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

Sewing thread lifeline: Weekly gatherings help Afghan refugees build community in Minnesota
Hundreds of Afghan refugees have made their way to Minnesota since the fall of Kabul two years ago. It can be a tough transition, but efforts to help them build a community here now include a cultural touchstone for many Afghans: sewing.
Hmong immigrants put down roots on Dakota County farmland
The Hmong American Farmers Association closed on farmland just south of the Twin Cities in Dakota County last year. The more than 150 acres are home base for the organization and 20 families of Hmong farmers.
Lachelle Cunningham: Improvising on Black American roots in the kitchen
Twin Cities chef Lachelle Cunningham is known for drawing inspiration from Black American culinary traditions. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Cunningham about cooking with the fall harvest and training a new generation of food entrepreneurs through her Healthy Roots Initiative.
Black developers revitalize Lake Street landmark torched after Floyd murder
More than three years after George Floyd’s murder, a group of Black entrepreneurs is renovating the historic Coliseum Building on Lake Street in Minneapolis that was nearly lost to arson in 2020.
As Al Quie is laid to rest, another family remembers enduring bond of faith, friendship
Al Quie was a Minnesota governor and longtime member of Congress. But it was in his role as a church committeeman, a lifetime ago, that he reached out to a stranger — and formed an unexpected family bond that endures to this day.
Growing diversity: The changing face of Minnesota farming
Don’t miss this special North Star Journey Live conversation recorded at the Minnesota State Fair about emerging farmers. What’s being done in our state to encourage more diversity in agriculture?
How to build a legacy: The late artist Jim Denomie at Mia and beyond
Jim Denomie, an Ojibwe painter who died in 2022, was originally planning a mid-career exhibit with the Minneapolis Institute of Art; his work primarily focused on social injustices and Native communities, and the posthumous exhibit has now become a comprehensive tribute to his legacy.
Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year: 'Make students feel like they matter'
After years of coaching, teaching and building trust with his students and fellow educators, Michael Houston was named Minnesota’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Here’s what this award means to the St. Paul Harding High teacher and what’s next in his future.