On November 21, Natural Hair Care Institute graduated a PUC student from their 600-hour-long program in natural hair care and braiding. PUC has a partnership with Natural Hair Care Institute to fund full tuition for eligible young adults (ages 18-24) residing in the City of Minneapolis through a grant from the City.
The program is currently recruiting students for the next cohort starting January 13, 2025. Please contact AutumnM@pillsburyunited.org to enroll.
Whether you need a holiday meal or want to lend a helping hand, various organizations across the Twin Cities metro area are hosting giveaways to ensure everyone has food for Thanksgiving. From free turkeys to full meal packages, check out the list below for locations and times to help make this holiday season brighter for those in need. All meals are offered while supplies last.
Don’t Shoot Guns, Shoot Hoops 100 Turkeys Giveaway
When: Nov. 20 · 11 am
What: Don’t Shoot Guns, Shoot Hoops will give out 100 turkeys at George Floyd Square while supplies last.
Where: 38th & Chicago Ave. S., Mpls.
More info: www.facebook.com/waitehouse
Pillsbury United Communities Community Dinner
When: Nov. 21 · 5-7 pm
What: This event offers food, music, games, and a fun opportunity to connect with neighbors, families, and friends.
Where: Waite House, 2323 11th Ave., S., Mpls., MN, 55404; dining room (2nd floor)
More info: www.facebook.com/waitehouse
River Heights Thanksgiving Giveaway
When: Nov. 22 · 7:30 pm; Saturday, Nov. 23 ·12:30 pm
What: River Heights is hosting an annual giveaway where community members can get what they need for a Thanksgiving meal. Gently used clothing will also be offered. No registration is required.
Where: River Heights, 6070 Cahill Ave., Inver Grove Heights
More info: bit.ly/RiverHeightsThanksgivingGiveaway
Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway
When: Nov. 23 · 10 am – 12 pm
What: This annual, free drive-through giveaway returns to offer families a turkey on a first-come, first-served basis. No registration is needed.
Where: 810 W. 31st St., Mpls.
More info: www.joycommunityservice.org
Life Center Thanksgiving Outreach
When: Nov. 23 · 12 pm
What: Life Center’s annual Thanksgiving outreach event offers community members a hot Thanksgiving meal and 200+ frozen turkeys.
Where: 1812 Park Ave., Mpls.
More info: bit.ly/ThanksgivingOutreach2024
Tru Breed MC’s 14th Annual Turkey Giveaway
When: Nov. 23 · 1 pm
What: Tru Breed Motorcycle Club is once again giving back to the community with a turkey giveaway (while supplies last).
Where: Folwell Park, 1615 N. Dowling Ave., Mpls.
More info: https://bit.ly/3OdYA3z
FOCUS Minnesota Thanksgiving Dinner
When: Nov. 24 · 5-6:30 pm
What: Community members are invited to enjoy a dine-in or take-out Thanksgiving dinner.
Where: 550 Rice St., St. Paul
More info: www.facebook.com/FOCUSMN
Thanksgiving Distribution Registration
When: Nov. 26 · 9 am – 12 pm
What: Registration for Union Gospel Missio’s Thanksgiving food distribution is full, but leftover food will be offered after distribution day on a first-come-first-served basis starting at 9 am.
Where: Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities – Men’s Campus, 435 University Ave. E., St. Paul
More info: secure.qgiv.com/for/thanks20
White Bear Area Food Shelf Thanksgiving’s Give A Gobble
When: Nov. 26 · 2 pm
What: Registration is full, but all unclaimed meals will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis without prior registration beginning at 2 pm.
Where: 1884 Whitaker St., White Bear Lake
More info: whitebearfoodshelf.org/2024
Loaves & Fishes Community Meals
When: Nov. 27 (times listed below)
What: Dine-in and to-go community meals
Where:
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (to-go meal)
1390 Larpenteur Ave. E., Saint Paul
5:30 – 6:30 pm
Saint Paul Opportunity Center (to-go meal)
422 Dorothy Day Place, St. Paul
4:30 – 5:15 pm
True Foundation Church (dine-in and to-go meal)
5840 Lilac Dr. N., Brooklyn Center
5:30 – 6:30 pm
More info: loavesandfishesmn.org
Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities
When: Nov. 28 · 11:30 am –1 pm
What: Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities will offer a special dinner for Mission residents and community members.
Where: Men’s Campus – 435 University Ave. E., St. Paul
More info: bit.ly/UGMTCThanksgiving
Daily Work and Shobi’s Table Gratitude Feast Free Thanksgiving Meal
When: Nov. 28 · 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
What: Enjoy traditional Thanksgiving food and additional dishes for cross-cultural inclusion.
Where: Christ On Capitol Hill, 105 University Ave. W., St. Paul
More info: Facebook or email events@shobistable.org
8th Annual Community Thanksgiving Meal
When: Nov. 28 · 12-3 pm
What: This community meal is not just for those in need but for anyone without a place to go on Thanksgiving Day. Come share in a delicious, free meal with your neighbors.
Where: Fellowship Church, 707 Commerce Dr., Woodbury
More info: bit.ly/FellowshipChurchThanksgiving
Third Annual Buffalo Community Thanksgiving Meal
When: Nov. 28 · 12- 5 pm
What: Hope Community welcomes a free traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, rolls, and pie. All are welcome.
Where: 206 2nd Ave., Northeast Buffalo
More info: bit.ly/ThirdAnnualBuffaloThanksgiving
StartAnew Thanksgiving Dinner
When: Nov. 28 · 1:30-4:30 pm
What: StartANew’s annual dinner is open to all. Bring family and friends; registration is not required.
Where: 1119 Morgan Ave. N., Mpls.
More info: 612-389-0008 or bit.ly/StartAnewThanksgiving
Discounted Groceries
Fare For All
$35 Thanksgiving Holiday Pack
No registration required
More info: For locations, call 763-450-3860 or thefoodgroupmn.org/groceries/pack
Ten FANS Scholars from the Brian Coyle Center and Waite House recently attended a Duluth college tour over MEA. The students also visited the College of St. Scholastica and UMD.
Pillsbury United Communities has sponsored FANS ((Furthering Achievement through a Network of Support), a free college, career, and life preparatory program for high school students for over 30 years. Students who have completed the FANS Scholars program can receive a small scholarship to assist with college expenses and have their FANS Advocate support them through college graduation. Since its inception, FANS Scholars have received over $1,000,000 in scholarships to assist with college expenses.
Click on the photos below to see more highlights from the trip.
On September 25, more than 25 volunteers from Pillsbury United Communities’ Brian Coyle Center, Centro Tyrone Guzman, the Minnesota Immigrant Movement (MIM), and Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research (HACER) gathered for a three-hour, door-knocking canvassing in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. See the photos below.
Also, on October 23, phone-banking volunteers gathered at PUC’s Waite House Center to reach out to voters.
Pillsbury United Community’s Brian Coyle Center Food Shelf has been selected as a recipient of the Seward Co-op 2025 SEED program. Since 2011, Seward’s SEED program has allowed customers to “round up” their grocery bills to support organizations that align with Seward’s mission of promoting a healthy community.
Located in the heart of Minneapolis’s Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, the Brian Coyle Center Food Shelf offers nutritious and culturally affirming food to Black, Brown, low-income, and immigrant households. It will be the featured SEED recipient in March 2025.
Other 2025 SEED recipients include Southside Foodshare, Daryeel Youth Services, RECLAIM, Little Earth Residents Association, Twin Cities Food Justice, Dream of Wild Health, and Avenues for Youth.
By Kenzie O’Keefe, Policy & Advocacy Director
For roughly a year and a half, Minneapolis has reeled from a global pandemic and global uprising after the murder of George Floyd by our police department. Homelessness, hopelessness, poverty, and violent crime have surged. There is beauty and resilience in community, but these have been trying times.
On November 2, Minneapolis voters will have their first opportunity to let their opinions be known on how they think our elected officials have led us during this time of multi-dimensional crisis.
Here at Pillsbury United, we’re working hard to raise awareness for the upcoming election, where all city council and mayoral seats are up for grabs and three consequential questions—about power in City Hall, the future of public safety, and rent control—are on the ballot. There is too much at stake to sit this one out.
Here are some of the ways you can join us in driving turnout and informing voters:
Pillsbury United will be closed on election day so our staff can take time to vote and assist their neighbors in voting. We hope you also have the time and space to do your research and express your desires for the future on this year’s ballot.
If you have questions, we’re here for you. You can reach me directly at KenzieO@pillsburyunited.org.
For Pillsbury United Communities, 2021 was a summer to remember! After last year’s summer programs were forced to operate remotely due to COVID-19, we were so pleased to reconnect with our young folks in-person for summer 2021.
This year, 145 young people in middle school and high school completed paid summer internships through Pillsbury United programs—our largest ever class of interns! Our young folks explored new opportunities in technology, business, media production, and more. (For photos from some of our summer activities, take a look at a couple of recent albums on our Facebook page.)
Read on to learn more about our summer internship cohorts—and the dedicated youth program leaders who made it all possible.
Amplified Youth Storytelling at Brian Coyle Center
Emery
Jose
Our Amplified Youth Storytelling cohort was based out of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center at Brian Coyle Center. Under the guidance of our experienced youth mentors, 16 interns learned audio production and podcasting skills. Special thanks to The Clubhouse Network and the city of Minneapolis’ Step Up program for partnering with us to offer this unique opportunity.
This cohort was led by Emery and Jose. Emery recently completed his term with Public Allies Twin Cities, through which he served as Content Specialist at the Teen Tech Center. Jose also works with our Coyle youth programs as our Pathways Coordinator, helping young people plan for college and a career.
Arts & Agriculture at Waite House
Angelica (left) and Ebony (right)
Our Arts & Agriculture youth group at Waite House led 12 interns in exploring the intersections of food, art, culture, and social justice—connecting to the land by working hands-on at our Pillsbury United Farms, and sharing their experience through the visual and performing arts.
Our cohort leaders were Angelica and Ebony—both artists and activists. Angelica is a performance artist who has previously led our youth spoken-word and tutoring groups. Ebony is a visual artist and an alumna of our youth programs, returning to Pillsbury United this summer after graduating from Clark Atlanta University.
Cinematography & Business at Brian Coyle Center
Sisco
Gonkama
Based out of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center at Brian Coyle Center, our Cinematography & Business cohort provided opportunities for 16 interns to explore filmmaking, editing, scoring, and sound design—while also learning to make a business plan to support their activities as independent artists and creators. The cohort also participated in a site-visit to the Institute of Production and Recording to learn from working professionals in the field of media production.
The cohort was led by Gonkama and Sisco, two youth leaders who are deeply rooted in the Cedar Riverside community. Gonkama is a seasoned youth worker and recent IT grad with experience in hip-hop production. Sisco is a graduate of our Coyle youth programs and a professional filmmaker and photographer.
Cyber Seniors at Brian Coyle Center
Kenya
Hassan
This unique cohort focused on intergenerational engagement between young folks and community elders living in Cedar Riverside. Our six youth interns partnered with volunteers from Best Buy to work with Cedar Riverside community elders and assist them with technical support. Through twice-weekly clinics at Currie Park in English, Somali, and Oromo, these young folks stepped up—helping our elders install apps, configure webcams, and other essential tools to stay connected in the post-COVID world.
Our cohort was led by Hassan and Kenya, two very talented undergrads. Hassan joined us this summer after many years of participation in youth programs at Brian Coyle Center. Kenya was brought on through the ServeMinnesota emergency response program.
Girls & Femmes in STEM at Brian Coyle Center
Fardowza
Idil
Our Girls & Femmes in STEM cohort at Brian Coyle Center offered a unique eight-week course in a variety of science and technology-related topics, including astronomy, coding, biodiversity, food science, medicine, and digital art. Our cohort members also took part in a biodiversity field trip to Cedar Creek with a University of Minnesota professor, tested the new flight simulator at the Best Buy Teen Center, and participated in Scrubs Camp at Augsburg University.
The cohort was led by Idil and Fardowza, both of whom are studying STEM fields at the University of Minnesota. Idil is a Page Scholar, and she is currently majoring in microbiology and cell biology. Fardowza is a graduate of Sisterhood Boutique, majoring in computer science.
Healthy Living at Waite House
Ivonne
Young folks in our summer Healthy Living cohort at Waite House enjoyed a wide range of activities to support their physical and mental health. This included cycling and bike maintenance with Bici Xicas, a local biking collective; group therapy sessions, in partnership with counselors at Tubman; and tennis at Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center at Fort Snelling.
This cohort was led by Ivonne, a senior at Augsburg University studying political science and an alumna of our youth programs at Pillsbury House + Theatre. Ivonne also managed our 22 off-site interns, including partnerships with Roots for the Home Team and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Growing Good program.
KRSM Radio
Michel.Be
Our biggest cohort of the summer was at KRSM Radio, broadcasting out of Waite House in the Phillips community. Our interns explored on-air hosting, radio DJing, journalism, and audio production in our brand new youth recording studio. KRSM also partnered with ThreeSixty Journalism, MPR News and MIGIZI to plan and engage BIPOC youth for MPR’s Radio Camp. Click here to see some of their finished projects.
Our cohort was led by Michel.Be, a professional DJ, our agency-wide youth media manager, and a longtime alum of our youth programs at Pillsbury House + Theatre. They were supported by Minneapolis Community Education, who offered a full-time staff coordinator to assist with facilitating this summer’s internships—our thanks to KJ for their invaluable assistance!
Sisterhood Boutique
Ugbad (left), Kidist (center), Zikki (right)
Based out of the Cedar Riverside community, our team at Sisterhood Boutique led a cohort of 24 young women—giving them direct experience in managing a fashion consignment boutique, plus ongoing development of their business and leadership skills. Highlights include a site-visit to local apparel brand sota clothing, as well as a week at Augsburg University Scrubs Camp.
The cohort was led by a trio of long-time Sisterhood Boutique leaders and alumni. Zikki is a co-founder of Sisterhood from its very first class, and Kidist is a former Sisterhood intern; both are now leading programs at Sisterhood. Ugbad is a Sisterhood grad and currently an undergrad in phlebotomy at the U of M—a passion she discovered on a Sisterhood field trip.
2020 was not normal. Two pandemics bore down on our community, bringing hardship we could hardly have imagined. One was a virus that isolated, sickened, and killed. The other was the plague of systemic racism, embodied in the horrendous murder of George Floyd and the anguished fury it unleashed.
These tragedies shook our community to its core and hit many of us painfully close to home. Some lost livelihoods. Some lost loved ones. Others lost trust in institutions that were supposed to protect them. Many were retraumatized by continued examples of systemic racism.
The pain continues to reverberate. We will be picking up the pieces for years.
Although no one saw the trials of 2020 coming, Pillsbury United was prepared to rise to the moment. Across our agency, staff moved quickly and fearlessly to ease suffering, rebuild, and respond to the crisis with compassion, imagination, and hope.
In 2020, we…
And that’s only a snapshot of the work we accomplished last year. Out of a crisis, a more just society can emerge. This is what justice looks like.
Learn more about the magnitude of our impact in 2020—and the broad community support that made it possible—by viewing our 2020 annual report.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (May 25, 2021) – Pillsbury United Communities (Pillsbury United), an agency with a 140-year legacy of recognizing and amplifying the assets and aspirations of the communities living in historically underinvested neighborhoods across Minneapolis, today announced the launch of the Justice Built Communities (JBC) initiative. JBC will leverage land, labor, entrepreneurship and capital to build equitable economic development for Black residents across the region starting in north Minneapolis. The initiative will be powered by a network of regional and neighborhood partners.
As a first step, JBC will purchase vacant land, buildings, and other disused properties for neighborhood redevelopment. It closed on its first property earlier this month when it purchased the old O’Reilly Auto Parts property at 1601 and 1625 West Broadway along with the adjacent property at 1622 Golden Valley Road, Minneapolis. JBC will use a community-centered design process to inform the redevelopment plans, which will provide opportunities, guidance and financial support to help local, Black-owned enterprises get established and grow. Over time, JBC will bridge land ownership back to local entrepreneurs to build generational wealth.
Pillsbury United has already raised $6 million for the JBC startup fund and intends to raise an additional $14 million through philanthropy and program/mission-related related investments by end of year for acquisition of neglected properties and pre-development capital. Initial investors include US Bank Foundation, Bank of America, GHR Foundation, Margaret A Cargill Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation, Target Foundation, Opus Foundation and Otto Bremer Trust. A variety of innovative financial structures including debt, equity, and NMTC will be used for project-specific development costs.
The initiative’s work will be co-designed and developed through Northside business and neighborhood associations including Folwell Neighborhood Association, Jordan Area Community Council, Hawthorne Neighborhood Council, and West Broadway Business and Area Coalition. Local artists will be engaged to beautify the areas before, during and after projects break ground. As properties are developed, Black entrepreneurs step in and take over: bringing goods and services to local residents, job opportunities to youth and adults, and prosperity to families.
“Our mission is to create a just society where every person has personal, social and economic power,” said Adair Mosley, President & CEO of Pillsbury United Communities. “The disruptive forces of 2020 showed the inequity of a system built on racist policies and practices as well as the need to act with urgency to equitably rebuild. JBC will prioritize strategies that ensure the people who were part of the history of our communities are also part of the future. We envision thriving commercial nodes anchored by local businesses and green spaces, safe and stable neighborhoods, and meaningful work and wealth-building opportunities that close racial disparities.”
Minnesota’s Black residents face the worst economic disparities in the nation. Minnesota ranks at the bottom for racial gaps in high school graduation, homeownership and household income. These inequities have been concentrated on Minneapolis’s Northside by decades of systemic disinvestment.
“Today we see the impact of inequitable development in North Loop, a Northside neighborhood adjacent to downtown,” said Jimmy Loyd who serves as Senior Director of Community Development at Pillsbury United. “While real estate activity in North has largely been stagnant, North Loop has seen $1.2B in real estate sales since 2015. That’s created rapid gentrification on the edges of North, and now this boom encroaches deeper into the neighborhood. As properties along Plymouth Avenue and other major corridors are bought up, vulnerable residents are threatened by displacement as outsiders benefit. JBC aims to reverse this concerning trend and support Northside neighborhoods’ vision for their own future.”
Learn more at justicebuiltcommunities.org.
About Pillsbury United Communities
Pillsbury United builds community by co-creating enduring change toward a just society where every person has personal, social, and economic power. Its united system of programs, neighborhood centers, social enterprises, and partnerships connects individuals and their families across the region. Program areas include community health, food accessibility, family stabilization, creative placemaking, community voice, civic engagement, education, career and future readiness, and economic mobility.
Pillsbury United serves the Black, Brown, Indigenous, immigrant, and working-class residents of Minneapolis striving to build better lives and communities for their families in spite of racism, poverty, and other systemic barriers. Priority neighborhoods include Cedar Riverside, Phillips, and Powderhorn in South Minneapolis and Near North and Webber-Camden in North Minneapolis.
On Tuesday, 12 jurors cracked open the window of justice. And we see a little light.
To be clear, the verdict in George Floyd’s murder should never have been in doubt. But we had reason for pessimism. Only rarely do police-involved killings of Black, Brown and Indigenous people even make it to the doorstep of our courts. When they do, officers are almost never held accountable—even for the most abhorrent abuses of power.
Floyd’s murder is part of a chilling pattern where policing in communities of color leads to senseless death again and again. Our hearts are already heavy this week as 20-year-old Daunte Wright, another unarmed Black man killed by local police in Minnesota, is laid to rest. Again a family and community mourns. Again we hear pleas for justice and vows for change. Again we have reason to doubt justice will ever be served.
What will it take before we say as a state, enough is enough?
Right after George Floyd’s death, our state’s leaders stood up to declare that Black Lives Matter. A year later, we’re fighting for more than a hashtag. You can help us move lawmakers into action. We can’t wait for another tragedy before we act.
The Minnesota House has taken the courageous step with a public safety omnibus bill that builds on last year’s Minnesota Police Accountability Act. This slate of common-sense measures holds officers accountable for harmful actions and unties the hands of police chiefs in protecting life.
Stand with us in calling on Minnesota state legislators and Governor Walz to take immediate and decisive action on the following items:
We encourage you to reach out to lawmakers to express your support for these important acts of legislation:
We see the light of change peeking through. With your vocal support, Minnesota can throw the window wide open.
(Photo credit: Lorie Shaull)
