Community Voice | Pillsbury United Communities

Elizabeth Brisbin

March 21, 2025

Celebrating the notable women making history at Pillsbury United Communities

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.

Elizabeth Brisbin

March 18, 2025

North News Interns Engage in Advocacy at Youth Day at the Capitol

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.

Elizabeth Brisbin

March 17, 2025

TOPA-opolis Community Campaign Kick-Off

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 20^th, 6-8pm

Where: Sabathani Community Center – 310 E 38^th St. Minneapolis

FREE Dinner, PLEASE RSVP: tinyurl.com/topaopolis

Families Welcome.

Spanish interpretation available.

$25 stipends provided while supplies last.

Elizabeth Brisbin

February 14, 2025

Pillsbury United Communities is Celebrating Black History Month

Pillsbury United Communities is celebrating Black History Month by sharing some upcoming events in the Twin Cities-metro area.

February 16 | 12:30 pm
Minneapolis Spirit of Black History Brunch
Tap-In, 2618 Lowry Ave. N., Minneapolis
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February 20 | 5-7:30 pm
African Americans and Labor
Arlington Hills Community Center
1200 Payne Ave, St. Paul, MN
Read More

February 21 | 4-7 pm
Black to the Future! Kids’ Black History Exploration
825 Arts, 825 University Ave
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February 21 | 5-8 pm
Brooklyn Park Black History Month Showcase
Community Activity Center
5600 85th Ave, N. Brooklyn Park
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February 22 | 10am-1 pm
2nd Annual Black Men’s Brunch – Bring back the Love
The Den, 817 5th Ave. S. #200, Minneapolis
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February 22 | 11am-3 pm
Black History Month: Breaking Generational Curses
825 Arts, University Ave. W, St.Paul
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February 23 | 2-5 pm
How are you feeling mentally? Black Men’s Panel
825 Arts, University Ave. W, St.Paul
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February 27 | 6-8 pm
S.H.I.N.E. & G.R.I.N.D Black History Month Showcase
North Senior High School
2416 11th Ave, St. Paul
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February 28 | 7 pm
The Sound of Gospel Music presented by Rochester NAACP
Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Drive SE, Rochester
Read More

February 28 | 7-9:30 pm
Reads for My People
Fifth Element, 2411 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis
Read More

Elizabeth Brisbin

February 7, 2025

Minneapolis Community Connections Conference

FREE EVENT

When: Saturday, February 8 at 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Where: Minneapolis Convention Center, First Floor, Hall E

1301 2nd Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55404

Participation is Power!

Speak:

Get involved in City decisions
Advise City leaders

Act:

Vote
Join a board
Make change in your neighborhood

Grow:

Jobs
Internships
Health
Housing
Renters’ rights
Immigration
Community safety
Environmental justice
Community resources
Food, music and dance

Get a FREE bus pass to the event: MinneapolisMN.gov/ccc

English 2025 Community Connections Conference

Spanish Community Connections Conference 2025

Somali Community Connections Conference 2025

Oromo Community Connections Conference 2025

Hmong Community Connections Conference 2025

Lao Community Connections Conference 2025

Joe Eichele

August 28, 2023

“Our Stories Our Lake Street” Showcase

On Friday, August 18th, seven of our youth interns voiced their concerns and advocated for change in their community during the “Our Stories Our Lake Street” Showcase at Urban Ventures in Minneapolis. The event was a partnership between Pillsbury United Communities and the Minnesota Humanities Center to celebrate youth voices from in and around East Lake Street.

Our youth interns put in time and effort over the summer to research issues in their community, interview locals, and craft speeches and to create a final film that encapsulated their perspectives. With the mentorship of their youth leader, Kay Carvajal Moran, they created a piece of work that reflected their beliefs and findings. The efforts of their work were on full display during the event.

The evening started with a social hour as party-goers chatted with the numerous vendors in attendance. Tables were set up for jewelry, fruit, artwork, and more. A food truck occupied the street right outside of the entrance. One of the wildest attractions of the showcase were two piñatas just outside of the building. Both were quickly raided for their sweet treats by the children in an exciting frenzy.

After all the fun festivities, the crowd gathered at the stage to welcome the interns who were ready to present their work. Each intern began with a prepared speech that talked about the different issues citizens face on and around Lake Street. To cater to the audience, a mix of English and Spanish were used. The issues they spoke on ranged from drug and alcohol abuse, housing insecurity, food access, education, etc. It was clear that their time spent on these topics either taught them new things or reinforced what they already felt.

Following their powerful words was what had originally been a set time to screen their film. Due to unforeseen technical issues, the attendees were not able to complete their screening. In lieu of this, however, members of the audience were invited to the stage to share their own words, speeches, or poetry in a moment of impromptu magic. Everyone in attendance left the event feeling assured with the future of Minneapolis being in these students’ hands.

Becca Tripp

April 19, 2023

PUC’s Jovita Morales on the long fight to get Driver’s Licenses for All

Jovita Francisco Morales, an Indigenous Mazahua immigrant from Mexico, has organized Latine community members out of our Waite House Community Center in East Phillips for more than 15 years. “Waite House is kind of like my house. So much is accessible here,” she said.

After years of fighting, she was one of the leading forces that secured Driver’s Licenses for All in Minnesota during this year’s legislative session. At the end of March and the end of a sabbatical she took to focus on advocacy for the Driver’s Licenses bill with her organization Minnesota Immigrant Movement, she spoke with the Pillsbury United communications team about that recent victory, food access as an organizing tool, and the power of Indigenous women.

Tell us about your relationship with Pillsbury United. How long have you worked here?
I started volunteering in 2002. In 2005, I started work as a regular employee at Waite House. My first job was smoking cessation work. Then I worked at the front desk as a receptionist. Then I worked in the food shelf. And then I started community organizing during our produce giveaway. 60-100 people were showing up to presentations on produce day. We [eventually] organized those people to fight for municipal IDs and Driver’s Licenses for All. It became statewide.

Why have driver’s licenses for all Minnesotans regardless of immigration status been such an important issue to you?
I have been working for so many years at Waite House, and I see community every single day that is in need of food. To have no hunger in the community, we have to look at the policy that makes people vulnerable. Having licenses will let people work; they will have money to bring food to their tables and there will be less trauma; this has caused trauma for 20 years. The system has forced people to take risks and made it hard to take care of themselves by removing their right to a license. There’s a lot you can do with a state ID, like rent housing. The economy will be better because of this.

You’ve been a leader in the movement since the beginning. How did you get involved?
From 2008-2009, collective tables began to form to lead this initiative. At Waite House, we started as Latinas Creativas which became Mujeres en Liderazga and then Mesa Latina, and then Minnesota Immigrant Movement. We wanted Waite House to do training and development to do something in community. That led us to develop the Driver’s Licenses for All bill and to work on getting municipal IDs in the City of Minneapolis, beginning in 2009.

Tell us about the process of working for more than ten years to get the bill passed.
We asked many legislators to carry our bill in the beginning and they said no, but former Representative Karen Clark said yes right away. She recommended Scott Dibble in the Senate who passed it to Bobby Joe Champion. Clark and Champion became our fighters. Our first bill was introduced in the state of MN in 2010. We weren’t successful. In 2012, the bill passed the Senate but not the House. Then we passed it three times in the Senate but not in the House. We did work all over the state promoting the need for it. We had so many meetings. We did hunger strikes twice. We were camping every legislative session outside of the Capitol. The weather was so cold. We were also sleeping inside the Capitol at times. Governor Dayton said he wouldn’t support the bill, so we went to all his election events. We did a lot of rallies and marches. At one point Republican Rod Hamilton became the house author. He tried to bring other members, but he couldn’t. Finally, Senator Zaynab Mohamed and Representative Aisha Gomez carried it in the end joined by Senator Bobby Joe Champion and Representative Maria Isa Perez Vega. Most of the work being done was women. We started with women and ended with women.

Tell us more about the work and power of women in this movement.
I come from an Indigenous community where machismo is still there, adopted from colonialism. Women were minimized and forced to do things. This movement proves that women can do so much, even without degrees. I didn’t have the opportunity to finish high school or go to college but have built so much political connection and power. This movement shows the resources we have—they come from the grassroots community members. When you work with your heart, everything you harvest will be love.

Now that the law is passed, there’s still quite a bit of work to be done to implement it. What is that looking like?
This month we’ve re-visited ten cities around Minnesota doing education and consciousness work. We’re telling people we won; showing them that this is what happens when you don’t give up and you resist. We talk about what the law means, the story of how we got here, and then the bill itself. We want to prepare people to meet the requirements to get a license. We’re talking about responsibility and driving safely. We want people to take care of Minnesota like they’re taking care of their own lives.

Do you have other dreams for Minnesota? What are they?
If I had more money, I’d create more programs, especially housing. Especially in rural MN, we can do a lot to use the food system to organize people and change policy. I also want to see paternalistic systems dismantled. If we say we want justice for everybody, or if we say we want to empower community, what does that really mean to us? My experience is that organizations minimize us or take credit for the work that community has done. How do we recognize all the good work without territorialism?

What are your dreams personally and professionally?
I have been asking myself that. One of my dreams is just to be happy and see people happy. When you see a family that has a lot of love, it’s partly because they are ok. Better jobs and better housing create love and harmony in the family. Need gets in the way of love. We have to share resources and remove barriers in order to live equitably.

samd@pillsburyunited.org

July 8, 2020

“Reimagine Public Safety” teaser video released

We’ve been here before. But out of our pain rises the stories of how to heal, how to evolve, and how to build.

Coming later this summer, Pillsbury United Communities will be releasing the first installment of “Reimagine Public Safety,” a new docuseries exploring policing in the city of Minneapolis, and the possibilities that exist to reimagine and transform our systems of public safety. This series is one of the first initiatives from our new Policy & Advocacy team.

Don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook to see future installments and continue the conversation with our Policy & Advocacy team.

We’ve always figured out a way through. It’s time to find a way forward.

samd@pillsburyunited.org

April 27, 2020

Harry Colbert, Jr. named next North News editor

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Pillsbury United Communities has named Harry Colbert, Jr. as the next editor of North News.

Colbert is an award-winning journalist, has contributed as a reporter, columnist/commentator and editor for such outlets as the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s The Village, Suburban Journals (St. Louis), St. Louis American, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Joplin Globe (Mo.), Metro Networks (St. Louis) and KDHX (St. Louis).

Colbert joined Insight News in Minneapolis as a contributing writer in 2010. While at Insight, he has covered Barack Obama on multiple occasions during his presidency, interviewed countless dignitaries and celebrities and won awards for writing and photography. In June of 2016, Colbert was named Insight’s managing editor.

Colbert’s journalistic accolades include four Minnesota Newspaper Association awards (first place for General Reporting, two second place for Columnist and one third place for General Excellence), three National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Merit Awards (2018 Best Column, third place, 2017 Best Special Edition, second place [as both writer and managing editor] for an edition dedicated to the passing of Prince and 2016 Best Use of Photography, third place, for his coverage of the North Minneapolis uprising following the killing of Jamar Clark by Minneapolis police officers) and three National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Salute to Excellence nominations (two for Best Commentary [2018, 2019] and one for Best Business Reporting [2019]).

“We are ecstatic to welcome Harry to our team. Harry intersects a deep commitment and passion for the North Minneapolis community, and we believe he will continue to authentically tell the stories of this resilient place,” said Adair Mosley.

“I’m both humbled and honored to have been selected to lead North News in its next phase of news gathering and sharing,” Colbert said. “Kenzie [O’Keefe] has done an outstanding job piloting the ship in its inaugural phase under Pillsbury United.”

Colbert will begin officially in his role May 11.

Colbert is a proud resident of the Cleveland neighborhood of North Minneapolis.

Colbert replaces Kenzie O’Keefe who will now lead Pillsbury’s policy and advocacy work.

North News is a grassroots print and digital community news source and youth journalism training program in North Minneapolis. It is an independently operated social enterprise of Pillsbury United Communities. North News seeks to deepen understanding, empathy, and appreciation for the Northside through its coverage, expanding perceptions of a place often reduced to a single, negative narrative.

samd@pillsburyunited.org

September 16, 2019

North News creates hyperlocal, youth-powered journalism

Attendees and staff at Greater>Together 2018

Many residents of North Minneapolis may be aware of North News through its monthly print paper and digital platforms, elevating honest and nuanced narratives about the Northside that aren’t represented in the institutional media. What they may not realize is that in addition to its quality hyperlocal reporting, North News is also working to lift up the next generation of Northside youth voices.

Through classroom programs and internship opportunities overseen by North News staff, youth throughout North Minneapolis are learning to tell their community’s stories and gain experience that will prepare them for careers in mass media and communications. This need is especially critical in the Northside community. “We are the only journalism education program most of our young people have access to,” said Kenzie O’Keefe, editor-in-chief of North News. O’Keefe also co-teaches the North News journalism class at North High School and expects to lead a similar program at Patrick Henry High School later this fall.

“Working under Kenzie and being a proud intern for North News over the last three years taught me the skills I needed to become a great journalist,” said former intern Daija Triplett, currently serving at Pillsbury United Communities through the Public Allies program. After the conclusion of her term, she plans to major in communications and media studies at Stetson University in the spring. “I’ve learned so much about how journalism can help connect people to their neighbors in the community.”

Blessing Kasongoma, currently majoring in communications studies at Augsburg University, concurs: “Interning as a student reporter at North News helped me find myself as a journalist.” But she said the true benefits of the North News youth program are even bigger than that. “As a person, I became bolder when it came to approaching people for an interview. I grew that way. This skill is not just for interviewing, but for everyday life. I learned to be more confident as a person.”

The North News team has high hopes for their youth program over the long-term. “Our plan is to build on our successes, grow the capacity of our newsroom, and keep our news platforms strong,” said O’Keefe. By formalizing additional pathways between North News and the media industry, O’Keefe said, North News can ensure that all young people in North Minneapolis have the tools and resources to pursue a career in mass media. With that crucial support for emerging community voices, she said, “We envision that North Minneapolis will one day be known as the birthplace of nationally respected journalists.”

By cultivating young people’s skills as journalists, writers, and storytellers, North News is making a vital contribution to the Northside community. When everyday people are empowered to raise their voices and influence the narrative, real change can begin.

meghanm@pillsburyunited.org

June 12, 2019

South High School’s All Nations Program take to the air

One of our social enterprises in South Minneapolis, KRSM Radio, is a platform for voices not often present in traditional media. That includes youth. Student-Powered Radio, a show done in partnership with students and teachers in Middle and High School around South Minneapolis, was created to bring these voices and stories to the air.

On June 12th, one large project that our Youth Media Coordinator, Michel B., has been working on was released to the airwaves. Via Student-Powered Radio, listeners were able to hear 9 recordings made by the All Nations Program in South High School. Students talked about everything from video games and music to historical trauma, community healing, and relatives who they’ve lost to the opioid epidemic. Plus, Michel interviewed the program’s lead teacher and recorded the Pow Wow the students led on South High’s field (including the moment the graduating seniors are presented with their eagle feathers!).

Though the program has already aired, we will have the recordings available on our website soon. Check back here for updates.

KRSM is a low-power FM radio station based out of the Phillips neighborhood in South Minneapolis. Broadcasting at 98.9 FM, this is a hyper-local platform for amplifying the voices, stories, cultures, and conversations happening in our neighborhoods. Our focus is on communities that are marginalized, misrepresented, and erased by traditional media. For example, our schedule features shows in 6 different languages (English, Spanish, Somali, Ojibwe, Hmong, and Haitian Creole), and we air 10 hours of programming each week by Indigenous hosts.