Legacy and Laughter fundraiser celebrates community influencers

The Irreducible Grace Foundation, a 12-year-old nonprofit dedicated to fostering holistic wellness among BIPOC youth, hosted its annual Legacy and Laughter fundraiser Saturday at the Black Youth Healing Arts Center in St. Paul.

The foundation creates safe spaces and healing opportunities for youth of color through mentoring, life-skills training, employment support, self-care practices and arts-based programming for teens and young adults. Through visual and performing arts and movement techniques, the organization helps young people develop tools to manage stress, process trauma and find their voice.

Founded by Dr. Darlene Fry, a Chicago native who worked on numerous college and university campuses before shifting her focus to postsecondary preparation at the secondary level, the organization grew out of a clear need. In 2012, Fry established it to support youth from foster care. Work that has since expanded to serve a broader community of young people. Alongside the board of directors, healers and youth leaders, Fry used the evening to honor individuals by naming rooms within the center after them, ensuring their legacies remain woven into the fabric of the space.

Guests were both enlightened and entertained by emcee Jamela Pettiford, whose commanding presence blended music and storytelling. Performances of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “People Make the World Go Round” resonated throughout the room. Pettiford encouraged attendees to document and share their stories with younger generations, recalling advice from respected community elder Mother Atum Azzhirr, founder and executive director of the Cultural Wellness Center: “Every time you call the name of an ancestor, they live on.”

Fry’s decision to name rooms after honorees reflects that same principle: remembrance and legacy uplifting those whose work has shaped countless lives.

Honorees, past and present, included T. Michael Rambo, a singer, actor and educator; Tearra Oso, a performing artist and healer whose musical medicine has empowered audiences nationally and internationally for more than 30 years; and Melvin Carter Jr., retired St. Paul police sergeant and co-founder of Save Our Sons, a youth organization, along with his wife, W. Toni Carter, a retired Ramsey County commissioner, Met Council commissioner and longtime advocate for children, families and communities at the local, regional and national levels.

Also honored were Ward 1 St. Paul City Council Member Anika Bowie-Lunde; Ra Joseph Cole, a community activist and organizer dedicated to advocating for healing and connecting young people in the African diaspora; and Kwame McDonald, a nationally acclaimed sports figure and writer known for championing the recognition of female athletes. That award was accepted by his son, Dr. Mitch McDonald, a longtime educator and contributing sports columnist for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

The Khaliq-Davis family was recognized for two generations of service. Nathaniel Khaliq, a retired St. Paul firefighter, president emeritus of the St. Paul NAACP for more than 20 years and longtime community activist, has dedicated years to advancing housing access, economic opportunity and neighborhood stability. His wife, Victoria Davis, a business owner and founder of the Summit University Education Consortium mentor program, has touched countless lives through education initiatives. Their son Malik Davis, a St. Paul firefighter, real estate agent and mentor, and his wife, Natalia Davis, the foundation’s kids coordinator and co-owner of Hotworx St. Paul, were also honored for continuing the family’s legacy of service.

The “laughter” portion of the evening featured two comedians and community alumni. Mr. Jimmy Davis drew waves of laughter with commentary on aging, relationships and current events. “When you’re over 55, you can wake up to an injury,” he joked, prompting applause from the crowd.

Additional comic relief came from Vanessa Graddick, a social worker-turned-comedian and author of “I Don’t Want to Be Strong Today,” an affirmation journal focused on self-care and emotional wellness. Graddick skillfully blended humor with real-life experience, offering both levity and reflection. “I just had a colonoscopy, the best sleep of my life,” she quipped.

The evening closed with a call for financial support from board member Dr. Stacey Gray-Akea. Fry credited the organization’s success to its staff, noting that the center’s multigenerational approach continues to nurture growth for youth, families and the broader community.

“The people who work here make this place special,” she said. “To watch former students grow into teachers and leaders is truly rewarding.”

For more information or to contribute, email info@irgrace.org or call 651-226-6594.