The Black Youth Healing Arts Center is a vibrant space in Saint Paul’s Summit-University neighborhood that promotes healing, growth, and fun for Black and brown youth through interactive events, mindfulness, affirmation arts, and breathwork.
Aria Binns-Zager
Posted inArts + Culture
TU Dance at age 20: a legacy in motion
TU Dance is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a program featuring an ensemble of influential choreographers, highlighting its core mission of fusing classical technique with African diasporic traditions and urgent, socially relevant narratives.
Posted inLocal & State
Thousands gather at Capitol to demand ‘something radically better’
Thousands of people gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol for the “HANDS OFF” rally to demand a government that prioritizes people over profit, care over punishment, and justice over silence, in response to rising police aggression and systemic neglect faced by Black, brown, and Indigenous communities.
Posted inNational
The new race/gender censorship
The National Science Foundation has been flagging proposals that include language commonly associated with diversity, equity and inclusion, which could lead to additional review or denial, and has led to a form of self-censorship among researchers who focus on marginalized communities.
Posted inEvents
People of Color Career Fair returns with broad support
The 13th Annual People of Color Career Fair will take place on April 15, 2024, at the Saint Paul RiverCentre, connecting professionals of color with over 50 top Minnesota employers, who will conduct on-the-spot interviews and offer free professional headshots.
Posted inLocal & State
Hallie Q. Brown Center’s 96 years inspire an ambitious vision
The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center celebrated its 96th anniversary and announced plans for a 25,000-square-foot expansion to address pressing community needs such as health disparities, food insecurity, and environmental justice.
Posted inTheater
The beauty of humanity on display in CTC’s ‘Frozen’
Tiffany Nicole Greene, a celebrated freelance director, is bringing her vision to the Children’s Theatre Company’s production of “Frozen” in Minneapolis, a show that resonates with both children and adults alike.
Supported
Posted inHelp Is Here
Fighting the opioid crisis
HF1379 is a bill that would allow patients to file a voluntary non-opioid directive, which could be a critical step in combating opioid addiction in Minnesota, particularly in Black communities that have been disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis.
Posted inBooks
Black girls in media and Black girlhood in America
Dr. Lashon Daley, an assistant professor of English and comparative literature at San Diego State University, is exploring the evolution of Black girl representation in children’s literature, film, television and social media, highlighting the importance of looking beyond contemporary media to understand the cultural understandings of Black girlhood in America.
Posted inLocal & State
Harlem Globetrotters bring basketball magic to Bryn MawrÂ
The Harlem Globetrotters visited Bryn Mawr Elementary School in Minnesota as part of their Great Assist tour, engaging students in interactive games and sharing stories of perseverance and unity.
Posted inArts + Culture
‘Giants’ exhibit leaves lingering sense of awe
The Dean Collection, curated by Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, is a living testament to the power of art, featuring works by artists such as Amy Sherald, Ebony G. Patterson, Nick Cave, Titus Kaphar, and Derrick Adams, who challenge viewers to think critically about systemic violence and injustice while celebrating Black joy, leisure, and community.
Supported
Posted inHelp Is Here
Recovery from substance abuse needs peer and community support
The Twin Cities Recovery Project is working to address the racial disparities in drug-related arrests and substance use disorder outcomes in Minnesota by offering resources and training to people of color, while also providing harm reduction services to individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction.
Posted inSister Spokesman Highlights
Sister Spokesman uplifts women of color in media
At the latest Sister Spokesman event, a panel of Black women journalists discussed the challenges and opportunities faced by Black women in the media, highlighting the importance of Black-owned media and the need for more spaces where Black women can lead and tell their own stories.
Posted inLocal & State
Vybez: Come, feel welcome, do unconventional things
Vybez is a new cultural hub in St. Paul, created by Martrelle “Trey” Brown, which is a community space, dance studio, art gallery, and place where people of color can find creativity.
Posted inEducation
Transracial adoptees wish they’d had more guidance
Shannon Gibney, a transracial adoptee and award-winning writer, explores the complexities of race, identity and belonging in her storytelling, while sisters Sarah and Viviana share their personal journeys of adoption, highlighting the often unspoken challenges of transracial adoption.
Posted inArtists
Artist’s collages tell nuanced stories in ‘GIANTS’ exhibit
Deborah Roberts, a mixed media artist, contributes her powerful narratives to the “GIANTS: Art from the Dean Collection” exhibition, which aims to inspire important dialogue between art, culture and identity while supporting emerging and established artists.
Posted inArts + Culture
MSR celebrated in local mosaic
Local artist Olivia Levins Holden has completed a community-engaged mosaic project at the Hosmer Library in South Minneapolis, incorporating themes of local history, ecology, and community connection, and honoring important local institutions such as Dreamland Café and Central High.
Posted inFood
Lachelle’s Kitchen: A symphony of food, culture, and healing
Chef Lachelle Cunningham is using her passion for food to honor the story of each ingredient, connect with the community, and create sustainable and equitable food systems, while teaching others to repurpose food and reduce waste.
Supported
Posted inHelp Is Here
Cultural representation improves addiction recovery
Ivan Nelson, executive director of African American Survivor Services, is working to address systemic disparities in addiction and recovery for African Americans, providing culturally competent care and addressing generational trauma.
Posted inBlack History
Black labor has been foundational to Minnesota’s growth
Black labor has been instrumental in building industries and communities in Minnesota, and their contributions have been recognized as a critical part of the state’s growth, with a labor force participation rate of 70.5% in 2021, exceeding the state’s white labor participation rate of 67.2%.