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Artists form a collaborative on a Black/queer living & cultural experience in an RV while following their acting, writing and filmmaking dreams.

About the Artists

A collaborative on a Black/queer living & cultural experience in an RV exploring sustainable and unique ways of living and traveling while following their acting, writing and filmmaking dreams. The artists’ journey will be documented through video and photos.

Adja Gildersleve (pronoun: Adja) is a filmmaker, photographer and educator based in Minneapolis. Adja spent years as an organizer and agitator on the frontlines and is currently centering their passion and using media as a tool for liberation. Adja is committed to fighting oppression by any means necessary and including practices that lead to becoming a healthy elder.

Ashembaga Jaafaru (she/her) is a first generation Nigerian with credits that include various plays at Hamline University, Making Waves: Hamline University Social Justice Theatre Troupe, Penumbra Theatre (Summer Institute), Eugene O’Neill Center (National Theatre Institute), and MN Fringe Festival productions. Her favorite methodologies for theatre stem from the techniques/practices of Augusto Boal and Paulo Freire with pedagogy and theatre of the oppressed. She strongly believes in art for social change.

Snapshots

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Art In This Present Moment

This project is part of Art in This Present Moment, an initiative of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, with funding from the McKnight Foundation. We provided grants to 12 Minnesota-based nonprofit organizations to fund work by over 50 BIPOC artists who are changing and challenging dominant narratives through their craft.

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Mother and Son Duet Bridges the Gap Between Old and New

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2024 Bush Prize: Minnesota Winners

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Engaging Communities for Change Through Grantmaking

Learn how the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation is partnering with nonprofits, donors and anti-racism advocates to make a better Minnesota in this video with President and CEO Eric J. Jolly, Ph.D.

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Songs of Connection: Conductor Strives to Desegregate the Choral Community

Music is a universal language, and no one knows that more than Ahmed Fernando Anzaldúa El Samkary.

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Investing in Our Democracy: Supporting Civic Engagement Nonprofits

The Foundation and our donors are learning from and supporting local organizations that put democracy into action.

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