North Star Journey

North Star Journey is a celebration of communities in Minnesota and the champions who are doing the work that we should be bringing a voice to. We hope to bring new understandings of our state and what brought us to today. About | Credits

MPR News also hosts North Star Journey Live, an event series discussing topics about what Minnesota’s diverse communities need to thrive. Check it out here.

🎧 Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or via RSS link

First woman police officer in St. Paul shares her legacy
In the mid-1970s, Debbie Montgomery became the first woman police officer in St. Paul. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Debbie Montgomery about her life and career and what she wants people today to learn from her story.
Minnesota entrepreneur Houston White on creativity, style and his collaboration with Target
MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Minnesota entrepreneur Houston White about his story, his many projects and how he uses his creative work to create community.
Minnesota's former education leader aims to give kids a healthier planet
MPR News host Angela Davis speaks with Brenda Cassellius about her inspiring story of growing up in poverty and then becoming a leader in education. Now she’s shaping Minnesota’s climate policy.
For 25 years, program has created brotherhood for Black high school seniors
Nine Twin Cities high school students began a “voyage to manhood” six months ago through Rites of Passage, a leadership program under African American-led nonprofit Jack and Jill of America.
Inequality even in death: Mankato project finds racial covenants in a cemetery and beyond
A Mankato project found racial covenants in seven neighborhoods and a cemetery. The city council recently voted to condemn racial covenants and now is pursuing the discharge of discriminatory language from property deeds.
Wells Academy founder creates spaces for Indigenous workers
A Red Lake Band member who has made it big in the engineering world has long tried to give others a helping hand. Now, Andy Wells has taken things one step further by launching an engineering internship in the community center on the Red Lake Reservation.
J.D. Steele: Spreading joy and soul through song
Musician J.D. Steele is known for his work with Prince and singing and producing R&B, gospel and soul with The Steeles. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with this Minnesota music powerhouse about his career, directing community choirs and inspiring the next generation to sing.
'It feels awesome': Heather Boyd makes history as first woman and first Anishinaabe to lead Grand Portage National Monument 
Boyd is the first female and Anishinaabe superintendent to lead the federal site on the ancestral homelands of the Grand Portage Anishinaabe.
'This is good food': Reclaiming a classic Nigerian dish in Minnesota
Ask just about anyone to tell their personal story, and it’s likely that food will feature at some point. For Nigerian immigrant Uche Irogbu, fufu was a staple of his childhood, and now its a staple of his identity in the U.S.