Brayshaun Gibson, the owner of JunkNMyTrunk Junk Removal, has grown his business from a solo hustle to a structured operation, offering junk removal, demolition, and eventually waste management, while also creating job opportunities for others.
Kiara Williams
Posted inLocal & State
Big Brothers Big Sisters Minnesota expands mentorship, strengthens child safety
Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities emphasizes child safety while expanding its mentorship program, serving more than 2,000 youth across the region with a structured safety framework and community outreach.
Posted inFinance
An expert’s guide to a financially fit future
Andre Creighton, a seasoned CFO and financial wellness expert, is advocating for financial literacy within the Black community to bridge the racial wealth gap, by providing actionable strategies and emphasizing the importance of budgeting, debt reduction, credit management, investing, and risk management.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
The Wellness Paradigm
Kinshasha Kambui founded Wellness Paradigm, a sanctuary for Black people to experience holistic wellness free from judgment or exclusion, after experiencing personal trauma and discovering ancestral wisdom in her healing journey.
Posted inArts + Culture
Minneapolis’ next poet laureate rooted in artistic activism
Junauda Petrus, a Minneapolis-based writer, activist and artist, has been named the city’s new poet laureate, and is set to continue her mission of amplifying Black and queer voices, fostering creative expression, and building community through the power of storytelling.
Posted inEducation
Black Greek organizations stay relevant in changing times
Historically Black Greek Letter Organizations have been pillars of scholarship, service and activism within the Black community since their inception in the early 20th Century, providing leadership, academic excellence, and community empowerment, and continue to shape the next generation of leaders.
Posted inWomen’s History Month
Pioneering neurosurgeon overcame racial and gender barriers
Dr. Alexa Irene Canady made history as the first African American woman neurosurgeon in the U.S., specializing in pediatric neurosurgery at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and leaving an indelible mark on her patients and the medical field.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Nature’s Syrup Beauty
Nature’s Syrup Beauty founder DeVonna Pittman has built a legacy brand by creating products that moisturize natural hair, while also sharing her journey and entrepreneurial advice through her books and lounge.
Posted inWomen’s History Month
Dr. Josie R. Johnson: A legacy of activism and education
Dr. Josie R. Johnson has dedicated her life to education, civil rights, and social justice, earning numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to the movement, including a University of Minnesota award and a Minnesota Secretary of State’s award.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Black Business Enterprises
Nancy Korsah, founder and CEO of Black Business Enterprises, has empowered Black entrepreneurs by creating a community-driven initiative dedicated to supporting and uplifting Black-owned businesses, and has now expanded to include a brick and mortar location in downtown Minneapolis.
Posted inWomen’s History Month
Women of the Harlem Renaissance were pioneers of art, literature and activism
Women such as Marita Bonner, Zora Neale Hurston, Gwendolyn B. Bennett, Jessie Redmon Fauset, Nella Larsen, Bessie Smith, Nina Simone, and Augusta Savage played a vital role in defining the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance, which was a rebirth of Black artistic expression that reshaped American literature, music and art.
Posted inWomen’s History Month
The proud legacy of Minnesota’s first Black woman lawyer
Lena Olive Smith was the first Black woman to be licensed to practice law in Minnesota, and she advocated for fair housing and broke down barriers for the Black community in media, education, and society.
Posted inBusiness
Urban agriculture and the fight for food justice
Black women have long been at the forefront of agriculture, using food as a tool to promote health, wealth, and social change, and are now leading the way in urban farming movements to reclaim land, food, and power for their community.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Route1
Route1, a social enterprise fiscally sponsored by the Social Good Fund, is a Minnesota-based organization that supports emerging farmers of color and promotes health equity by providing fresh produce to marginalized communities.
Posted inMusic
Uplifting music even grandma can appreciate
Minneapolis-based artist Kovan Baldwin is making waves in the music industry with his unique blend of pop, R&B and soul, and his commitment to producing clean, uplifting music that resonates with diverse audiences.
Posted inEducation
The mirror and the myth: How media shapes Black women’s self-image
Black women are hyper-visible in some ways and completely unseen in others, with media portraying them in ways that often honor their full humanity, but also judge and erase them, and they are fighting back by creating their own narratives through social media, independent media outlets, and community-driven storytelling.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Uniting the diaspora through music and culture
Samambo World is a cultural movement that unites the African diaspora through music and community, providing opportunities for artists and creatives to showcase their talents and collaborate with like-minded individuals.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Youngest N Charge
Youngest N Charge founder Lavert Young has transformed his passion for fashion into a successful brand, showcasing his designs at New York Fashion Week and collaborating with international brands, despite facing initial rejections.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Breakfast Bar of MN
The Breakfast Bar of MN in downtown Minneapolis has thrived despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to strong community support and adaptability, and is poised for long-term success with continued community backing and strategic expansion.
Posted inLocal & State
Preserving legacy, Black Doll collection finds a home at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Jeanne Hynes, a passionate doll collector and activist, has donated her extensive collection of Black dolls to the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, ensuring her mission of education and representation continues for future generations.