On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act, ushering in the right for independent living and economic independence for people with disabilities. About 200 people gathered at the Minnesota History Center on July 27 in recognition of 27 years of ADA in Minnesota. Shortly after gathering at […]
Bulletin
A space for announcements, press releases, and information straight from the organizations. The MSR is not responsible for the accuracy of the information presented here. Please contact the organizations with any questions or concerns.
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Technology is the future for children
The Geek Squad conducts a hands-on, two-day training for teens. The project is in its 11th successful year. The first local Geek Squad Academy was held on June 28 and 29 of 2017 at the Best Buy headquarters in Richfield. Andrea Riehl, program manager for Geek Squad Academy Camp, told MSR, “[Our camps] are technology […]
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Kenneth Charles joins U.S. Bank as global talent leader
Kenneth Charles has joined U.S. Bank as a senior vice president of global talent. In this role, Charles will lead the creation of U.S. Bank’s enterprise-wide talent strategy by overseeing all diversity and inclusion initiatives, enterprise engagement, and recruiting functions across the company. Charles joins the bank from General Mills, where he was responsible for […]
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Minnesota Orchestra names two musicians as ‘Good’ fellows following nationwide audition
Myles Blakemore, a trombone player from Dallas, Texas, and Jason Tanksley, a tuba player from Eastpointe, Michigan, have won positions as the Minnesota Orchestra’s first-ever Rosemary and David Good Fellows. The newly-created fellowship is designed to encourage greater diversity in the orchestral field by supporting the career development of outstanding young musicians of African American, […]
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Paisley Park set to host ‘Battle of the Bands’ event
MUSICOLOGY – Summer 2017 will showcase nine live music acts in Paisley Park’s historic Soundstage, alongside new tour exhibits highlighting Prince’s formative years in Minneapolis’s vibrant North Side music community Prince’s Paisley Park in Chanhassen, Minnesota has announced dates for a special four-day Battle of the Bands event, titled MUSICOLOGY – Summer 2017, to be held August 31 through September […]
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Minneapolis Urban League Board elects new chair, officers
The Minneapolis Urban League (MUL) announced June 23 that Mark Ryan, president of Carl Bolander & Sons Construction, was elected chair of the board of directors for a one-year term beginning July 2017. Ryan has served on the board since 2014 and demonstrated strong commitment to MUL’s mission and programs. Ryan’s unanimous election by the […]
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City of Minneapolis approves purchase of Kmart land to reopen Nicollet Avenue
The Minneapolis City Council approved the purchase of Kmart land Friday, ensuring the future reopening of Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street. Plans to reopen Nicollet Avenue at Lake Street have been in the works for some time. According to the City, the idea would be to reconnect neighborhoods, reestablish the street grid and create […]
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Minneapolis City Council passes $15 minimum wage
Large employers have until 2022 to reach $15 an hour; small businesses until 2024 The Minneapolis City Council approved a municipal minimum wage ordinance Friday that requires large employers to pay Minneapolis workers $15 an hour in five years, and small employers to reach the target wage in seven years. Minneapolis becomes the first Midwestern city — and […]
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Mpls NAACP statement on Yanez acquittal in fatal shooting of Philando Castile
Minneapolis NAACP Condemns Yanez Acquittal in Fatal Shooting of Philando Castile The Minneapolis NAACP unequivocally and in the strongest possible terms condemns the acquittal of Officer Jeronimo Yanez on all charges related to his killing Philando Castile during a traffic stop. This decision clearly illustrates the implicit bias and systemic racism that permeates our legal […]
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Mpls. mayor proclaims May 30th as ‘Marsha Pitts-Phillips Day’
Aspiring to pursue what she describes as new adventures, former Director of Public and Media Relations Marsha Pitts-Phillips announced her retirement from Greater Twin Cities United Way capping just over a decade of leadership in communications, public and media relations service with the nonprofit. Her tenure included serving as a strategic communications advisor, and community […]
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Local UNCF welcomes new leader
Sharon Smith-Akinsanya, the former regional development director for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), is pictured above with the incoming area development director for UNCF, Laverne McCartney Knighton. Knighton, who is well known within the philanthropic community, will take over the local office for UNCF in June. Smith-Akinsanya, president and CEO| of the Rae Mackenzie […]
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U. of St. Thomas opens new ‘Family College’ for low-income students
Program aims to reduce higher-education achievement gap in Twin Cities If there is one gift we could give teens for their future, most people agree it would be a college education. But for too many hard-working youth, college seems beyond their reach. In an effort to help reduce the education and prosperity gap in Minnesota, […]
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New partnership aims at increasing teacher diversity
Metro State and Hopkins collaborate to get more teachers of color into schools An ongoing effort by Metropolitan State University and other groups to increase teacher diversity in Minnesota will see fruition with the signing of an agreement that will ease barriers of entry for prospective teachers of color and place them at work in […]
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Misdemeanor Warrant Forgiveness Day at Sabathani Community Center
In collaboration with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Minnesota, Hennepin County District Courts, Hennepin County Public Defenders, Minneapolis City Attorneys and United Way, the Criminal Justice Reform Committee of the Minneapolis Branch of NAACP will host a day where people with active misdemeanor (petty and gross) warrants in Hennepin County will have a free […]
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MSR Top Five | Big Hat Luncheon, Black Women’s Expo and Job Fair & more!
A snapshot of events and happenings around town Eat on the Avenue May 18 (every Thurs. until Sept. 28) | 11 am— 2 pm Eat on the Avenue, sponsored NEON, kicked off May 11 with the goal of engaging the Northside community with a variety of dining options. Enjoy a food truck lane and a […]
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MPHA and Family Housing Fund team up to explore housing vouchers in the Twin Cities
Possible partnership among metro housing authorities would mean greater mobility, opportunity, and choice for low-income families The Family Housing Fund has awarded $300,000 over two years to the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) to explore how the region’s public housing authorities can work together to provide metro-wide mobility for families with housing vouchers (also known […]
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Saint Thomas Christian University-TC Campus’ first commencement
Saturday, May 20, 2017 will be a historical day in Minnesota as it will mark the first Commencement for Twin Cities based Saint Thomas Christian University Twin Cities Campus (STCU-TC), established in 2013 with the inauguration of 12 local pastors as its’ Board of Regents. Judge LaJune Lange officiated the Oath to the Board of […]
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Rally at State Capitol to demand funding for Metro Transit
The Minnesota State Legislature has been trying to push through a budget that does not include enough money for mass transit. That means, if sufficient money is not allocated to Metro Transit, which operates the bus and Light Rail, the Twin Cities will be forced to increase bus and light rail fares by as much […]
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Educator teaches grant writing — A do-it-yourself alternative
Nonprofits and educators are always looking for ways to increase funding for their programs, but many of them lack the skills to write the grants to secure those funds, leaving them to use some of their much-needed resources to pay someone else to do it. Jonathan C. W. Jones meets those needs through his workshops […]
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Makarei Payne-Glass 2017 Miss Pre-teen Midwest Pageant Winner
Makarei Payne Glass is a vibrant 12-year-old girl who has what it takes to win another pageant. She won a pageant last year and was featured in the MSR. This year, she won the 2017 America’s “Little Miss Midwest Pre-teen” Pageant. The event was held at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota, April 7- […]