Contributors
Thank you to the writers and photographers that helped to create the initial articles and imagery for the launch of the Minneapolis Cultural Districts project. An emphasis was made on having a first-person narrative created by Minneapolis locals who have ties or are personally familiar with the districts they were exploring. Their work is instrumental in the storytelling of these diverse districts.
Writers
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/AliElabbady.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=b71da616b565efd2bbf87944e40f2437 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/AliElabbady.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=9bf042cc23e2debc1b670d675c395525 400w)
Ali Elabbady
Ali Elabbady is a food and music writer based in the Twin Cities. Currently, Ali writes about food for Eater Twin Cities and has written about food and music in the past for City Pages, The Current, and more. Ali is also the host and producer for the TV show Tacos & Tastemakers, which launched its pilot season in September of 2020 and is available to watch on YouTube.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/Harry-Colbert-HS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.308&fp-y=0.3822&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=730f52e5f99952964da39b539a6bb891 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/Harry-Colbert-HS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.308&fp-y=0.3822&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=20e604403759b92255642b089c537b4a 540w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/Harry-Colbert-HS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.308&fp-y=0.3822&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=361a55cf20a1cfe98c3508d253cb1084 768w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/Harry-Colbert-HS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.308&fp-y=0.3822&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=9a83b9c9eddff9212e844cb053262b9a 1024w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/Harry-Colbert-HS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.308&fp-y=0.3822&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=f20bd8768ee83c61750262531301584e 1200w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/Harry-Colbert-HS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.308&fp-y=0.3822&h=1080&q=80&w=1440&s=fb8fddd0c65ecfa9fb9831c780cabc97 1440w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/Harry-Colbert-HS.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.308&fp-y=0.3822&h=1440&q=80&w=1920&s=0fec538eaafd1b625c25ffcc2912398d 1920w)
Harry Colbert Jr.
Harry Colbert, Jr., an award-winning journalist, has contributed as a reporter, columnist/commentator and editor for such outlets as the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s The Village, Suburban Journals (St. Louis), St. Louis American, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Joplin Globe (Mo.), Metro Networks (St. Louis) and KDHX (St. Louis). A proud resident of the Cleveland neighborhood of North Minneapolis, Colbert enjoys spending time in his backyard grilling and entertaining for family and friends.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/jaidagreyeagleheadshot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.411&fp-y=0.5019&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=07403e467d4e2487bb1653ce8a399c84 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/jaidagreyeagleheadshot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.411&fp-y=0.5019&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=0c5b75224151caebdb4b189326bacfa7 540w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/jaidagreyeagleheadshot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.411&fp-y=0.5019&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=6493921dcba51c7d99f4d2305cff4a5a 768w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/jaidagreyeagleheadshot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.411&fp-y=0.5019&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=cf24084f3c4721381f4e63163307962d 1024w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/jaidagreyeagleheadshot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.411&fp-y=0.5019&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=495590e73d270fbf491a68a740d2bda3 1030w)
Jaida Grey Eagle
Jaida Grey Eagle is an Oglala Lakota artist, currently located in St. Paul. She is a photojournalist, producer, beadwork artist, and writer. She is a Report for America Fellow with the Sahan Journal covering communities of color in the Twin Cities and also is researching Indigenous photography at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts as an ongoing former Curatorial Fellow.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/Michael_672924cea86d7bfa8811a65ace698bd4.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.4773&fp-y=0.3552&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=c5da4df8bd6568343a7805dbcc28868d 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/Michael_672924cea86d7bfa8811a65ace698bd4.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.4773&fp-y=0.3552&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=2f789c843af4c020490e000616cb6fee 540w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/Michael_672924cea86d7bfa8811a65ace698bd4.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.4773&fp-y=0.3552&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=362b0c979b8153246db4e9fda861fd17 600w)
Michael Kleber-Diggs
Michael Kleber-Diggs is a poet, essayist, and literary critic. His debut poetry collection, “Worldly Things,” won the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize (Milkweed Editions, 2021). His essay, “On the Complex Flavors of Black Joy,” is included in the anthology “There’s a Revolution Outside, My Love: Letters from a Crisis,” edited by Tracy K. Smith and John Freeman. Among other places, Kleber-Diggs’ writing has appeared or is forthcoming in Great River Review, Water~Stone Review, Poem-a-Day, Poetry Daily, Poetry Northwest, Potomac Review, Hunger Mountain, Memorious, and a few anthologies.
Website
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/NataliaMendez_New.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=987629003008e81cfc3ec9de081e691d 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/NataliaMendez_New.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=32f2936039d7444dd364ec1476480116 540w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/NataliaMendez_New.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=b5a81cfe345b07f0973886371129d3f7 768w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/NataliaMendez_New.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=e34b96fc13175975a33fe19504361b4b 1024w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/NataliaMendez_New.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=4389ec72307ffbddad9282c2869e246d 1080w)
Natalia Mendez
Natalia Mendez (they/them) is a queer Latine writer with Lake Street roots currently living in North Minneapolis. They write about food, the outdoors, travel, and life on the margins. They can be found on a bike or motorcycle, behind a camera, in the kitchen, or snuggling with their two cats, Carl and Cosmo. For more of their work, check out their food project on Instagram @lengua.y.corazon, or their website, bynataliamendez.com.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/taycierheadshot.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.4703&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=36da84e0dc035f403a4303cf158c507a 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/taycierheadshot.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.4703&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=81e34bdec86115da2e91a5c034177400 540w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/taycierheadshot.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.4703&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=fd974fd2a4ddb28c18be81d09cd3287d 768w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/taycierheadshot.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.4703&fp-y=0.5&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=a6e07daa56eb101ac81e09d40995a432 1024w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/taycierheadshot.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.4703&fp-y=0.5&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=f916a6087d7747e21872436dd39d81b8 1200w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/taycierheadshot.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.4703&fp-y=0.5&h=1080&q=80&w=1440&s=c752ca55f14a90e8c31150cc601b2542 1440w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/taycierheadshot.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.4703&fp-y=0.5&h=1440&q=80&w=1920&s=733653542e9fe540985aae48612bd967 1920w)
Taycier Elhindi
Tay Elhindi (she/her) is a Black bi-racial writer currently living in Minneapolis. She's a food and culture journalist with a background in the hospitality industry. Tay is also a community organizer for social racial justice and works to build stronger, more diverse communities rooted in equity. Outside of community organizing, she can be found at school, where she studies graphic design and marketing, in the kitchen cooking for friends and family, or visiting a local coffee shop with friends. Follow along with Tay on Instagram, @tayelhindi.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/tiffany.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=0e544fcc530b89ec3000e5906ae319f1 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/tiffany.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=75d07dad28b01ec8ca03030a0d09264b 540w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/tiffany.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=a96885fca35b9e61c1bf05084ca72f34 555w)
Tiffany Bui
Tiffany Bui is a reporter focused on race and culture in Minneapolis. Her work has been published at MinnPost, Minnesota Public Radio, Sahan Journal, and Insight News. She is a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities.
Photographers & Videographers
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/AnnieWang.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=6e54f6b8b6364759fa60f7f4032f5f5f 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/AnnieWang.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=ad419c43ad22e18cdf89a982be4978e1 400w)
Annie Wang
Annie is a freelance photographer with a passion for food and Minneapolis history. Born in Taiwan and raised in Minnesota, she lives in Minneapolis with her husband and daughter.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/AshaBelk.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=5f559db431790a5885d3f07245d7933a 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/AshaBelk.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b72a0c632bf47e758729d453e3593276 400w)
Asha Belk
Asha Belk is a school social worker and photographer that lives in North Minneapolis. Her inspiration comes from the simplicity of nature, meeting new people, hearing their stories, and beautifully plated food. What she enjoys most about photography is capturing life unscripted because it's when true emotion and vulnerability come to life.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/jaidagreyeagleheadshot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.411&fp-y=0.5019&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=07403e467d4e2487bb1653ce8a399c84 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/jaidagreyeagleheadshot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.411&fp-y=0.5019&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=0c5b75224151caebdb4b189326bacfa7 540w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/jaidagreyeagleheadshot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.411&fp-y=0.5019&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=6493921dcba51c7d99f4d2305cff4a5a 768w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/jaidagreyeagleheadshot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.411&fp-y=0.5019&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=cf24084f3c4721381f4e63163307962d 1024w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/jaidagreyeagleheadshot.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.411&fp-y=0.5019&h=900&q=80&w=1200&s=495590e73d270fbf491a68a740d2bda3 1030w)
Jaida Grey Eagle
Jaida Grey Eagle is an Oglala Lakota artist, currently located in St. Paul. She is a photojournalist, producer, beadwork artist, and writer. She is a Report for America Fellow with the Sahan Journal covering communities of color in the Twin Cities and also is researching Indigenous photography at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts as an ongoing former Curatorial Fellow.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/JohnYuccas.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=0dfed9f0c705e752f0c2d4235a9a80a0 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/JohnYuccas.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=1f448649870eaaccc29ef614d9540747 400w)
John Yuccas
John Yuccas is an award-winning photographer based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. With a passion for capturing candid, authentic moments, John blends documentary and fine art photography to tell compelling stories through his lens. Not only is John recognized for his artistic eye, but he also creates commercially and editorially for clients ranging from magazines to commercial brands. With a keen eye for capturing real-life moments, John is always on the lookout for new stories to tell with his images.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/Mike-Madison-BUMP-OPERA.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=5385773c32895cdfa0b898b734f5b00c 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/Mike-Madison-BUMP-OPERA.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=bad07ee67ba77140957002f7b04b5446 400w)
Mike Madison, BUMP OPERA
Mike Madison is freelance photographer and award-winning photojournalist from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has contributed to the multiple publications and photographed countless concerts and music festivals and has been the official photographer for RhymesSayers' Soundset Music Festival since 2015. In addition to concert photography Madison's portfolio includes protests, portraiture, fashion, wedding and event photography. "The most versatile photographer you know."
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/PaolaCarlson-Sanchez.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=2b8552b10754602c98ef105df36505c7 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/PaolaCarlson-Sanchez.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=2b66b2b89e4a8721937a84cc861ed68c 400w)
Paola Carlson-Sanchez
Paola Carlson-Sanchez is a bilingual communications specialist and a freelance multimedia story teller that lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota since 2016. She loves to photograph, write, read and explore the places she calls home. Paola comes from Ecuador but has lived in Germany and Russia and is interested in health, community engagement and social justice issues.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/RebeccaRabb.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=4d8effe664ee781ec0e6c0d6ea3d9cdb 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/cultural-districts/RebeccaRabb.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=ed48be4065686eef2dfb7aca27d96593 400w)
Rebecca Rabb
I am proud to be born and raised in North Minneapolis! I love documentary photography, and shooting all the beautiful things going on in my community. The best part of taking pictures is building relationships in different spaces. When not taking pictures, I enjoy spending my time with my husband and 5 children.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/RyanStopera_new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=6a705b021ad8d1767c41787781510b6c 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/RyanStopera_new.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b01d13818ffa0fbd163eaf2a3d3f4dbf 400w)
Ryan Stopera
Ryan is a mixed race, Chinese American, photographer, filmmaker, producer and educator based in Minneapolis. He's worked with community organizations for over 15 years including with individuals experiencing homelessness, children and families, and foster care youth, as well as in program development and affordable housing development. Ryan's background in social work and his relationships across communities make collaboration essential to his work, whether in creative projects such as filmmaking, or making space for connection, such as producing community events or program development.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/UcheIroegbu.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=c4a07899da9f33a2e9b7b45cc6a6d567 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/UcheIroegbu.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=dc7007bd40746cb8283ae52140908180 400w)
Uche Iroegbu
Uche is a locally-based documentary photographer who has compellingly covered numerous aspects of the Black experience, including the protests and demonstrations arising from the murder of George Floyd and the killing of Daunte Wright. Dedicated to the creation of fine imagery. "I am happy to shoot in the street, happy to document social issues and happy to make photographic art for the foreseeable future. If any goal at all, it will be to help tell stories and capture beauty."
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/Vic.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b1acd1cd38bfae6f852d23599cdbbbc6 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/Vic.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=e8613a1b516e772f96d9e5f9bef7cc69 400w)
Vic Campbell
Originally from the UK, I first moved to Minnesota 9 years ago. After a few back and forths between the two countries, I now call Minneapolis home. I have built my career out of telling client stories through photography. From food & travel to brand and lifestyle photography, I'm passionate about the people behind every dish, craft or service and take great pride in being able to document the best version of that story. I'm drawn to images that aren't perfect - the ones that make you look twice or raise a question.
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/YasminYassin.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d76d46578e114986e5af808d70d4c2ff 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/YasminYassin.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=773be9d1bbed7aaa75c0abfb84cece6b 400w)
Yasmin Yassin
Based in Minnesota, Yasmin is an editorial and commercial photographer + director. Her work focuses on celebrating & highlighting community-based stories and subcultures. With a background in science, Yasmin brings her research experience along with her to build relationships & understand context before creating portraits and moving images. Her goal is to tell stories as authentically as possible to their essence, with integrity towards those that invite her into their lives — in the tradition of her East African oral-storytelling heritage — and recreate feelings in her imagery using the dynamic effect of light and color, while considering the lived experiences of those captured in relation to shared spaces and environments.
Illustrator
![](https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/Jesus_Li-2_cropped.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5031&fp-y=0.3926&h=240&q=80&w=320&s=41773462476c87ed19e3096c65307750 320w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/Jesus_Li-2_cropped.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5031&fp-y=0.3926&h=405&q=80&w=540&s=56e3fe77d0154e7fdcf984bed1a5c988 540w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/Jesus_Li-2_cropped.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5031&fp-y=0.3926&h=576&q=80&w=768&s=054d7381471766ee900b65733248a938 768w, https://minneapolis-2021.imgix.net/images/Jesus_Li-2_cropped.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5031&fp-y=0.3926&h=768&q=80&w=1024&s=565cea1cba52bf23f675e199a86c90c8 958w)
Jesús Li
Jesus Li, a Peruvian visual artist, offers a unique perspective on the complex experience of cultural and identity development. His work, inspired by his Latino indigenous heritage, uses contemporary vernacular visual culture to create a platform for interpretation. Through his typographic expression, immersive installations, evocative illustrations, and dynamic animations, Jesus presents his practice in a way that is both intriguing and thought-provoking. With over 15 years of experience in the advertising and media industry, Jesus Li has honed his skills in human rights advocacy, art education, and community work. Currently, he serves as a graphic designer at Carmichael Lynch and adjunct faculty at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
Website
In partnership with Meet Minneapolis and Greenspring Media
Meet Minneapolis is the accredited Destination Marketing Organization from Destinations International. At Meet Minneapolis, our mission is to positively impact the economic and social prosperity of our Minneapolis community by attracting visitors, meetings and events that directly support jobs and local businesses, and generate critical revenues.
This project is also in partnership with Greenspring Media, a multi-platform communications company in Minnesota that specializes in the creation and distribution of compelling content to connect readers and viewers to clients and partners.