On Thursday, November 5, the St Paul chapter of the NAACP celebrated its 102nd anniversary with the annual freedom banquet held at the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront Hotel (formerly the Crown Plaza Hotel).
James L. Stroud Jr
James L. Stroud, Jr. is a contributing writer and photographer at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
Posted inHealth + Wellness, Local & State, News
Cancer survivors celebrate being alive
On Saturday, October 17, the African American Breast Cancer Alliance (AABCA) celebrated their 25th Silver Anniversary Gala and Survivors Ball, held at the Marriott Minneapolis West Hotel in St. Louis Park from 5-11:59 pm. “Celebrating Life in Style” was the theme for the evening. Reg Chapman, award-winning journalist of WCCO television, was the master of ceremonies for the evening of dinner, awards, fashion show, exhibitors, and DJ White and The Tangents Band.
If you imagined that the setting was a Hollywood fundraising dinner or on a film set getting ready to shoot the sequel to the movie Cotton Club, then you’re wrong, but very close.
Posted inLocal & State, News
African American woman makes Minnesota history
Dr. Fayneese Miller makes Minnesota history as the first African American and the second woman to hold the position as President of Hamline University. The inauguration was held on October 2, 2015. There was a reception under a large circus-size tent after the ceremony and close to 500 people were in attendance.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Sumner Library celebrates 100 years in North Minneapolis
On Saturday, October 10, 2015, the Sumner Library, located at 611 Van White Blvd. in North Minneapolis, celebrated 100 years of service. It was a typical Saturday in terms of patrons who needed to use the library services. Yet, many took time away from their computer stations to check out the refreshment table of the cookies with “Celebrate 100 Years” written with colorful icing on top.
Posted inNews
Harry Belafonte keynotes St Paul Foundation’s 75th anniversary dinner
On October 8, 2015, The St. Paul Foundation celebrated their 75th anniversary with a private, invitation-only, free dinner at the A’bulae Event Center in St. Paul.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Photo Galleries
PHOTOS | Seward has October 6 Grand Opening
On October 6, Seward Coop’s new Friendship Store officially opened for business on the corner of 38th St. and 3rd Ave. in Minneapolis. Just before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the coop invited the community — an estimated 500 people — to enjoy a bowl of chili, a salad, desert, and a beverage. The festivities also included […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Theater
Minnesota’s theater community celebrates 11th Annual Ivey Awards
African American actors in Minnesota were well represented at this year’s 11th Annual Ivey Awards, held September 21 at the State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis.
From opening to close, the Iveys never missed a beat, with a variety of action on and off the stage.
Posted inLocal & State, News
New Hamline leader makes history
Dr. Fayneese Miller, who has been the dean of the College of Education and Social Services and a professor of leadership and developmental sciences at the University of Vermont for the last 10 years, has been named the 20th president of Hamline University. She is expected to officially take office in historic fashion on July 1, 2015, as the first African American and the second woman president since Hamline University was founded in 1854.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Director leaves Northside Residents Redevelopment Council
In a recent farewell statement dated May 4, 2015, released via the Internet to the Minneapolis community, including the MSR newspaper, Ishmael Israel announced his departure as executive director of the Northside Residents Redevelopment Council (NRRC) effective April 2015.
Posted inLocal & State, News
HIRED gets the job done
The HIRED Program of Minnesota was formed in 1968. Its mission is to provide personalized and innovative work solutions through a wide range of programs located in communities and neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Frustrations run high at HIRE MN meeting
HIRE Minnesota — not to be confused with the HIRED program in Minnesota — hosted a community meeting at the Minneapolis Urban League in North Minneapolis On April 30. According to the email blasts and flyers, the purpose of the meeting was to address the lack of minorities hired on highway construction projects in Minnesota. HIRE MN invited the community to join them in strategizing to address many of the issues and barriers.
Posted inEducation
PHOTOS | MSR’s 20th Annual Grad Celebration highlights
On May 20 the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR), now in its 80th year of publication, and its nonprofit namesake the MSR 501c3, hosted the 20th annual High School Graduation Celebration at the Metropolitan Ballroom located in Golden Valley. As in previous years, the Celebration echoed its traditional theme “Education and Graduation: It’s a family affair.”
Posted inNews
Bloomington’s ‘special presentation’ on Black history involved no Black people
Deb Meyer presented a free “Special Presentation” on the use of quilts by slaves seeking their freedom via the Underground Railroad, but without Black involvement.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Leroy King, Sr. remembers his namesake — King Supermarket — in N. Mpls
On June 24, 1975, almost 40 years ago, Leroy King, Sr. was the founder/owner/operator of King Supermarket.
Posted inLocal & State
Vernon Jordan: Civil Rights Movement was about ‘tearing down walls’
On January 19, the General Mills Foundation and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) partnered once again to cohost the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Breakfast at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Posted inNews
Dr. Crutchfield, III credits parents for his stellar career
In Minnesota, when someone says the name Dr. Crutchfield, most people — especially African Americans from Minneapolis, St. Paul and surrounding areas — assume they mean the legendary obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Charles E. Crutchfield, Jr., a doctor known for the delivery of at least 10,000 Minnesota babies in the Land of 10,000 Lakes over […]
Posted inNews
Mpls native’s memoir becomes a tool to unite community
National Public Radio (NPR) host of All Things Considered and Minneapolis native Michele Norris is returning home for a series of events surrounding the release of her new book, The Grace of Silence. The book is a memoir that tells the story about her family’s experience as the first African American family on their block […]
Posted inNews
MLK Park and ‘Freedom Form #2’ sculpture rededicated
On August 28, 1963, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington. On Sunday August 28, 2011, exactly 48 years later, community members gathered in Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at 4055 Nicollet Avenue South to celebrate the MLK Memorial in Washington, […]
Posted inNews
New program readies men for job-seeking success
Are you an adult male living in the Twin Cities metro area? Are you looking for work, but unable to afford clothing for your next job interview? Do you need to get work-ready? Are you ready to be successful? If you said yes to any or all of these questions, then you might be interested […]
Posted inNews
South Mpls honors Lee family’s stand for Racial Justice
The MSR joined more than 500 participants on July 16 for the Lee Family Commemorative Event in South Minneapolis. We previously reported on the 1931 story of Arthur, Edith and Mary Lee and current community plans to honor the family’s stand for justice (“South Minneapolis reflects on historic racial conflict,” May 19). Those plans finally […]