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

May 3, 2023 1:44 PM

Bustling West Side St. Paul marketplace has humble roots — from a station wagon

MPR News producer Britt Aamodt spoke to co-owner Milissa Silva about the history behind this neighborhood food destination.

by Cathy Wurzer and Britt Aamodt

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May 3, 2023 10:39 AM

The healing benefits of getting outdoors

MPR News Host Angela Davis speaks with two Minnesotans who are helping others experience the joys of the outdoors and the health benefits.

by Angela Davis and Danelle Cloutier

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May 3, 2023 4:00 AM

Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe seeks to increase number of foster families

The need for foster care comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to decide on a challenge to a federal law that aims to keep Native children within their community and culture.

by Kirsti Marohn

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May 1, 2023 12:40 PM

From Somalia to Yemen to the U.S., Minneapolis woman finds a home – and a voice

The author and subject of the book, Zaynab Abdi, talked with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer.

by Cathy Wurzer and Alanna Elder

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May 1, 2023 12:00 PM

How to stop violence before it starts and break the cycle of trauma

Listen to this discussion about the trauma of violent crime and the people working in creative ways to interrupt it.

by Angela Davis, Kelly Gordon and Nicole Johnson

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May 1, 2023 11:30 AM

The legacies of Keefer Court, Khyber Pass and immigrant-owned restaurants

Restaurants run by immigrant families keep culture alive through food. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how these family-owned businesses enrich our communities and what we lose when they close.

by Angela Davis, Samantha Matsumoto and Ngoc Bui

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May 1, 2023 4:00 AM

Bridge to the spirit realm: Hmong shamanism in Minnesota

As older generations of Hmong people pass away, so do the traditions they brought with them to America. A traditional role in Hmong spirituality may be key to keeping those traditions alive.

by Jacob Aloi

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April 26, 2023 8:30 AM

Burnsville music class includes songs familiar to Somali students

In a Burnsville school where half the students are Somali, a music teacher is diversifying her curriculum with help from the students.

by Elizabeth Shockman

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April 24, 2023 4:00 AM

Demand for culturally-aware mental health providers rises in a more diverse Minnesota

Finding proper mental health care can be difficult for many people — especially as the state grapples with a shortage of mental health providers. But as the state becomes more racially and ethnically diverse, finding therapists with cultural awareness is an added challenge for many people of color.

by Sarah Thamer