Federal restaurant raid draws protests, demands
By Chris Juhn Contributor Writer
ays after a largescale federal raid at a Lake Street restaurant sparked protests and fear of immigration enforcement, questions remain about the nature of the operation and the role of local law enforcement.
On June 3, multiple federal agencies executed a search warrant at Taqueria y Birrieria Las Cuatro Milpas, located in the heart of Minneapolis’s Mexican business district. Community members described what appeared to be an “ICE raid,” prompting a swift response from protesters who confronted law enforcement on the scene.
Video posted on social media showed agents and officers — some wearing masks and lacking clear identification — pushing protesters aside as an unmarked van with darkened windows departed the area. Some protesters threw objects in the vehicle’s path. Law enforcement deployed chemical irritants, pepper balls, and Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs), a sound-based crowd-control technology, to disperse the crowd. The strong federal presence, including agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and local law ■ See RAID on page 5
With Black history under assault, Givens Collection more precious than ever A new exhibit honors this legacy
By Jasmine McBride
Associate Editor
he Givens Collection of African American Literature and Life
marks its 40th anniversary this month in 2025 with a sweeping exhibit and a renewed call to community: to remember, reclaim, and reimagine the power of Black cultural mem-
ory in Minnesota.
Housed in the Elmer L. Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota, the Givens Collection is one of the most comprehensive archives of African American literature and cultural history in the Upper Midwest, spanning more than 250 years. To honor this legacy, the university will unveil a major exhibit on Oct. 23 titled “The Circle Unbroken,” celebrating 40 years of community stewardship and the Givens Collection.
“This isn’t just about books,” said the collection’s curator, Davu Seru, who recently took up the role after years of working with the collection as a graduate student and community researcher. “It’s about the people who ensured the
Safe homes for LGBTQIA+ youth
By Maggie Nagle
n Minnesota, LGBTQIA+ youth, especially transgender and nonbinary youth, face disproportionately high rates of homelessness. Although they represent a smaller share of the population, they account for nearly one in four youth experiencing homelessness across the state. The causes are often rooted in family rejection, economic hardship, housing discrimination, and limited access to gender-affirming health care.
A study by the Wilder Foundation found that 76% of LGBTQIA+ youth under 20 cited family conflict as a primary reason for their homelessness. For many, the very place that should be a source of safety becomes a site of trauma.
When compounded by racism, ableism and poverty, LGBTQIA+ youth, particularly youth of color, are left with few safe places to turn. But in the Twin Cities, queer youth aren’t just surviving — they’re leading.
Centering lived experience
At The Link, a Twin Cities nonprofit serving youth and
families impacted by poverty and systemic injustice, young people with lived experience are at the center of the organization’s work. Through
a model of youth and adult co-leadership, those most affected by homelessness help shape the programs designed to support them.
“How else would anyone know how to deal with it, if it wasn’t for the people who already went through it?” said Airreyonna, a former program participant and current youth leader. “I think The Link is one of the best things that can happen to Minnesota — because you got youth running it.” That philosophy led to the creation of Project Live Out Loud (PLOL) in 2016, one of the first housing programs in the country specifically for LGBTQIA+ youth, and still one of only a few in Minnesota. The idea was sparked when a young person approached CEO Beth Holger to highlight the urgent need for affirming,
The Givens Collection holds Black archival history dating back to 1773. All photos courtesy of Jasmine McBride/MSR
Run Blk inspires ‘come as you are’ communal fitness
By Binta Kanteh Contributing Writer
Running clubs in metropolitan areas like Minneapolis have a long history in the United States, shaped over the decades by shifting fitness trends and growing popularity.
According to World Athletics, a nonprofit governing body for the sport, running clubs saw a significant surge during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic as people sought ways to combat isolation and build connection.
Running typically doesn’t come with the same barriers to entry as other sports — it’s low cost, requires minimal equipment, and can be done almost anywhere. But for many, concerns about safety and social intimidation can make running outside feel inaccessible.
In summer 2024, a running club called Run Blk was formed to address that gap. With the motto “Community for anyone looking to get active,” the group offers something that feels new to many across the Twin Cities: an accessible, inclusive running
space intentionally created with Black community members in mind.
Bria Black, originally from Louisiana, moved to North Minneapolis seven years ago.
She created Run Blk after recognizing that most running clubs weren’t welcoming to beginners or people looking for connection rather than competition.
“I went to a few run clubs. They didn’t really feel inclusive to people who are not extreme runners,” Black said.
“And then after the run, everybody just kind of went home.
I was craving community and connection with Black people.”
Down Coffee Co.
Among the crowd was Taelor Wright, a nurse and avid runner, who brought her mother, Amy Wright, a retired nurse visiting from Wisconsin. “I’m a runner, and she’s a walker,” Taelor said. “It’s hard for us to find spaces like this where some people are running and some are walking.”
“I think it’s important to know that there are people out here that can support you and will support you, and that are willing to go the extra mile for you,” Amy added. “With this group, we get that. I think it’s very important to have this.”
Kahlil Permenter, a chiro-
Inspired to fill that void, Black launched Run Blk in June 2023.
Founded with roots in North Minneapolis, the club quickly gained momentum as word spread about a space where Black runners and walkers of all levels were welcome.
Now in its second year, Run Blk kicked off its summer season the evening of June 3 with a gathering outside The Get
practor based in Burnsville, attended the event to show support and celebrate what Run Blk means to the broader Black community in Minnesota. “It’s super important because of imagery. We need to see more of this on the news,” Permenter said.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie here, a lot of community. We’re building something good. It’s nothing but positive
on the North Side is huge. We need this.”
As the group took off for their run or walk, cheers rang out for Aaisha Abdullahi, who ran the entire time. After finishing to applause and music outside The Get Down, she caught her breath and smiled.
“I enjoy running. Being able to do it with other people from a similar background is something I really wanted to find community in,” Abdullahi said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to stay physically active.
People have been so welcoming — it’s been great to just be here and participate.”
Black, who ran her first 10K this year, only began running
mountain biking, swimming and pickleball, emphasized that Run Blk welcomes people at every fitness level.
“There’s a little bit of everybody here,” he said. “I ran with a marathon runner today. She slowed her pace to let me keep up and motivated me the whole time. It was great to have someone in better shape to encourage me.”
The opportunity to meet people and build friendships is what keeps members coming back — and attracts new ones.
“I came to almost every single one last summer,” Taelor said.
“I met people who are back here today. I met people I’m now friends with on Instagram.
By Jasmine McBride
Associate Editor
On the heels of Juneteenth and at a time of deep division and generational pain, Coming to the Table, a national racial healing organization, will hold its 2025 National Gathering in St. Paul from June 12 to 15, drawing participants from across the country into a shared space of truth-telling, reconciliation and repair.
Founded in 2006, Coming to the Table (CTTT) brings together descendants of both
enslaved people and enslavers. The work is rooted in restorative justice, circle process, historical reckoning, and trauma healing.
“There are a lot of white folks that come to the table because they feel guilty about their family’s past,” said Tom DeWolf, co-manager of CTTT and author of “Inheriting the Trade.”
“If guilt brings you to the table, that’s fine. Now how do you get over yourself so you can actually do the work?”
vibes. More people need to see this. It’s also good for us — for our health, our mindset, our metabolic systems. It’s about our community, just showing that and representing it.”
That emphasis on health and wellness is especially exciting to fitness professionals like Valerie Fleurantin, known as Coach Val, who founded VF Health Fitness Solutions to address health disparities among communities of color.
last year. A product manager and storyteller by day, she envisions Run Blk’s future evolving into a community-led organization.
“I’m a fitness instructor and also work as a lifestyle coach for disease prevention,” Fleurantin said. “Seeing all of us — this Black community — come out, enjoy the sunshine, walk together, build community, hype each other up, and support Black-owned businesses
members are white, often older, but the organization has a significantly higher proportion of Black members than the national average. Still, many Black participants disengage after a time, he said, frustrated by white members’ emotional processing.
“That’s why we center trauma healing,” said Dr. Giavanni Washington, who is transitioning in behind DeWolf, who is off to retirement. “Guilt is in the body. Trauma is in the body. And until we understand that, we’ll keep missing each other.”
Both DeWolf and Washington have trained in Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR), a program developed after the Sept. 11 attacks to support survivors and responders through embodied healing. They say its global framework is central to the gathering’s approach.
The St. Paul location is intentional. Though past gatherings were held in Virginia, where the organization was
“Hopefully people feel like it’s not owned by me, but by them — as a community,” she said. “If I’m not able to host, hopefully somebody feels connected enough to the mission to host their own. I hope it expands. More people. More runs. More locations. More moments. I hope it becomes something that belongs to all of us.”
Permenter, who also enjoys
born, CTTT has shifted to regional rotations. Following its 2023 event in Oakland, Minnesota was chosen for its active local chapters and its legacy of both racial harm and justice work.
“We recognize the social justice fire that exists in Minneapolis,” Washington said, pointing to the Rondo neighborhood, the police killings of Philando Castile and George Floyd, and broader movements for Black and Native liberation.
“Place matters,” echoed DeWolf.
The gathering opens with a sacred sites tour led by Jim Bear Jacobs of the Minnesota Council of Churches. A Native cultural educator, Jacobs will guide participants through key locations across the Twin Cities, examining the deep ties between land, memory and violence.
Throughout the four-day event, the circle process will shape most discussions. In this Indigenous-rooted model, participants speak one at a time as a symbolic “talking piece” is passed, encouraging listening over reaction.
“There’s something that
I’ve definitely made some deep connections here. Even today, some of my friends are back. They’re in the running group; I’m walking today, but it’s still nice to say hi and know someone here.”
Run Blk meets every first and third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. outside The Get Down Coffee Co. To learn more, follow @runblk on Instagram.
Bintah Kanteh is a contributing writer for MSR with interest in public policy and local immigrant communities.
happens when someone says something that offends you, and you have to sit on your hands and listen anyway,” Washington said. “Circle builds your muscle for discomfort. It teaches you discernment.”
To prevent escalation during difficult conversations, CTTT incorporates “mindful moments” before sessions and offers community agreements, known as “touchstones.” These include practices like confidentiality, bringing one’s whole self, and the use of “ouch and oops” language to name and address harm.
“It may sound woo-woo,” DeWolf said of the mindfulness exercises, “but they work. We haven’t had a blowup at a national gathering since we started them.”
Coming to the Table’s work is grounded in four pillars: uncovering history, making connections, healing trauma, and taking action to dismantle racism. While some critics ask for more direct activism, Washington and DeWolf emphasize that internal healing is necessary for sustainable change.
“Coming to the table is easy,” DeWolf said. “Staying at the table is the hard part, and the most important part.”
They agree that the impact of this work is growing reconciliation fostered through truth, unity, accountability, and most importantly, healing.
Registration for the 2025 National Gathering is open through June 11. For more information, visit www.comingtothetable.org.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com
Tom DeWolf All photos courtesy of Coming
Dr. Giavanni Washington
Participant Mika Dashman at the Oakland 2023 Coming to the Table gathering
Participant Kahlil Permenter
Founder Bria Black says the lack of cultural reflection in local Twin Cities run clubs inspired her to create Run BLK.
Valerie Fleurantin (Coach Val), founder of VF Health Fitness Solutions, leading a warm-up.
— it’s a response to pain.”
Anything Helps builds trust through simple acts of care
Sponsored by
By Jasmine McBride Associate Editor
On the North Side of Minneapolis, where overdose rates remain among the highest in the state, a small building on Lowry Avenue serves as a lifeline. Inside, people gather not for treatment or a lecture, but for something much simpler: dignity.
There’s warm food, a working shower, and a quiet space to rest. There’s music, laughter, a load of laundry spinning in the back. There’s no intake form at the door, no clipboard. Just someone like Emanuel Roberts saying, “Welcome.”
Roberts, the executive director at Anything Helps, knows what it means to feel invisible. For nearly a decade, he has been in recovery from substance use. Before that,
he spent time incarcerated, in shelters, and on the streets. When he walked out of prison, he said, he knew two things: He needed to change, and he didn’t want to change alone.
“I just love the recovery space,” Roberts said. “I wanted to build something for people like me — people who’ve been told they’re too far gone, that they’re a problem to be solved.”
Founded three years ago, Anything Helps is a nonprofit grounded in harm reduction and peer support. The organization opened its current drop-in center a little over a year ago in the 55412 ZIP code, an area long marked by underinvestment and systemic neglect.
While Minnesota recently reported an 18% decrease in opioid-related deaths statewide, that number doesn’t tell the whole story. “It’s progress,” Roberts said, “but that’s across the whole state.
“Here on the North Side, we’re still seeing some of the worst disparities in overdose deaths, in housing, and in health. A lot of organizations don’t survive here. We’re trying to change that.”
A center that feels like community Walk into Anything Helps during open hours — Tuesday
through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., or Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — and you won’t find the fluorescent chill of a typical clinic. Instead, you’ll find what Roberts calls “personcentered care.”
“We don’t treat people like patients,” he said. “We eat together. We laugh. We watch TV. If you’re not ready for a medical appointment, we don’t force it — but we have an exam room ready when you are.”
That trust-based approach, he says, is what builds bridges. Staff provide harm reduction supplies, safe sex kits, food, laundry, clothing, and peer counseling. But they also provide space to sit with hard emotions, to cry, to decompress, to not be “on.”
“People are people, no matter where you go,” Roberts said. “And we all have something we’re trying to cope with. Addiction isn’t a moral failure
He knows the pain firsthand. From the age of 16, Roberts cycled in and out of the circumstances that homelessness brings. He spent time in encampments, including near the Dorothy Day Center, and struggled to find providers who truly saw him.
“I didn’t feel comfortable in hospitals,” he said. “I didn’t understand how to navigate health care. I’d watch my family members struggle with CPS or addiction, and I didn’t know how to talk about it.”
That’s one reason he’s so committed to changing the culture of care. He wants Anything Helps to be a place where people can be vulnerable without fear of judgment. A place that meets them exactly where they are.
“People are people, no matter where you go.”
Meeting people where they are
That philosophy, radical acceptance, shapes every part of the work. “Not everyone who’s unhoused is using,” Roberts said.
“I met a young guy recently. He lost his dad, and his mom couldn’t cope. The bills lapsed. They lost housing. Then came the drugs — not before.
“Every story is different. But people hear ‘addiction’ and think ‘bad choices.’ No, these are just human beings having human experiences.”
The organization’s low-bar
rier model makes it easier to build relationships with those who may not feel safe seeking traditional care. That includes youth — especially Black and brown youth — who may be dealing with untreated trauma,
stigma around mental health, and a lack of emotional support.
“There’s a strong correlation between unprocessed pain and substance use,” Roberts said. “We don’t talk enough about mental health. A lot of young people don’t know how to express grief or anger. They’re not taught how to process emotions.”
Through group events, one-on-one conversations, and simple acts of care — like sharing a hot meal — Anything Helps opens those doors.
“It starts with honesty,” he said. “If we have trust, we can get to work.”
Drop the judgment Still, Roberts acknowledges the challenges. Funding is scarce. Most grants go to larger, more established organizations, often in other parts of the city. The North Side, he says, is too often seen as a last stop.
“The narrative is that this is where people go to die,” Roberts said. “But we’re not here to die. We’re here to live. We’re here to survive and to thrive. That’s what Anything Helps is about.”
And while the work is exhausting, it’s also healing. “For me, it’s spiritual,” Roberts said.
“Recovery gave me my life back. Now, I get to give something back every day. Even if it’s just offering someone a sandwich and a safe place to sit. That matters.”
As for what the public can do? Roberts says the answer is simple: drop the judgment.
“We all have our vices,” he said. “If you see someone struggling, don’t assume the worst. Ask what they need. And remember that anything — anything — can help.”
For more information, visit www.anythinghelps.org.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Anything Helps is located at 3859 Fremont Ave N.
Black Business SPOTLIGHT
By Jasmine McBride Associate Editor
For Bright Nfor, founder of the natural skincare brand BrightRay, wellness is more than a trend — it’s a legacy.
“BrightRay has always been part of the family,” Nfor said in a recent interview. “Growing up in Cameroon, my mom always tried to get the best for us. My grandfather struggled with strokes, and we used natural oils and ingredients to care for his body and skin.”
Though rooted in family traditions, BrightRay officially launched five years ago as a commercial brand, combining West African heritage with modern skincare needs. Its signature products — triplebutter body butters made with shea, mango and cocoa butters — are now sold online and at local retailers like Owow Beauty Supply in Brooklyn Center.
The idea came from both tradition and necessity.
“I hit that stage as a young adult when you’re always trying to be trendy with skincare, and it’s not always good for your skin — or your wallet,” Nfor said. “So I went back to what I knew, started formulat-
ing with family, and focused on what really works.”
BrightRay’s body butters come in four variations:
• Monet, a pomegranate mango blend and bestseller, known for its soft, uplifting scent
• Noble, formulated with olive oil for extra hydration,
and spotlighted in June as a Father’s Day gift — $5 off for Men’s Mental Health Month
• Mouna, designed for kids, with gentle ingredients and anti-inflammatory essential oils
• AuraSilk, an unscented blend ideal for sensitive skin, pregnant women, and daily use
All products are pregnancysafe, free from harsh chemicals, and made with ethically sourced ingredients from Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
“I
came through thoughtful discussion and prayer, chosen for its inclusivity.
“We wanted something that didn’t confuse people — not a bleaching brand, but something that says light, love and wellness for everyone,” she said. “Everybody deserves a bright day and a radiant life.
“Self-care is the start of everything,” Nfor said. “When you feel good, you look good, you attract better. It all
I
started formulating with family, and focused on what really works.”
One key ingredient in many formulations is ylang ylang essential oil, which Nfor praises for its stress-relieving and mood-lifting properties.
“Five years ago, the world was down,” she said. “But for me, that year was probably the best of my life — because of what I was putting on my body. Ylang ylang lifts you emotionally. It’s about giving people tools for self-love and care.”
Though Nfor is the sole founder, she credits a collaborative support network — family, friends, and mentors — with helping shape the business. The name “BrightRay”
starts with loving on yourself.”
BrightRay is currently expanding into sugar scrubs and massage oils, continuing its mission of holistic natural care.
BrightRay will appear at an upcoming event: Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church’s Homecoming Block Party in Minneapolis June 15, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., free and open to the public.
Products are available online at www.brightray.org.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.
BrightRay produces four natural body butters.
Founder Bright Nfor with product
All photos courtesy of BrightRay
enforcement, fueled fears that immigration enforcement was underway.
In a press conference the following day, Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt said “What’s important for people to know is that yesterday’s incident was one of 8 search warrants for a transnational criminal organization.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed that agencies from across the country were brought in to execute the warrants for suspected drug and human trafficking.
The Lake Street location was the only enforcement site within Minneapolis.
“I did the best to learn what was happening and to get accurate information,” said O’Hara. “There was a number of law enforcement agencies involved. And it was a task force, and I didn’t even know that task force was operating. I
GIVENS
Continued from page 1
collection came to this university, and the broader tradition of African American leadership that made it possible.”
Rooted in community power
The Givens Collection came to the university in 1985, thanks to a coalition of Black Minnesotans who invested not only money, but also long-term vision. Families including the Givens, Sayles Belton, Johnson, Jones, and Estes families were among those who answered the call — issued by Dr. John S. Wright, a founding professor of African American and African Studies at the U of M.
“The Givens Collection didn’t just show up here. It was brought here by people who knew what it could mean for future generations,” Seru said.
“People like Sharon Sayles Belton, Josie R. Johnson, and Archie Givens Jr. made sure that this was not a collection hidden in the stacks, but one that served the wider community.”
In fact, the exhibit’s title, “The Circle Unbroken,” reflects
COMMUNITY
Continued from page 1
youth and staff collaborated to design a program where LGBTQIA+ youth could access housing and care free of fear, judgment or harm — something made by and for them.
Project Live Out Loud (PLOL)
For LGBTQIA+ youth experiencing homelessness, having a safe place to live means more than just a roof overhead, it means the freedom to live openly and authentically. At Project Live Out Loud, youth are given the stability to breathe, heal, and begin again.
PLOL offers long-term, private apartments with rental support, allowing youth to avoid returning to homelessness. Participants are surrounded by trained, affirming adults who celebrate their identities. For many, it’s the first time they have felt truly seen and safe.
With that foundation, youth are able to pursue goals in education, employment, gender-affirming health care, and mental and physical wellness.
Chief O’Hara said he was initially unaware of the task force’s specific activities and later added that MPD officers responded only after the raid, when protesters allegedly attacked a resident’s vehicle.
“The police had to respond later in the day because some protesters that were remaining had surrounded a resident’s vehicle and were damaging the vehicle, refusing to let them go,” he said.
tions or agreements with federal agencies.
2. An immediate city resolution reaffirming sanctuary city policies and stricter enforcement of non-cooperation policies across departments.
3. A public apology and direct engagement with affected community members and businesses, along with an end to MPD’s participation in joint operations involving ICE or HSI.
knew a Federal criminal search warrant was happening, but I didn’t know exactly what.”
Still, community members said the presence of ICE and HSI agents — along with the use of military-style tactics — was traumatizing and raised concerns about civil rights and due process.
“I had several questions — questions that a whole lot of members of our community had,” Mayor Jacob Frey said
during the press conference. “Is this federal action focused on immigration enforcement? The answer is no. Is our Minneapolis Police Department involved in it? The answer is also no.”
However, protesters reported seeing ICE and HSI agents on site. HSI is a division of ICE, tasked with investigating transnational crimes such as money laundering, cybercrime, and narcotics trafficking, among others.
that continuity — a multigenerational effort to preserve Black history and pass it forward.
sance, including a 20-year correspondence between poet Countee Cullen and William
“The Givens Collection didn’t just show up here. It was brought here by people who knew what it could mean for future generations.”
A rare cultural treasure
The Givens Collection includes more than 20,000 rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and personal papers. Highlights include: • A first edition of Phillis Wheatley’s “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773)”
• Early 20th-century literary gems from the Harlem Renais-
Staff also connect them with culturally specific resources and LGBTQIA+ community organizations to support longterm housing stability.
To strengthen that sense of community, The Link recently opened a new nine-unit apartment building in St. Paul dedicated to LGBTQIA+ youth.
PLOL participants can choose to live in this shared community with on-site services or opt for their own apartment elsewhere in the Twin Cities. For many, the new building provides not just housing, but belonging as well.
“Youth can feel comfortable in their own home and their own space at the PLOL building,” Airreyonna said. “They’re at home before they even get to their apartment. They’re comfortable with all their neighbors. They can relate to all their neighbors.”
Identity-affirming care For LGBTQIA+ youth,
Fuller Brown
• The personal papers of Dr. Josie R. Johnson, a civil rights icon and lifelong educator
• Archival material from Penumbra Theatre, one of the nation’s premier Black theater companies
• First editions of works by Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and other 19th-century African American leaders
housing is just the beginning. Many carry trauma from family rejection, violence and discrimination while unhoused or in other systems. These experiences can severely impact mental health. According to national data, 62% of unhoused LGBTQIA+ youth have seriously considered suicide in the past year, nearly twice the rate of their stably housed peers.
Recognizing that healing is just as critical as housing, The Link integrates on-site, affirming mental health care through a partnership with Reviving Roots, a Black-owned mental health practice. Services are delivered by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ clinicians who understand the unique challenges these youth face.
This identity-affirming care not only helps youth feel safe and validated, but also addresses the trauma that can serve as a barrier to long-term stability.
“I think The Link is one of the best things that can happen to Minnesota — because you got youth running it.”
However, livestream video of the incident shared on Facebook appeared to contradict parts of the official account. Protesters claimed the driver had struck a woman directing traffic and drove off. They reportedly deflated the vehicle’s tires and awaited police intervention. These details were not included in O’Hara’s statement.
The disconnect between community accounts and city officials’ statements has deepened mistrust in the wake of the operation.
Two days later, community members held a press conference outside City Hall, joined by several Minneapolis City
The archive also contains unique oral histories of formerly enslaved people from Coahoma County, Mississippi, recorded during the Great Depression and preserved here as the only known copies.
“There are generations of Black Minnesotans who don’t even know that this archive exists,” Seru said. “This collection is evidence. It documents our legacy, our leadership, and our contribution to the cultural fabric of this state and country.”
An urgent moment
As debates around public education, diversity, and the role of race in American history intensify, Seru says the 40th anniversary comes at a critical time. “Part of our work now is about shoring up support,” he said.
“Because we are an out
ward-facing collection, mean
ing we serve the community beyond the university…we are also uniquely vulnerable. But we’re also uniquely powerful. When the pressure comes, I want to know I have my people with me.”
The anniversary is more than a moment to reflect — it’s a call to action. In addition to the October exhibit, the newly formed
Rachel Dione Thunder of the Indigenous Protectors Movement makes three demands of local leaders and law enforcement at city hall on June 5.
Council members. Speakers demanded transparency, accountability, and a reaffirmation of Minneapolis’ status as a sanctuary city.
Rachel Dione Thunder of the Indigenous Protectors Movement outlined the coalition’s three key demands:
1. A full public investigation into the roles of the Minneapolis Police Department and Hennepin County during the June 3 operation, including the release of any communica-
Community Advisory Council is planning events throughout the academic year, including:
• A revised K-12 curriculum guide rooted in the archive’s materials
• Public dialogues with artists and elders as part of the “Embracing Our Roots” series, in partnership with local organizations Black Ink and More Than a Single Story
• Performances and educational workshops tied to the exhibit
Beyond the university Seru also wants to clarify a common point of confusion:
The Givens Collection is not the same as the Givens Foundation for African American Literature, though they share
A call to action Programs like Project Live Out Loud have transformed lives, offering safety and hope where few other options exist. As Minnesota’s largest provider of housing for LGBTQIA+ youth, The Link provides housing, care
In response, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously (12–0) to initiate an audit of the MPD’s involvement. The city auditor will review whether the department violated Minneapolis’s separation ordinance, which prohibits local law enforcement from assisting ICE with immigration enforcement.
As investigations unfold, advocates are urging city leaders to ensure transparency, rebuild trust, and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Chris Juhn is a contributing writer and freelance photographer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
namesakes and a deep intertwined history.
“The Foundation does important work in literary programming, but the collection lives at the University of Minnesota Libraries,” Seru noted.
“It’s crucial to understand that distinction, especially when crediting the legacy of families who brought it here.”
A living archive
For Seru, who began as a graduate fellow and now leads the collection, the journey is personal.
“I came here for the Givens Collection. It was part of my calling,” he said. “This work allows me to connect with my elders, to honor them as they transition, and to help the next generation understand where they come from. That’s Sankofa: go back and get it so we can move forward.”
The exhibit “The Circle Unbroken” opens October 23 at Elmer L. Andersen Library and runs through January 2026. For updates, events, and how to get involved or donate, visit lib.umn.edu/givens.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses at jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.
and community for approximately 30 young people every night. But the future of these programs is uncertain. Government funding for LGBTQIA+ services is increasingly at risk — alongside the safety and well-being of the youth they support.
Recent legislation and executive orders have threatened access to gender-affirming care, dismantled diversity initiatives, and proposed cuts to public benefits that many rely on.
As these political attacks escalate, the youth homelessness crisis is likely to deepen — just as organizations like The Link prepare for cuts to essential services. Without community support, the consequences could be devastating. But with support, LGBTQIA+ youth can thrive.
How to help As LGBTQIA+ youth face mounting political and systemic challenges, the need for affirming housing and mental health care grows more urgent each day. A donation to organizations like The Link helps ensure that queer and trans youth in Minnesota can access safety, healing and opportunities — not just survive, but thrive.
Maggie Nagle is the grant writer at The Link. For more information, visit www.thelinkmn.org.
Minneapolis Councilmember Jason Chavez All photos courtesy of Chris Juhn/MSR
The Givens Collection archives
Finance
The ultimate guide to buying your first home
Becoming a first-time homeowner is an exciting step toward building long-term stability and financial growth.
Whether you’re dreaming of a condo in downtown Minneapolis or a family starter home in the suburbs, having a solid understanding of the home-buying process can help relieve anxiety and empower you to be confident in your purchase decision. From understanding home loans to debunking homeownership myths, the path to your purchase is smoother with this guide.
Let’s explore five essential tips every first-time home buyer should know before embarking on this exciting milestone journey.
Know what you can afford
Before you fall in love with a home, take a clear look at your finances. Calculate your monthly income, debt, and expenses. Many first-time homeowners use a mortgage calculator to estimate what housing price and monthly payment they can afford.
Keep in mind that your mortgage isn’t the only cost. First-time homeowners often forget expenses like:
• Property taxes
• Homeowner’s insurance
• HOA fees (if applicable)
• Utilities
• Ongoing maintenance and emergency repairs
Planning for these costs helps avoid surprises like a broken furnace or unexpected roof repairs. Chase’s financial tools, including a monthly budget worksheet, can help you create a plan and stay financially stable for years to come.
Understand the loan process
Understanding mortgage loans can be confusing for firsttime home buyers. Your mort-
gage is like your monthly rent, but instead of paying a landlord, you are paying back the originator or holder of the loan.
It’s essential to shop around for lenders (the person who will set you up with your home loan) and compare interest rates on the loan. You should also ask about loan terms — sometimes there are penalties for paying off your loan early!
You’ll want your lender to educate you on the differences between different loan types. The most popular loan is a fixed-rate mortgage because the interest rate of the loan remains stable throughout the loan’s life, meaning no surprise increases. However, you can have increases in home-related expenses like property taxes or HOA fees that might be bundled into your mortgage.
JPMorgan Chase offers dedicated home lending advisors who work directly with buyers in the Minneapolis area, helping demystify the process and provide personalized guidance at every step.
is determined when a lender runs your credit. It takes into account your income, debt, and other assets and liabilities to determine the amount they are comfortable lending you.
Once a lender pre-approves you, you will know how much they are willing to loan to you.
sider your must-have home necessities.
Determining what you need upfront versus what you want will help you narrow down your options.
Some things to think about include:
• Square footage
• Washer and dryer hookups
• New appliances
• Included parking space
• Schools districts
• A yard or small outdoor
space
• Convenient location for commuting time
• Age of the home, which can sometimes signal upcoming needs for appliance replacements (like old water heaters)
Touring multiple homes can quickly become overwhelming, which is why having a firsttime home buyer checklist to track which properties meet your must-haves is essential for staying organized and saving time during the fast-paced home buying process.
Work with a knowledgeable agent
A real estate agent can help you find your perfect home. Armed with your budget, preapproval letter, and wants vs. needs checklist, you’ll want to find a real estate agent who understands the Minneapolis metro area market.
A good agent will guide you through property searches, schedule showings, provide market insights, and negotiate on your behalf. They can also help you navigate the inspec-
you stay on track with closing deadlines.
Buy with confidence
From real estate agents and mortgage lenders to home inspectors and insurance agents, your home-buying team plays a significant role in your success. JPMorgan Chase bankers are experienced, transparent, and willing to answer your questions so you can move forward with a confident decision.
The right advisors will not only provide guidance but also advocate for your best interests, help you avoid costly mistakes, and give you the confidence to move forward each step of the way when buying your first home.
No matter where you are in your home-buying journey, the proper knowledge, support, and guidance can make all the difference.
MSR + JPMorgan Chase have partnered to bring you the Finances FYI series. JPMorganChase is committed to helping close the racial wealth gap and driving economic inclusion for Black, Hispanic and Latino communities. Join us weekly for tips, advice, and vital informa-
Finding a trusted lender can be tough, especially when purchasing a new home without prior knowledge of the real estate industry. Ask around to see if friends and family have a lender recommendation.
Larger lending companies sometimes offer incentives to first-time home buyers, like JPMorgan Chase’s option to put 3% down, to make home ownership more accessible. Be sure to shop around and understand all of your options so you are not leaving money on the table.
Get pre-approved A mortgage pre-approval
Sometimes, lenders offer more than you think you can afford. It’s important to keep in mind that even if a lender offers you more, it is up to you to determine if that preapproved amount fits into your lifestyle. You can always look at homes under the pre-ap proved amount, but not over.
A pre-approval letter gives you a budget ceiling and shows sellers you’re serious. Typically, you can not put an offer on a home unless you have a preap proval letter.
Know what you want (and need)
Before entering the end less abyss of Zillow or chatting with a real estate agent, con
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Arts & Culture
The Minneapolis Music community has lost a legend. Linster Herbert Willie, Jr., affectionately known to the world as Pepé, passed away Sunday, June 1, at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis after a brief illness. He was 76.
Born July 22, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York, Willie’s life was destined to be shaped by music as nearly everyone on his mother’s side of the family sang, played an instrument, or in some cases, both.
As a young child the frequent visitors to his Grandfather’s Carlton Avenue home included the likes of Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis, and Wynton Kelly.
Coming of age in Bed-Stuy during the early 1960s, Willie became teenage valet for the singing group his Uncle Clarence Collins founded, future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Little Anthony and The Imperials. And while working the historic musical revues staged by renowned impresarios Alan Freed, Murray the K Kauffman, and Clay Cole at the Brooklyn Paramount and later the Brooklyn Fox, Willie learned the business firsthand, studying at the feet of not only The Imperials, but of rock and soul icons such as Chubby Checker, Mary Wells, the Ronettes, Ray Charles, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells, the Temptations, and fellow teen, Stevie Wonder, among scores of others.
An aspiring musician and songwriter, Willie benefited immensely from the tutelage of Teddy Randazzo, a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“Teddy taught me so much,” recalled Willie in 2024, “How to construct and produce a song from start to finish – how to craft the melody, verses, chorus, bridge, and of course, the hook.”
It was a fortuitous encounter at New York’s Copacabana where Minneapolis native Shauntel Manderville and her green eyes caught the atten-
tion of Willie and the two soon became inseparable. Willie’s initial visit to the City of Lakes came in December 1970, when, while on leave from the US Army, he first met Manderville’s 12-year-old cousin, a precocious Prince Rogers Nelson. Upon his honorable discharge from the service, Willie and Manderville married in New York. And in 1974, he decided that it was time to make Minnesota his permanent home. The very day he landed at MSP, Willie caught a performance of Grand Central, a formidable group of youngsters, which, in addition to Prince, included future Minneapolis Sound royalty André Cymone and Morris Day.
Willie, the mentor, immediately took Grand Central under his wing; in awe of the talent and ambition he was witness
ing. “I was telling my friends back home; this is where it’s at. Minneapolis is the place to be.”
was telling my friends back home; this
In December 1975, Willie tapped Prince, who at the time was only 17, to play guitar during a studio session with his own newly formed band, 94 East. Prince’s first foray in a professional music studio, history would come to know the results of those sessions as “The Cookhouse Five,” the master tapes of which now reside in the Library & Archives of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It was on the strength of those recordings that 94 East secured a contract with Polydor Records and Willie was paired with producer, songwriter, and Motown legend, Hank Cosby.
The next year, Willie, along
with bandmates, best friends, and lifelong business partners, Kristie Lazenberry and Marcy Ingvoldstad, established Pepé Music, Inc (PMI), where the motto remains in 2025, “The music may be different, but the business is the same.”
Subsequent recordings over the next few years, that included both Prince and Cymone, yielded the 94 East albums, “Minneapolis Genius and Symbolic Beginnings,” treasured items among collectors to this day.
One of Willie’s signature compositions is, “If You See Me,” which doubled as the title of his 2020 autobiography (Minnesota Historical Society Press), nominated for a Minnesota Book Award. The original recording served as the opening track on Numero Group’s Grammy-nominated compilation, “Purple Snow: Forecasting the Minneapolis Sound.” Prince, who took a particular liking to Willie’s tune, reimagined it in 1982 as “Do Yourself a Favor,” the only song not penned by Prince to appear on the 77-track Super Deluxe Edition of his landmark album, “1999.”
Willie continued to support Prince into the 1980s. And among the many contributions he made to Prince’s career, were: serving as his interim manager in the late 1970s;
Betty Jean Stanifer
March 12, 1942 – June 9, 2025
etty Jean Stanifer, 83, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2025, in her Minneapolis home, surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Cairo, Illinois, on March 12, 1942, to Zula Mae Newsom and Alton Blake Newsom, Betty was a vibrant and dedicated individual. She is survived by her significant other, Rufus Brown; her daughter, Cecelia Viel; her son, Bobby Stanifer; six grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, two sisters, two sons, and two granddaughters.
Betty was known for her boundless energy and her unwavering support for those around her. She was a cherished member of Minnehaha Temple 129 for over fifty years. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
A service to celebrate Betty’s life will be held on June 16, 2025, at Faith Deliverance Holiness Church, 1119 Morgan Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to StartAnew, a nonprofit organization.
of things as much as he was his art,” explained Willie, “So, I brought the papers to him, we filled them out and sent them off to BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc) in New York.” Not a week later his attorneys in Los Angeles sent those same agreements for him to complete, with a bill attached for their services.”
“And that is the sort of thing I told Prince to always look out for,” he continued, “They sent you a bill for $900.00 for something you’ve already done for the price of a stamp.”
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Ricky and Paul Peterson, and Marshall Charloff.
Willie is loved by so many. It’s been said often that he stole the show every time he walked into a room. Not just because of that big, beautiful personality, but also that big smile and even bigger heart. His smile was never brighter, nor his heart any fuller, than when he spoke of his daughter, granddaughter, and his grandson.
opening his home for six months so that Prince and his band (which would ultimately be hailed as the Revolution) could rehearse; accompanying him on early promotional tours; PMI producing Prince’s first ever professional concerts at the historic Capri Theater; and helping him establish his first publishing company, Ecnirp Music.
With regards to Ecnirp (Prince spelled backward), Willie remembered how a barely teenage Prince would phone him in New York, asking questions about publishing, copyrights, and royalty points.
“Prince was so smart about all of this. He wanted to be in control of the business aspect
For all of Willie’s musical acumen and achievements, he also managed to make his way around a few motion picture sets as well, working as a day player and/or performer in films such as “Purple Rain, Overnight Delivery,” the independent “Siren,” and Paramount’s 1974 classic “The Education of Sonny Carson,” the latter for which Willie composed the song “Five Cent Ride to Freedom.”
Revered as the Godfather of the Minneapolis Sound, Willie was inducted into the Minnesota Black Music Hall of Fame in 1988. And in addition to Prince, Cymone, and Day, Willie influenced the careers of so many other that have helped to make the Minneapolis Sound a household name around the world, a list that includes but is not limited to Sue Ann Carwell, Bobby Z, Matt Fink, Dez Dickerson, Cynthia Johnson, Jellybean Johnson, Jesse Johnson, Rockie Robbins,
Willie was preceded in death by his father, Linster Herbert Willie, Sr., mother Agnes Collins Leake, sister Pearl, and Danielle’s mother, Michele Lynn Anderson. He is survived by his daughter Danielle Marie Berry (Alan); grandchildren Jamiah Marie and Cameron Christopher; sisters Delores, Carol, and Tina; and many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins. Willie will be interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in a private ceremony. A celebration of life will be announced for some time in the summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a Minnesota 529 College Savings Plan for his grandchildren and should be sent to Bridgewater Bank, 4450 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416, Attn: Danielle Berry. Please make checks payable to Danielle Berry.
Tony Kiene is a contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, as well as a Prince aficionado!
Linster Herbert Willie, Jr., aka, Pepé Willie Pepé Music Inc.
Trump’s
latest travel ban another excuse to keep out
By Charles Kurzman
The Trump administration on June 4, 2025, announced travel restrictions targeting 19 countries in Africa and Asia, including many of the world’s poorest nations. All travel is banned from 12 of these countries, with partial restrictions on travel from the rest.
The presidential proclamation, entitled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” is aimed at “countries throughout the world for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a full or partial suspension on the entry or admission of nationals from those countries.”
In a video that accompanied the proclamation, President Donald Trump said: “The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted.”
The latest travel ban reimposes restrictions on many of the countries that were included on travel bans in Trump’s first term, along with several new countries.
But this travel ban, like the earlier ones, will not significantly improve national security and public safety in the United States. That’s because migrants account for a minuscule portion of violence in the U.S. And migrants from the latest travel ban countries ac-
nonwhites
count for an even smaller portion, according to data that I have collected. The suspect in Colorado, for example, is from Egypt, which is not on the travel ban list.
As a scholar of political sociology, I don’t believe Trump’s latest travel ban is about national security. Rather, I’d argue, it’s primarily about using national security as an excuse to deny visas to nonwhite applicants.
Trump has repeatedly associated himself with nationalists who view immigration by nonwhites as a danger to white supremacy.
Terrorism and public safety
In the past five years, the U.S. has witnessed more than 100,000 homicides. Political violence by militias and other ideological movements accounted for 354 fatalities, according to an initiative known as the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, which tracks armed conflict around the world. That’s less than 1% of the country’s homicide victims. And foreign terrorism accounted for less than 1% of this 1%, according to my data.
The Trump administration says the U.S. cannot appropriately vet visa applicants in countries with uncooperative governments or underdeveloped security systems. That claim is false.
The State Department and other government agencies do a thorough job of vetting visa
America urgently needs a new affordable housing agenda
By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
President Donald Trump’s housing policy is shaping up to be both an economic and humanitarian disaster. If leaders across the political spectrum don’t act soon, the damage may be irreversible.
To be clear, housing policy was already broken long before Trump returned to office. But instead of tackling the root causes — like the chronic shortage of Section 8 vouchers and affordable units — some policymakers chose to blame tools like rentpricing software, which simply reflect the market’s conditions.
central players in the last financial collapse.
Under pressure to expand homeownership without oversight, they helped inflate the subprime mortgage bubble. Ten million Americans lost their homes. The institutions got bailed out. Families didn’t.
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applicants, even in countries where there is no U.S. embassy, according to an analysis by the CATO Institute.
The U.S. government has sophisticated methods for identifying potential threats. They include detailed documentation requirements, interviews with consular officers, and clearance by national security agencies. And it rejects more than 1 in 6 visa applications, with ever-increasing procedures for detecting fraud.
The thoroughness of the visa review process is evident in the numbers.
Authorized foreign-born residents of the U.S. are far less likely than U.S.-born residents to engage in criminal activity. And unauthorized migrants are even less likely to commit crimes. Communities with more migrants — authorized and unauthorized — have similar or slightly lower crime rates than communities with fewer migrants.
If vetting were as deficient as Trump’s executive order claims, we would expect to see a significant number of terrorist plots from countries on the travel ban list. But we don’t. Of the 4 million U.S. residents from the 2017 travel ban countries, I have documented only four who were involved in violent extremism in the past five years.
Two of them were arrested after plotting with undercover law enforcement agents. One was found to have lied on his asylum application. One was an Afghan man who killed three Pakistani Shiite Muslim immigrants in New Mexico in 2022.
Such a handful of zealots with rifles or homemade explosives can be life-altering for victims and their families, but they do not represent a threat to U.S. national security.
Concept of national security degraded
Trump has been trying for years to turn immigration into a national security issue. In his first major speech on national security in 2016, Trump focused on the “dysfunctional immigration system which does not permit us to know who we let into our country.”
His primary example was an act of terrorism by a man who was born in the U.S.
The first Trump administration’s national security strategy, issued in December 2017, prioritized jihadist terrorist organizations that “radicalize isolated individuals” as “the most dangerous threat to the Nation” — not armies, not another 9/11, but isolated individuals.
If the travel ban is not re-
Rather than confront the real barriers to affordability, politicians have chosen to target the messenger. That never made sense, and it still doesn’t — a point that Democratic Colorado Governor Jared Polis made clear last week by vetoing a bill to ban such technology.
If we want lower rents, we don’t need to ban software that reports current prices. We need to build enough housing so the data reflects abundance, not scarcity.
Unfortunately, President Trump has not gotten this memo, and he is making our broken housing system worse. He has already driven up lumber prices with protectionist trade wars and targeted immigrant communities who make up a vital part of the construction workforce. Now, the president is laying the groundwork for another housing crisis that could rival 2008.
In late May, Trump announced he is “giving very serious consideration” to taking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public again. These governmentbacked mortgage giants were
To prevent that kind of disaster from recurring, the government placed both firms under conservatorship. Releasing them now would create the same reckless incentives that crashed the global economy, and it would benefit deep-pocketed investors just in time for the 2026 elections. When the next economic crash comes, everyday Americans, and especially Americans in underserved communities, will be the ones paying the price.
Policymakers from both parties should reject this approach and unite around a new vision: one that builds. Writers Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson call this the “abundance agenda.” In their book “Abundance,” they challenge local, state and federal leaders to confront the self-imposed zoning restrictions and regulatory delays that have made it almost impossible to build enough housing.
“We would see, I think, homelessness escalate in a way that has been really unprecedented.”
And it doesn’t stop there. Trump’s proposed budget would cut federal rental assistance by about 40% at a time when nearly half of renters are spending more than a third of their income on housing. “We would see, I think, homelessness escalate in a way that has been really unprecedented,” warned Kim Johnson of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Remaining funds would be handed to states as “block grants,” echoing past efforts to gut safety net programs through decentralization and attrition. This is not a serious answer to the housing crisis. It’s an ideological move that risks deepening inequality and instability that will result in a type of “housing
Wildfires endanger Minnesota’s peatlands
We must protect them
By LeeAnn Geshick
With embers from Minnesota’s wildfires still smoldering and Canadian smoke darkening our skies, it’s worth remembering that fires burn more than trees — they consume peatlands, a living foundation beneath our forests that has protected us for centuries. Once lost, these carbon-rich wetlands cannot be replaced.
Peatlands are waterlogged wetlands filled with thousands of years of accumulated peat moss. Amazingly, they store 40% of the state’s terrestrial carbon, prevent floods and droughts, filter drinking water, and sustain vulnerable wildlife. But when they burn, their benefits vanish, and the carbon they release rivals the state’s largest polluters.
I’m proud to call the Arrowhead region my home, and over the years I’ve seen how peat-
ally going to improve national security or public safety, then what is it about? Linking immigration to national security seems to serve two longstanding Trump priorities. First is his effort to make America more white, in keeping with widespread bias among his supporters against nonwhite immigrants.
Remember Trump’s insults to Mexicans and Muslims in his escalator speech announcing his presidential campaign in 2015. He has also expressed
lands anchor this truly special part of our state. Minnesota is second only to Alaska in peatland acreage, with over 6 million acres supporting rare orchids, butterflies, and songbirds. Globally, peatlands cover just 3% of Earth’s land but store 30% of its land-based carbon — double the carbon stored in all the world’s forests combined!
“We must be smart about land management, protecting healthy peatlands and restoring degraded ones.”
Yet peatlands face growing threats, from historic drainage to modern disruptions like severe drought, mining and log-
a preference for white immigrants from Norway in 2018 and South Africa in 2025.
Trump has repeatedly associated himself with nationalists who view immigration by nonwhites as a danger to white supremacy.
Second, invoking national security allows Trump to pursue this goal without the need for accountability, since Congress and the courts have traditionally deferred to the executive branch on national security issues.
“You cannot be the party of working families when the places you govern are places working families can no longer afford to live,” Klein wrote. That means reforming exclusionary zoning, streamlining permitting, and shifting the political culture that demonizes developers while ignoring demand. It means prioritizing supply, not just subsidies.
Because if we don’t solve the housing crisis ourselves, voters will turn to anyone who claims they will, even if the solutions are fake or destructive. The values are already there. What we need now is strategy and action.
Increasing housing affordability and availability isn’t just good policy. It’s the only way to keep working Americans housed, the economy stable, and America’s future secure and inclusive.
This piece was originally published in the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Newswire. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the president and CEO. For more information, visit nnpa.org.
ging. We must be smart about land management, protecting healthy peatlands and restoring degraded ones. Given their outsized importance, peatlands deserve greater prioritization. A few solutions:
• policies that help northern counties access state restoration funds,
• updating the Wetland Conservation Act rules to account for existing peatland carbon stores and not just their potential for future carbon storage, and
• designating ecosystem service benefits for peatlands on state managed land to maximize their long-term value. By acting now, Minnesota can safeguard its natural heritage while reducing catastrophic wildfire risks. Peatlands are our frontline defense — buffering floods, mitigating droughts, and shielding communities from deadly fires. If we delay, these critical ecosystems could vanish in smoke, taking their protections with them.
LeeAnn Geshick lives in the Arrowhead region of Northern Minnesota.
Trump also claims national security justifications for tariffs and other policies that he has declared national emergencies, in a bid to avoid criticism by the public and oversight by the other branches of government. But this oversight is necessary in a democratic system to ensure that immigration policy is based on facts.
Employment & Legals
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the up-and-down nature of baseball.
Since being drafted out of high school in the second round of the 2018 Draft by the New York Mets, the Texas native was traded a year later to Toronto (2019), then traded again to Minnesota in 2021, where he finally pitched in the majors,
starting a late seasongame in October 2022 at Detroit. He has over 165 days of Major League service.
Whenever we talk, Woods Richardson is very thoughtful, never taking for granted being a pro baseball player, whether now in St. Paul or in a Twins uniform.
“I’ve been here since 2022, so knowing it’s always fun seeing how the game changes and adapts.
“So, it’s like just using my experience and using my eyes
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Continued from page 10
from being not just a power player but also someone that can put the ball on the floor and get by people, and that’s why she’s one of the best ever to play the game.”
In September, Fowles and Sue Bird will be the only females going into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. They played together on USA and WNBA All-Star teams.
Whalen, a double HOFer herself (Naismith 2022; WBHOF 2023) played with both players on Olympic teams, and she started alongside Fowles on Minnesota’s third and fourth
and just using my gut” to get himself back to the majors sooner than later, stressed Woods Richardson, who has made three starts since being optioned to St. Paul this year.
“It’s one of those things where it’s business,” recalled Woods Richardson. “I’ve been fortunate enough to see the business early in my career, being 17 years old, being 18 years old, being traded and thinking it’s the end of the world. And it’s not.
“I’m a big leaguer,” he said,
league championships. She advised, “[It’s] their time to celebrate their careers and what they did and what they established.”
Finally, on Fowles, “She impacted basketball so much,” concluded Chatman.
“She has aspirations and plans, and she’s a big family person. And to be able to have that time… I think it was just right for her” to go into the two Halls this year.
Four double-doubles
There are four players averaging a double-double thus far this WNBA season, all Black: A’ja Wilson, Angel Reese, Kiki Iriafen and Jonquel Jones.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
“so yeah, knowing that’s where you’re supposed to be. It’s not my timing, it’s God’s timing,” concluded Woods Richardson.
“I can’t control what He has in store for me. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise.”
Next week: Woods Richardson talks about being an athlete, a sports fan, and an emerging Black businessman.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
athletes be selective in signing NIL deals: “Even Black brands don’t necessarily want just any Black athlete,” stressed Keaton. “Being gifted and achieving athletic success does not automatically connect to NIL.”
Later she explained, “I’m particularly thinking of men’s basketball and football. But I think I’m really trying to debunk this idea that just because we have NIL that all the athletes are automatically getting NIL opportunities. There’s so many layers.”
“I’m
really trying to debunk this idea that just because we have NIL that all the athletes are automatically getting NIL opportunities.”
Keaton is a former student athlete who played basketball at Colorado State (2013-2015), where she earned a degree in sociology. She later earned her master’s in higher education administration from the University of Texas at Austin (2017) and her doctorate in learning, leadership, and educational policy from the University of Connecticut (2020). She taught at Louisville (2022-24) and joined the UMass faculty last June.
Now she advocates for all Black players trying to navigate in today’s college sport landscape, especially NIL.
“I think it went well,” said
Keaton after the NIL panel. “I think the goal of what I was aiming for was really getting people to unpack the intersection of identity and what that looks like from a brand perspective.”
There were at least 1,000 Black student athletes from coast to coast in attendance, but Keaton and others feared that the numbers were a bit down, probably due to the barrage of antiDEI executive orders that since January have struck fear among college officials. These schools in previous years would foot the expenses for as many as 15 Black players to attend. This year many schools were represented in single digits. Minnesota, for example, did not send any Black athletes to this year’s Summit, unlike the past two years, said Associate AD Peyton Owens. Instead, a group of Black Gopher athletes will be attending an expensespaid conference sometime this summer.
“I think with everything going on socio-politically… it really just reinvigorates you to put something on that is so unique and special,” continued Keaton. “They [the athletes] need this space.
“Unfortunately, the same topics that we were grappling with 10 years ago, five years ago, it still comes up [today],” she concluded. “Every generation, every scholar-athlete every year still needs what we’re talking about.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com. VIEW Continued from page 10
It’s back to the Saints for Twins’ only Black pitcher
By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist
imeon Woods Richardson is back in St. Paul as the Saints’ only Black starting pitcher. He started the season as the Minnesota Twins’ only Black starting pitcher but was demoted in May to the club’s Triple-A farm club across the river.
Before his demotion, Woods Richardson posted a 2-2 record in eight starts but hadn’t lasted at least five innings (considered a quality start) in his past three outings and was hit hard (15 hits and
10 runs in almost 13 innings).
It was reported that the Twins want the 24-year-old righthander to improve in throwing strikes.
“I’m working on a new pitch — a splitter,” said the hurler as we sat in the Saints dugout before a game last week. “As weird as it sounds, I am using this as practice.”
Admittedly being demoted wasn’t something he wanted to happen, especially when you finally reached the majors as Woods Richardson finally did last season after he began the 2024 season as the Saints’ number-two starter.
he 49th Annual Winfield Awards student athlete banquet — honoring 20 student athletes from 10 St. Paul high schools — was held Sunday, June 1, at the Intercontinental St. Paul-Riverfront Hotel in St. Paul. Prior to honoring the student athletes, two important awards were presented. Elsa Vega-Perez was presented the Trail Blazer Award for her work in the community, and it was likewise for Arline V. Winfield Award winner and legendary educator Shirley Kaiser. Following the presentations
Women’s
college officials
He was recalled by Minnesota in late April, and finished the campaign second in Twins history in strikeouts-per-9.0 innings, and second in the American League rookie pitchers in innings pitched, ERA, opponent batting average, and fourth in strikeouts and innings pitched.
However, Woods Richardson’s fourth MLB season, hoping to finish his first complete year in the majors, has not met either his personal standards nor the team’s overall. “Nobody wants to hear it,” he said of being sent back to the minors. “[You] take it, work with it, go back down and try to be the best version of that player you can be.
“It’s not my timing, it’s God’s timing. I can’t control what He has in store for me.”
“I think it’s what everybody down here is trying to do,” continued Woods Richardson. “Well for me, it’s just taking the game aspect out of it and playing miniature games within myself and just making it practice.”
It’s not the first time Woods Richardson, the Twins’ only Black pitcher and one of two on the Saints (reliever Alex Speas has been in St. Paul all season thus far) has experienced
The MSR recently attended the 2025 Black Student Athlete (BSA) Summit in Chicago, a four-day experience (May 21-24). It brings together both students and professionals from all backgrounds across the college sports ecosystem. In an occasional series we will feature interviews and panel discussions from the BSA. This week: Massachusetts-Amherst Professor AJ Keaton
HICAGO, IL – Ajhanai
“AJ” Keaton is an associate sport management professor at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She is a leading voice, speaking on the intersection of race, gender and sports who recently co-authored an article for a scholarly publication on Black female student-athletes’ identity at historically White col-
leges and universities. Among her research interests are race and gender marginalization and organizational behavior.
We met Dr. AJ a couple of years ago on social media and quickly added her to our evergrowing list of Black experts to contact when needed. Earlier this year she invited me to come to last month’s 2025 Black Student Athlete Summit at Chicago’s McCormick Center.
“She’s amazing,” said BSA Executive Director/Founder Dr. Leonard Moore on Keaton, the organization’s research and professionals liaison.
The professor and I sat and chatted for the first time in person. She recalled, “Ten
years ago, I was a master’s student and they needed me to do registration.” Keaton quickly moved from checking in Black student athletes to speaking to them either in breakout sessions or on the main stage over the years.
This year, the 10th BSA Summit, Keaton moderated a student-athlete panel titled, “Name, Image and Blackness” on the main stage.
Recently on Threads, Keaton posted, “Brands are missing the mark when they overlook Black LGBTQ+ women.” NIL was an oft-discussed topic throughout the four day event. Her on-stage panel stressed the importance that Black student
Student athletes honored at Winfield Awards
honoring two of St. Paul’s finest, WCCO Radio personalities Henry Lake and Vineeta Sawkar presented the Winfield Awards recipients. The following student athletes — which include a female and male from each school — were honored.
Central — Regina Williams and Ademola Daniel Adedigba; Como Park — Giselle SanchezEspera and Vincent Anderson; Cretin Derham Hall — Taniysha Edwards and Keyon Archer; Harding — Kalia Moe and Juanathan Williamson; Highland Park — Mia Azocar Manske and Armando Carroll; Humboldt — Ashley Tapia and Tony Wani; Johnson — Sadie Mays and Isaiah Henderson; St. Agnes — Serenity Skidmore and Joshua Lopez; St. Paul Academy and Summit — Julia Taylor and Ezra Straub; Washington Technology
— Natalie Gallegos-Hardy and Shawn Huberty The Winfield Awards banquet
was first held in 1977. It was created by Steve Winfield, who currently serves as committee chair,
and his brother, major league baseball player and MLB Hall of Famer David M. Winfield.
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.
Her nickname came naturally. I covered her during her entire Lynx stint and she never turned me down to chat after games, win or lose. No one on the team, or around the league for that matter, ever said a discouraging word about Fowles either.
ylvia Fowles this weekend will enter the first of two Halls of Fame when she is inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (WBHOF) June 14 in Knoxville, Tenn. She, Alana Beard and Cappie Pondexter are the three Black females and former WNBAers among the seven-member Class of 2025. Fowles joins four other Lynx players now in the Hall — Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore-Irons and Lindsay Whalen. Retired Minneapolis school teacher and coach Tonyus Chavers was inducted in 2018 as a member of the Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL), the first U.S. pro women’s basketball league (1978 to 1981). She played on the Minnesota Fillies, one of the league’s
eight original teams. The 1982 Cheyney State women’s basketball team was honored in 2024 as a WBHOF Trailblazer as the first and still only HBCU to play for a women’s national championship in 1982.
Affectionately known as “Sweet Syl,” Fowles is a fourtime Olympic gold medalist, two-time WNBA champion with the Lynx, and two-time Finals MVP. When she retired in 2022, the 6’6” center was the WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder.
An eight-time All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year and 2017 league MVP,
Fowles averaged a 15-year career double-double, nearly 16 points and 10 rebounds. Eight of those years were with the Lynx. She also led LSU to four straight Final Fours.
Then, at 15 years old, recalled Chatman, “It was like a blank sheet of paper,” said the Seattle Storm associate HC and assistant GM on Fowles.
But on the court, Fowles was anything but sweet. She is seen as perhaps among the last of the real true down-low post players. She rarely wandered away from the paint, although Fowles became more comfortable shooting outside of it as her career wound down.
Pokey Chatman, who coached Fowles when both were in Chicago, also coached her at LSU. She first got to know the then-growing teenager while recruiting her for college.
“It’s their time to celebrate their careers and what they did and what they established.” ■ See SOE
“All she brought to the page was her work ethic and willingness…
“Once she got that in hand,” recalled the veteran coach, “oh yeah, she’s going to be one of the greatest because she just wants to please, and that’s exactly what she did.”
“I hate to put her in a category because she evolved her game,” stressed Chatman, who didn’t totally disagree with my assessment of Fowles. “That’s a decent place to start.
“But for me, it was like I enjoy watching her game evolve in so many different areas,
Sitting (l-r) Giselle Sanchez-Espera, Sadie Mays, Julia Taylor, Kalia Moe, Taniysha Edwards, Serenity Skidmore, and Natalie Gallegos-Hardy. Standing (l-r) Mia Azocar Manske, Armando Carroll, Keyon Archer, Ademola Daniel Adedigba, Vincent Anderson, Regina Williams, Juanathan Williamson, Isaiah Henderson, Tony Wani, Ezra Straub, and Shawn Huberty
Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald
Simeon Woods Richardson Courtesy of St. Paul Saints
Dr. Ajhanai Keaton
Photo by Charles Hallman
Sylvia ‘Sweet Syl’ Fowles Photos by Charles Hallman
Pokey Chatman