Corrected: Division of Race & Equity

Division of Race and Equity

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August 8, 2019

Next ReCAST Advisory Team Meeting

Please join ReCAST staff and evaluators from Rainbow Research to discuss how we are collecting and sharing data. We will also be reviewing the winners of the Youth Participatory Budgeting project as well as ReCAST Connect winners. 

Tuesday, August 20
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location to be announced


Capacity Building Updates

400 Year Commemoration Events

To honor the 400 Year Commemoration, the City of Minneapolis’ Division of Race and Equity is bringing City staff and residents together to remember the histories of African American people, recover the stories of oppression, resistance, and liberation, and reimagine a future that is not predicated on the harm of African American people.

To that end, we are hosting several activities this summer to accomplish this goal. Here are a few of those activities listed below. Visit our website for more information.

We have contracted with 14 organizations who will host various activities throughout August and September, including the Week of Resilience August 19 – 23. We hold this week sacred because August 20, 1619 was the day that the British brought 20 people of African ascent to the United States and enslaved them. You can find these activities on our website. Continue to check this website frequently as we will be announcing additional opportunities soon.

On Tuesday, August 13 we will be hosting a conversation on the importance of truth telling with Lissa Jones, the creator and host of KMOJ’s Urban Agenda as well as the host of Given’s Foundation podcast, Black Market Reads. Be sure to show up to hear Jones speak to why telling the truth about the history of racism in Minnesota is essential to our collective healing. This conversation will take place from noon–1 p.m. in City Hall – 350 South 5th Street. You can register for the event through our Facebook.

Be sure to register for our August 22nd event – Still Here: 400 Years of Resistance and Black Joy. We will reflect on the legacy of African Americans in this country, including how we have resisted and come through, and celebrate our persistent resilience and joy as we move forward. The event includes a line-up of speakers, performers, and you! It is open to the public, is kid-friendly and free. You can find out more about the event, including how to register, by visiting the event page on Facebook or our website.

Last but not least, we have compiled an educational toolkit designed to increase the knowledge and awareness of City staff, community residents, and all other interested readers. It will do what our history books did not do, providing us with the real truth about who we are, who we have been, and where we are going. Each section provides you with a couple of articles and videos for you to increase in your knowledge, followed by reflection activities and additional resources for deeper development. View the toolkit.


Northside Oral History Project: Phase 2

We are excited to announce that we are now accepting Request for Ideas for Phase 2 of the Northside Oral History Project! Building off the first phase of the Oral History Project, where we collected 90 stories of community elders, we are inviting organizations and other applicable entities to design an art project that will tell these stories creatively. Projects could include: an exhibit, a mural, a teaching curriculum, a performance, music, or place-making feature. We intend on selecting up to 3 artists for this phase with budgets up to $25,000. Applications are due Friday, August 23 at 5 p.m. and are available online. Please direct any questions about the application or process to ReCASTMinneapolisInfo@minneapolismn.gov.

Visit our website for more information on the request for ideas application, including instructions on how to submit your ideas.


Save the Date for the 6th Annual Trans Equity Summit

The City of Minneapolis is hosting the 6th Annual Trans Equity Summit on Thursday, September 26 at the Walker Art Center. The theme will be "Shifting the Narrative," in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. 

We are still looking for breakout session presenters. If you are interested, please fill out the proposal form. All breakout session leads will be compensated. 

If you have questions, please email RaceEquity@minneapolismn.gov.


Vacancies on Transgender Equity Council

The Transgender Equity Council is still looking to fill a few vacancies! Members will have monthly meetings, form subcommittees to draft recommendations and advise the Mayor and City Council on policy decisions. Interested? Apply here

Please use your preferred name - it does not need to be your legal name. 

If you have questions, please email RaceEquity@minneapolismn.gov.


Change for You(th) Funding Recipients Announced!

The votes are in for the Change for You(th) participatory budgeting process! We've tallied the votes and are excited to announce the projects YOU chose to fund. With the help of over 1,000 youth voices, we were able to determine which projects receive funding. The total amount of funding across all four categories is $112,500. 

The winners are....... 

How to Talk to Youth about Trauma  

  • Telling our stories, claiming our power: Healing in practice for Teens interested in Health, Wellness & Health Careers 
  • Minnesota Muslim Helpline Project 
  • Culturally Specific Trauma Healing Listening Sessions 

Community Support 

  • Minneapolis Youth Olympics 
  • Get Paid for Your Music and Sacred Women’s Gatherings 

Youth Interactions with Law Enforcement  

  • Talking It Through: A Latino Youths 
  • Bad Boys 3: A Triple Entendre Multi-Media Experiential Learning, Listening, & Healing Project 

Youth experience with Transportation  

  • “The Bus Fun” Photovoice Project 
  • Experience is Everything 

As a result of a small amount of additional funding, we were able to fund nine projects! The additional funding was awarded to the project that received the most votes, following the top eight projects. 

Many great projects were presented in this process, unfortunately we are not able to fund all of them. However, we will continue to look for ways to partner with the projects that were not selected in this process. Please keep your eyes peeled for future funding opportunities!  


New ReCAST Connect Providers

The following providers are offering healing services in community. Please check them out on the ReCAST Connect Provider Map.

  • Raeisha Williams - Guns Down. Love Up. 
  • Tynessia Snoddy 
  • Adriana Cerrillo
  • James McCants - Messenger Boy Ministries
  • Rose Lee-Norman - Sanctuary Covenant Church 
  • Sharina McCants - Alabaster Jar Moments
  • Rebeka Ndosi, M.S., L.A.C.
  • Aisha Wadud - Nura Holistic Massage & Bodywork
  • Kenya McKnight - Black Women's Wealth Alliance
  • Erica Gerrity - Minnesota Prison Doula Project of Ostara Initiative
  • Cyndell Wilson - Transition Plus
  • Shonee Phillips - Bounce Back LLC
  • Teto Wilson - Wilson's Image Barber & Stylist
  • Deja Stowers - BLAQ Love
  • Steven L. Wilson
  • Kamisha Johnson, LGSW, - Amani Counseling
  • Kesha Green - Cultivating Family Services 
  • Native American Community Clinic
  • Minnesota Fight Club 
  • Phumulani Minnesota African Women Against Violence
  • Shaundelle Darris - HerSiliency
  • Gabrielle Roberts - 612 Jungle
  • Cynthia Wilson - Keeping My Focus
  • Alfonso Mayfield - SAFEMN

About the Division of Race & Equity

The Division of Race & Equity is housed in the City Coordinator's Department. 

For more information, please email RaceEquity@minneapolismn.gov.

This update was developed [in part] under grant number 1H79SM063520-03 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS. 


For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact ReCASTMinneapolisInfo@minneapolismn.gov or
by phone: 612-673-2958. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. 

TTY users can call 612-673-2157 or 612-673-2626.

Para asistencia 612-673-2700, Yog xav tau kev pab, hu 612-673-2800, Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500.