6/28/24 Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Welcomes New Executive Director
In recent weeks, what has been dubbed as the Alabama Sweet Tea Party (among other colorful addresses) showed how racism persists in our society today and how its historical roots continue to show us how far changing attitudes still need to go in order for justice and acceptance to be commonplace. This article by our Executive Director details the events of that day on August 5th and how it can be a lesson in community, justice, and Black liberation.
7/4/23 What to the African American is Independence Day?
“What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.” Frederick Douglass proclaimed this in 1852 and points out that this holiday is a celebration of, by, and for white people. Still today, we find our government officials restricting instead of expanding freedom by revoking long-held decisions. When those seemingly insurmountable odds are pressing against you, telling you to give up, to capitulate, to compromise, to move out of their way while they strip away freedoms and rights, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the River of Truth, and tell them — “No, you move!”
6/19/23 Juneteenth and the Miseducation of American Freedom
“My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.” For countless Black Americans, this statement did not ring true until June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the legislation making Juneteenth National Independence Day the 11th federal holiday. But, is Juneteenth truly accepted and celebrated by all Americans? Read this piece by our Executive Director to uncover the history of this monumental holiday and the miseducation of American freedom.
5/25/23 George Floyd and The Theory of Racial Relativity
On the third anniversary of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis, we reflect on the impact race has on time and space in our society. What is the rate of justice for Black people against the rate of accountability for a heinous crime by white people? Read this article by our Executive Director to understand this inequity.
4/26/23 HQBCC Awarded Grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)!
Hallie Q. Brown Community Center is pleased to announce that we were awarded an outright award of $135,771 by the National Endowment for the Humanities for their Humanities Collections and References Resources program!
The funds awarded by National Endowment for the Humanities will be used to describe and make accessible the collections stored within the Hallie Q. Brown Community Archives. We will be able to hire additional, dedicated, and highly trained staff members to assist in the preservation and interpretation of the historic Rondo Neighborhood in St. Paul Minnesota.
National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this archival work do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities (http://www.neh.gov/).
3/7/23 How I-35W obliterated the Black cultural corridor of South Minneapolis
This news story by CBS showcases yet another example of how eminent domain and the Federal Aid Highway Act in 1956 devastated the lives and legacies of Black families in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
2/17/23 This Young Archivist Preserves the Stories of Historic Rondo
Enjoy this Star Tribune article with our Archivist, Kayla Jackson, about preserving the history of Rondo and its residents.
2/8/23 Governor Walz Highlights How Budget Plans Would Help Black Minnesotans at Event in St. Paul
Governor Walz joined “Mind, Body and Soul” group members at Hallie Q. Brown on Monday, February 6th to celebrate the year’s work of the group to provide input on the state budget to help Black Minnesotans.
1/17/23 The Fierce Urgency of Now
Read this article from our Executive Director, Jonathan Palmer, about the importance of acknowledging the addiction of racism, the soft bigotry of complacency, and the need for an intervention of consciousness.
“We have also come to his hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”
-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “I Have A Dream” Aug. 28, 1963
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11/23/22 It’s Time to Change Thanksgiving
Read this article from Executive Director, Jonathan Palmer, regarding changing the narrative around Thanksgiving.
11/7/22 Democracy and the Importance of Voting
Read this article written by our Executive Director, Jonathan Palmer, on democracy and the importance of voting.
What is Black August and why should you care? Our Executive Director tells the story of George Jackson’s life and the freedom fighters who died trying to honor those who sacrificed their freedom and lives in the struggle for Black liberation.
According to a Gallup poll in June 2021, more than two in three Black Americans (69%) say they have a lot or some knowledge about Juneteenth, compared with 40% of Hispanics and 31% of white Americans. Read this article from our Executive Director to learn why the disparity exists and what we can do to change people’s awareness of true history.
American exceptionalism is a lie powered by systemic racism, white supremacy and gun violence. Read this article to understand how each affects life in our society today as we consider the terrible acts of violence in Tulsa.
2/21/22 We Should Not Teach Critical Race Theory
Read this article written by our Executive Director on what Critical Race Theory is and is not in order to underscore how imbedded racism is to our society.
2/17/22 Chaska MLK Day Human Rights Celebration
Please enjoy this MLK Day Human Rights Celebration by the City of Chaska from February, 2022. Our Executive Director, Jonathan Palmer, gives the keynote address (24:40) about the importance of Dr. King’s legacy.
7/21/21 Listen: Jonathan Palmer Joins HandsOn Twin Cities Podcast
7/21/21 Listen now to Executive Director Jonathan Palmer in conversation with Tracy Nielson from the HandsOn Twin Cities podcast.
5/29/21 Read: “Minnesota nonprofits hit hard by COVID-19 begin long road to recovery”
Read this May 2021 piece in The Star Tribune by Kelly Smith about how Minnesota nonprofits, including Hallie Q. Brown, are faring amid the effects of the pandemic.
5/29/21 Read: Community Ambassadors featured in Pioneer Press
Read this May 2021 piece in the Pioneer Press by Mara H. Gottfried featuring the Community Ambassadors: “With more shootings, what’s St. Paul doing to address it now and what can be done?
5/24/21 Read & Watch: Jonathan Palmer on KARE-11
Read and watch this May 2021 article and clip from KARE-11’s Charmaine Nero. Executive Director Jonathan Palmer discusses justice, the remembrance of George Floyd, and the Rondo neighborhood.
4/29/21 Watch: “Hallie Q. Brown Helps Vaccinate Rondo Neighborhood”
Watch this April 2021 clip from WCCO’s Reg Chapman to learn about our recent efforts to vaccinate community members.
4/26/21 Read: Hallie Q. Brown featured in FleetOwner Article
Hallie Q. Brown Community Center was featured in April 2021 in “Five good things that happened in trucking this week — April 16” from the online publication FleetOwner. Read about it: “CHS grant helps Twin Cities nonprofit provide supplies for those in need.”
4/20/21 Coverage Roundup: Mobile Vaccine Unit at Hallie Q. Brown
Hallie Q. Brown Community Center is proud to have partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Health to host a mobile vaccine bus onsite, starting in April 2021. Check out the media coverage below to learn about this important work.
Star Tribune: https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-deploys-modified-buses-for-mobile-vaccination-clinics/600048104/
Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/health-minnesota-coronavirus-065304c4ba7f4c5582fa1a252cd12337
Local/State outlets publishing AP story: KEYC-TV | Mankato Free Press | Winona Daily News | WQOW-TV | (Eau Claire, WI) | WDIO-TV (Duluth) | KTTC-TV (Rochester) | Voice of Alexandria | La Crosse Tribune | KDLH-TV (Duluth) | WXOW-TV (La Crosse)
Sampling of national outlets publishing AP story: U.S. News & World Report | San Francisco Chronicle | Houston Chronicle | Seattle Post-Intelligencer | San Antonio Express-News
Livestream video from KARE 11’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=RhaNzcBfAWU&feature=youtu.be
WCCO-TV – clip from noon newscast on 4/20
4/03/21 Read: “Our Best Shot: Communities of color face unique vaccination fears”
Read this April 2021 article from the Star Tribune about vaccine hesitancy among Minnesota communities of color and learn how Hallie Q. Brown Community Center is addressing the issue.
2/2021 Read: “Why Every American Should Care About Black History Month”
Read this February 2021 opinion piece by Jonathan Palmer for Care Counseling about the celebration of Black History Month.
2/01/21Read: “Minnesota’s Black History Comes Alive In Several Online Exhibits”
Read this February 2021 piece from WCCO’s Reg Chapman to learn about recent initiatives to celebrate Black history in Minnesota and how Hallie Q. Brown Community Center has been involved.
12/04/21 Read: Jonathan Palmer Joins “Conversations with Al McFarlane” Podcast
Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Executive Director Jonathan Palmer joined in conversation with podcast host Al McFarlane in December 2020. Their hour-long discussion included important information about COVID-19, resources at Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, and strategies for the local community to stay safe.
Did you know that Minnesota’s rate of voter fraud is only 0.0000045% since 1979? Hallie Q. Brown Executive Director Jonathan Palmer sat down virtually with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon in October 2020 to discuss voting, the upcoming election, key information about exercising your rights, and his unique family connection to Hallie Q. Brown.
11/27/19 Read: “Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Celebrates 90 Years of Service”
Read this 2019 article by Tiffany Johnson in the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
