At the National Kidney Foundation’s 2026 Kidney Walk at Allianz Field, former Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson and retired University of Minnesota professor Oliver Williams shared their journeys with kidney disease and why Black Minnesotans must advocate for their own health.
Health + Wellness
Find stories and resources by some of the state’s top Black physicians that aim to address current disparities in prevention and treatment within our communities.
Posted inTake Care with Nurse Felicia
Well Together: Comfort food was always medicine
As winter sets in, we crave the stews, greens and pot roasts our families have always made. Nurse Felicia Permenter explains how those comfort foods calm the nervous system and support gut health, plus simple swaps to keep your favorite dishes on the healing side.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Forgetting names? How to tell normal aging from dementia
Is it normal aging or something more? Geriatrician Dr. Sharon Brangman explains the difference, why older Black Americans face about twice the dementia risk, and what everyday steps can help. First published by Word In Black.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Confused about insurance? Don’t let it block your mammogram
Early detection saves lives, but worry about cost, coverage and access keeps too many people from booking a mammogram. In this column, Medica’s Dr. Angela Porter and Andrew Marshall explain how coverage works and what to ask before you schedule.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Activists say Hennepin County tracked HERC opponents
Activists working to close the HERC trash burner in North Minneapolis say county records show Hennepin County staff tracked their organizing for years and shared details with the company that runs the facility. One leader demanded two staff members resign. Editor Jasmine McBride has the report.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Black Minnesotans rally for affordable, equitable health care
Black Minnesotans gathered at Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church two weeks before the midterms to demand affordable, quality health care. Faith in Minnesota’s “Our Lives, Not Their Profits” rally featured Attorney General Keith Ellison and state Rep. Cedrick Frazier. Contributing writer Izzy Canizares has the story.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Global report names HERC as Northside pushes closure
The Zero Burn Coalition renewed its call for Hennepin County to close the downtown trash incinerator HERC by the end of 2027, the same day an international report named it one of 20 incinerators worldwide of concern. Board Chair Irene Fernando opposes setting a date without a plan for the trash.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Metro depression rates outpace the nation
About one in four adults in Hennepin and Ramsey counties has been diagnosed with depression, well above the national average, according to CDC estimates. Editor Jasmine McBride looks at what the numbers do and do not show.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Voting under pressure: The 2026 midterms and Black emotional health
With the midterms weeks away, surveys show deep anxiety among Black voters about rolled-back rights and the fairness of elections, and also strong motivation to vote. Psychologists explain the stress and how to cope.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
From advocate to patient: Community health worker shares breast cancer journey at Live, Laugh & Learn
Monisha Washington spent more than a decade helping people navigate health care. Then, at 39, she was diagnosed with breast cancer herself. Editor Jasmine McBride shares her story and the Breast Cancer GAPS Project’s work to close gaps in outcomes for Black women.
Posted inTake Care with Nurse Felicia
Well together: Community as medicine
Chronic stress wears down the body the way weather wears down a house. This health column explains “weathering,” why connection interrupts it, and simple ways to build community that protects your health.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
What fraud, waste and abuse mean for your healthcare
Healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse cost billions annually. Discover how identifying suspicious charges and protecting your insurance info safeguards critical care.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Zero Burn Coalition pushes for stricter HERC monitoring, 2027 closure
The Zero Burn Coalition is demanding stricter emissions monitoring and a 2027 closure date for HERC, Minneapolis’s downtown trash incinerator, arguing annual stack tests miss the pollution spikes that matter most.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Push Fitness triathlon moves to North Minneapolis for seventh year, adds new scholarships
Push Fitness moved its seventh annual triathlon from Lilydale to V3 Sports in North Minneapolis this year, a shift organizers say gives the accessibility-focused event room to grow while closing the fitness access gap for Black communities.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
NorthPoint CEO Kimberly Spates puts patients at the center of care
NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center CEO Kimberly Spates is doubling down on community-driven care, expanding youth mental health support, and creating “One NorthPoint” as new federal laws challenge healthcare access.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Black Americans have doubts about the U.S. food system, new Word In Black survey finds
A new Word In Black report reveals that over 60% of Black Americans don’t trust the safety of their food, while soaring costs push families toward cheaper, less nutritious options.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Push Fitness triathlon moves to North Minneapolis for seventh year, adds new scholarships
Building confidence over competition, the 7th annual Push Fitness sprint triathlon moves to North Minneapolis this year, offering a supportive space for first-time athletes, team relays, and holistic community health.
Posted inEvents
Community Care Sessions return to North Minneapolis
As seasonal shifts begin, neighbors are coming together to create sanctuary in North Minneapolis, offering free bi-weekly wellness sessions.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
As the days shorten, protect your mood and your vitamin D
Nurse Felicia Permenter details how shifting light impacts Black and Brown bodies and provides a clear blueprint to protect your physical and mental health this season.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
After surviving cancer twice, Reona Berry helps Black women navigate breast cancer
Two-time breast cancer survivor Reona Berry has spent 36 years fighting disparities in Black women’s breast cancer outcomes, from co-founding the African American Breast Cancer Alliance in 1990 to the organization’s first Colors of Cancer Health & Wellness Expo in July.