Join us May 6th from 5-7pm in celebrating Youth Food Systems internship projects at North Market!
Come learn about youth projects, hydroponic farming, food justice, and more!
Bring your family to enjoy games, snacks, prizes, and community resources!
May 6, 2025 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Location: North Market parking lot, 4414 N. Humboldt Avenue, Minneapolis.
This Earth Month, we’re excited to share how we’re building a sustainable, closed-loop food ecosystem in our community—and we’d love for you to be a part of it!
Support Our Urban Gardening Program Today!
Through our urban gardens and hydroponic freight farm in Minneapolis, we grow more than 1,500 pounds of fresh produce every season. The food we grow is harvested and placed directly on our food shelves, in our grocery store, and used in the prepared meals we serve to the community.
By growing our own food, we reduce the environmental impact by cutting down on the carbon footprint associated with transporting food—it’s farm-to-plate!
Located in the parking lot of our grocery store North Market, our hydroponic fright farm uses water filled with nutrients and UV light to grow produce like herbs and lettuces.
“One of the most interesting differences I’ve noticed from running the hydroponic farm, compared to outdoor farming, is the minimal water usage! It’s impressive how the farm is built to recycle its own water, making it a sustainable option for places with limited water access.”
-Lilly, Food Systems Coordinator and Hydroponic Production Specialist.
Your generous donation helps continue this important work—allowing us to grow more food and ensure that families have access to the fresh, nutritious, wholesome produce they need, all while promoting sustainability. Together, we can nurture our planet and have a lasting impact in our community.
Creation in Common (CiC) in partnership with NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center (NPHW) is conducting community engagement listening sessions/drop-in group interviews to develop deep insights into the strengths, assets, and needs of North Minneapolis neighbors. This is in an effort to help the NorthPoint serve you better and develop a long-term strategic plan to do so.
Participants can drop by for a 30-minute conversation, led by independent facilitator Jenie Gao, Tuesday, April 15 at the Oak Park Center anytime between 11am and 6pm.
In exchange for their time and insights, they will receive a $20 cash honorarium.
Location: Oak Park Center | 1701 Oak Park Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN, 55411
Our Annual Women’s Night Out celebrating women’s resiliency in recovering from domestic violence is scheduled for May 3rd!
When: May, 3, 2025 from 6:00 pm. to 8:00pm
Where: Pillsbury United Communities Brian Coyle Neighborhood Center, 420 15th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55454
What: Celebration with tea, coffee, and food! Traditional dancing, and event partners to attend and share services.
If your organization would like to sponsor this event, please reach out to:
Miski Abdulle – miskia@pillsburyunited.org
Shadelle Ware – shadellew@pillsburyunited.org
Did you know that even more than car emissions, agriculture is the largest contributor to greenhouse emissions? This is why we support sustainable food growing in our community centers. From growing our own produce for Minneapolis communities, to teaching youth skills by refurbishing donated bicycles, we invite you to join us in making a contribution to our community.
Where you live can determine the quality of the air you breathe, the water you drink, the amount of accessible green space in your community. This directly influences health, mental well-being, and exacerbates systemic barriers. As Earth Day approaches on April 22nd, we’re reflecting on our climate-resilience initiatives that will create a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone.
The Earth Day movement defines environmental equity as addressing injustices and ensuring that all people, regardless of their race, income, or zip code, have the right to a healthy environment. Communities we reach in Minneapolis are disproportionately impacted by climate change and the negative health effects it causes. That’s why we are turning to you for help in keeping our urban food gardens and transition to clean energy strong, our community health programs vibrant, and access to locally grown produce possible.
At our Oak Park Resilience Hub, we partner with Project Sweetie Pie to grow produce which we use to feed people facing hunger and food insecurity, sell in our North Market grocery store and teach youth about sustainable agriculture and food systems. Your help ensures that these local and green efforts continue. Initiatives like this inspire needed change for safer, cleaner and resilient neighborhoods.
Give today for a sustainable future!
Pillsbury United Communities’ green initiatives:
Your donation helps us grow food, reduce waste, empower youth, and create a greener future. Thank you for being part of this change!
Cinnamon Pelly
Cinnamon Pelly, president and CEO of Pillsbury United Communities, brings over 25 years of experience across the corporate and nonprofit sectors. She has expertise in banking, operations, media relations, education, health, and philanthropy and has led initiatives focused on alleviating poverty, driving economic growth, and enhancing education, wellness, and the arts.
As COO of the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, she successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, growing the organization’s budget from $4.9M to $13M, tripling staff, and expanding community reach from 18,000 to 40,000 members.
Beyond her executive roles, Pelly has contributed to various nonprofit boards and government commissions, including the Hamilton County Jobs & Family Services Planning Commission and the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority. She holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Arts, and her research has been published in the Stanford Journal of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
Miski Abdulle
As director of Immigrant Services and manager of the Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Program (IWAP), Miski Abdulle engages members of the immigrant communities through adult education, family literacy, employment counseling, and women’s advocacy.
Abdulle works at the intersection of social services and public health, often through an intergenerational lens focusing on the specific needs of community elders.
Abdulle is a licensed social worker and Global Career Development Facilitator.
Her dedicated service to immigrant women and the greater community was brought to center stage with the 2015 Courageous Woman Award, an annual honor presented through the Augsburg College Women’s Resource Center.
Julie Graves
Julie Graves started working at Pillsbury United Communities in 2002 at Waite House as the Youth Arts & Academic Coordinator. In her current roles as Director of Youth Impact and Waite House Director, Graves leads agency-wide youth development efforts and propels Waite House’s community-driven values.
She holds a Master of Education in Youth Leadership Development from the University of Minnesota. Also known as the unofficial agency “Settlement House Historian,” Graves completed her graduate fieldwork by researching the Settlement House movement locally and nationally, including spending time at Henry Street Settlement in New York City.
Signe Harriday
Signe V. Harriday is the Artistic Producing Director at Pillsbury House + Theatre, known for her visionary storytelling. As a director, multidisciplinary artist, activist, and facilitator, she uses theatre to ignite discussions about both individual and collective humanity.
Harriday’s past accomplishments include serving as an Associate Company Member of Pillsbury House Theatre and co-founding the Million Artist Movement, a collective dedicated to Black liberation. She is also the co-founder of the award-winning synchronized swimming team, The Subversive Sirens, and the founder of Rootsprings Coop, a retreat center for BIPOC artists, activists, and healers.
Harriday co-founded MaMa mOsAiC, a women of color theater company focused on social change through female-centered work. Harriday earned her MFA in Acting from the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at the American Repertory Theatre at Harvard and Moscow Art Theatre.
Noël Raymond
Noël Raymond is the Co-Artistic Director of Pillsbury House + Theatre, where she has helped lead, develop, and implement theatre and arts programming to promote community vitality since 1995.
Raymond has worked extensively as an actor and director in theaters locally and nationally and is currently a core member of Carlyle Brown & Company. She served on the Minneapolis Arts Commission from 2011-2014 and has been on the Boards of Directors for the Multicultural Development Center, the Burning House Group Theatre Company, which she also co-founded, and the South Minneapolis Arts Business Association (SMARTS). Raymond co-authored, with Denise Kulawik, a case study of Pillsbury House Theatre for the book “Building Communities Not Audience” published in 2012. She has presented at numerous convenings including the National Alliance for Media Arts & Culture, the American Swedish Institute’s ‘Night of Social Wonder’; and the National Innovation Summit for Arts & Culture.
Jacara Warfield
Jacara Warfield has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, specializing in community engagement, case management, and program development. As a Community Health Coordinator at Pillsbury United Communities, Warfield has led initiatives focused on healthcare access, food security, and housing stability.
Warfield has managed large-scale projects, secured funding for vital services, and built strong partnerships to support underserved communities. Her work includes overseeing resource distribution, coordinating public health campaigns, and advocating for systemic change.
Known for her leadership, organizational skills, and compassionate approach, Warfield played a role in the Hennepin County Heart Health Initiative, promoting cardiovascular health for Black and Indigenous women. She remains dedicated to creating a lasting impact through advocacy, program development, and direct community support.
Jovita Morales
Jovita Morales is a policy and advocacy community organizer at PUC with a long history of activism dating back to 2000. She co-founded the Minnesota Immigrant Movement, a grassroots group fighting for immigrant rights, and has led efforts advocating for driver’s licenses for all since 2008.
Morales has also worked to provide training on the driver’s manual to help community members navigate the licensing process and pass the exam. She played a key role in passing the municipal ID in Minneapolis and supporting its implementation in Northfield.
Jennifer Weber
Jennifer Weber joined Pillsbury United Communities in 2023, transitioning from a teaching career in the K-12 system to become the Youth Education & Enrichment Manager at the Brian Coyle Center.
With 30 years in education, she started as a special education early childhood care provider. For nearly half of her career, she served as an educational advocate in her Native American community, and the other half as a respected teacher, mentor, and coach in the Cedar Riverside Neighborhood.
Her coaching journey began in the northern suburbs of Minneapolis, where she coached various sports, then moved to high school, building a successful program at PACT in Anoka. While attending Augsburg College, she worked at Cedar Riverside Community School, where she noticed a lack of quality sports and enrichment programs. This led her to co-found Cedar Riverside Athletics and Enrichment (CRAE), which partners with local universities, businesses, and leaders.
Though most know her as “Coach Weber” from her years of coaching basketball, her true passion lies in education, connecting with others, and advocating for opportunities in the community.
Twelve high school students, accompanied by three chaperones, embarked on an exciting out-of-state college trip to Phoenix, Arizona, where they explored the possibilities of attending school beyond their home state of Minnesota. During the trip, they toured Arizona State University’s Tempe and Phoenix campuses, visiting various educational buildings, the music and art museums, and the fitness complex. Beyond the campus experience, the group ventured into Arizona’s stunning landscapes, hiking through Papago Park for a breathtaking view of the valley and tackling a hilly trail, with some students completing a 1.5-mile trek. The trip also provided opportunities to experience the unique desert environment, from spotting towering cacti to rollerblading, shopping for souvenirs and clothes, and bonding over card games. Along the way, students from Brian Coyle, Waite House, and Oak Park locations deepened their connections while reflecting on how life and geography can vary across the country—and how pursuing college out of state is an achievable dream.
On February 26, 2025, six North News interns joined hundreds of high school students from across Minnesota for Youth Day at the Capitol, an event aimed at empowering young people to engage in the legislative process. The day began at the Minnesota History Center, where interns participated in an advocacy training session led by the Minnesota Youth Council. During the session, students learned how to advocate for issues they are passionate about, craft effective advocacy statements, and share their perspectives with lawmakers. Several North News interns took the opportunity to present their own advocacy statements, including Clarence Ransom, who spoke about undocumented immigrants’ rights.
Following the training, the interns explored the Smithsonian exhibit “Girlhood: It’s Complicated,” which examines the evolving experiences of girls in American history. They also visited exhibits on Native American history in the U.S. and the history of mining in Minnesota, gaining a deeper understanding of the state’s industrial and cultural past.
After their time at the History Center, the group joined a march to the Capitol building, where students gathered for lunch before engaging directly with lawmakers. The interns had the opportunity to meet with State Representative Esther Agbaje and Senate President Bobby Joe Champion. They asked Champion thoughtful questions on pressing issues, including the impact of the federal funding freeze in Minnesota, the situation in Gaza, and efforts to increase access to healthy food and essential goods for people without cars.
The event gave interns a hands-on experience in civic engagement, advocacy, and journalism. By participating in discussions with policymakers and learning from historical exhibits, the North News interns deepened their understanding of the issues affecting their communities and the ways they can use their voices to create change.
The Housing Justice League invites you to come build community, learn about Tenant Opportunity to Purchase (TOPA), and share your priorities with city officials and local organizers!
When: Thursday, March 20th, 6-8pm
Where: Sabathani Community Center – 310 E 38th St. Minneapolis
FREE Dinner, PLEASE RSVP: tinyurl.com/topaopolis
Families Welcome.
Spanish interpretation available.
$25 stipends provided while supplies last.
Pillsbury United Community Health Team celebrates LGBTQ Health Awareness Week by highlighting local organizations doing incredible work advancing LGBTQ Health Equity.
Family Tree Clinic (612) 473-0800
1919 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
A nonprofit clinic committed to improving the health of LGBTQ individuals through affordable, respectful sexual health care and education.
Outfront MN (612) 822-0127
2446 University Ave W Suite 112, St Paul, MN 55114
Outfront MN provides crisis intervention services, confidential crisis counseling, and other advocacy services for LGBTQ+ victims/survivors of violence and harassment.
MN Trans Health Coalition (612) 823-1152
730 E 38th St #108, Minneapolis, MN 55407
The Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition is committed to improving health care access and the quality of health care received by trans and gender non-conforming people through education, resources, and advocacy
Red Door Clinic (612) 543-5555
525 Portland Ave S 4th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55415
STD & HIV testing, support groups, and sexual health services in Twin Cities.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Pillsbury United Communities is proud to recognize the significant contributions of women from all backgrounds. This week, we spotlight the historic milestones and accomplishments of women in Minnesota. Their stories of resilience, creativity, and leadership continue to inspire us all.
Lena O. Smith
1885 – 1966
Lena Smith made history in 1921 as the first Black woman to practice law in Minnesota. As the first female president of the Minneapolis NAACP, she led the charge against racial discrimination in the North, addressing housing, employment, and education issues.
Her pioneering work broke barriers for Black women in the legal profession and left a lasting impact on the fight for civil rights in the United States. “I’m used to doing the right thing without regard for myself,” Smith once said. “Of course, battles leave their scars, but I’m willing to make the sacrifice.”
Eloise Butler
1851 – 1933
Eloise Butler’s pioneering work in gardening lives on at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary in Theodore Wirth Park, the oldest public wildflower garden in the U.S. The garden offers a tranquil escape into nature.
Butler began her career as a botany teacher in the early 1900s. She would take her students to explore the wetlands and uplands of what was then called Glenwood Park.
In 1907, after advocating it, she and others successfully petitioned the Park Board to designate a small plot of land for the garden, which Butler cared for on a volunteer basis.
In 1929, the garden was officially named in her honor, solidifying her enduring legacy in horticulture.
Mee Moua
1969 – Present
In January 2002, Mee Moua made history as the first Asian woman elected to the Minnesota Legislature and the first Hmong American elected to any state legislature. Moua, a St. Paul lawyer, ran on a campaign platform focused on education, housing, the economy, and public safety.
As Minnesota has the largest Hmong population in the U.S., Mou’s victory in St. Paul’s District 67 had a profound political and cultural impact on the Hmong community, marking a milestone in representation and political involvement for Hmong Americans. She was re-elected twice, serving a total of nine years in the Minnesota Senate.
Today, Mou serves as the president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, which advocates for civic engagement for Asian Americans and other underserved communities.
Nellie Francis
1874 – 1969
At the turn of the 20th century, Nellie (Griswold) Francis emerged as an influential leader for civil rights in Minnesota. She made history as the only African American student to graduate from St. Paul High School in 1891 and was one of eight students chosen to deliver a graduation speech. In her address, Francis boldly asserted that the “race problem” was a construct of white Americans, who viewed Black citizens as dangerous rather than recognizing them as hard-working, peaceful, and patriotic—much less as equals.
This forward-thinking and fearless stance became a hallmark of her advocacy, which included the drafting of and lobbying for the adoption of a state anti-lynching bill that was signed into law in 1921, following the lynchings of three Black carnival workers in Duluth in 1920
Toni Stone
1921 – 1996
Toni Stone was a pioneering figure in the history of baseball, breaking gender and racial barriers in the sport. Born in 1921 in St. Paul’s historic Rondo neighborhood, Stone went on to become the first woman to play professional baseball in the Negro Leagues.
In 1953, she joined the Indianapolis Clowns, a team in the Negro American League, making her the first woman to compete in the league. Stone played second base and was known for her agility and strong arm.
In 1990, Stone was featured in the “Women in Baseball” and “Negro League Baseball” exhibits at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Three years later, she was inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. Award-winning playwright Lydia R. Diamond also produced an off-Broadway play about her life.
Next Week: We’ll honor the the women of Pillsbury United Communities making history today.
