Overview:
On Thursday, August 28, Sabathani Community Center will host the 2025 Southside Heroes Hall Unveiling, celebrating the legacy of Black leadership in South Minneapolis. The free, family-friendly event runs from 6–8 p.m. and features community tributes, storytelling, and a special performance by Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness. This year’s inductees include media innovators, educators, musicians, and civic leaders whose voices and vision shaped the Southside and beyond.
The legacy of Black leadership in South Minneapolis will take center stage on Thursday, August 28, as Sabathani Community Center hosts the 2025 Southside Heroes Hall Unveiling. The free, family-friendly event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and will honor community members whose voices and vision shaped Southside Minneapolis and beyond.
Guests will enjoy an evening of music, storytelling, and community tributes, capped by a special performance from Grammy Award-winning ensemble Sounds of Blackness.
2025 Inductees
This year’s inductees represent a powerful cross-section of cultural, political, and community leadership:
- Pete Rhodes III & Kimberly Bedell Rhodes – Media innovators, founders of the Minnesota Black Music Awards and Black Music America Networks.
- Dr. Ralph Crowder – Afrocentric educator, columnist, and coach.
- Doris Hines – Legendary jazz vocalist, cultural icon, and mother of Sounds of Blackness director Gary Hines.
- Congresswoman Ilhan Omar – U.S. Congresswoman and changemaker.
- Ed Solomon – Park commissioner, youth advocate, and neighborhood leader.
Evening Program
- 6:00–7:00 p.m. – Social hour and exhibit browsing
- 7:00–7:30 p.m. – Program, inductee presentations, and Sounds of Blackness performance
- 7:30–8:00 p.m. – Continued browsing and community connection
A Living History
The Southside Heroes Hall is part of Sabathani’s Living History Museum, which celebrates the legacies of Black leaders nominated by the public and selected by a community committee. By preserving and elevating these stories, the Hall ensures that future generations know the contributions and sacrifices of those who built the foundation for progress.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: Sabathani Community Center, 1st Floor, 310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN
Cost: Free and open to the public (RSVP requested at sabathani.org)