First Independence Bank, the Twin Cities’ first Black-owned full-service bank, opened a new St. Paul location at 627 University Avenue West on June 24, bringing banking services to the Frogtown and Rondo neighborhoods with a mission to close the racial wealth gap.
Rondo
Posted inLocal & State
Elders reflect on struggle, survival and hope at Juneteenth brunch
Black Lives Matter Minnesota gathered elders, advocates and community members for a Juneteenth morning brunch honoring Valerie Castile, Jeweliean Jackson and others who have carried the movement, with MSR CEO and Publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard also recognized with a Celebrating Revolutionary Sistas award.
Posted inSports
 From Rondo to Cooperstown: St. Paul Honors David Winfield With BronzeÂ
A bronze statue of Baseball Hall of Famer David Winfield now stands at Toni Stone Field in St. Paul, honoring the Rondo native and 22-year MLB veteran who credits his upbringing in the heart of St. Paul’s Black community as the foundation for everything that followed.
Posted inOn the Radar
Emmy Award-Winning Artist PaviElle French Is Rooted in Rondo and Building for the Future
On the Radar host Damenica Ellis sits down with Emmy-winning Rondo native PaviElle French for a deep conversation about grief, sovereignty, community, and decades of creative work rooted in the heart of Black Minnesota.
Posted inLocal & State
Rest in Power: Minnesota Loses a True Warrior in Yusef Mgeni
Yusef Mgeni obituary honors the Black Minnesota historian, community organizer and St. Paul NAACP leader whose generational legacy will echo for decades to come.
Posted inEducation
St. Paul’s Benjamin E. Mays school to launch afrocentric program this fall
St. Paul Benjamin E. Mays Afrocentric program launches this fall in the Rondo neighborhood, teaching through Black history and centering African American student excellence.
Posted inEducation
The education of a community: Carl Walker’s lasting impact
Carl Walker Walker West Music Academy legacy spans more than five decades of music education, spiritual leadership and grassroots community care in the Twin Cities.
Posted inOn the Radar
Kevin Washington’s musical journey from Detroit to Walker West
Kevin Washington isn’t just a jazz drummer; he is a musical vessel for Black music. From his Detroit upbringing to his Minneapolis residency, Washington blends funk, gospel, and punk rock to create a spiritual experience he calls “the source.”
Posted inOn the Radar
Poet and Cultural Producer Tish Jones Celebrates 20 Years of True Art Speaks
Poet and educator Tish Jones joins MSR’s On the Radar to discuss the True Art Speaks 20th anniversary, poetry and community work in the Twin Cities.
Posted inOn the Radar
Through Song and Stage, Minnesota singer builds confidence, courage and legacy
Jamela Pettiford, inspired by gospel legend Mahalia Jackson, has spent her life performing, teaching, and empowering others through music. From stage performances to community programs in Saint Paul, she blends neo-soul, gospel, and classical trap to inspire resilience and confidence in youth and the Black community.
Posted inSpecial Edition - Echoes of Unity
Dr. Artika Tyner: Building unity through education and community leadership
In the Echoes of Unity Special Edition, Dr. Artika Tyner shares how education, culture, and kinship networks empower leadership and strengthen communities across generations.
Posted inEducation
Rondo elder urges action on literacy
Rondo community elder Mary K. Boyd has dedicated her life to education and child development, drawing on decades of experience as a teacher, administrator and community advocate. Born and raised in the historic Rondo neighborhood, Boyd built a career shaped by connection, mentorship and a belief that every adult has the power to help children […]
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Combs inducted into Harding Hall of Fame
St. Paul legend Henry Combs was inducted into the Harding High School Hall of Fame. The longtime Breeze coach and mentor to athletes like Juriad Hughes Jr. and Sade Pollard was also honored with a city Henry Combs Day.
Posted inFashion
Love First hosts first-ever youth fashion show
Love First hosted its first youth fashion show, a celebration of creativity and confidence tied to programs that support HBCU access, youth-led safety, and leadership for Black girls across the Twin Cities.
Posted inArts + Culture
825 Arts honors legacies of elder changemakers
The Frogtown Arts Festival returns August 16 with a tribute to community legacies and the opening of the new 825 Arts creative hub.
Posted inArts + Culture
Walker|West celebrates its new Rondo home
A new era has begun for Walker|West Music Academy. On a sunny spring afternoon last week, the beloved Rondo-based institution opened its doors to the public for a ribbon-cutting and celebration at its brand-new home, located at 650 Marshall Avenue in St. Paul. The grand opening event drew students, alumni, community members, and local leaders […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Youth-led festival confers real-world responsibilities
825 Arts, a nonprofit community arts space, is turning creativity into collective power by hosting events such as the annual Speak Out and Lead Youth Arts Fest, which is led by youth and provides opportunities for all generations to learn and express themselves.
Posted inLocal & State
Hallie Q. Brown Center’s 96 years inspire an ambitious vision
The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center celebrated its 96th anniversary and announced plans for a 25,000-square-foot expansion to address pressing community needs such as health disparities, food insecurity, and environmental justice.
Posted inEvents
Rooted and resilient: An environmental justice celebration
Join us at 825 Arts on April 2, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM for a historic gathering of three generations of Black environmental justice leadership to explore how collective wisdom, advocacy, and action can guide the ReConnect Rondo initiative and turn historical harm into a foundation for a thriving, sustainable community.
Posted inEvents
A Culinary Journey: Stories Behind the Menu Brings Flavor and Legacy to Minneapolis
On February 20, Stories Behind the Menu will offer a fusion of flavors, culture, and storytelling at an exclusive 4-to-5-course dinner hosted by Chef Darren Hayes and entrepreneur Tommy McNeal, celebrating the culinary arts and the people behind them.