The Annex Teen Clinic, a trusted resource for young people in Minnesota, faces challenges due to proposed policy changes and potential restrictions on Title X funding, but remains committed to providing confidential, affordable, and culturally competent sexual and reproductive health care.
Aria Binns-Zager
Posted inMovies
Historical drama ‘Nickel Boys’ has ugly parallels in Minnesota
The film “The Nickel Boys” explores the trauma experienced by young Black boys at a reform school in the 1960s, raising questions about how far we have come in addressing the legacy of racial injustice.
Posted inLocal & State
Anti-2025 MAGA protest joins others nationwide
The 50501 Movement and other activists have been protesting at state capitols across the country, opposing former President Donald Trump’s controversial 2025 policy plan, which they fear could dismantle civil rights protections and target marginalized communities.
Posted inArts + Culture
Casey Riley on GIANTS: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys
The Minneapolis Institute of Art is set to host GIANTS: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, a groundbreaking exhibition featuring nearly 100 significant works by Black diasporic artists.
Posted inBooks
Book on stroke recovery ‘a testament to the resilience of the human spirit’
In “Brainstorming: Inside the Mind of a Stroke Survivor,” Isaac Peterson shares his transformative journey from a massive stroke to recovery, offering insights into the challenges of stroke survivors and the resilience of the human spirit.
Posted inEvents
Ride the New York subway with Milo and his imagination
Children’s Theatre Company’s new musical “Milo Imagines the World” features a book by Terry Guest, music and lyrics by Christian Albright and Christian Magby, and musical direction by Sanford Moore, with opening night set for February 8.
Posted inLocal & State
House Bill puts nonprofits at risk by labeling them ‘terrorist-linked’Â
The “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act” (H.R. 9495) passed by the U.S. House of Representatives could give unprecedented power to incoming President Trump, threatening democratic freedoms and the nonprofit sector in Minnesota.
Posted inArts + Culture
The Black barbershop as cultural hub
Local author Keenan Jones has released his debut children’s book, “Saturday Morning at the ‘Shop”, which celebrates the importance of Black culture and the role of barbershops as community hubs.
Posted inDr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy: Service and advocacy in today’s community
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy continues to inspire and influence the lives of community members, encouraging them to embrace service as a moral responsibility and to work towards meaningful change.
Posted inDr. Martin Luther King Jr.
King’s fight for justice is a universal struggle
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” has taken on renewed urgency in Minnesota, as Black Minnesotans speak out against the ongoing violence in Gaza and the killing of Black Americans by police, highlighting the interconnectedness of struggles across borders and communities.
Posted inMusic
The Sound of Gospel a ‘transformative experience’
The Sound of Gospel, a production celebrating the legacy of gospel music and its impact on the African American experience, is set to premiere at the historic Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul on February 8 and 9, featuring work and freedom songs, Negro spirituals, choirs, quartets, and contemporary and urban gospel.
Posted inMusic
New Minneapolis sound rewrites the rules of hip hop
MAKR AN ERIS, a powerhouse collaboration between Sophia Eris and Mark McGee, is rewriting the rules of hip hop with a sound that’s equal parts futuristic, rebellious, and undeniably fun, while staying rooted in the community they call home.
Posted inMusic
Walker West Music Academy scores major grant
Walker West Music Academy has received a $4 million gift from the Sauers Family Foundation to expand its mission of sharing music inspired by the African American cultural experience, and will use the funds to acquire and renovate a building at 650 Marshall Ave.
Posted inVibrant Storefronts
From vacant to vibrant
The City of Minneapolis Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs has launched a Vibrant Storefronts initiative to revitalize the Harmon Place Historic District by subsidizing rent in previously vacant storefronts, providing affordable rent for art groups and stable tenants for landlords.
Posted inEducation
Justice Page school principal honored as NFL ‘Changemaker’
Shannon Tenner, principal of Justice Page Middle School in South Minneapolis, was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Minnesota Vikings as part of the NFL’s Inspire Change Changemakers program for her dedication to education and community empowerment.
Posted inLocal & State
Black Men Teach addresses glaring need for educational representation
Black Men Teach is a non-profit organization that is working to recruit, develop, and retain Black male educators in Minnesota schools, in order to address the critical gaps in educational outcomes for Black students.
Posted inLocal & State
SNAP challenge highlights why hunger remains a crisis
Food shelves across Minnesota have seen a steady increase in visits since 2020, highlighting an ongoing hunger crisis, with Minnesotans visiting food shelves a record 7.5 million times in 2023, the hungriest year on record.
Posted inFeatured, Local & State, News
Avivo Village takes in the unsheltered homeless
‘The Avivo and North Loop neighbors are being very intentional about developing relationships and planning future community involvement’