Sheila Mulrooney Eldred, Author at Sahan Journal

Umar Ahmed grew up in Somalia using miswak twigs from a tree to brush his teeth. When he immigrated to the United States at age 16, dentists were impressed with his healthy teeth. Inspired by miswak, Umar later created Twiggy Fresh to sell compostable bamboo brushes, combating the waste created by traditional plastic brushes.

Author Archives: Sheila Mulrooney Eldred

Twigs, plastic, and bamboo: Umar Ahmed’s dental-care evolution led to the creation of an eco-friendly toothbrush line–Twiggy Fresh.

Richard Stodieck was lost as a young man. He found hope and a future at an apprenticeship with Full Cycle bike shop in Minneapolis.

Talking to trees, the cool April air, and frogs: Michelle Defoe and her three daughters share the ancient Ojibwe tradition of tapping maple trees for syrup.

A steamy summer looms, especially for Minnesotans who live in urban heat islands with scant shade and spotty air conditioning. Need help in staying cool? Here are some tips.

Activists say Native and lower-income communities are disproportionately harmed by coal and gas power plants. They’re calling on Minnesota Power to adopt more renewable energy and to close some plants.

How to buy a bike in Minnesota (or get one for free!)

Research shows that medical caregivers often don’t know what tick bites look like on Black and brown skin. That can mean delayed diagnoses of Lyme disease and other illnesses.

Weight loss programs tailored to the needs of Somali and Latino immigrants show success, a Mayo Clinic study finds. Participants lost weight during COVID while many other Americans gained weight.

Many Native people have lost the foods that once nourished their communities. Hope Flanagan is teaching people how to find them again, plant by plant—starting in a park near the airport.

Marvin Roger Anderson was displaced from St. Paul’s historically Black Rondo Neighborhood as a child when Interstate 94 was constructed. Now in his 80s, he sees promise in a plan to reconnect the area.

Alicia D. Smith is the Minneapolis Park Board’s only commissioner of color. The newly elected member vows to include people who’ve been left out.

Ever wonder what the comic strip Peanuts would look like if the main characters were Korean American? Brothers Rich and Martin Lee decided to find out.

Last spring, Hennepin Healthcare System demoted the Filipino American head of its OB-GYN department. In a newly filed discrimination lawsuit, Dr. Tara Gustilo says she was penalized for her ‘colorblind’ political beliefs and her opposition to ‘racially segregated’ health care.

Minneapolis City Council members decided Thursday to reconsider the controversial development of a site in the East Phillips neighborhood.

Nigerian immigrant Wale Falade thinks Minnesota is ready to see more work by architects of color. His own firm, FIHAN, just won the bid to redesign Minneapolis’ North Commons Park.

Tee McClenty fights for climate justice for all as the new executive director of MN350.

Paula Vasquez Alzate never stopped dancing as a child in Medellin, Colombia. The coronavirus pandemic couldn’t stop her, either.

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