Here is MPLS Celebrates 13 Community

VISIONARIES &
CHANGEMAKERS

Here is MPLS lifts up the stories of individuals, projects and organizations that are bringing innovative solutions and a community-rooted approach to strengthen Minneapolis.

The 13 honorees were chosen through a public nomination process, with guidance from an advocacy council of 16 cross-sector leaders whose lived experiences and professional expertise reflect the diverse concerns and aspirations of our community. 

Meet the 2023 honorees:

  • KRSM

    KRSM, a low-power FM radio station in South Minneapolis, amplifies the voices, stories, cultures, and conversations happening in the community.

  • NORTHSIDE AWESOME FUND

    Northside Awesome Fund pools funds from North Minneapolis residents and gives out a $1,000 grant each month to Northsiders with impactful community projects.

  • ROTARY COMMUNITY CORE @ LAKE STREET

    Rotary Community Core @ Lake Street is a hyper-local project that emerged to revitalize the businesses damaged during the uprising that followed the murder of George Floyd.

  • ZAHNIA HARUT

    Zahnia Harut works to enhance the quality of life of people living with mental and physical disabilities through supportive housing and homelessness prevention services.

  • ASALESOL YOUNG & TEMI OGUNRINDE

    AsaleSol Young and Temi Ogunrinde, part of the leadership team at Urban Homeworks, work to imagine and build a more equitable housing system for Minneapolis.

  • ENVISION COMMUNITY

    Envision Community aims to build and operate housing for up to 20 people in microhomes where they can live cooperatively as an intentional community.

  • SEEDS WORTH SOWING

    Seeds Worth Sowing is a mutual aid-based nonprofit that provides support for caregivers who are experiencing or have experienced a high level of carceral violence.

  • ODAM MEDICAL GROUP

    Odam Medical Group is a care clinic focused on communities that are often underserved in areas of health and wellness.

  • SHARON DAY

    Sharon Day, an enrolled member of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe, is a co-founder and executive director of Indigenous Peoples Task Force.

  • WALTER CORTINA

    Walter Cortina is the founder of Bridgemakers, a youth-led organization that aims to cultivate the purpose, prosperity and power of underserved youth by transforming education.

  • JALILIA ABDUL-BROWN

    Jalilia Abdul-Brown is a community activist and the executive director of Change Starts With Community.

  • CANOPY ROOTS

    Canopy Roots is a mental health organization offering unarmed, culturally affirming and trauma-informed first responder services to people in crisis.

  • A MOTHER'S LOVE

    A Mother's Love is a grassroots organization that uses mentoring, de-escalation techniques and the life experiences of its own team members to help strengthen families and brighten futures.