Power of People Leadership Institute celebrates 20 years of community impact, having reached more than 7,000 girls, 1,500 boys and 6,000 formerly incarcerated community members through Girls in Action, Boys of Hope and the RePlanting Program.
Community Voices
Posted inCommunity Voices
Fear, and the mental health impact of the anti-immigration climate on children
Immigrant children mental health crisis in the Twin Cities is described by a Somali therapist who calls for culturally responsive services and community investment as the only genuine response.
Posted inLocal & State
Native Land Pod Hosts Town Hall in North Minneapolis Amid Federal Surge
Native Land Pod hosted a live town hall in north Minneapolis, bringing together community members, elected officials and organizers for discussions on policy, organizing and mutual aid.
Posted inCommunity Voices
Small businesses are the key to economic growth in our community
Small businesses fuel community growth, job creation, and generational wealth. MEDA highlights why investing in BIPOC entrepreneurs strengthens local economies and neighborhoods.
Posted inCommunity Voices
The simple solution parents need to keep up with new apps
City Councilor LaTrisha Vetaw says the App Store Accountability Act would make it easier for parents to stay involved in their children’s digital lives by requiring approval before teens download new apps.
Posted inCommunity Voices
Ujamaa Place helps Black men achieve holistic wellness
Ujamaa Place guides young African American men through a culturally grounded Theory of Transformation. Participants receive individualized coaching, mental health support, fitness and nutrition, and access to 37+ services that lead to housing, education, work, strong family ties, and no justice-system involvement. A digital music program with Walker West Music deepens healing and connection.
Posted inCommunity Voices
End gun violence before more children die
Shanasha Whitson of Mothers Against Gun Violence shares a powerful call to action after the killing of Amarie Alowonle. She demands justice, a crackdown on illegal gun switches, and real investments to end the epidemic of youth gun violence.
Posted inCommunity Voices
Ujamaa Place tackles economic disparities in the Twin Cities
Ujamaa Place is transforming the lives of young Black men in St. Paul by providing education, employment support, and life coaching. Through a holistic model rooted in cultural identity, the organization helps participants build stable, purpose-driven futures.
Posted inCommunity Voices
Federal cuts mean more Minnesotans will go hungry
Second Harvest Heartland says new federal SNAP cuts will harm up to 150,000 Minnesotans. The anti-hunger nonprofit urges residents to speak out and advocate for change.
Posted inCommunity Voices
In case no one ever told you this, you should be a teacher
With fewer than 50 Black men teaching in Minnesota elementary schools, this personal reflection from St. Paul delivers a stirring message: our boys are being lost in a system that doesn’t see them. The solution starts with more Black men in the classroom.
Posted inCommunity Voices
When boldness is the only option, YWCA St. Paul doubles down
As DEI comes under fire, YWCA St. Paul is holding the line on racial and gender equity, focusing its work on housing, health, and economic justice — and calling for urgent support for Black-led nonprofits.
Posted inCommunity Voices
Black men in America are in a state of emergency
As Juneteenth arrives and the memory of George Floyd remains fresh, one Minnesota father calls for renewed focus. The energy of 2020 has faded, but the need for systemic support for Black men and boys remains urgent. It’s time to finish what we started.
Posted inNews
Safe homes for LGBTQIA+ youth
In Minnesota, LGBTQIA+ youth face high rates of homelessness — but programs like Project Live Out Loud are offering hope through affirming housing and care shaped by those with lived experience.
Posted inCommunity Voices
It’s an ‘everyday decision’ to lead
United 4 Youth, a campaign led by ISAIAH, is pushing for a study on the demand gaps and funding for statewide youth programming in Minnesota, with everyday people like Mearra Allen taking responsibility to exercise their power to effect change.
Posted inCommunity Voices
Why are Black men disappearing from HBCUs?
Black men are disappearing from historically Black colleges and universities, which is a systemic issue that starts with traditional schooling and is exacerbated by structural, societal, and peer influences.
Posted inCommunity Voices
How cultural healing confronts disparities
The Cultural Wellness Center, founded by Atum Azzahir, aims to close the gap in health disparities by promoting cultural knowledge and self-determination in African and Indigenous communities.
Posted inCommunity Voices
Ujamaa Place
Ujamaa Place is a St. Paul community organization that provides holistic transformational and stabilizing support services to economically disadvantaged African American men aged 18 to 30, helping them build stable lives and integrate successfully into society.
Posted inCommunity Voices
A grassroots effort to end youth homelessness in MN
The Homeless Youth Act in Minnesota has been a grassroots effort initiated by youth and youth workers to combat youth homelessness, with funding tripled to $41.5 million over two years, and it is estimated that $500 million per year is needed to fully address youth homelessness statewide.
Posted inCommunity Voices
MN’s racial disparities best addressed through financial stability, home ownership
CAPI USA, a nonprofit organization in Brooklyn Center, is working to address racial disparities in homeownership in Minnesota by providing financial counseling, homeownership education, and advocating for policies and initiatives that promote equitable access to homeownership.
Posted inCommunity Voices
Be willing to step into leadership
The “United 4 Youth” campaign, launched by ISAIAH, aims to secure public funding for afterschool and youth programs in Minnesota, recognizing the power of community organizing and agency to create meaningful change.