From the state constitution which condones slavery to local classrooms where Black students are disproportionately disciplined, Black Minnesotans of all ages are impacted by injustice in the criminal punishment system. On Saturday, February 22, a community nonprofit and statewide campaign are teaming up to raise awareness about the intersections of the school-to-prison pipeline and the labor exploitation of incarcerated people. The Community Dinner, hosted at the Upper Midwest American Indian Center from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., will include a free meal, a screening of Ava DuVernay’s documentary 13th, and a community discussion led by local organizers and activists.
Part of the Love First Community Engagement monthly Community Dinner series, the collaboration with the End Slavery in Minnesota coalition will highlight how state systems collude to undermine Black thriving and the urgent need to amend Minnesota’s constitution to abolish slavery entirely. The discussions following the screening will be led by Chauntyll Allen, founder of Love First and co-leader of the End Slavery MN campaign, and David Boehnke, leader of the Minnesota Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee.
“At Love First, we believe that, when Black youth are liberated, all youth will be liberated,” said Satara Strong-Allen, Executive Director of Love First. Love First is a Black-led organization dedicated to fostering community empowerment and youth development through education, mentorship, and advocacy. Through their monthly Community Dinners, they create a platform for critical discussions on systemic issues affecting Black communities while also providing a nurturing environment for growth, healing, and connection. These gatherings amplify Black voices and promote self-determination, ensuring that community members actively shape solutions leading to lasting change. “The path to liberation requires tearing down barriers that are intentionally holding our communities back. In our work, we focus on building a school-to-success pipeline, supporting the self-determined goals of our Black youth, connecting them to the broader village, and engaging their leadership in collective solutions. With this event, we’re excited to partner with the End Slavery Coalition to highlight how state systems collude to undermine Black thriving.”
“While chattel slavery ended in 1865, another form of slavery is still legal in Minnesota,” said Allen. “Across our state, people in prison are forced to work for wages as low as $0.25 per hour because Article 1, Section 2 of the Minnesota Constitution permits slavery as punishment for a crime. It’s past time to pass a bill currently introduced in the state legislature that would stop forced labor in correctional facilities by reclassifying prisoners as workers with the right to employment.”
Love First Community Dinners are more than a free meal and collective fellowship; they create opportunities for intergenerational connection, a safe space for youth, and informal town halls on issues important to Black communities.
The public is invited to attend, and registration is free at lovefirsttc.org/events.
For more information about the hosting organizations, visit www.lovefirsttc.org and www.endslaverymn.org.