Marla Khan-Schwartz

"This Is US" coverage, and the March/April magazine issue, made possible by the deep underwriting of Unidos MN. Leticia’s family (l–r): son Marco Salazar, grandson Adrian Martinez, Leticia Carmona, husband Marco Salazar, daughter Cynthia Salazar, and grandson Damian Martinez. Photo Sarah Whiting October 7, 2008, started out like most workdays for Leticia “Letty” Carmona at Children’s Village Montessori in Minneapolis. She had worked with children ranging from a few months to school age.

Dodgeball — that sport you might have played in middle school gym — has an adult league in the Twin Cities. The Open League is open to all gender identities, from beginners to veteran players. The Lavender League is for the queer community and cisgender female allies. There is also an adult Women, Trans, and Nonbinary League (WTNB), which started in 2024. The league offers youth programs for ages 7 to 18, and open gyms for casual pick-up games.

Family and center-based child care access in Minnesota has declined in the last 20 years, according to a 2022 Center for Rural Policy and Development research report. The biggest impact has been in Greater Minnesota. In 2021, about 6,500 child care spaces were lost in non-metro Minnesota. This meant more parents stayed home due to lack of options, and rural companies in particular had trouble retaining employees. A few cities have taken steps to correct those issues.