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Posted inTracey’s Keepin' It Real
Strength & Strategy Series – Episode 5: Networking and Mentorship Podcast
In Episode 5 of the Strength and Strategy Series, Tracey’s Keepin’ it Real with Business focuses on networking and mentorship as non-negotiables for long term success. Tracey, Octavia “Tav” Treadway, and Tommy McNeal talk about stepping into Black chambers, community cooperatives, incubators, and peer circles that are built to help you level up. If you have ever felt like you are building your business alone, this episode offers clear steps to move from isolated to supported.
Posted inEvents
Echoes of Unity: Honoring 40 Years of Minnesota’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Echoes of Unity is a special edition created to honor the 40th anniversary of Minnesota’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday celebration. The commemorative publication highlights the history of the event, spotlights community leaders and lifts up the voices continuing Dr. King’s work in neighborhoods, schools and public institutions across Minnesota. Sponsorship opportunities are now open.
Posted inAnother View
Black athletes too often dehumanized, commodified
At United Theological Seminary in St. Paul, first time author and newly tenured professor Dr. Gary F. Green introduced his book “Playing the Game” with a panel that included Minnesota Vikings fullback CJ Ham, scholar Dr. Lakisha R. Lockhart Rusch and United student Tamice Spencer Helms. Together they explored how terms like “beast” and coded commentary about “natural talent” versus “intelligence” shape the way Black athletes are seen, valued and limited, and how Green’s work offers a powerful challenge to those narratives.
Posted inLocal & State
Federal ‘POLICE’ raid on St. Paul business creates fear, confusion
Masked federal agents raided the Bro Tex facility in St. Paul without warning, detaining workers and frightening nearby families. City officials say they had no advance notice and stressed that St. Paul police were not involved. Advocates and civil rights groups condemned the use of unidentified agents and the use of force on protesters, warning that the raid eroded public trust and left immigrant and marginalized communities feeling unsafe.
Posted inLocal & State
National boycott brings Target ‘to its knees’
Days before the holiday shopping rush, civil rights leaders gathered in Minneapolis urging Minnesotans to continue the Target boycott. They argue the retailer rolled back its DEI commitments, harmed Black and immigrant communities, and is now relying on steep price cuts to recover from months of declining sales. Organizers say the boycott will continue until Target recommits to its racial equity promises made after George Floyd’s murder.
Posted inLocal & State
Target’s DE&I pullback leaves Black local suppliers in limbo
Target’s billion-dollar DEI and supplier diversity push helped some Twin Cities Black entrepreneurs secure national shelf space, jobs and new revenue streams. With the retailer now pulling back from those equity commitments, Black-owned businesses and community partners are feeling the ripple effects in hiring, contracts and long-term wealth building, and are left questioning how durable corporate promises to Black communities really are.
Posted inLocal & State
Federal Shutdown Ends and SNAP Benefits Return to Normal Schedule in Minnesota
SNAP and MFIP benefits are officially restored following the end of the federal shutdown. Minnesota families can now access regular payment schedules again. Here is how to apply, renew, replace EBT cards, and use WIC and document drop box locations.
Posted inSister Spokesman
Sister Spokesman presents: Pause. Breathe. Heal.
In a world that rarely slows down, Sister Spokesman continues to be a space where Black women and our broader community gather to learn, uplift one another, and grow stronger together. As we close out the year, we invite you to join us for an afternoon dedicated entirely to mental wellness, intentional rest, and the […]
Posted inAnother View
‘Playing the Game’ calls out stereotyping of Black athletes
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in St. Paul will host a new book launch on Wednesday, Nov. 19, of Rev. Dr. Gary F. Green III’s first book, “Playing the Game: Embodied Brilliance beyond the Moral Limits of Race in Sport” (Fortress Press). Green is a pastoral theology and social transformation associate professor and […]
Posted inDigital Editions
MSR Digital Edition for November 20 – November 26, 2025
The MSR Digital Edition for November 20 – November 26, 2025 is now live. Explore community news, sports, arts, and events. Edition 16, Volume 92.
Posted inSister Spokesman
Spokesman-Recorder aims to expand statewide with Give to the Max campaign
Spokesman-Recorder has launched a Give to the Max Day campaign to raise fifty thousand dollars to expand its community programs and Sister Spokesman events across Minnesota. Early giving is now open.
Posted inBlacklight On Sports
A Conversation with Lawrence Ellis on Leadership, Youth Athletics, and the Future of Minnesota Sports
In this episode of MSR Blacklight On Sports, hosts Charles Hallman and Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald talk with Minnesota sports leader Lawrence Ellis about the evolution of youth athletics, policy decisions influencing access and fairness, and the leadership needed to support student-athletes statewide.
Posted inDigital Editions
MSR Digital Edition for November 13 – November 19, 2025
The MSR Digital Edition for November 13 – November 19, 2025 is now live. Explore community news, sports, arts, and events. Edition 15, Volume 92.
Posted inPolitics
Senator Bobby Joe Champion announces he’ll seek re-election in 2026
Building on historic achievements and continuing work on housing, jobs, public safety, and education Senator Bobby Joe Champion announced today that he will seek re-election in Senate District 59, citing his desire to continue building on a strong record of improving the lives of children, families, and business owners in his district. Champion, the first […]
Posted inObituaries
A Celebration of the Life of Wallace “Jack” O’Neal Jackman
Wallace “Jack” O’Neil Jackman leaves behind a legacy of leadership, humor, and deep community service. As co-publisher of the Minneapolis Spokesman and St. Paul Recorder, he uplifted truth and storytelling. His Celebration of Life will be held November 14 in Saint Paul.
Posted inSister Spokesman
Sister Spokesman honors the “Best of Black Businesses” across Minnesota
Sister Spokesman celebrated Black excellence on Nov. 1 with the 2025 Best of Black Businesses Awards. Honorees in five categories were recognized for their creativity, community impact, and leadership. From food and beauty to wellness and professional services, winners and nominees shared stories of purpose and progress that highlight the strength of Minnesota’s Black business community.
Posted inEvents
Brandon Blackwood and Tricia Hersey headline “The Collective Sum,” a first-of-its-kind equity gathering in Minneapolis
The Collective Sum will bring together 400 changemakers in Minneapolis Nov. 18–20 for a three-day multicultural convening centered on Black joy, creativity, and movement building. Presented by the Black Collective Foundation MN, the event features nationally recognized leaders Brandon Blackwood and Tricia Hersey. Workshops will focus on justice, collaboration, wellness, and community power.
Posted inOpinion
The ongoing abuse of strip searches in Minnesota prisons
Forced strip searches in Minnesota prisons continue despite zero tolerance claims. Advocates and survivors say the degrading practice must end and call for body scanners and accountability.
Posted inPolitics
Court orders Trump Administration to restore SNAP Benefits, but USDA halves November aid
A federal court has ordered the USDA to restore nutrition support for more than 42 million Americans after Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison led a lawsuit over suspended SNAP benefits. The ruling protects thousands of Minnesota families during the ongoing government shutdown, but partial payments raise new concerns.