Sponsored by: Hubbs Center – Adult Basic Education – On the Radar host Damenica Ellis sits down with iLLism duo Emanuel and Fancy to discuss their journey from solo artists to community builders, the Legacy Building, the Creative Freedom Fund and what is coming next including Soul of the Southside and Fancy’s debut children’s book.
Damenica Ellis
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
The Purposed Parent: Sister Duo Delivers Essential Prenatal and Postpartum SupportÂ
Nigerian American sisters Praise and Peace Olowokere founded The Purposed Parent in 2022 to provide culturally competent prenatal and postpartum support for Twin Cities families, with a mission rooted in reducing Black maternal and infant mortality.
Posted inArts + Culture
Pangea World Theater Secures Permanent Home, Expanding Lake Street Arts CorridorÂ
Pangea World Theater has acquired 3020 Minnehaha Ave., securing a permanent home near the former Third Precinct as one of the only immigrant-owned businesses to rebuild in the area following the 2020 unrest.
Posted inOn the Radar
iLLism: The South Minneapolis Duo Building a Creative LegacyÂ
Twin Cities hip-hop duo iLLism, consisting of husband-and-wife creators Fancy and Emmanuel Duncan, have evolved from a successful musical act into powerful community builders. Through CRWN Media, the Legacy Building, and the Soul of the Southside festival, they are actively rewriting the narrative for local creatives.
Posted inOn the Radar
Curator, Artivist and Practitioner of Joy Esther Callahan Is Building a Black Art Economy in Minnesota
On the Radar host Damenica Ellis sits down with Minneapolis artivist and curator Esther Callahan, who built the BLK Collectors to ensure Black artists are seen, supported and paid, and who distributed handmade art kits to families during Operation Metro Surge.
Posted inOn the Radar
On the Radar: Kprecia Ambers, Visual Artist and Digital Creator
On the Radar host Damenica Ellis sits down with Minneapolis visual artist Kprecia Ambers, whose vibrant figurative work centers Black beauty, self-love and representation with a simple intention: putting love into the world.
Posted inOn the Radar
Caring through art: How ‘artivist’ Esther Callahan cultivates Black creative spaces
Twin Cities artivist and curator Esther Callahan shares how she transformed personal trauma into a lifelong mission of healing, launching The BLK Collectors to uplift Black artists and investors.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
U of M Expert Says Hantavirus Risk Is Low, While Nurse Has Concerns and Elder Combats Distrust
A University of Minnesota infectious disease expert says the risk of a widespread hantavirus outbreak remains low, but a frontline nurse and the Cultural Wellness Center director say preparedness, consistent information and community trust are critical.
Posted inOn the Radar
Kprecia Ambers uses digital art to foster representation and connection
North Minneapolis native Kprecia Ambers is transforming the world of digital illustration. Through her brand, KP Inspires, she creates soulful artwork designed to foster representation, celebrate Black beauty, and bring warmth into everyday home spaces.
Posted inOn the Radar
Emmy Award-Winning Artist PaviElle French Is Rooted in Rondo and Building for the Future
On the Radar host Damenica Ellis sits down with Emmy-winning Rondo native PaviElle French for a deep conversation about grief, sovereignty, community, and decades of creative work rooted in the heart of Black Minnesota.
Posted inOn the Radar
From Maya Angelou to the Emmy Stage, The Interdisciplinary Life of PaviElle French
From performing for Maya Angelou at age 10 to winning an Emmy for her documentary, Rondo native PaviElle French has spent her life refining a craft that blends soul, theater, and community activism
Posted inFashion
The future of fashion: Howard and U of M experts decode 2026 trends
Two fashion professors from Howard University and the University of Minnesota break down the clothing trends defining 2026, from bold graphic prints and jellies to elevated athleisure, the messy girl aesthetic and a growing push for sustainability.
Posted inOn the Radar
On the Radar: Chef Jametta Raspberry of House of Gristle
On the Radar host Damenica Ellis sits down with Chef Jametta Raspberry, founder of House of Gristle, to discuss her journey from corporate life to culinary school, feeding protesters during the 2020 uprising and building a brand rooted in Black culture and hospitality.
Posted inLocal & State
How redlining and systemic gaps leave communities vulnerable to disaster
Natural disasters hit low-income communities and communities of color hardest. MSR staff writer Damenica Ellis examines why, from the 2011 North Minneapolis tornado to the role of redlining in shaping disaster vulnerability today.
Posted inSister Spokesman
Style meets social justice at Sister Spokesman’s Dress to ShineÂ
Sister Spokesman’s Dress to Shine fashion presentation celebrated Black designers, vintage style and community on a red carpet runway inspired by the iconic pages of Jet, Essence and Ebony.
Posted inPolitics
Bipartisan bill to create independent inspector general moves toward final vote
A bipartisan bill creating a new, independent Minnesota Office of Inspector General has passed the Senate and cleared the House Ways and Means Committee, awaiting a floor vote.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Petition opposes daycare near Northside methadone clinic
Project Refocus is petitioning against a daycare placement next to a methadone clinic on Broadway Avenue in North Minneapolis, citing needle litter and opioid safety concerns for children.
Posted inOn the Radar
The art of intentional dining: Jametta Raspberry’s House of Gristle
Chef Jametta Raspberry, founder of House of Gristle, transcends traditional dining by blending French culinary techniques with a deep passion for Black hospitality and community building.
Posted inOn the Radar
Potter, Sound Artist and Co-Founder Sayge Carroll Is Building a Sanctuary for Creatives at Mudluk Pottery
Sage Carroll Mudluk Pottery co-founder joins MSR On the Radar to discuss her journey through photography and ceramics, the philosophy behind the South Minneapolis studio and what is coming next including a mobile ceramics van at Juneteenth.
Posted inPolitics
Boundary Waters mining ban overturned in narrow Senate vote
Boundary Waters copper mining ban has been lifted after the Senate passed H.J.Res.140 50-49, revoking a 20-year moratorium on copper sulfide mining in the Rainy River Watershed despite opposition from Sen. Tina Smith and a broad coalition of Minnesotans.