Today marks the one-year anniversary of the deadly gas explosion at Minnehaha Academy in south Minneapolis. President Dr. Donna Harris says she’s been on an emotional rollercoaster all week. She says “you know one moment I’m fighting back tears as I think about last year, you can’t help but think about the tragedy and loss and the pain of that year, but we’ve also been able to come together as a community and to reimagine our school.” A ceremony today included a construction crew raising the first pillar marking the start of the new buildings that will replace the destroyed section of the school. Dr. Harris says “we have been strengthened as a school and the pillar raising really symbolizes the strength that we have found in our community and that we have experienced in our community.”
Student Danyelle Robinson spoke at today’s ceremony and said “it would be very easy to continue to dwell on the explosion but I want you to know that we are so much more than that devastating moment. We are strong, resilient, powerful and optimistic about the future. We have so much to look forward to and we are ready to share that message with the world.” Ruth Berg and John Carlson were killed in the explosion. Nine others, including Dr. Harris were injured.