2020 Highlights

 

9K+

community members and artists accessed and/or utilized Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center

As our community is in constant transformation, Indigenous Roots Cultural Center has become a central civic hub for many from all four directions. Not only has our space expanded physically this year, so has our community, our capacity to support new and established organizations, and most importantly, our hearts and ability to imagine.

40K+

Online Engagement

(Engagement Info Click here)

34+

organizations in need of space utilized INdigenous roots Cultural Center

This year at Indigenous Roots, we witnessed the work of our community artists, healers, activators, and agitators become more grounded in the space as they continue to lead movements for social justice.

10+

partnerships with 7th St small businesses and organizations

In addition to buying the building as a way to resist displacement, we developed partnerships with small businesses, organizations, and the City of St Paul, to co-create a cultural corridor on 7th Street.

Community Rapid Response 

During the COVID State Shutdown and Civil Unrest due to the Murder of George Floyd, Indigenous Roots mobilized and co-coordinated community rapid response efforts to provide space and resources for food access. Organized 100 volunteers to respond to businesses who requested to be boarded up to prevent vandalism and robbery while they closed up their shops.

Food and Personal Hygiene Distribution (May)

  • served over 3,000 families in 5 days

Business who requested to be boarded up (May/June)

  • Sun Beauty Supply 

  • NMK Event planning

  • Arirang Korean Restaurant 

  • Taqueria los Paisanos 

  • El Guanaco Bakery & Coffee 

  •  Storchak Cleaner and Laundry 

  • Storehouse Grocery 

  • Peaceful Land Grocery Store 

  • La Mańana 

  • AEDA  

  • Hmong Home Health Care

  • Community Health Chiro Clinic

  • East Side Bar 

  • Hmong Village 

  • Marc Heu Patisserie Paris 

  • Cristy’s Bridal

  • Tramites y Mas

  • Vang Dental

  • Reliance Salon 

  • Jimmy’s Food Market 

  • Anh’s Hairstylist 

  • Friends Cafe

  • Salween Grocery, LLC

  • Mikes PS Repair 

  • Boba & Tea

  • Reeds

  • Donald’s Uniform Store

  • New Sparkle Laundry

  • Best Steak House

  •  JR Asian Foods

  • Nails Shop 

  • East Side Thai 

  • Original Karen Market

  • Kwe Ka Baung Grocery Store

Arts and Cultural Events 

For Accessible and Sanitized Spaces

For continuing practicing their artform, teach classes online or in person, exhibit art, and provide spaces for company development, etc.

  • Social Distancing Powwow with Larry Yazzie/Native Pride Dancers

  • Cypher Side, Esencia Mexicana, Away Runakuna 

    • have provided online workshops inside our newly renovated studio.

  • FIRM (Filipinx for Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice in MN (April-present)

    • Storage space

  • MN DJ Fleet Online Conference w/ Shay Glorious Martin

  • Native Arts Collaborative Agency w/ Christal Moose

  • Intertribal Styles Graffitti Mural Jam

  • Shorts on 7th co-hosted with Trilingua Cinema


 
 

Economic and Development Support For

Businesses/ Entrepreneurs/ Creative Enterprises

Artists, Small BIPOC Owned Businesses, Food and Artesan vendors by providing accessible/affordable space, opportunities, resources and/or events. *Fee free vendor tables at our events.


Zumba classes (space for business)  (April-present)

  • Cristy’s Bridal  (space for business) (April-present)

  • Tramites y Mas  (space for business) (April-present)

  • Pop Up at Plaza Revolucion (event for artisan vendors) (August)

  • Raymond Jones (Bryce) (space for promotional video) (August)

  • Intertribal Styles Graffiti Jam (event for artisan vendors)  (September)

The BlackOUT III with Pack Material LLC (funding support for vendors) (October)

  • Indigenous Lotus (space for photoshoot) (October)

  • Georgia Fort (space for work meetings) (November)

  • La Patrona Foods (space to raise funds for food truck)  (November)

 

Youth Leadership and Activism

Provide space, leadership opportunities and/or stipends for youth and young folks to learn and develop skills to organize and mobilize.

  • Resistance Art Build: Banner and Poster Making

  • March! - No Human Being is Illegal

  • Beyond DACA! Permanent protection for all!

  • March for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

  • Lake Street Arts! Solidarity and Spring Celebration

  • Everything is a Circle

  • Break Out the Vote

  • All our Neighbors: Homelessness on the Eastside

 
“Amazing night at Break Out the Vote! With these young people taking the reins, our country is in great hands!”
— Melvin Carter, City of Saint Paul Mayor
 
 

Art Exhibits

  • Social Converging Window Exhibit

  • City Mischief Murals - Better Together & Stronger Together

  • Reclaim Exhibit by SEE MORE Perspective

  • Arte y Revolucion by Mixto Collective

                 

  • PUrE PoWeR by by St. Paul SLIM

 

The Intertribal Cultural Corridor

The Intertribal Cultural Corridor is made up of artists and businesses of many cultural identities. Each artist brings their own taste and flavor to their mural and the businesses are able to prove space and platforms for these artist to express themselves. 

This dream of showcasing different artist and their art became a reality when the East Side of Saint Paul advocated to give space and opportunity for these to happen. The collaboration between Artist and local business on 7th street helped bridge the gap of artist and business owners showing support.