WE ARE COMMITTED TO DISMANTLING A BELIEF IN A HIERARCHY OF HUMAN VALUE, WITH A FOCUS ON RACIAL EQUITY.
As we work to create a just and vibrant Minnesota where all communities and people thrive, we know we can never realize our vision unless we advocate for equity.
Facing Race Awards
Our annual Facing Race Awards celebrate Minnesotans working to create a racially equitable community.
Through these Awards, we celebrate and learn from those leading the way forward.
Countering Hate
Countering Hate is an annual gathering hosted by Minnesota Council of Churches, Muslim American Society of Minnesota and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
We convene philanthropic leaders — staff and board members — from across Minnesota to create a space for reflective conversation about hate, white supremacy and philanthropy’s responsibility to step into its power to combat these societal ills.
Art In This Present Moment
During challenging times, artists are at the forefront of expressing a community's response and demanding change. We launched Art in This Present Moment to support their work.
We are providing financial support to artists who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who are changing and challenging dominant narratives through their craft.
Equity Resources
These articles, links and other resources offer ways to act now and learn more about how to be anti-racist and advocate for racial equity.
Analyzing Our Grantmaking
In 2020, we undertook a project to assess our grantmaking and measure how we use our grant dollars to contribute to racial equity within the East Metro and the state of Minnesota as a whole.
To fully understand our contributions to the various racial and ethnic communities that live here, we set out to disaggregate all of our grantmaking data from the past few years. Our data disaggregation project methodology report is available for those who would like to learn more, and we wrote about our learnings in a recent blog post.
Stories of Advocating for Equity
Finding Joy in Remembrance: Honoring George Floyd Five Years Later
Leslie E. Redmond organizes commemorative event for George Floyd and reflects on her work as an activist.
Read the announcement
Juana Garcia: Celebrating Cultural Traditions Through Dance
Dance has been a way for Juana (Jaynie) Garcia to connect to her Mexican heritage, introducing Ballet Folklorico to others in the city of Willmar.
See the project
Drumming for Unity: A Vision for Community Change
Created by John Salgado Maldonado, Cimarrón Batucada uses the art of drumming to address social justice issues and promote cross-cultural community engagement.
See the project
From Lab to Stage: Kenji Shoemaker's Unique Path in Theater
There’s a unique art and science to prop and stage design. These skills helped former scientist Kenji Shoemaker switch careers, showcasing his talents behind the curtains.
See the project