapolis Cider Company, where two close friends just started working. I'd highly recommend visiting if you haven't already been — they have a pickleball court inside!
I also took advantage of our thriving local music scene, attending a few shows at Green Room and seeing a friend DJ during her April residency at Modist Brewing.
Jorrun Kuehn
Jorrun: April was busy! I enjoyed reconnecting with college friends, including my former roommate who now lives in Tokyo. I picked her up from the airport and spent a too-short but much-needed afternoon catching up and showing her around downtown Wayzata. I’m hoping to make the trip to visit her next year. Theatre highlights included Sleuth at the Guthrie and a local production of Mamma Mia. Project Hail Mary was my favorite movie of the month and year so far. We rounded out April with a weekend trip to Duluth, including dinner at the rotating Harbor 360 restaurant. The food was average, but the views more than made up for it.
Marisa Morris
Marisa: One of my absolute favorite art events happens every April, and this year’s Art in Bloom didn’t disappoint. My dad visited for a short weekend, so I took him to the Minneapolis Institute of Art for the special exhibit. We loved looking for parallels between the florals to the original works and chatting with the artists. Florals for spring? Actually groundbreaking. After a concert in Red Wing that night and rock climbing at Vertical Endeavors the next morning, we felt like we had made the most of the 24-hour father-daughter trip.
The rest of the month I enjoyed walking around the Lake of the Isles in the evenings, thrifting on the weekends, and trying to single-handedly boost the restaurant industry with my patronage. Gai Noi, Hai Hai, and Rosalia have been added to my personal Most Mesmerizing Meals of Minneapolis list. I have one movie recommendation to round out my Rundown – Project Hail Mary is as good as everyone says.
Mya Temanson
Mya: April was an exciting month, because I was offered a position at Rapp Strategies, Inc. Hi! It's good to be here.
Other highlights include: devouring Sophie Strand's memoir,The Body is a Doorway, in a weekend, then devouring Xiran Jay Xhao's The Heavenly Tyrant in a week, a bunch of The X Files with Hussein, engagement photos at the George Latimer Central Library, also with Hussein and spending a lot of time at the Milton Square shops in St. Anthony Park. I think I soaked up a good month of fun before diving back into this new and exciting life as a job person.
