Counter Stories cofounder and cohost Donald Eubanks unexpectedly passed away in March. He was laid to rest next to his mother in the traditional Ojibwe way on the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians reservation. On April 13, 2024, the Counter Stories crew was honored to cohost a Celebration of Life event in the Twin Cities. Today, we bring you some of the stories shared at the event.
Last legislative sessions’ Education Finance Bill included creating a group focused on streamlining computer science education. This year, Representative Liz Lee has proposed a new bill that would put recommendations from that group into action. Alongside Rep. Lee are community organizations that are hoping to expose more urban, BIPOC, and young women to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). Rep. Lee and Vanessa Young, co-founder of 30,000 Feet, an organization that exp...
In recognition of Women’s History Month, we’ll be joined all month by powerful and inspirational women. This week, that person is Sagal Ali. She joins us to talk about the Muslim holiday, Ramadan. Sagal shares her journey of rediscovering her faith and envisioning her path forward to work on issues that matter to her most.
We wrap up our celebration of Black History Month with a conversation with James Burroughs, whose worn many hats within community. As the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Children’s Hospital, he is challenging systemic racism within the healthcare industry, both in-facing and out-facing. James is also a founding member of the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity, a group that looks at philanthropy, employment, business development, and public safety. He also provides the crew with...
As we look at Black History Month, we need to also look to the future. How do Black Minnesotans imagine the future through innovative, Black-centered design and connecting to each other through intentional conversation? Our guest, innovation strategist Gabrielle Grier fills the crew in on how this initiative is already underway. Guest: Gabrielle Grier, African American Leadership Forum
As we dig deeper in Black History Month, the crew is joined by Sweet Potato Comfort Pie founder Rose McGee. Digging deeper beyond the surface of culture involves going beyond reading a history book. The history of our people is best told by our people. And sometimes, that’s through food. Every community have their own cultural and comfort food, and when we share it with each other, we connect on a deeper level than just filling our stomachs.
All together once again, the crew talks Black history. From George Bunga, a Black-Indigenous fur trader from the 1890s to sundown towns, the crew shares what they know and learn a bunch in return. We also talk about Ethel Ray Nance, a Black stenographer for the state of Minnesota; Biddy Mason, a former slave who became an influential L.A. landowner; Toni Stone, an American female professional baseball player; the role Black athletes played in the NHL; the Green Book; Black Beauty; and more....
As we enter Black History Month, the crew talk about its history, and how they were exposed to Black history growing up. In this Grab Bag show, the crew also talk about a new lawsuit against the Fearless Fund, for providing funding for Black women entrepreneurs and the murder charge brought up against Minnesota State Trooper Ryan Londregan for the shooting and killing of Ricky Cobb II.
Minnesota’s historic tenant protection laws took effect on January 1, 2024, ensuring safe, stable, and affordable housing. Representative Ester Agbaje joins the crew to talk about the new comprehensive laws that provide tenants with the tools and resources to thrive. Guest: Rep. Esther Agbaje Legislation information: https://www.house.mn.gov/hinfo/leginfo/01012024NewLaws.pdf
What started as a show about self-care during the holiday season, turned into a group therapy session with Dr. Aisha Mgeni. She reassures the crew that having needs doesn’t make you needy, it makes you human; and needs can often masquerade as wants and, especially for BIPOC folks, unmasking to get to those needs is often difficult. Guest: Dr. Aisha Mgeni, Therapeace Counseling
The crew invited back artist and designer Adrienne Benjamin to enlighten us about the Jingle Dress. Including its origin (and how it’s different where you go), its meaning, and how some things are just for the community it’s made for and not to be sold to outsiders (and that’s ok!). Guest: Adrienne Benjamin [https://www.yoadrienneb.net/]
When recreational cannabis became legal to possess and sell (with licenses) on August 1, 2023, the Red Lake Nation was ready. Having already been growing for medicinal use, Red Lake’s legal counsel, Joe Plumer, worked alongside legislators to help pass the new law with a focus on tribal provisions. Joe joins the crew to shed some light on the new law and how Red Lake and other tribes have been and continue to navigate through it.
When the cost of child care continues to climb, families, especially low-income families, are often left with few options. When this happens, it affects many other parts of our community, including work force and mental health. This year, in order to give some relief, the legislature passed the Child Care Stabilization Grant Program, meant to help families with young children access child care and programs designed to prepare them to begin school. Guest: Rep. Maria Isa Perez-Vega
Beginning in 2026, Minnesota will be the 12th state in the union to offer paid family and medical leave for all Minnesotans working in the state. This means Minnesotans will be eligible for up to 20 weeks paid leave for a serious medical condition or to care for a loved one or newborn. With 75% of Minnesota’s workforce unable to access paid leave benefits, this new change is welcomed by Minnesota’s working class, but doesn’t come without tribulations. Author of the bill in the Senate, Alice Mann...
This session, Minnesota joined a growing list of states enacting the CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful & Open World for Natural Hair). This amendment to the Minnesota Human Rights Act protects individuals from discrimination due to their natural hair. This comes as more and more stories emerge of BIPOC, especially Black, athletes having to cut their hair to participate and the long running concept that natural hair is “unprofessional.” For our conversation on this form of forced assimilation,...
Several acts passed into law this session focused on reproductive health. The PRO Act established a fundamental right to abortion access and reproductive care, including maternity care, family planning and contraception, among others. The Trans Refuge and Reproductive Freedom Acts makes Minnesota a safe haven for out-of-state people seeking abortions and gender-affirming care for minors, among others. Former House Representative and current CEO of Planned Parenthood, Ruth Richardson, joins the c...
New public safety and gun control measures have been put in place in Minnesota with the goal of keeping everyone safe. This includes what some call the “red flag” law, allowing people to petition a court to suspend someone’s access to guns if they are a danger to themselves or someone else. Additionally, this move expands background checks to private gun transfers. A gun owner herself, Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn invited the crew to her café, Makwa Coffee, to talk about these changes and the complexi...
Taking a break from our Legislative Wrap Up, the crew gathers to celebrate joys in our latest Grab Bag show. We celebrate the recent accomplishments of many Black athletes, Asian NY Fashion Week, land back, and accessibility to sports for youth.
In our second installment, the crew discusses the community impact of the new law giving those who have left prison the right to vote. This action brings humanity and civic engagement back to those who had this right taken away from them. Community organizer Jason Sole joins the crew to talk about how felonies can follow a person throughout many aspects of their lives, and how getting their voting right back is a big step toward being an ordinary citizen. Guest: Jason Sole
As many as 55,000 Minnesotans are regaining their right to cast a ballot with the passing of the Restore the Vote bill. The new law means restoring voting rights to Minnesotans who have left prison. Former Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter joins the small crew this week to talk about just how important this bill is. Guests: Former Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter
After more than two decades, Minnesota passed a law in 2023 allowing anyone in the state to get a driver’s license no matter their immigration status. A big win for the more than 80,000 undocumented immigrants in the state to finally be able to obtain a legal license to drive. Guest: Emilia Avalos Gonzalez, Unidos MN
In this year’s Legislative Wrap Up, the crew discusses the 100% Carbon-Free Electricity by 2040 requiring utilities offer customers 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. The discussion includes equity in climate change efforts, opportunities for Minnesotans to incorporate clean energy in their everyday life, and how more education of these topics is needed in our community Guests: Dr. Brenda Casselius and Anjali Bains, Fresh Energy Additional Resources: Minnesota Commerce Department New Energy P...
The Crew digs into what makes a gather an authentic gathering, what foods are present? They talk about the commercialization of foods from their communities, how making traditional foods have changed, and what’s ours.
The crew discusses what grief looks like for themselves. Having all lost loved ones fairly recently, and not having an outlet to discuss it (as it is often seen as an inappropriate topic for social conversations), the crew talk about death, memories, shared grief, and joy.
Our latest Grab Bag is covered in SCOTUS rulings. The crew discuss the ups and downs of recent rulings, how these ruling affect our communities, the importance of remembering our history, and more.
The crew is joined by the St. Paul Parks & Rec Director, a BIPOC hometown boy, to talk about the importance of rec centers and staying active. They reminisce about using rec centers as kids and discuss recent advances in accessibility and safety. Andy Rodriguez, St. Paul Parks & Rec
Juneteenth is now a federal and state (Minnesota) holiday. With celebrations throughout the state, the crew is joined by Lee Jordan, the Midwest and State Director for the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, to talk about the history of and how people celebrate the holiday. Lee Jordan, Juneteenth Speaks
It’s time we checked in with the crew. Spring is finally here and the crew takes a glance at what they’re looking forward to this summer. From frolicking to camping, the crew discusses what they’re weary of when making summer plans as well as how they best relax as themselves.
The crew is joined by local author David Mura, whose most recent book is “The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself: Racial Myths and our American Narratives." The book takes a deep look at White/BIPOC relations in America. For example, Lincoln was a good American and a racist. We can’t forget the racism that happened hundreds of years ago in America, because it continues to exist today, even in the most progressive people. Guest: David Mura, https://davidmura.com/
What is the truth when it comes the University of Minnesota and its history with the Indigenous peoples of this area? Members of all 11 Minnesota reservations worked together with the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and the U of M to answer that question with The TRUTH Report. The results? Not surprising. There has been and continues to be persistent and systemic mistreatment of Indigenous peoples by the U of M for centuries, including land grabs throughout the state through unfair treaties and...
