Franklin Avenue Cultural Corridor Tour

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Join the Minnesota Council on Foundations and We Are Still Here Minnesota (WASH-MN) for an immersive learning experience of the Franklin Avenue Cultural Corridor.

Franklin Avenue Cultural Corridor in south Minneapolis is home to one of the largest concentrations of urban Native Americans in the U.S. For many years, Franklin Avenue has been the heart of this community: a place where American Indians live, work, and access cultural-specific programs and services. The corridor is home to several American Indian Institutions including Minneapolis American Indian Center, Native American Community Clinic, All My Relations Gallery, and more. 

This walking tour will highlight how Native-led institutions, organizers, and artists are reclaiming space and shaping intergenerational futures. Participants will share a meal at the Minneapolis American Indian Center, explore local galleries, and hear from leaders advancing culturally grounded models of development and care. Each stop of the tour reflects the power of place keeping and the deep roots of community ownership. This experience invites reflection on how cultural work sustains belonging, sovereignty, and transformation.           

Schedule

8:30 a.m. | Check-In and Light Breakfast at Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC)

9:00 a.m. | Welcome and Introductions

• Vibrancy of Franklin Corridor: remarks
• Power of People and Place: panel conversation

10:45 a.m. | Walking Tour of Franklin Avenue including Minneapolis American Indian Center, Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI), Native American Community Clinic (NACC), All My Relations Gallery. (Exact locations are subject to change.)

12:00 p.m. | Lunch at MAIC

• Perspectives in Philanthropy: guided conversation

1:30 p.m. | Adjourn

Presenters and Tour Guides

• Crow Bellecourt, Executive Director, Indigenous Protector Movement 
• Rachel Dionne-Thunder, Vice President, Indigenous Protector Movement 
• Mary LaGarde, Executive Director, Minneapolis American Indian Center
• Robert Lilligren, President and Chief Executive Officer, Native American Development Institute 
• Sam Olbekson, Founder and CEO, Full Circle Indigenous Planning + Design 
• Dr. Antony Stately, PHD, Executive Officer and President, Native American Community Clinic 
• Angela Two Stars, Vice President of Arts and Culture & All My Relations Arts Director

Convenors

• Mattie DeCarlo, Grantmaking Officer, Bush Foundation
• Sarah Hernandez, Senior Program Officer, Vibrant and Equitable Communities, McKnight Foundation
• Ramona Kitto Stately, Director, We Are Still Here Minnesota
• Paul Masiarchin, Vice President, Member Services, Minnesota Council on Foundations

Additional Details

This tour will include significant time standing and walking on sidewalks along Franklin Avenue, so please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. 

The tour will start and end at Minneapolis American Indian Center.

Lunch will be provided. Please update your MCF online account with any requests for accommodation or dietary restrictions.

MCF takes seriously the health of staff, members and other stakeholders. Please see the public health measures that we've instituted for in-person programming. In order to create the best in-person experience, this event will not be simulcast. Learn more here.

If you would like to receive an auto-generated invoice to pay later, please log in to your account before registering.

For additional information, please reach out to Paul Masiarchin, [email protected].