Rondo Community Land Trust acquires the former Sears site in St. Paul in its largest deal to date, a $10.8 million acquisition of 17 acres vacant since 2019.
Rondo neighborhood
Posted inOn the Radar
On the Radar Podcast: Jamela Pettiford Uses Music to Build Confidence and Community
Singer and educator Jamela Pettiford discusses music, mentorship and her Rondo roots on the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder’s On the Radar podcast.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
The Curl District
Aubriana Jackson, founder of The Curl District, is redefining natural hair care in St. Paul by combining luxury service, healthy curls, and community-centered beauty rooted in Black culture.
Posted inSpecial Edition - Echoes of Unity
Rondo Community Land Trust revives unity and generational wealth in St. Paul
In the Echoes of Unity Special Edition, Rondo Community Land Trust shares how land ownership and housing stability help repair generational harm in Rondo.
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Benjamin E. Mays school adopts Afrocentric focus
Benjamin E. Mays School will launch an Afrocentric education program in 2026, centering culture, identity, and the historic legacy of Saint Paul’s Rondo community.
Posted inLocal & State
St. Paul development corp celebrates its past, reimagines its future
Stage lights glowed warmly over the 825 Arts theater as longtime residents, former staff, and supporters gathered to mark a milestone few community organizations achieve: 45 years of the Aurora St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation (ASANDC). The evening was both a reunion and a call to action, a celebration of endurance amid decades of change […]
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Lip Esteem
Lip Esteem, the Rondo rooted brand by Tameka Jones, is rising fast with plant based cosmetics, new products Double Take and Main Character, and partnerships with pro teams.
Posted inBlacklight On Sports
Benny Roberts on Legacy, Leadership, and Community
The latest Blacklight on Sports podcast spotlights Benny Roberts, Executive Director of the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center. A proud Rondo descendant and St. Paul Central grad, Roberts reflects on his journey from athlete to community leader, preserving history while building pathways to health, wellness, and opportunity.
Posted inArtists
Roosevelt Mansfield honored as June Artist of the Month
Saint Paul artist Roosevelt Mansfield is being honored as Artist of the Month by 825 Arts. His new exhibit Giving Flowers showcases photographic portraits of Rondo community elders, with a public opening on June 22.
Posted inFood
A revitalized Golden Thyme returns
Golden Thyme is back with a new restaurant and bar, led by Rondo Community Land Trust. It’s more than a revival — it’s a reclaiming of community space and cultural legacy.
Posted inLocal & State
St. Paul honors Rondo community leader Juanell Mims
Juanell Mims, a beloved matriarch and lifelong advocate for St. Paul’s historic Rondo neighborhood, was honored with proclamations celebrating her 94th birthday and her extraordinary contributions to the community, while her legacy continues to ripple outward through the creative work of her children.
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Posted inHelp Is Here
Cultural representation improves addiction recovery
Ivan Nelson, executive director of African American Survivor Services, is working to address systemic disparities in addiction and recovery for African Americans, providing culturally competent care and addressing generational trauma.
Posted inLocal & State
MnDOT’s I-94 plans spark debate
MnDOT’s plans for I-94 have raised concerns among community leaders, particularly those representing communities of color, as the exclusion of the At-Grade Fill-In option has been met with frustration and calls for a more fundamental shift in the project’s approach.
Posted inLocal & State
YWCA St. Paul combats inequity
YWCA St. Paul is dedicated to improving the well-being of its community, focusing on racial and gender equity, and has recently partnered with Element Gym to create a comprehensive community health hub and provide childcare services, education, and health resources to Black women and their families.
Posted inLocal & State
Another Rondo in the works?
The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s proposed conversion of Highway 252 into a freeway has sparked concerns from residents and activists about the potential impact on surrounding BIPOC communities, with critics urging the agency to prioritize mass transit and lower speed limits to reduce congestion and improve safety.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
Black Business Spotlight: Element Gym
Element Gym, founded by Dalton Outlaw in 2011, is a multifaceted fitness center that offers a range of programs for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, and is committed to promoting health equity and providing scholarships for individuals who cannot afford the membership cost.
Posted inNews
Anika Bowie’s win part of historic all-women St. Paul City Council election
Anika Bowie wins Ward 1 race, securing St. Paul’s first all-female city council.
Posted inLocal & State, News
10 ways to rebuild: The choice about what to do with I-94 depends on where you liveÂ
‘While we all have the same climate change, economic development. and housing aspirations, it’s important that we look at things in the context of communities along the corridor.’
Posted inLocal & State, News
Rondo Black-owned business seeks customers amid street construction
‘Forty percent of my business is from foot traffic and customers can’t see that I’m still open…’