Minnesota Timberwolves fans have until the end of March to check out Northside Black-owned local businesses and organizations.
The Community Cultural Experience Tour, a partnership between the NBA franchise and U.S. Bank, was launched earlier this month to highlight local talent, businesses, and organizations and create more awareness and education on how these firms and groups are making a difference in the community.
Fans can download a Neighborhood Passport or pick one up at one of the tour stops. Those who visit all tour stops can submit their completed Passports by March 31 for a chance to win a game-day suite at a Wolves game in April.
More importantly, Timberwolves and Lynx Chief Impact Officer Tru Pettigrew said the new program will help “correct the false narrative that people have about North Minneapolis that is rooted in the stereotype about [the area] and all of Minneapolis.”
The seven Northside businesses and organizations on the Community Cultural Experience Tour:
Cookie Cart, 1110 W. Broadway; Juxtaposition Arts, 1108 W. Broadway; Sammy’s Avenue Eatery, 1101 W. Broadway; The Capri Theatre, 2027 W. Broadway; The Get Down Coffee Co., 1500 N. 44th Avenue; Wilson’s Image, 2120 W. Broadway; and the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery, 1256 Penn Avenue N.
“These businesses and individuals are doing so much good for the greater good in the city,” added Pettigrew, who credits his team, Community Impact Director Sondra Ciesielski, Community Impact Senior Coordinator Nishia McRay and Community Impact Senior Coordinator Bianca Dawkins, for birthing the tour idea.
Pettigrew said that plans are still being finalized for local youth to take the Community Cultural Experience Tour to talk with employees on March 29.
“As people experience it themselves, they become advocates against that false narrative,” concluded Pettigrew on touring North Minneapolis Black-owned businesses.
