AsaleSol Young is a daring visionary and critical strategist, committed to addressing systemic gaps and fostering sustainable change. As Urban Homeworks’ executive director, AsaleSol prioritizes listening to marginalized voices as they transition the organization into a human-centered, anti-colonial housing justice nonprofit with efforts like an integrated sabbatical policy, anti-racist hiring practices, and policies that value work-life balance. They worked with a private funder to create a $20K down payment assistance grant for Foundational Black families to purchase in the historically Black community of North Minneapolis, the first of its kind in Minnesota. AsaleSol also partnered to develop the first cooperative homes intended for Black and Indigenous families in Minneapolis. AsaleSol brings an unwavering dedication to social and racial justice, galvanizing people and organizations toward transformative impact. Over the next year, AsaleSol will continue self-study and figuring out their path forward, exploring the roots of faith and spirituality and their history in human-centered justice through love.

Carmen Lewis is a multi-talented advocate, healer, and dynamic public speaker with extensive experience centered on community advocacy and youth development. She’s a creative faith and spiritual leader with a gift for increasing capacity and growing nonprofit organizations. Most recently Carmen served as the executive director of Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization, where she created and led the South Minneapolis Anti-Racism Collective comprising four neighborhoods. A fifth-generation pastor with deep roots in the Black church, Carmen believes in building “with” the community, rather than dictating solutions “for” them. She co-created George Floyd Square and outlined community demands. She’ll dedicate time to studying multicultural healing practices, with a specific focus on immersive experiences in Africa and India, and focus on ways for people to heal from the wounds of the past and build mutually respectful and intergenerational relationships across racial and ethnic lines that honor and value each person’s humanity.

Njia Lawrence-Porter is a seasoned educator, author, and college consultant with over three decades of higher education experience. The co-author of Passport to College Success, Njia works as an Academic Advisor at Normandale Community College where she has helped change the trajectory of thousands of students. The City of Bloomington honored Njia with the 2022 Changemaker Award for her outstanding contributions, equity work, and impact. Njia has a master’s degree in Africana Studies from Cornell University and has been instrumental in developing the Nu Skool of Afrikan American Thought, a community education model centered on the liberatory study of the history, politics, and culture of people of African descent. Since learning to swim in 2021, Njia has been committed to the mission of Black people reclaiming their place in the water. She will use the next year to invest in her well-being and renewal, push forward Solidarity-Twin Cities, grow Nu Skool, and connect more Black people to the water.

Resmaa Menakem, MSW, LICSW, SEP is a healer, therapist, trainer, and speaker, and the author of the New York Times bestseller My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Healing Our Hearts and Bodies.

Resmaa has served as director of counseling services for the Tubman Family Alliance, behavioral health director for African American Family Services in Minneapolis, a domestic violence counselor for Wilder Foundation, a certified Military and Family Life Consultant for the U.S. Armed Forces, and a trauma consultant for the Minneapolis Public Schools. Resmaa is the originator and leading proponent of Somatic Abolitionism, an embodied antiracist practice for living and culture building, and the founder of Justice Leadership Solutions and the Cultural Somatics Institute. He plans to fully unplug and explore his artistic and spiritual works infused with Somatic Abolitionism (SA) without deadlines or mandates and to connect with his family and have experiences with other cultures.

Sharon El-Amin’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and community empowerment. From overcoming personal challenges to leading grassroots initiatives and fostering social change, Sharon approaches each endeavor with a deep-rooted passion for justice and community collaboration. Currently, she is the executive director of McKinley Community Outreach Center, where she focuses on creating safe, nurturing, and empowering spaces. She has been an entrepreneur, starting Tiny Tots Daycare and later El-Amin’s Fish House, two ventures born out of necessity that became more than commercial enterprises but platforms for social change. A former Minneapolis School Board Member, Sharon recently founded Your Vote, Our Future, a natural progression of her commitment to community leadership, ensuring the voices of North Minneapolis residents are heard and valued in the political process. Her fellowship journey will involve nurturing the next generation of leaders by modeling the importance of restoration and a culture of well-being within her community.

Teto Wilson is the founder, owner, and barber at Wilson’s Image Barbers and Stylists, through which he has created a college scholarship program that has provided nearly $100,000 to 30 African American Scholars from North Minneapolis. He founded and coordinates Live Your Healthy Lyfe, an annual community health block party to promote physical and mental health, housing stability, and financial literacy. For his community-focused work, he’s received awards from Hope Project, Hawthorne Huddle, and Positive Image, among others, and recognition from leading Twin Cities business magazines. His work encompasses needed community recovery, and he’ll continue to support youth and connect residents to resources, as he expands his reach in North Minneapolis where he lives, works, and invests. Over the next year, Teto plans to take a 30-day sabbatical to pray and listen to God, spend quality family time, and pursue self-care such as yoga classes and time near water.

Tish Jones is a poet, emcee, and hip-hop theater artist who explores themes of Black love, liberation, politics, and Afro-futurism. She has exhibited her work throughout the United States and abroad. The founder and executive director of TruArtSpeaks, Tish has always had a passion for bridging arts and culture, civic engagement, and youth development. Tish went into overdrive after the murder of George Floyd, organizing four resource fairs for Black youth and families while also leading two community activist initiatives in the Black community, in addition to her professional responsibilities. The fellowship will allow her to model and demonstrate self-care for young people and serve as a catalyst to a newer and healthier version of herself to continue her advocacy around using art as a tool for social transformation, liberation, and education. For more, see Jones’ TEDxMinneapolis Talk on Spoken Word as a Radical Practice of Freedom.