Tickets sold out to the formal attire masquerade ball fundraiser hosted by Way to Grow, a 27-year-old nonprofit located in North Minneapolis dedicated to early childhood education. Close to 800 people were in attendance at the downtown Minneapolis Depot from 6-10 pm. The theme this year for Way to Grow’s annual Shine Celebration was “The […]
James L. Stroud Jr
James L. Stroud, Jr. is a contributing writer and photographer at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
Posted inNews
Receiving recognition from your own
Twin Cities Steppers celebrate 10 Sistas who prevailed The 9th annual Celebrating The Sistas (CTS) event gave community leadership recognition awards to 10 African American women for their contributions while living and working in Minnesota. The Twin Cities Steppers Association (TCSA) began producing CTS in 2008. Kevin Johnson is president/CEO of TCSA and the brainchild […]
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Reuse Minnesota launches website during membership celebration
Over 300 people showed up for the unveiling of the completed new ReUse Minnesota website on October 12. The website, that was three years in the making, was made possible thanks to a grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The website launch party and membership celebration was held at Lake Monster Brewery, located at […]
Posted inSports
Opportunities and challenges of aging explored
Head of AARP shared insights from senior group’s research Jo Ann Jenkins, the president/CEO of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and author of the bestselling book Disrupt Aging, sat down in a conference room filled with close to 200 people at the Sabathani Community Center in South Minneapolis for a conversation about aging, […]
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State says it has jobs, needs Black applicants
Representatives from branches of Minnesota State government were invited to the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul to participate as panelists in an employment and business opportunity forum sponsored by the African American Leadership Forum (AALF) on September 10. The panelists were introduced by Jeffery Hassan, executive director for the AALF. Close to 100 people, mostly […]
Posted inArts + Culture
2016 Ivey Awards shines bright light on thriving theater scene
The 2016 Ivey Awards usually attracts a packed house, so this year’s sold-out event was no surprise to those who regularly attend. African Americans were well represented once again during the 12th annual show held at the Historic State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis, September 19. The event was co-hosted by Regina Marie-Williams again, but this […]
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Charity helps put college in reach for hundreds of students of color
Annual Page Education Foundation Gala held at U.S. Bank Stadium The Page Education Foundation is a charity founded in 1988, by Alan Page, the former Minnesota Viking turned Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and now a Pro Football Hall of Famer, along with his wife Diane Sims Page. This year they celebrated another successful year of […]
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Healing a broken life
Author shares her story of overcoming generational trauma At age 41, Beverly Hart is a wife, grandmother, mother, insurance broker, and ordained minister with Recovery Ministries in Brooklyn Park. Through sheer will and determination, she writes of how she overcame the shame and guilt of being a high school dropout who turned to drugs and […]
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PHOTOS | 7th Annual Southside Back in the Day brings together family and friends
The 7th Annual Southside Back in the Day kicked off Saturday, September 3 at Phelps Park in South Minneapolis. People from the Phelps, King, Bryant and Central neighborhoods joined together to enjoy a full day of live music, free food, vendors, games, prizes, special features and each other. The special features also included a professional boxing […]
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Just-B-Solar Camp introduces youth to their future
On August 8-12, from 9 am until noon, close to a dozen youth attended the Just-B-Solar Camp at Shiloh Temple International Ministries (STIM), located at 1201 West Broadway Ave. North in Minneapolis. Sponsors for the solar camp were STIM, Innovative Power Systems (IPS) and Just-B-Solar (JBS). Throughout the week, youth campers were introduced to the […]
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St. Paul YWCA chief sees growth ahead
New State funds create new opportunities Gaye Adams Massey accepted her appointment as chief executive officer (CEO) of the YWCA St. Paul on July 13, 2015. The St. Paul YWCA is an organization known for serving women, men and their families via several programs and services. MSR spoke with Adams Massey about her appointment one […]
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PHOTOS| MAD DADs celebrates fathers and families in North Minneapolis
On Saturday, August 13, during the 26th annual celebration of the Minnesota Festival for Fathers & Families, five-year-old Azariah Hillard and her mother Jennifer Ward were all smiles after winning a brand new bicycle. The event included free food, face painting, and live musical performances along with a variety of vendor tables. The event was […]
Posted inPhoto Galleries
PHOTO | Mandela Day celebrated at Sabathani
On Saturday, July 16 people gathered in the Sabathani Community Center auditorium from 1-4 pm for the third annual Nelson Mandela Day program. Retired Judge LaJune Thomas Lange, who is the honorary consul for South Africa for the State of Minnesota and president of the International Leadership Institute, was the coordinator and host for the […]
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK | Warm weather is good for business
Timothy and his sister Akoi took advantage of the warm weather to set up a family business — a beverage stand in front of their house. They found plenty of takers on this warm Monday afternoon, as construction workers and people walking down the sidewalk strolled on up to the stand for cold juice or water, […]
Posted inLocal & State
Shed G launches TV talent show pilot
On the evening of June 21 in the New Century Theater, located at 615 Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, a studio filled with close to 200 invitation-only guests joined Shedrick Garrett, who produced and hosted the first of a series of television shows for a pilot program entitled The Shed G Show. Garrett, a.k.a. Shed […]
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Walking tour highlights rich Black history in Mpls
The extensive African American historical presence on Minneapolis’ South Side was highlighted on June 28 when from 6:30 to 8:00 pm community members from the Central, Bryant, and Kingsfield South Minneapolis neighborhoods participated in the first annual East 38th Street area Black History Walking Tour. Minneapolis City Council Member Elizabeth Glidden, who represents those neighborhoods, […]
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PHOTOS | Juneteenth 2016 celebrated in North Minneapolis
On Saturday June 18, 2016, the annual Juneteenth Celebration was held at the Mississippi Regional Park in North Minneapolis. Per usual, there were vendor booths like the African American bus drivers of Metropolitan Transit Commission, food vendors and live entertainment for the 300 plus in attendance. The smooth silky voice of singer Ashley DuBose headlined […]
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St. Paul honors Gordon Parks with national memorial
What do you say or do to honor a great legend that hasn’t already been said or done? After 10 years of planning, community engagement and discussions, Forecast Public Art and SoulTouch Productions, in partnership with the City of St. Paul and the St. Paul Riverfront Corporation, marked the official launch of the Gordon Parks […]
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State’s equity bill praised at session recap
Investment in eliminating disparities called a historic first On Thursday, June 9, the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage co-hosted a 2016 Legislative Session Recap in partnership with the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans and the Council on Latino Affairs. The event took place from 5-7:30 pm at the Wellstone Center’s Neighborhood House, 179 Robie […]
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Northsiders resist surge in gun violence
After several shootings in North Minneapolis during the month of April of this year, crime statistics show that violent crime has increased by 11 percent over last year at this time. If you think the residents of North Minneapolis are accepting this violence, then guess again. Saturday, June 4, from 10 am to 4 pm […]