Yolanda Pierson has been named president and CEO of the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce, bringing decades of leadership and a focus on community connection.
Business
A space to support local, Black businesses, and highlight the everyday dollars and cents issues that impact your wallet and bottom line.
Posted inBusiness
Rib tips with a side of ‘Edina hot’ sauce: Two Minneapolis friends build flourishing barbecue stand
Just Paula’s has become a Minneapolis Farmers Market staple, serving slow-smoked ribs, brisket, and chicken while building community through food, family, and craft.
Posted inArts + Culture
Beyoncé Enters Billionaire Ranks Few Black Americans Have Reached
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has reached billionaire status, marking a rare milestone for Black women in entertainment and highlighting the power of ownership, control, and long-term business strategy.
Posted inBusiness
The Gathered Table Builds Community One Bowl at a Time in Minnesota
The Gathered Table is a Minnesota-based food and community initiative using shared meals to combat isolation and rebuild connection. Founded by Jaylen Lyles, the project centers food, culture, and intentional gathering as a response to the loss of traditional community spaces across the state.
Posted inLocal & State
Our Most-Read, Most-Shared, Most-Impactful Stories of 2025
s we enter 2026, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder reflects on the 15 stories that defined 2025, from urgent breaking news to culture, community, and accountability reporting.
Posted inBusiness
Business forums boast an ‘intentionally Christ-driven agenda’
Iron Forums is a peer community of Christian business owners and leaders creating space for faith, leadership, and accountability, particularly for Black executives and entrepreneurs.
Posted inBusiness
NAACP ‘Stop Dirty Data’ conference probes data center effects
The NAACP hosted a summit highlighting environmental justice concerns linked to the expansion of data centers and their impact on Black, brown, and low-income communities.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Five-Star Chuck: A locksmith built on trust
One early winter morning in Oakdale, Minnesota, the cash drawer at a HomeGoods jammed shut with the night’s revenue locked inside. Management needed it opened immediately. The call went to one man: “Five-Star Chuck.” Less than an hour later, Charles “Chuck” Bradley was on site, opening the drawer with practiced precision. The store opened on […]
Posted inLocal & State
Target’s DE&I pullback leaves Black local suppliers in limbo
Target’s billion-dollar DEI and supplier diversity push helped some Twin Cities Black entrepreneurs secure national shelf space, jobs and new revenue streams. With the retailer now pulling back from those equity commitments, Black-owned businesses and community partners are feeling the ripple effects in hiring, contracts and long-term wealth building, and are left questioning how durable corporate promises to Black communities really are.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
SOAR Stretch Therapy connects the dots
Roseann Stewart, better known as “The Stretch Lady,” has made it her mission to transform how Minnesotans think about wellness. Through her business, SOAR Stretch Therapy, she helps clients manage pain, improve mobility, and preserve long-term health. Stewart works with people recovering from injuries or surgeries, as well as those navigating aging joints, swelling, or […]
Posted inBusiness
Nominations Now Open for MN Rising Professionals 35 Under 35
Nominations are now open for the MN Rising Professionals 35 Under 35, a statewide recognition honoring young leaders who are shaping Minnesota’s future through vision, innovation, and impact. The annual program celebrates emerging professionals and entrepreneurs from across industries who are driving progress, fostering equity, and building stronger communities. From business and technology to education, […]
Posted inBusiness
Mpls BIPOC-owned businesses call city contracting unfair
The Minneapolis Small Business Forum at the Mosaic Venue, originally scheduled for last weekend, was rescheduled to Thursday, October 30, after State Sen. Omar Fateh had a family emergency. Mayor Jacob Frey, who did not attend the initial session, was also absent from the rescheduled event, citing growing campaign demands. The forum underscored how the […]
Posted inBusiness
St. Paul small businesses face uncertainty amid federal rule changes
Small businesses owned by women and people of color in St. Paul are bracing for tougher times after a recent federal rule quietly changed how equity programs operate. Earlier this month, The U.S. Department of Transportation ended the practice of automatically recognizing women and racial minorities as “socially disadvantaged” under the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise […]
Posted inBusiness
Bank of America ups its minimum wage to $25
Bank of America has raised its U.S. minimum wage to $25 per hour, setting a new industry benchmark and expanding career pathways for entry-level employees while strengthening its commitment to inclusive growth across Minnesota.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
ProVisionAry Childcare
ProVisionAry Childcare in North Minneapolis brings cultural pride and community care together. Founder Danielle Tucker’s Afro-centric, home-based program focuses on faith, inclusion, and affirming every child’s identity.
Posted inBusiness
New Habitat ReStore opens in Brooklyn Park
A new Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore has officially opened its doors in Brooklyn Park, offering affordable home improvement items, including donated, new, and gently used home goods. This marks the third ReStore in the Twin Cities and the first in the northwest metro area. Beyond budget-friendly furniture and appliances, proceeds from ReStore sales […]
Posted inBusiness
Joblessness spiking among Black women
Upcoming job fair addresses this emerging crisis Terace Johnson has her pulse on Minnesota’s employment picture. As CEO of Spotlight Staffing, Johnson heads a business that specializes in recruiting employees for multiple industries, including health care, finance, accounting, skilled labor, manufacturing and education. She’s spotting a trend that deeply concerns her. “I’m seeing a growing […]
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Essential Salt Spa
After a 40 minute session changed her breathing and sense of smell, Greta Sher opened Essential Salt Spa in Minneapolis. The spa’s dry salt therapy circulates pharmaceutical grade sodium chloride to help clear airways and calm skin conditions. Sher says halotherapy supports, not replaces, treatment plans and is part of a more affordable, inclusive approach to wellness.
Posted inBusiness
Funders pool resources to address urgent needs
A new MN Forward Pooled Fund is directing $1.35 million to Minnesota nonprofits. Twenty seven groups received $50,000 each, with a focus on smaller, high impact organizations statewide, including the New Justice Project.
Posted inBusiness
Cast Your Vote Today: Recognizing Black Business Excellence in the Twin Cities
Public voting for the Best of Black Businesses Twin Cities is open. Select winners in five categories and help spotlight Black-owned excellence. Vote daily at spokesman-recorder.com/best-black-owned-businesses-2025.