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.

This coverage is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

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February 1, 2023 12:37 PM

Documentary series traces history of racial injustice, resistance in Twin Cities

Twin Cities Public Television released a documentary called Jim Crow of the North in 2019. A new series by the same name explores more stories about resistance to racial discrimination in the Twin Cities region. It hinges on this question: Why is Minneapolis the epicenter of a global racial reckoning?

by Cathy Wurzer and Ellen Finn

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February 1, 2023 4:00 AM

Snow sisters: Team Kwe, the only all-women Indigenous snow sculpture team in the U.S.

On a freezing January weekend, an all-woman Indigenous snow carving team makes its mark in a physically demanding art form.

by Alex V. Cipolle

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January 31, 2023 1:02 PM

Meet four local arts leaders giving a voice to underrepresented communities

Guest host Jacob Aloi heads into the studios of artists of color, a queer filmmaker and a curator of Latin American Art. They’re all making the art world more inclusive.

by Jacob Aloi, Danelle Cloutier and Nicole Johnson

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January 19, 2023 9:34 AM

'We need each other': Prairie Island, Red Wing start 'Honoring Dakota' mural

The effort is about much more than art itself; it touches on improving indigenous representation in Red Wing, Minn., confronting historical trauma and promoting mental health.

by Cathy Wurzer and Alanna Elder

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January 16, 2023 4:00 PM

Alan Page brings back 'Testify' exhibit to spark conversations on race

Alan Page is again sharing his popular and provocative exhibit of African American art and artifacts with the public. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with the former Minnesota Supreme Court justice and his daughter about the importance of remembering America’s painful racist history.

by Angela Davis, Maja Beckstrom and Nicole Johnson

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January 16, 2023 3:17 PM

Future of Us: Creating a new roadmap for justice in the wake of George Floyd

Long-time activist and attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong reflects on how the murder of George Floyd, global protests, and a high-profile conviction have transformed the ways we understand and advocate for justice.

by Tom Crann and Ngoc Bui

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January 10, 2023 2:31 PM

'Losing is learning': Life lessons from an iconic Minneapolis basketball coach

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with longtime high school basketball coach Larry McKenzie about mentorship, motivation and high school athletics.

by Angela Davis, Samantha Matsumoto and Nicole Johnson

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December 30, 2022 4:00 AM

New St. Paul gallery for Asian American artists spotlights Burmese art

Xia Gallery and Cafe, which opened in October with the goal of showcasing and connecting Asian artists and makers in Minnesota, is hosting what it calls “the single largest collection of paintings from Myanmar ever to be exhibited in the U.S.”

by Robyn Katona

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December 20, 2022 1:33 PM

Cast of Santas at Mall of America gets more diverse

The Santa Experience at the Mall of America has expanded the variety of Santas — an Asian American Santa who speaks in Cantonese and English; a St. Nick who speaks Spanish and they have two African American Santas — one of whom communicates in sign language.

by Regina Medina and Kerem Yücel

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December 15, 2022 10:00 AM

COVID learning loss in Minnesota schools: Five things you should know

The pandemic made learning harder for many students, but we see evidence that it accelerated learning loss for students who were behind in school before we knew about COVID-19. What is being done to help kids catch up? Listen in.

by Angela Davis, Kelly Gordon and Nicole Johnson

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