The annual Como Cookout celebrated its 19th year on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Van Cleve Park, with live music, food and activities.

The cookout had a range of free food like chicken samosas, hamburgers, cotton candy and a Qdoba stand giving out free samples. Along with the free food, there were booths set up for local organizations and live music playing throughout the event.

The cookout was organized differently this year and gave residents the opportunity to get involved in the community by holding the annual board election for the Southeast Como Improvement Association (SECIA) during the cookout. Attendees who lived in the neighborhood had the opportunity to nominate themselves during the event.

“This is a great place to meet your neighbors, so we figured it would be a good idea to have the neighborhood election at the cookout.” Julian Fernandez-Petersen, a student at the University of Minnesota and volunteer for SECIA, said.

Having the annual board meeting at the cookout makes the opportunity more equitable for people in the community, Mya Halvorson, communications intern for SECIA, said.

“We want more people to have the opportunity to get involved in the community, and this is an opportunity for people to come out and see what it is all about,” Halvorson said.

Mohamud Noor, state representative for District 60B, and Kari Dziedzic, state senator for District 60, have attended the Como Cookout for about 10 years. Noor said the turnout this year was one of the best he had seen in years.

“Food is a unifier,” Noor said. “We all need food and that brings people together. It’s important to know your neighbors and community, especially in some challenging times.”

The cookout featured a range of booths for community organizations, like the SECIA’s Environment Committee. Committee Co-Chair Peggy Booth represented the committee at their stand during the cookout.

The Environment Committee works on gardens, greening, air quality, water quality and other environmental issues around the neighborhood. At their booth, a game was set up with different plants attendees could guess the names of. There were also presentations about ways residents can get involved in environment-centered community projects in the neighborhood.

“It’s a wonderful way to see so many different people in the neighborhood and find out about different things happening,” Booth said.