It is often said that the activity of creating art or music brings people together like few other human activities. For 15 years the mural project, sponsored by Hope Community, has been doing just that by creating murals across South Minneapolis. This includes the history-themed mural on the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder building that is almost completed. This […]
Local & State
A space for original local news with an emphasis on stories pertaining to African Americans
Posted inNews
State says it has jobs, needs Black applicants
Representatives from branches of Minnesota State government were invited to the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul to participate as panelists in an employment and business opportunity forum sponsored by the African American Leadership Forum (AALF) on September 10. The panelists were introduced by Jeffery Hassan, executive director for the AALF. Close to 100 people, mostly […]
Posted inVikings/NFL
Vikings stadium: Boosters see clear benefits where skeptics see more empty promises
Fourth of a multi-series Half the cost of the newly opened Vikings Stadium, known as the “People’s Stadium” before its corporate branding, has come from the people’s money — taxes and related public subsidies totaling more than half a billion dollars. Now is the time to assess just what the people, especially Black people, have received for […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
Charter school envisions educating over half of North Mpls children
Harvest Network called ‘a beacon of hope for the community’ The Harvest Network of Schools promotes community development and education. These concepts are not something new to the schools’ founder and president Eric Mahmoud and his wife, co-founder and executive director Dr. Ella Mahmoud. For them these concepts have always been fundamental. According to Eric, […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
UNCF Empower Me Tour urges youth to own their journey
On September 27 the Minneapolis Convention Center hosted the United Negro College Fund Empower Me Tour sponsored by Fed Ex and Proctor & Gamble and presented by Target. The UNCF Empower Me Tour, created in 2008 by Wells Fargo, brings Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to the Minneapolis-St Paul area. The tour provides on-site […]
Posted inNews
Film Festival celebrates Black cinema in downtown St. Paul
The Twin Cities Black Film Festival (TCBFF) has more than shown its staying power over its 13 year existence. “I feel like I’m always overlooked,” stated Founder and Director Natalie Morrow in a recent MSR phone interview. “This is the 14th year.” As was the case of previous festivals, the 2016 TCBFF will bring to […]
Posted inNews
‘What does justice require’ in Philando Castile case?
That decision now in the hands of Ramsey County Attorney John Choi The Ramsey County Attorney Office announced Wednesday, Sept. 27 that the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) completed its investigation into the police shooting death of the Philando Castile. Ramsey County Attorney John Choi will now decide whether to prosecute St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez in Castile’s […]
Posted inPhoto Galleries
Concert helps raise awareness about gun violence
Project Minnesota hosted “Concert Across America to End Gun Violence,” Sunday, September 25 with goal of raising awareness about gun violence and to encourage lawmakers to passing gun legislation. International Market Square marked the spot for the concert, which was produced by musical great JD Steele. The concert included performances by three popular bands — The R […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
Food shelf worker finds joy in meaningful work
How often can you combine professional goals, personal desire, and get to help others in the process? Saundra L. Holden, program coordinator at Community Emergency Services (CES), does exactly that. “I’m at a place in my life where, if [a position] doesn’t satisfy me personally, I don’t want to do it professionally,” she reflects, relaxing […]
Posted inNews
Vikings stadium payoff: Diverse cleaning crew charged with huge facility’s maintenance
Ed Reynolds Third in a multi-series Half the cost of the newly opened Vikings Stadium, known as the “People’s Stadium” before its corporate branding, has come from the people’s money — taxes and related public subsidies totaling more than half a billion dollars. Now is the time to assess just what the people, especially Black people, […]
Posted inNews
Activists propose upending present policing structure
Other cities explore new visions of public safety The demand for community control of police was placed on the national political agenda in August when over 50 organizations, under the banner of the Movement for Black Lives, adopted the political platform, “A Vision for Black Lives: Policy Demands for Black Power, Freedom and Justice.” The […]
Posted inNews
WNBA president says failure can place you on the path to success
Women and girls are empowered in so many ways, but they must recognize and use their voices and power. Top women executives, including WNBA President Lisa Borders, stressed this on a panel held during the Minnesota Lynx’s first “We Are Women Night” August 28. Borders, Land O’Lakes Group Executive VP and COO Beth Ford, Target […]
Posted inNews
Vikings stadium payoff: What’s the return on our investment so far?
Minority workforce and subcontracting goals were exceeded First of a multi-series Half the cost of the newly opened Vikings Stadium, known as the “People’s Stadium” before its corporate branding, has come from the people’s money — taxes and related public subsidies totaling more than half a billion dollars. Now is the time to assess just […]
Posted inPhoto Galleries
PHOTOS | Muslim residents and supporters march against Islamophobia
Around 200 protesters gathered in front of May Day Books on Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis on Saturday, September 17 to march and protest against Donald Trump and Islamophobia. (Click on photos to open slideshow.) The protest, which lasted roughly two hours, was part of a national call to action issued by Stand Together Against Racism […]
Posted inNews
Charity helps put college in reach for hundreds of students of color
Annual Page Education Foundation Gala held at U.S. Bank Stadium The Page Education Foundation is a charity founded in 1988, by Alan Page, the former Minnesota Viking turned Minnesota Supreme Court Justice and now a Pro Football Hall of Famer, along with his wife Diane Sims Page. This year they celebrated another successful year of […]
Posted inNews
Sabathani Community Center celebrates 50th Anniversary with new playground
A new playground was built for Sabathani Community Center, located at 310 E. 38th St. in South Minneapolis on Friday, September 16. Volunteers from Sabathani and Target took part in the replacement and completion of the center’s 18-year-old playground, as part of celebrating 50 years of service to the community. The project was made possible […]
Posted inNews
VIDEO & PHOTO Highlights | Open Streets: West Broadway in N. Mpls
(See video highlights of Phil McGraw above and more photos below) As one of eight locations across the Twin Cities, Open Streets: West Broadway is a new location on the map this year. On September 10, an area that is often neglected economically, became the center of attention. The event started at Lyndale Avenue and […]
Posted inNews
New Generation Radio serves as pipeline to diversifying media
Program give hands-on experience in audio storytelling New Generation Radio is a series of one-week radio training programs co-sponsored by National Public Radio (NPR) member stations, such as Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), and such journalism and media organizations as the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). It began in the mid-1990s. MPR General Assignment Reporter […]
Posted inNews
Barber keeps legacy of Milo’s on 4th alive in Dinkytown
Milo’s on 4th is a legendary barbershop in the Dinkytown area of the University of Minnesota (southeast Minneapolis), having longstanding and loyal customers since 1969. However, in 2011, many in Dinkytown thought the legendary barbershop, owned by Milo David and Dave Watts, would close down for good, with circulated reports of “finals cuts.” One thing […]
Posted inNews
Making bad cops pay for misconduct
Community weighs pros and cons of police liability insurance Many professionals quite sensibly carry liability insurance. Members of the Committee for Professional Policing (CPP) filed suit August 6 to put on the November ballot a proposal that officers of the Minneapolis Police Department do so as well. Their premise is that if cops have to […]