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business & work
One family’s race across town for the best Asian foods inspired the Twin Cities’ first pan-Asian mall.
The developers of Asia Mall want to bring food, restaurants, and goods from different Asian ethnicities to one place. The mall hopes to have a soft opening this summer, with a grand opening by winter.
policing & justice
Grandfather urges public to avoid rumor, speculation about Vadnais Lake murder-suicide investigation.
Chong Lue Lee spoke out Tuesday about his son Yee Lee’s suicide, and the subsequent murder-suicide of his daughter-in-law, Molly Cheng, and the couple’s three children. He expressed concern that police allowed Cheng to leave with the children.
health
What is monkeypox and why are Minnesota health officials concerned? A guide to protecting yourself and others.
Monkeypox is spreading to more countries than ever before in its 52-year history. Minnesota health officials say it’s less contagious than COVID, but that Minnesotans should still take precautions.
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Community voices
Friends separated by war reunite at Hmong International Freedom Festival, which returns after two-year absence.
St. Paul resident Chai Lee recalls the moment his father broke down in tears after finding a long-lost friend at J4, the Hmong community’s nickname for the annual festival. The event draws thousands of Hmong people from across the world for two days of athletic competitions, music, food, and much more.
LATEST STORIES
More than just a game: Minneapolis company strives to make culturally accurate, online learning tools.
A Minneapolis-based company creates video games that have an educational purpose — teaching students math, science and language arts. The online games are available in English, Spanish, Lakota and Dakota. The creators of 7 Generation Games also combine learning with culture by working with different communities.
Chefs Louis Hunter and Keiko Jackson celebrate Black cuisine with a twist–it’s all vegan.
Louis Hunter operates the Twin Cities first Black-owned plant-based restaurant, Trio Plant-Based. Hunter and chef Keiko Jackson, who operates a pop-up kitchen, want to give back to the Black community while pushing culinary boundaries.
Celebrate Somali Week: A how-to guide for learning about Somali culture, arts, and history.
Somali history and culture is diverse and complex. These movies, books, music, podcasts, and more explore its nuances and depth.
Minnesotans decry the end of nearly 50 years of abortion rights.
Community members congregated at different locations across the Twin Cities Friday evening to support abortion rights. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier that day, removing abortion from protection under the federal constitution.
Sahan Journal wins top journalism awards from Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists.
Sahan Journal received seven awards from the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, including Young Journalist of the Year and first place in photography.
Somali music star, Sharma Boy, plans to rock Minneapolis stages and mentor youth.
Sharma Boy’s first visit to the United States is a month-long stop in Minneapolis for two live shows. The YouTube sensation is also leading workshops with local Somali youth about his songwriting and the power of storytelling.
U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, putting people of color at disproportionate risk of harm, experts say.
Local health experts say Black, Indigenous, and People of Color patients will struggle to find safe, legal abortions. They also predict more deaths among pregnant Black women.
Need help with rent? Apply for an assistance program that only takes applications once every few years.
Renters can vie for a spot on a waitlist, where some wait years before receiving financial aid from the federal Section 8 program. The deadline to apply is 12 p.m. on June 28.
Local parks host diverse programming thanks to Met Council grants aimed at inclusion.
Met Council launched a grant program in 2019 to fund programs that would increase diversity and inclusion at 10 park systems under its umbrella. Gustavo Rosso received a grant to host a free, Spanish-speaking soccer camp this summer.
How to get the COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 5 in Minnesota.
The state’s youngest residents are also its most racially diverse. Younger children can now get vaccinated against COVID-19. Here’s what you need to know.
People of color, LGBTQ birdwatchers find camaraderie at the Urban Bird Collective.
Monica Bryand founded the Urban Bird Collective in 2018 to give BIPOC and LGBTQ individuals a safe place to enjoy birdwatching and the outdoors. The group now has hundreds of members from diverse backgrounds.
inside sahan Journal
Sahan Journal is hiring new roles to support our unique nonprofit newsroom. Come work with us!
Sahan Journal is searching for new staff to support our audience growth, major gifts, and sales and marketing. Be part of the future of diverse nonprofit news in Minnesota!
Sahan Journal is seeking an entrepreneurial development professional to bring donors closer to our work.
Sahan Journal launches search for new staff to grow our audiences, major donors, and sales and marketing programs. Be part of the future of diverse nonprofit news in Minnesota!
Sahan Journal is hiring an operations manager to join its staff.
Sahan Journal seeks an effective manager who will ensure the smooth operational functioning of a multifaceted nonprofit organization.
Shakopee school board member vies to be Minnesota’s first Somali county commissioner.
Ibrahim Mohamed wants to focus on housing, health, and education and economic development if elected as county commissioner. He made history two years ago when he became the first person of color elected to the Shakopee school board.
Amazon’s Shakopee workers rally for better pay, criticize company for not giving Muslim employees vacation on Eid.
Workers say the company doesn’t accommodate Muslim workers celebrating Eid, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. They’re also threatening to walk out on Amazon Prime Day in July if they don’t get a raise.
Workers’ rights group calls on Twin Cities developers to help stop worker abuse.
Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL) created the Building Dignity and Respect Program to protect non-union workers. Immigrants and people of color are especially vulnerable to abuse in the construction trades, advocates say.
VIDEO: Abdirahman Warsame seeks to heal communities through his work as a substance abuse specialist and poet.
Abdirahman Warsame co-founded Generation Hope more than three years ago to destigmatize substance abuse in the Twin Cities’ East African communities. He just published a book of poetry, “From Addict to Advocate,” that chronicles his journey to recovery.
The University of Minnesota fails to deliver on making Juneteenth a university holiday.
The university’s head of human resources emailed faculty and staff in 2021 saying “we fully expect that next year this will be a recognized holiday for all University staff and faculty.” But that hasn’t come to pass. One African American and African Studies professor says the U is “always a step behind.”
The Senate ethics subcommittee voted unanimously to investigate State Senator Omar Fateh.
The subcommittee found that there was enough merit to further investigate two complaints against Omar. The first-term senator defended himself at an ethics hearing Wednesday, saying he had no involvement in alleged voter fraud in his 2020 campaign.
New research details historically racist housing practices in Ramsey County. The racial covenants were most common in middle-class neighborhoods.
Racial covenants were written into a home’s deed, barring people of color from buying or selling the property. They were most common in the first half of the 20th Century, but their impact continues to influence modern-day inequities, researchers say.
Minnesota Muslims hoping to visit Mecca must enter a new lottery system. Saudi Arabia is limiting visitors from certain countries.
The Saudi government announced a new lottery system on June 6 that would grant 4,000 visas to U.S. citizens, according to a Minnesota travel agent. The government previously issued 12,000 visas a year to Americans who make the Hajj, a pilgrimage to several holy sites in Saudi Arabia.
Sponsored Content
People’s Center Clinics & Services continues to protect the community from COVID-19
COVID-19 is still with us even as we tire of it.
MORE STORIES
Laura Yuen: At 94, this vet preserves the history of World War II linguists secretly trained in Minnesota
Eighty years ago this month, a covert military language school was established in Savage, drawing Japanese American soldiers.
Many Afghan families in Minnesota face eviction as rental aid from the government ends. Here’s how you can help.
More than 1,200 Afghans moved to Minnesota under a robust resettlement system the state created after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August. Now, many can’t pay their rent because federal rental assistance expires after six months. Several local organizations are scrambling to keep refugees in safe, affordable housing.
Minnesota’s embrace of Afghan refugees has turned into a crisis: many are facing eviction because government rental assistance expires after six months.
Many Afghan refugees said they can’t pay their rent because they face language barriers and can’t find jobs. The federal government pays for their first six months’ rent, and refugees must take over payments from there. Several local organizations are scrambling to keep refugees off the streets.
Owamni in Minneapolis wins James Beard award for Best New Restaurant
Dana Thompson and Chef Sean Sherman, co-owners of the innovative Indigenous restaurant, accepted the prestigious award at the Lyric Opera in Chicago Monday evening.
High temperatures and lower air quality will hit the Twin Cities this week. Learn how to track air quality reports and protect your health.
State and national studies show that people of color, low-income earners, and residents of neighborhoods impacted by historic racist policies–redlining–fare worse than others on low air quality days. Many of those neighborhoods are closer to industrial plants and freeways, which contribute to poor air quality.
A summer romance blossoms into marriage, a shared career for Twin Cities filmmakers.
Sebastian Schnabel and Cici Yixuan Wu made their home in the Twin Cities, where they own and operate the video production company, MindTwist Studio. They make short films, documentaries, and promotional videos.
What to know about applying for Minnesota’s front-line worker bonus
Essential workers can now apply to see if they qualify to receive checks of up to $1,500 meant to support those who worked in especially high-risk environments during the pandemic. The state predicts up to 700,000 Minnesotans could be eligible for hero pay.
Artist Leslie Barlow mixes nostalgia, joy in creating the 2022 Minnesota State Fair commemorative artwork. She’s the first Black woman commissioned for the task.
Leslie Barlow’s favorite memories of the State Fair include winning a giant stuffed animal, the giant slide, and her family’s obsession with pork chops on a stick. She’s the first Black woman and woman of color to create the fair’s commemorative artwork.
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa celebrates historic return of tribal land.
More than 28,000 acres of reservation land lost a century ago is back under band ownership.
Carjackings rattle south Minneapolis mosque. Leaders say many worshipers have stopped coming for nightly prayers.
Religious leaders at Abubakar As-Saddique Islamic Center say worshipers have suffered eight carjackings. And a neighboring school and mall report that people are afraid to visit the Midtown Phillips neighborhood. Mayor Jacob Frey and City Council Member Jason Chavez attended a public meeting in May, but mosque leaders say they’re concerned about safety with summer on the way.
