Attendees at Baraza: A Black Woman’s Health Gathering pose for a group shot. This year’s theme was “On Beyond Trauma: Creating Safe Spaces To Heal,” and the keynote speaker was Rev. Gloria Roach Thomas, senior pastor of Camphor United Methodist Church in St. Paul. Photo by Wesley Smith

Over 150 women came together for the 2017 Baraza celebration Saturday, October 21. Since 2008, the Twin Cities African American Leadership Forum (AALF), has brought stakeholders from community, business, non-profit and government, together, in a movement to leverage the community’s collective assets, to create and implement a united urban agenda to advance African American community health, wellness and prosperity.

AALF members are united in the belief that we can do more together than apart. We are focused on creating positive change in these areas: health and wellness, economic development and education.

Photos and caption by Uzoma Obasi except where noted