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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April 21, 2022 10:05 AM

Little Earth patrols work to fill safety gap after breach in trust

Little Earth community members were hit by foam rounds and chemical munitions even though they were given permission to be on the streets during the unrest following the murder of George Floyd. Many are trying to rebuild a better relationship with police.

by Melissa Olson

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April 18, 2022 4:00 AM

Love in a cornhusk: Tamales ritual makes family out of friends

Tamales are delicious, but are hard work to make, particularly on your own. Food writer Mecca Bos tells us about how the creation of this iconic dish helped one first-generation Mexican American create a community while also providing a link with his distant family.

by Mecca Bos

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April 13, 2022 4:00 AM

‘American dream’: St. Cloud’s Somali families see homebuying as path to grow wealth, sink roots

Owning a home can be an economic stepping stone in America, but the challenges of buying can be immense, especially for new immigrants. With St. Cloud’s East African population rising rapidly, finding answers is important to the region’s future.

by Kirsti Marohn

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April 11, 2022 1:00 PM

New book puts history of racial exclusion in Minnesota in 'plain view'

For "Whiteness in Plain View: A History of Racial Exclusion in Minnesota," Chad Montrie, a professor of history at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, researched how white Minnesotans used legal and illegal means to prevent people of color from coming to the state, to drive them out or segregate them.

by Brandt Williams

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April 7, 2022 10:11 AM

How financial literacy can help reduce racial wealth gaps

Minnesota doesn’t require that students take a stand-alone course on personal finance before graduating from high school. But more states are beginning to mandate them. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how financial literacy can be a tool to reduce wealth gaps.

by Angela Davis and Samantha Matsumoto

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April 5, 2022 2:06 PM

Asian American women respond to racist incidents and violence

The national organization Stop AAPI Hate recorded close to 6,300 reports of hate incidents against Asian Americans in 2021. More than half of them targeted Asian women. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two Asian American women in Minnesota about their experiences and their communities’ responses.

by Angela Davis and Samantha Matsumoto

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April 4, 2022 4:00 AM

Financial education in Minnesota schools could help reduce economic disparities

Where did you learn about managing money, if you learned at all? Some Minnesota lawmakers say it’s time to mandate financial literacy education as a requirement to graduate from high school. They say ensuring all young Minnesota are taught personal finance is critical to helping address persistent economic disparities.

by Mark Zdechlik

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March 30, 2022 4:00 AM

Former West Side Flats residents have mixed memories about their old neighborhood

Some of the earliest immigrants to the city of St. Paul lived in areas that were eventually torn down — leaving residents to find new places to live. Many Mexican immigrants settled in areas like Swede Hollow and the West Side Flats.

by Vicki Adame

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March 28, 2022 4:00 AM

In Duluth, schools struggle to bridge city’s long-standing east-west divide

Stark disparities around health, income, housing and education are entrenched in Duluth’s geography and history. The divisions come clearly into focus at the city’s two remaining high schools. Education offers a path toward closing the gaps, but change won’t come easily.

by Dan Kraker