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.

🎧 Listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or via RSS link

'They all matter': St. Cloud high school dance team builds connections
Shana Black, coach of the Apollo Majorettes, welcomes all students regardless of experience. Her goal is to create an inclusive, supportive team where all students feel like they belong.
Advocating for sexual assault survivors
People who have been sexually assaulted are often not believed and their cases are likely not prosecuted. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with author and sexual assault survivor Roxane Gay and Artika Roller, executive director of the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault about how to prevent sexual violence and support survivors.  
Building back north: Meet the people working to change the fortunes of north Minneapolis
A corps of professionals, many of whom are African Americans with ties to north Minneapolis, plans to invest and build in racially and ethnically diverse neighborhoods that have long struggled with cycles of economic boom and bust.
The healing benefits of getting outdoors
MPR News Host Angela Davis speaks with two Minnesotans who are helping others experience the joys of the outdoors and the health benefits. 
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe seeks to increase number of foster families
The need for foster care comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to decide on a challenge to a federal law that aims to keep Native children within their community and culture. 
The legacies of Keefer Court, Khyber Pass and immigrant-owned restaurants
Restaurants run by immigrant families keep culture alive through food. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how these family-owned businesses enrich our communities and what we lose when they close.
Bridge to the spirit realm: Hmong shamanism in Minnesota
As older generations of Hmong people pass away, so do the traditions they brought with them to America. A traditional role in Hmong spirituality may be key to keeping those traditions alive.