Joe Michaud-Scorza: Photo Blog: January 2012

I've posted this series of photos months after the disaster in North Minneapolis for several reasons. I have been reflecting on the situation many folks experience in that part of the city and unfortunately, in terms of senseless crime, it has worsened in past months. It has occurred to me how incomprehensibly complex people's lives are in North and this compelled me to attempt to understand and be mindful of their hardships as well as their strengths. Since doing this series in May, I have had more experiences listening to people's stories of unwarranted violence and crime and I am constantly reminding myself of the determination and perseverance that I see in everyone that I've had a genuine interaction with from this area.

A neighborhood in North Minneapolis lays in rubble after a tornado touched down several times Sunday, May 22, 2011. The only fatality attributed to the disaster was Floyd David Whitfield, who died while driving a child home from church. That same afternoon a mile-wide tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri 220 miles to the Southeast.

Taxi cab driver Robyn Bradshaw gathers some remaining belongings after a tornado tore through the roof of her home while her daughter watched a movie downstairs. In the hours following the tornado, looters stole several big screen TV's and other electronics from their home. Shortly after this photo was taken, Bradshaw was hurried from the house by an odor of natural gas coming from the kitchen.

Retired Laotian soldier Youakao Vang, 73, takes a break from clearing the brush strewn across Morgan Ave N in Minneapolis, Minn. At the sight of storm clouds, Vang left the safety of his home to move his car when a tornado barreled down the street, uprooting every tree on the block while he watched helplessly from his vehicle.

Kaneesha Norton, 10, bikes past the piles of debris strewn across her street the morning after the tornado.

Hoang Minh Nguyen, 43, looks for belongings to salvage after a tornado uprooted and dropped an oak tree on his car. "We're just glad no one was hurt," Ngueyn said.

Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak, center, speaks to the press about the cleanup process while standing beside Senator Amy Kublochar, left, and Congressman Keith Ellison, right.

2011 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon

Phil Knutson uses a garbage bag to keep warm Sunday, October 2, 2011 before beginning Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Downtown Minneapolis.

Dan Falbo stretches before beginning his 25th marathon.

Mancel Ordaz-Cruz of Crystal, Minn. warms up before beginning the 26 mile Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Downtown Minneapolis.

Jmatt Kiel of St. Louis Park dresses to impress Sunday morning during the beginning of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Downtown Minneapolis.

Frank Therrian of Parker Colorado leads a pack of runners during the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Sunday, October 2, 2011 beside Lake Harriet in Minneapolis.

Kenyan Sammy Malakwen approaches the finish line Sunday during the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in St. Paul. Malakwen finished the 26 mile race in first place out of 8,530 runners with a final time of two hours, thirteen minutes and eleven seconds.

Malakwen struggles to stay on his feet Sunday after taking the gold medal.

Ethiopian marathoner Yeshimebet Bifa finishes in first place out of the 3,675 women who finished the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon Sunday in St. Paul.