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Minneapolis
Skyline and Lake Calhoun
Local Communities
of Color
The Twin Cities, with a
metropolitan population of 2.6 million offers a unique combination of
the cosmopolitan and the peaceful setting of lakes and parks. Although
communities of color make up just over 15.3 percent of the entire metropolitan
population (2000 Census Report  ),
they are growing. In fact, Minnesota has the fourth highest rate of minority
population increase in the country. The Twin Cities has four distinct
communities of color which greatly contribute to the thriving cultural
life in the Twin Cities.
One of the largest and most established urban Native American communities
in the country is in the Twin Cities. Many of the Dakota and Ojibwa people,
who are indigenous to Minnesota, make their home here, as do members of
other tribal groups. There are over 50 Native American controlled organization
which serve the urban Native population of the Twin Cities. Community
resources include the Minneapolis American Indian Center, the St. Paul
Indian Center, the American Indian Research and Policy Institute, and
the Circle newspaper, as well as arts organizations and many social service
organizations.
The African American community, which is more than 100 years old, is
served by the newspapers Insight, St. Paul Recorder, and Minneapolis Spokesman.
Chapters of the Urban League, NAACP, and United Negro College Fund are
active in the community, as are many African American professional associations.
The Black Pages Directory of Minority Business and Organizations is also
available. The annual Juneteenth Celebration, held in Minneapolis, is
one of the largest gatherings throughout the year in Minnesota, as is
the Rondo Days Celebration hosted by the African American community of
St. Paul.
The diverse Asian American community has for many years included Chinese,
Filipino, Hmong, and Japanese Americans. In the past decade, the area
has welcomed people from Cambodia, Korea, Laos, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam,
and other Asian countries. Many Asian/Pacific Island community organizations,
such as the Minnesota Asian Advocacy Coalition, serve these groups. The Asian community is served by the newspaper Asian Pages.
The Latino\Chicano population includes a well-established Mexican-American
community as well as Puerto Ricans and Central Americans. Two resource
centers, Centro Cultural Chicano in Minneapolis and the Neighborhood House
in West St. Paul, and a Spanish Speaking Affairs Council provide support.
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