Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Kirk Washington, a popular North Minneapolis poet and community organizer, died Monday in a 

He's being remembered as a man whose work sparked discussions around inequality and community engagement. Washington is survived by his wife and two teenage daughters.

In his teens, Washington was a graffiti artist. 

Later, he became a spoken word artist, then an activist. Today, he's best known for his work on race and economic disparities projects with organizations such as Intermedia Arts.


"We are experiencing a huge loss," said Eyenga Bokamba, InterMedia Arts' executive director. "He was one of the people in our community of artists who we considered to be a real lightening rod for positive conversations around some of the most difficult and intractable issues of our time."


The State Patrol says Washington's vehicle was struck by a woman driving westbound who crossed over the median. The other driver was Nancy Scott from Michigan City, Indiana. She remains in critical condition.


Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges remembered Washington in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

"Minneapolis has suffered the loss of a great talent and neighbor today, and my heart is heavy," she wrote. "I hope his friends and family and loved ones can find some peace in their grief."

Hodges' post also shared Washington's stanza in the poem written for her inauguration in 2014:

Arts and Culture

Disasters

Shows

MPR News with Tom Weber

Tom Weber Feature

NewsPartners

Doualy Xaykaothao

Author

He's being remembered as a man whose work sparked discussions around inequality and community engagement.

Poet and activist Kirk Washington died in a car accident on Monday. One of the many community development organizations Washington was involved with was InterMedia Arts. There, he worked with Eyenga Bokamba, the current executive director. Bokamba spoke with MPR News host Tom Weber about Washington's legacy. 4/6/16

InterMedia Arts executive director Eyenga Bokamba remembers Washington

EG Bailey spoke with reporter Doualy Xaykaothao about his friend Krik Washington who died in a car accident.

Kirk Washington, Mpls. artist and activist, remembered for impactful work

Go Deeper.

Like this?