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.

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Push to change Minnesota state flag gains traction, faces headwinds
Critics say Minnesota’s state flag, and the state seal it’s based on, are racist relics best left in the past. Efforts to change the design have made some progress at the Capitol this session — but face stiff opposition from supporters of the existing flag.
Native women work to break the cycle of poverty, prison in Minnesota
American Indian women make up less than 1 percent of Minnesota’s population but are 20 percent of the state's female prison inmates. Incarceration creates huge consequences for families and communities. A new effort to break the cycle, led by Native women, shows promise, but the challenges remain steep.
Little Earth community members were hit by foam rounds and chemical munitions even though they were given permission to be on the streets during the unrest following the murder of George Floyd. Many are trying to rebuild a better relationship with police.
Tamales are delicious, but are hard work to make, particularly on your own. Food writer Mecca Bos tells us about how the creation of this iconic dish helped one first-generation Mexican American create a community while also providing a link with his distant family.
‘American dream’: St. Cloud’s Somali families see homebuying as path to grow wealth, sink roots
Owning a home can be an economic stepping stone in America, but the challenges of buying can be immense, especially for new immigrants. With St. Cloud’s East African population rising rapidly, finding answers is important to the region’s future.
New book puts history of racial exclusion in Minnesota in 'plain view'
For "Whiteness in Plain View: A History of Racial Exclusion in Minnesota," Chad Montrie, a professor of history at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, researched how white Minnesotans used legal and illegal means to prevent people of color from coming to the state, to drive them out or segregate them. 
How financial literacy can help reduce racial wealth gaps
Minnesota doesn’t require that students take a stand-alone course on personal finance before graduating from high school. But more states are beginning to mandate them. MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how financial literacy can be a tool to reduce wealth gaps.
Asian American women respond to racist incidents and violence
The national organization Stop AAPI Hate recorded close to 6,300 reports of hate incidents against Asian Americans in 2021. More than half of them targeted Asian women. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two Asian American women in Minnesota about their experiences and their communities’ responses.
Financial education in Minnesota schools could help reduce economic disparities
Where did you learn about managing money, if you learned at all? Some Minnesota lawmakers say it’s time to mandate financial literacy education as a requirement to graduate from high school. They say ensuring all young Minnesota are taught personal finance is critical to helping address persistent economic disparities.