1. Djenane Saint Juste
Sahan Journal became roommates with local mainstay St. Paul Neighborhood News earlier this year, and their large studio space has provided some unique opportunities for photography. Haitian dancer and instructor Djenane Saint Juste graciously agreed to carve out part of a Sunday afternoon this summer to stop by the studio and collaborate. Djenane’s dance skills and enthusiasm, combined with a bit of flash and in-camera trickery, added up to some of the most fun and unique photos of the whole year.
2. HERC vote celebration
On a cold and damp Thursday morning in October, trumpets, trombones and a tuba rang forth in the atrium of Minneapolis City Hall, heralding an imminent vote by the City Council urging the county to close the controversial Hennepin Energy Recovery Center trash burner. Protesters were jubilant as Truth Maze tapped out a beat on his drum accompanied by Brass Solidarity. Across the street at their temporary chambers, council members passed the motion by a rare unanimous vote.
3. Roosevelt High School’s COVID freshman graduate
Like the rest of the Roosevelt High School class of 2024, Yamilet Arroyo began high school in front of a computer screen with the world on lockdown due the COVID-19 pandemic. Four years later, she joined her classmates for an in-person graduation ceremony which included honors for her achievements in the International Baccalaureate program. As she celebrated with classmates on June 14, she said she hopes that the road ahead will lead to medical school and eventually a job as a neurosurgeon.
4. Minnesota State Fair’s culturally diverse foods
Each year, the Minnesota State Fair brings together one of the most eclectic menus in the state, creating a delicious assignment as our staff members work to review all the ethnic food vendors with new offerings. A staff favorite this year was the Ba’Bacon from local hummus purveyor Baba’s. In a photo published on social media, the cotton-candy-colored stripes and bright pink sign of Baba’s trailer melded perfectly with the iconic colors of the Sky Glider and Ferris wheel in the background.
5. Somali Mothers dupped to pay for bad tutoring
In October, Sahan Journal received a tip about Somali mothers who said they had signed up for tutoring services without knowing that thousands of dollars would be taken from their state tax refunds. On October 8, 18 of the mothers convened for a unique mass interview at a Somali banquet hall in south Minneapolis. After an interview with Sahan Journal reporter Joey Peters, 12 agreed to be the face of a story in which private tutoring companies, state tax credits, and nonprofit agencies intersect.
6. Lady Midnight
Local musician Adrianna Rimpel, known professionally as Lady Midnight, released her sophomore album “Pursuit & the Elusive” in 2023. The album Afro-Caribbean artist touched on themes spanning personal identity, grief, addiction and past trauma. Along with her musical prowess, Rimpel boasts a degree in photography from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and her visual creativity helped elevate a chilly spring portrait session into a simple but elegant set of images.
7. First day of school in Minneapolis
Andersen United Middle School in south Minneapolis was a nervous hub of activity on the first day of school as teachers and staff waited to greet students. With the arrival of the first round of buses, students flooded into the school. As they paraded around the corner, they were met with cheering and waving faculty. One returning student broke from the procession and ran in for a quick hug from a teacher, a small moment of joy on a busy morning.
8. Richfield’s dual-language programs
Demand for Spanish dual-language programs is growing across the Twin Cities, leading some parents to enroll outside their home districts to secure a spot. The Richfield School District was forced to cap enrollment this fall after a surge in students, many open-enrolling from nearby districts to get into Richfield’s Spanish dual-language program. In mid-October, Joana Pasco Albesa’s second-grade students worked to create Antarctic-themed art pieces from prompts in Spanish at Richfield Dual Language School. A student, perhaps a little lethargic after lunch time, approached Pasco Albesa’s desk for some help with the assignment, resting his chin on her desk, fighting the universal and familiar urge for a midday nap.
9. Preserving Somali lullabies
In June, educator Marian Hassan was awarded a major state grant to help preserve poetry and lullabies passed down by Somali elders. During an afternoon photoshoot early this fall, Hassan chatted about her history, her hope for her children’s future, and some of her favorite books and art pieces hanging in her home. The even light trickling its way into her living room seemed to match her calm nature and made for subtle, yet bold, images that complimented her thoughtful nature. She sent me out the door with a delicious cup of chai, underscoring her kindness.
10. Fanaka Nation performs at Minnesota State Fair with Sahan Journal
Local musician Fanaka Ndege, who performs as Fanaka Nation, has become a familiar face to Sahan readers over the past year. This summer he performed at a Sahan event at the State Fair, engaging a crowd seeking refuge from the August sun. With help from a live band, including guitarist Navayah Chatman, violinist Daniel Gilbert, keyboardist Robert Lehmann, and DJ Nanobyte, Fanaka’s “culture rap” melded perfectly with his athletic performance on the Minnesota Public Radio stage.
Surprise, we have one more. I take thousands of photos a year, and many (out of necessity) end up on the cutting room floor. Sometimes, the focus of the story changes. In other cases, like in this image of pro-Palestinian protesters from early September, we didn’t have a story immediately after the event.
11. Continued pro-Palestine protests at University of Minnesota
It’s hard to talk about 2024 without mentioning protests at colleges nationwide over Israel’s war in Gaza. Student protesters at the University of Minnesota set up an encampment last spring and held actions and marches throughout the year. On September 5, protesters gathered outside a dinner for university VIPs and marched down Washington Avenue into perfectly golden sunlight while demanding the university, and incoming President Rebecca Cunningham, divest from companies supporting Israel’s military.
Correction: The instrument played by Navayah Chatman has been updated in this story.
