They do it by being culturally competent professionals Security guards aren’t generally regarded as Black folk’s best friends. When you’re out shopping, for instance, who characteristically is watching way too close to make sure you’re not shoplifting? Even if you’re not behaving suspiciously? Not, of course, that there aren’t thieves of all colors, but it certainly goes a … [Read more...]
Community Profiles:
A space for feature stories about community members in the Twin Cities and beyond.
Party planner works hard to be her own boss
There is a saying: “If you do what is easy, your life will be hard; if you do what is hard your life will be easy.” Even though it is a cliché and it seems like a rather easy concept, it is complicated when put into practice. At least one person, however, is making the cliché a reality. Donesha Benson is the creator of The Party Girl LLC, a local full-service event planning … [Read more...]
Northside native beats mostly-White-male dentistry odds
When we go looking for a dentist, what we will most likely find are White males. According to the 2014-2015 “Minnesota Dentists Workforce Survey,” 67 percent of dentists are male, 92 percent are White, and 0.7 percent are African American. A young African American woman from North Minneapolis has successfully challenged those odds. Shakeyla Barber was born in Robbinsdale, … [Read more...]
Catching up with Walter “Q Bear” Banks
Radio veteran reflects on his storied career, health concerns and community support Walter Banks, better known as “Q Bear,” is well-known in the Twin Cities as a KMOJ radio personality with over 30 years of broadcasting experience. He has held many positions and met many celebrities over the years, including James Brown, Gerald Levert, The O-Jays, The Temptations, and hometown … [Read more...]
St. Paul Selby business — fixture in a changing neighborhood
Selby Wine & Spirits — more than merely a store —it’s a fixture in St. Paul’s quietly thriving Selby neighborhood where people are living well and working to get the best out of life. It should be noted that Selby Wine & Spirits is one of the few African American-owned liquor stores in the Twin Cities. Through economic up-swings and downturns, owner-manager Vernon … [Read more...]