We were lucky enough to sit down with Junauda Petrus and listen to her vision for a police department run by wise and loving elders. Junauda is one half of the dynamic Free Black Dirt collective, and she is an accomplished writer, performance artist, dancer, and educator. https://soundcloud.com/user-694815605/sets/can-we-please-give-the-police Poem written and performed by Junauda Petrus Recorded [...]
Last fall, we started a partnership with Ramsey Middle School and two classrooms of enthusiastic 6th graders. We came and talked to them about the history of community radio, the importance of controlling your own narrative, and the power of place-making. They spent the semester working with their fantastic teachers (Kara Cisco and Paul Sommers) to identify local [...]
Ashley Fairbanks serves on our Advisory Board, heads up our Community Engagement Committee, is preparing a brand new radio show for us, and has done a bit of design work at the station as well. She's also a badass designer and public artist, as well as a seasoned organizer. Somehow, Ashley found time to serve as [...]
In the last post from our partners at Ramsey Middle School, we learned about the Lee Family who were the first African-Americans to buy a house in South Minneapolis. This week, they follow up on that report with an investigation into redlining -- the practice of mapping out which neighborhoods people of different ethnicities are allowed to [...]
This week, we present two strong recordings from our 6th-grade partners at Ramsey Middle School. In the first, we learn about the history of the Lee Family. In 1931, the Lees were one of the first African American families to purchase a home in South Minneapolis, and over the course of the next year they [...]
In this week's installment of Local History Matters (our collaboration with 2 classrooms of 6th graders from Ramsey Middle School), we hear students discuss the historic Little Earth Of United Tribes. Then, they tell the story of the Washburn "A" Mill and its explosion which could be felt 5 miles away! Join us every Tuesday for more information about our [...]
Welcome to our 4th week of Local History Matters, a collaboration with 6th grade students from Ramsey Middle School. This week, listen as students tell the story of First Avenue, the venue made famous by Purple Rain. Then learn about the history of the Van Cleve family and why they have a park named after them. To [...]
We're back with a new edition of Local History Matters, our collaboration with 6th grade students from Ramsey Middle School. This week, listen as students bring you inside the Karmel Mall, a gathering place of great significance to the Somali community, then dive into the history of the largest plane crash in Minnesota history. https://soundcloud.com/user-694815605/sets/local-history-matters-a-collaboration-w-ramsey-middle-school [...]
As promised, we're back with another 2 editions of Local History Matters, our collaboration with 6th graders from Ramsey Middle School. This week, the students explore the Plymouth Avenue riots of 1967, stopping to think about similarities with last year's protests following the killing of Jamar Clark by police. Students also discuss the history of The Metrodome, celebrating [...]
Over the past few months, we have had dozens of people approach us with ideas that they want to bring to the radio. As we sort through applications for shows about everything from Somali women's health to local punk rock to small business ownership, we're reminded of what a diverse and vibrant community we live in. We're also reminded [...]