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Wadaag Commons, a new affordable housing complex for families opens in the Seward neighborhood

By
Richard Ooga, Mshale PhotoJournalist
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Rep. Ilhan Omar and Mayor Jacob Frey alongside Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley were some of the leaders at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new 39-unit affordable housing complex Wadaag Commons in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga
Rep. Ilhan Omar and Mayor Jacob Frey alongside Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley were some of the leaders at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new 39-unit affordable housing complex Wadaag Commons in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga

The wait is over for families that have been waiting for the completion of Minneapolis’ newest affordable complex in the Seward neighborhood.

The grand opening of Wadaag Commons was celebrated by U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho, Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley, Mayor Jacob Frey, Councilman Jamal Osman and project partners on Tuesday, July 29, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Wadaag – the Somali word for sharing –  was developed by Noor Companies, an affordable housing developer that also rebuilt the Target on Lake Street that was destroyed during the George Floyd uprising – as well Estes Funeral Chapel in North Minneapolis, the only Black-owned funeral home in the Twin Cities.

“It’s built with premium materials, 60% of this building is brick and it should last more than 100 years,” said Nawal Noor, CEO of Noor Companies. “Solar panels will be going on the roof.  Because I truly believe that everyone deserves a sustainable home and a beautiful place that they can go to.”

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar draws a reaction from the crowd as she calls Nawal Noor, developer of Wadaag Commons, to the podium to accept the Congressional Record honoring the affordable housing development during the ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 in Minneapolis. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga

The development consists of 39 units that are three- and four-bedrooms and will cater to the large East African families that Mayor Frey said was critical because “families deserve to have the space so that not everyone is directly on top of one another.”  The city of Minneapolis contributed $14 million to the project and the mayor said “It’s worth every dollar.”

The transit-oriented complex also has a playground and features modern amenities like electrical vehicle charging stations, bike racks, a sundeck and garages. A special feature of the playground is that it has lighter color tones and some sensory features to cater to children on the autism spectrum.

Commissioner Conley said the county will continue to prioritize housing projects like Wadaag that “uplifts the humanity of the families and the individuals that will become our future neighbors.” Her point was echoed by Councilmember Osman who represents the area where the complex is located. Osman also chairs the City Council’s business housing and zoning committee and said that when projects come before his committee “first thing I ask is like, ‘do we have a large unit here?’ I know it’s not economically smart for some of the developers to build large units, but there are families with seven kids, eight kids, there are families with special needs that need that extra room.”

Attendees at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new 39-unit affordable housing complex Wadaag Commons in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 are given a tour of the new units. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga

A total of $28 million in public investments went into the project from federal, state, county and city funding. Noor Companies was the lead in the project that included a partnership with Minneapolis-based nonprofit developer Redesign and U.S. Bank as a limited partner, or the “money partner” as one bank representative quipped at the event.

Eligible families for the units are those that earn 30% of the area median income, and with only 39 units, there is still a large unmet need according to Noor because “we have 2,000 people on the wait list.”

Noor narrated some of the challenges she faced, including some financing rejections before finally getting a yes from important players like Minnesota Housing, the state agency responsible for financing affordable housing.

“I would say building a Target store in three months is way easier than doing affordable housing. The development world is not easy, especially when you face prejudice, pushback, because you’re different, you’re a woman of color. I’ve heard no more times than I can count,” Noor said. “But I carried the responsibility because I knew it was possible and our community needed it.”

Commissioner Ho praised Noor for not giving up despite multiple rejections from her agency before financing came through.

“Thanks for being persistent. Thanks for being patient with me. Thanks for understanding that it’s not a judgment of a good project or a bad project,” Ho said. “It’s just I don’t have enough money to fund all the good that we need in this state.”

Noor said she believes she is the first Somali developer to receive financing for a project of this scale from Minnesota Housing.

Nawal Noor, CEO of Noor Companies, after receiving the Congressional Record from U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the 39-unit affordable housing Wadaag Commons that her company was the lead on in partnership with Redesign. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga

The Twin Cities region still faces challenges in meeting its affordable housing goals, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. In 2023 for instance, as Wadaag was preparing to break ground for construction, the region barely surpassed the Metropolitan Council’s goal of creating 2,090 new affordable housing units per year by just 100 units. The Metropolitan Council is the regional governmental agency created by the Legislature to coordinate planning and development in the seven counties within the Twin Cities metro area.

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, who grew up with Noor in the Cedar Riverside area, and helped secure $1.8 million in federal funding, said the new complex is a good use of taxpayer funds because it meets the needs of providing new and affordable large family housing, and also serves those facing homelessness. Nine of the units will be dedicated to homeless families.

“The inclusion of sensory-based playground to ensure children with autism can have a place to play, and a provision of garden lots for residents to grow their own food are thoughtful details,” she said. “Truly makes this a home.”

At the conclusion of her remarks, Omar surprised Noor with a congressional record titled “Honoring Wadaag Commons.”

Vibrant Liberian Independence Day Parade celebrates 178 years of freedom

By
Tom Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
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The sounds of Afrobeat, and in particular songs by Skrewfaze and Deetweh, pulsated along Shingle Creek Parkway in Brooklyn Center on Saturday, as the Liberian Independence Day Parade made its way from the Brookdale Library headed to Bass Lake Road before looping around to conclude at Centennial Park for daylong festivities.

The parade started with hundreds of Liberian Americans waving the Liberian flag, dancing and singing to Skrewfaze’s “Liberia Independence Day” as they marched through the usually busy thoroughfare that was closed off for the day, with music blaring from pickup trucks that led the parade.

By the time the parade reached Centennial Park the number of revelers had grown to a few thousand as some who could not make it to the parade arrived at the site of the day’s celebrations.

Liberian youth were a strong presence in the first ever Liberian Independence Day Parade in Brooklyn Center on Saturday, July 26, 2025 to mark the country’s 178 years if independence. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga

At the park, the celebration intensified, as ground-vibrating music blared from loud speakers placed at the pavilion. “We finally get to have our own parade to celebrate like other large immigrant communities,” said Fatu Konneh, who lives in Brooklyn Center and had come to represent The Bazemnt Lounge, a downtown Minneapolis club popular with trendy Africans.

After riding on the Bazemnt Lounge float in the parade, Ms. Konneh positioned herself at the front row of the pavilion and enthusiastically waved the Liberian flag while dancing amongst the large crowd; she was dressed appropriately for the weather, in shorts and white t-shirt emblazoned with the Liberian flag. “This is precious,” she said. “We have been acknowledged by the state.”

Ms. Marie Dweh, co-founder of We Are Liberian, the nonprofit that organized the parade said in media interviews leading to the event that it was the first time such a parade was being held in the nation. With a Minnesota population of between 20,000-35,000, according to Minnesota Compass, Dweh said now is the time because “What better time than now to come together and just showcase our culture?” The city where the parade took place elected its first Black mayor in 2018 and he happened to be Liberian-born.

Fatu Konneh waves the Liberian flag at Centennial Park after the conclusion of the first ever Liberian Independence Day Parade in Brooklyn Center on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Mshale Staff Photo by Tom Gitaa

Minnesota has the largest number of Liberians in the nation and they are among the ‘Big Five’ of African immigrant populations in Minnesota that include Somalis, Ethiopians, Kenyans and Nigerians.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan was the most high-ranking state official at the historic event and presented the Governor’s proclamation reaffirming July 26 as Liberia Independence Day.

Flanagan who is a candidate in the 2026 open seat for U.S. Senator told the crowd to be proud of their Liberian heritage, eliciting wild cheers.

 

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Speaking without written notes before reading Gov. Walz’s proclamation, Flanagan told the crowd “I want you to remember where you come from in this moment, when there are people who are trying to divide us,” adding “I want you to be very clear that resilience is in our bones, that our ancestors and leaders have dreamed us into this moment, and you will carry on and live those big bold dreams for your people and community.”

For many that showed up Saturday, the parade and festivities represented a celebration of Liberian culture, and most importantly a reminder of life in Liberia.

Waddie Kolenky Clemens and her husband Ce-Amavie take shelter from the sun at Centennial Park in Brooklyn Center during celebrations to mark 178 years of Liberian Independence on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Mshale Staff Photo by Tom Gitaa

Waddie Kolenky Clemens and her husband Ce-Amavie drove from their home in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Anthony to partake in the festivities.  As they took shelter from the hot sun under a tree, hours after the parade, they told Mshale they had a “great time” marching, and that it was a long time coming given the years Liberians have been part of life in Minnesota.

“We came out as Liberians to support our community as we do something brand new, I can’t wait to see what they would do next year” Waddie said. “The energy is very good and it reminded me of being back home, although we usually don’t have the floats.”

Chef Stephen and his son Isaiah had long lines at their Good Vibes African Cuisine stand at Centennial Park in Brooklyn Center during celebrations to mark 178 years of Liberian Independence on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Mshale Staff Photo by Tom Gitaa

Food vendors had a good day going by the long lines at their stands. Food choices ranged from Liberian cuisine and other African countries but also included a Jamaican food stand.

One of the food vendors was Good Vibes African Cuisine whose owner, Chef Stephen, was all smiles as he grilled chicken with his son Isaiah as a long line of buyers formed.

Marvel Maxwell and her dog Simba leave Centennial Park after celebrating with fellow Liberians to mark Liberia’s 178 years of independence Saturday, July 26, 2025. Mshale Staff Photo by Tom Gitaa

“Can’t ask for anything better than this, it’s a good crowd, one of the best I have done” he said as he shuffled between the grill and the supply boxes.

The parade was by far the event that drew the most Liberians in weekend long activities organized to celebrate the country’s independence due to its cross generational appeal. Everyone – from little babies wearing earmuffs to protect their hearing to grandparents with strollers were represented. Some revelers brought their dogs including Marvel Maxwell of Brooklyn Park whom we caught up with as she left the event. She said her dog Simba “enjoyed the event even with the hot weather.”

“The event was awesome; I saw peace and I saw Liberians at their best” she said.

Other weekend events to celebrate the 178th Independence Day  included sports, concerts at various venues and an Independence Day Ball in Brooklyn Park hosted by the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM).

Erickson Saye who is vying for the vacant Minnesota House District 34B donned his campaign t-shirt as he participated in the first ever Liberian Independence Day Parade in Brooklyn Center on Saturday, July 26, 025. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga

Minnesota House District 34B candidate Erickson Saye who is on the ballot in next month’s special primary election to replace the late Melissa Hortman, took part in the parade and a short while later posted on social media that he was a proud Liberian “born and raised,” and was proud of the strength, culture and unity Liberians have brought to their adopted state. Virtually the entire southern border of District 34B lines up to District 38B where the parade took place.

Police direct traffic as part of Shingle Creek Parkway in Brooklyn Center starting at the I-94/694 overpass was closed to vehicles on Saturday, July 26, 2025 for the first ever Liberian Independence Day Parade and celebration that followed at the nearby Centennial Park. Liberia turned 178 years on Saturday. Mshale Staff Photo by Tom Gitaa

“But even with our size and impact, we still lack representation at our State Capitol,” he said. “That’s why so many in our community encouraged me to run for the Minnesota House. We can no longer stand by and ask, “Why not us?”—it’s time for us to step up and be the change we want to see in the world.”

On 178th Independence Day, Liberians urged to be pragmatic and tell country’s ‘full story’

By
Edwin Okong'o - Mshale Contributing Editor
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Rev. Alexander Bango Collins, middle, shares a laugh with the chairman of the board of directors of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM), Mr. Arthur Perkador Biah II, left, and OLM executive director Mr. Kamaty Diahn, shortly after Rev. Collins’ keynote address at the 178th Liberian Independence Day Ball and OLM 50th Anniversary celebration in Brooklyn Park, Minn. on Friday, July 25, 2025.
Rev. Alexander Bango Collins, middle, shares a laugh with the chairman of the board of directors of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM), Mr. Arthur Perkador Biah II, left, and OLM executive director Mr. Kamaty Diahn, shortly after Rev. Collins’ keynote address at the 178th Liberian Independence Day Ball and OLM 50th Anniversary celebration in Brooklyn Park, Minn. on Friday, July 25, 2025.

A clergyman from the Liberian community in Minnesota has urged his compatriots to be pragmatic, reconciliatory, and to tell their people’s full story, as they continue to rebuild following the civil wars that ravaged their country.

Rev. Alexander Bango Collins, the lead pastor at Redeemed Life Church and the board chair of Liberian Ministers Association, Minnesota, made the remarks in Brooklyn Park during the West African country’s 178th Independence Day celebrations, where he was the keynote speaker.

“As we reflect on 178 years of nationhood, it’s time we tell the full story of Liberia—not just the one written in official books, but the one carved into the soil by many hands,” Collins said.

Collins said that although it was true that freed African slaves from the United States played an important role in the founding of the Republic of Liberia, the written history often ignored stories of the people who were already living there. The reverend said the study of African history had been shaped by three prominent “strains,” namely the nationalist, the colonialist, and the pragmatic, each reflecting a different perspective on the country’s past, particularly in relation to colonization, independence.

It was the responsibility of Africans lead their narratives and shape their own history, Collins said. To do so, they must first listen to their souls and “the echo of our journey,” he said.

“Liberia’s story is not a solo; it’s a symphony,” Collins said. “And like all great music, it carries three intertwined melodies.”

He explained that the nationalist melody comprised of the “Guardians of the Soil”, indigenous peoples such as the Deh/Bassa Gola, the Kru, the Kpelle, the Vai, the Lorma, and others who owned nothing but land and yet possessed everything – the music of resistance, identity, and pride – which was essential to nationhood.

“They are nationalists, not in the sense of modern politics, but in their rootedness to the land and their ancestral duty to preserve it,” Collins said. “When the settlers came, it was these nationalists who fought to preserve their dignity, autonomy, and voice. Their strength reminds us that nationhood is not only declared—it is defended by those who have always belonged.”

In 1816, a group of white elites formed the American Colonization Society (ACS) to assist in the relocation of freed slaves back to Africa. The ACS quickly gained support and financial backing from the federal government, slave owners, and Protestant and Presbyterian churches, according to White House Historical Association. While members of ACS had different motivations for joining and conflicting opinions on slavery, they generally agreed that whites and Blacks could not coexist peacefully in the same country. In 1819, the U.S. Congress approved $100,000 for ACS to establish Liberia for the resettlement of freed slaves. The first group of settlers arrived in Liberia from the United States around 1822.

Collins dubbed these returning Africans as the “colonialist strain” of Liberia, “dreamers who came by sea” and brought the “melody of faith and freedom.” Blacks from America hoped “to build a New Jerusalem in Africa” and brought western education, structure, and ideas to make the ideals to realize the freedom they envisioned. Unfortunately, they ended up recreating the very oppression they escaped by exerting control on the guardians of the land.

“To many indigenous Liberians, these colonists felt more like strangers than liberators,” Collins said. “Yet we must be honest – they too loved Liberia. They founded schools, published newspapers, built cities, and held fast to constitutional ideals, even if unevenly applied. Their legacy is complex but undeniable.”

Unfortunately, that complexity in the founding of Liberia eventually led to years of civil unrest and wars. Between 1989 and 2003, it is estimated that 250,000 Liberians were killed in two separate civil wars. Many of the Liberians living in Minnesota came as refugees of the civil wars.

Collins said that as the country continues to recover and rebuild, the third strain of the Liberian symphony will be the one that brings the first two conflicting ones together to achieve lasting peace. He called this generation of Liberians “the pragmatic strain” of “realists and rebuilders.”

“This is the harmony of healing and hope,” he said. “Pragmatists are those who, after the clash of the settler and native, war and peace, identity and ideology, choose to work with what remains to build what could be.”

The reverend said that instead of dwelling on the conflict of the past, pragmatists seek reconciliation. He gave examples of the market women in Liberia who don’t discriminate, the Imams and Pastors who hold peace walks in Monrovia, and Liberian Americans who work long hours but still find time to show up at city council meetings to speak on issues of social and racial justice, he said.

“Pragmatists are not passive; they are purposeful, and they are our only way forward.”

Minnesota Africans United to host U.S.-Africa Trade Summit next week

By
Tom Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
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Members of the Minnesota business community at a previous business roundtable organized by Minnesota Africans United (MAU) in Bloomington, Minn. in 2023. Photo: Courtesy Triumph Graphics/FILE
Members of the Minnesota business community at a previous business roundtable organized by Minnesota Africans United (MAU) in Bloomington, Minn. in 2023. Photo: Courtesy Triumph Graphics/FILE

Entrepreneurs, business owners and corporate leaders looking to amass beneficial information on doing business with Africa will come together next week on Aug. 1 for the U.S.-Africa trade and investment summit in St. Paul.

The half day event is being organized by the Minnesota-based nonprofit Minnesota Africans United (MAU), a coalition of African immigrant communities in the state. It is the organization that two years ago led the charge in lobbying African countries to support the U.S. bid to host the World Expo 2027 in Minnesota.

“We want to create a space for people to come together and have healthy dialogue about the current state of trade and policy as it continues to evolve with the current federal administration,” said Basil Ajuo, CEO of MAU, in a written statement. “We are bringing you an exciting lineup of speakers you won’t want to miss at this year’s summit.”

MAU hosted summits and webinars have become the state’s go-to source for resources on how to do business with Africa, due to their longevity and consistency. The idea being to provide information and resources to help grow trade between the U.S. and Africa, Ajuo has told Mshale in the past, while also bringing business leaders, the local African diaspora and African countries’ representatives to network.

According to the U.S. Trade Office, trading of goods between the U.S and Africa totaled $71.6 billion in 2024 with Africa enjoying a trade surplus of $7.4 billion. U.S. exports to the continent last year were $32.1 billion, up 11.9 percent from 2023 while U.S. goods imports from Africa in 2024 totaled $39.5 billion, up 1.9 percent from 2023. The trade deficit with the continent has been a focus of the Trump administration which has instituted various tariffs on imports from some countries in Africa

A companion event to the summit is the annual Minnesota Farmfest that MAU has now made a tradition of taking a delegation to- including farmers who travel from Africa as part of MAU’s delegation. Farmfest is being held a few days after the trade summit on Aug. 5-7.

Speaking on her involvement in MAU’s summits and Farmfest, Anita Fondikum, an agribusiness owner and MAU member, described the experience as one that creates synergy among the various business entities and industries that come together.

“When I joined MAU for Farmfest last year, I was only interested in exploring and learning more about the agricultural industry in Minnesota because I had an agricultural background of my own,” she said. “But I was so inspired by what I saw and all the connections that I made. With support from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, I launched a farm in Minnesota and am now expanding to Africa to promote ‘Made in Africa’ goods that will drive trade and business collaboration with Minnesota.”

Among the roster of speakers at this year’s summit is Minnesota Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey, who will discuss the role his department is playing in supporting emerging farmers – many who are African immigrants – and Minnesota’s position as America’s country’s 4th largest agricultural exporting state. Minnesota exported $9.1 billion in domestic agricultural exports in 2023, the latest year data is available from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

Other speakers include John Bennett, the senior vice president for product development at 21st Century Bank, Laure Djoukam of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cameroon, Esther Obaigwa of Kare Healthcare, Steven Dickinson of Avisen Legal and Efe Ukala of ImpactHER.

The US Commercial Service, the trade promotion arm of the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration will be represented at the summit by Bailey Rowell.

Registration for the summit which will be held at The Commodore in St. Paul, Minn. is open through July 31 and can be done on the Minnesota Africans United website.

Organization of Kenyan women to celebrate 10th anniversary in Minnesota

By
Cynthia Simba, Mshale Reporter
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Lilly Richards, founder of Kenyan Women in the United States (KWITU). The organization will hold its 10th anniversary reunion in Minnesota on Aug. 7-10, 2025. Photo: Chams Media TV Screengrab

The largest gathering of Kenyan women in the diaspora is set to take place in Minnesota’s Twin Cities in August, when an organization of women from the East African country living in the United States and Canada host their 10-year reunion.

“Our mission is to connect, support, and empower Kenyan women in the U.S.” said Lilly Richards, who founded Kenyan Women in the United States (KWITU) in 2015.

Richards said she founded the organization after experiencing difficulties when navigating life in the United States on her own as an immigrant. She said she wanted to create an organization that offered guidance and resources for new arrivals to help them in their transition to the United States from Kenya.

“When I came here, I was young and I was alone,” she said.

Richards has since made it her mission to ensure that Kenyan women immigrating to the United States have the proper tools to transition and thrive.

“Many people fall through the cracks,” she said. “They do that because they don’t have a soft landing.”

Aileen Mucangi, a board member who has been with the organization since its inception, said that KWITU was a great place for connection and community.

“[KWITU] brings women together, we form relationships, we take care of each other,” Mucangi said.

The population of African immigrants in the United States has increased dramatically in the last several decades, according to the Migration Policy Institute. That population has grown exponentially in the last few years from 1 percent to 5 percent of the foreign-born people in the United States foreign born population, according to Pew Research Center.

African immigrants contribute to their local economies in the United States but also serve as strong economic pillars of their communities back in the continent by sending remittances. The United Nations reports that remittances to the African continent in 2023 totaled $100 billion U.S., which is bout 6 percent of the continent’s GDP. Remittances to Kenya hit a record 4 billion dollars in 2023, with a majority of the money coming from the United States.

Minnesota has one of the fastest growing Black populations, much of which is attributed to the arrival of immigrants from Africa. According to Minnesota Compass data from 2023, there were just over 20,000 immigrants who identified as having Kenyan origins, with 45 percent of them being female.

Since its founding, KWITU has supported several initiatives, including ones that provide safe havens for domestic violence victims, a benevolent fund that helps members in need, and an education fund that supports students in Kenya.

Some of the resources that KWITU provides include sharing documents that help individuals complete checklist items they need to complete upon arrival to the United States. It includes guidelines such as how to register and receive a social security number, United States currency literacy, as well as emergency contact information among others.

For the last 10 years, KWITU has expanded and has over 30 chapters around the United States and boasts a membership of more than 14,000 members with more than half of all the 50 states.

The four-day event will begin on August 7 at the InterContinental Riverfront Hotel in St. Paul. It will feature guest speakers, workshops, vendors presenting their businesses and a gala night where members will be allowed to bring their significant others. As in previous conventions, the Kenyan ambassador to the United States will be the guest of honor. Organizers expect around 1000 members to attend the convention.

My immigrant coworkers have taught me about the American story of a grandfather I never met

By
Charlie Cogan
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"My coworkers have taught me that the immigrant experience has always been central to the story of America, with each generation writing a new chapter. Today’s factory floors are no different." Photo: iStock

Throughout most of my adult life, I have been a student and teacher of history.  I have studied and taught the history of Africa and the Middle East, and American history, including the history of immigration to the United States.

During those decades, I considered history a hobby that I somehow turned into a career – something so distant from my personal life. It wasn’t until recently that I began to see the history of U.S. immigration as something that defines the very existence and citizenship of my family in this country.

The realization came last summer, when I followed the footsteps of my paternal grandfather and began working in the manufacturing sector. It was the last place I expected to learn about the life my grandfather might have lived as a new immigrant working in the United States.

My grandfather arrived from Belarus in 1910. He immediately took a factory job to support his family. He and his siblings shared housing and worked long, grueling hours. Despite the hardships, my grandfather pursued night courses in dentistry at Brooklyn College, N.Y., ultimately earning his degree in 1918. Shortly thereafter, he married my grandmother, whose family hailed from Poland. They had two children, my aunt, Louise, and my father, Max.

Some of my family members never quite assimilated into American culture. My grandmother’s mother, for example, lived in a neighborhood where Russian and Yiddish were the dominant languages. She never became fluent in English. My father, on the other hand, learned very little of either language. His parents were determined that he and Louise should excel in American schools, so they prioritized English fluency.

It is often said that America is a nation of immigrants. Thomas Sowell’s “Ethnic America”, a book published during the Reagan years, chronicles the waves of migration that had shaped this country over the past four centuries. Sowell observed recurring patterns as newcomers moved into established neighborhoods, displacing earlier residents who often relocated to the suburbs. He also noted the groups faced hostilities, which were often compounded by differences in religion, language, and customs. I never met my father’s parents, as they both died in the 1940s, but I remember family members of their generation recounting tales of struggle and perseverance.

The story of migration is not unique to immigrants arriving from abroad. Isabel Wilkerson’s “The Warmth of Other Suns” captures the internal Great Migration of Black Americans fleeing to cities in the northern states to escape the Jim Crow South. Although the north was more welcoming and lacked the overt racism they had fled, they were often subjected to subtler forms of racism and exclusion, such as the redlining laws that denied them access to real estate. Similarly, David Treuer’s “The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee” documents the forced relocations imposed on Native American nations, displacements that began in the 17th century and continued well into the 19th. Even today, leaving what is familiar for a new and often inhospitable setting remains a central theme in the American experience.

The author’s paternal grandparents, Sholom and Masha Cogan, circa 1930, about a decade after Shalom finished night school at Brooklyn College, N.Y., and became a dentist. Photo: Courtesy of Charlie Cogan

I have reflected on these patterns while working in a factory in southeastern Minnesota. The factory floor, where many of my coworkers are first-generation immigrants, has been a surprising classroom. Here, I have learned Somali phrases, improved my Spanish, and developed a taste for tamales and East African sambusas, shared generously during break time. Working side by side with my Muslim colleagues through the entire Ramadan season this year taught me lessons in self-discipline that go well beyond the sacrifices that my Catholic wife makes during Lent.

My colleagues, many who speak English as a second or even third language, have mentored me patiently. Some are much younger than I am, often working their way through college; others have children the same age as mine. During breaks, we swap stories—of children excelling in school, of jobs in the same factory taken up by the next generation. The adage that the first generation does the backbreaking work so the next can thrive feels alive and tangible here.

Not everyone on the factory floor is a recent immigrant. Some of my coworkers trace their roots in the United States back generations, while others are the children or grandchildren of immigrants. The pay and benefits are competitive, and several of my coworkers, having joined right out of high school, have risen through the ranks to hold management positions. The diversity and camaraderie I see every day are a testament to what America has always been: a tapestry of hard work, aspiration, and resilience.

As a former Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, I know what it feels like to be the one person in the room who cannot follow the conversation. My wife, an immigrant herself, worked her way through a GED, community college, and eventually nursing school at the University of Saint Catherine to become a registered nurse. But beyond individual empathy, I have come to see that working together fosters understanding. When you learn someone’s language, hear about their children, and share the rhythms of daily labor, stereotypes fade. Respect takes their place.

My coworkers have taught me that the immigrant experience has always been central to the story of America, with each generation writing a new chapter. Today’s factory floors are no different. The hard work, determination, and sacrifices of immigrant families are a cornerstone of our national narrative, and their contributions—past and present—deserve both recognition and respect. When we listen to the voices of immigrants and those who work alongside them, we hear not just their stories but our own stories. We hear the echoes of America’s enduring promise.

Instead of speaking harshly of immigrants like in the untrue stories that circulated during the last elections about the Haitian workers in Springfield, Ohio, eating pets, we should look at our own history and be grateful that America still attracts immigrants from across the globe.

Could we do a better job of regulating immigration? Of course we could. The elections are over and the need for divisive scapegoating is past. We should approach this as a bipartisan and constructive process that is essential to this nation, because without the diversity of ideas that immigration brings, America would not be the strong country we know today.

4 candidates file to run in special election for vacant Minnesota House seat

By
Tom Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
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The four candidates that filed by the July 22, 2025 deadline for the special election to fill the Minnesota House of Representatives seat left vacant after the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. Pictured left to right in the order of filing are; Democrats Erickson Saye, XP Lee, Christian Eriksen and Republican Ruth Bittner. The special primary election will be on August 12, 2025 while the special election will be on September 16, 2025. Photos: Candidate Submissions
The four candidates that filed by the July 22, 2025 deadline for the special election to fill the Minnesota House of Representatives seat left vacant after the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. Pictured left to right in the order of filing are; Democrats Erickson Saye, XP Lee, Christian Eriksen and Republican Ruth Bittner. The special primary election will be on August 12, 2025 while the special election will be on September 16, 2025. Photos: Candidate Submissions

At 5 p.m. Tuesday, the window closed for candidates to file to run in the special election for Minnesota House District 34B, left vacant after the assassination of former Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman.

Three Democrats and one Republican have filed to run. The Democrats that filed by the deadline for the special election are Hennepin County prosecutor Erickson Saye, a Liberian-American, former Brooklyn Park City Council Member XP Lee who served until last year representing the East District and current Brooklyn Park City Council Member Christian Eriksen who represents the Central District.

The only Republican that filed is Ruth Bittner.

A special primary election will be held on August 12 to determine the Democratic party nominee since more than one filed to run. Whoever wins that primary will face Bittner at a special election that will be held on September 16.

Hortman, a Democrat, represented the district for 11 terms having first been elected in 2004. She won by more than 20 points since the district was redrawn in 2022. The district encompasses sections of Champlin, Coon Rapids and Brooklyn Park. It has a population of just under 39,000 with a median age of 39, according to the U.S. Census’ American Community Survey.

The Democrats that filed by the deadline for the special election are Hennepin County prosecutor Erickson Saye, a Liberian-American, former Brooklyn Park City Council Member XP Lee who served until last year representing the East District and current Brooklyn Park City Council Member Christian Eriksen who represents the Central District.

U.S. Census data puts the median household income in the district at almost $116,000 compared to the state average of $87,000, with per capita income at $48,000 which is closer to the state average of $47,000. 36% of those living in the district have a bachelor’s degree or higher while 23% have some college degree. More than 92% completed high school.

58% of the population is married and census date puts the median value of owner-occupied homes close to $345,000 – with 86% of the 13,850 housing units in the district classified as owner-occupied. The 6 percent poverty rate in the district is well below the state average of 9 percent.

A lot of military veterans have made the district their home. Census data shows 6 percent of the district’s population have some form of veteran status with the majority having served in Vietnam (almost 800) with almost 350 having served in the first Gulf war and another 250 serving in the second Gulf war. As of the last census, there were at least 20 veterans that served in World War Two and almost 60 veterans that served in the Korean War calling District 34B home.

Many foreign-born Minnesotans have also made the district their home. Census data shows 19% of District 34B residents are foreign-born, with those born in Asia comprising the majority at just over 50% (3,691), followed by those born in Africa at 36% (2,600), and those born in Latin America coming in at 7%.

Here’s what we know about the candidates in the race – listed in the order of filing with the Secretary of State:

Erickson Saye

Saye touts his commitment to public service and as a kid that grew up in the area, left but came up back to start and raise a family. A trained lawyer, he is a Hennepin County prosecutor and prior to that was Governor Tim Walz’s public engagement liaison. His top priorities include public safety strategies that he says on his website will “focus on prevention, intervention, and care,” supporting strong public schools, affordable housing and access to healthcare, among others.

Notable endorsements: Wynfred Russell, former Brooklyn Park City Council member.

XP Lee

XP, as he is commonly known, is the  DFL (as Democrats are called in Minnesota) endorsed candidate in the race after he edged Christian Eriksen on Monday, July 21 to win the coveted endorsement during an endorsing convention held in Brooklyn Center. He is a former Brooklyn Park City Council member where he served for half a term. He was elected in a special election on February 2022 to fill a vacant seat that was previously occupied by Lisa Jacobson who had become mayor. He served the remainder of Jacobson’s term which ended in 2024. He did not seek reelection. He describes himself as a refugee, a union member, a father, and a public servant. His day job is as a health equity strategist at the Minnesota Department of Health. His top priorities include healthcare & access, education, tech-onomy & infrastructure and clean energy & environmental justice, according to his website.

Notable endorsements: Minnesota House Reps. Samantaha Vang (38B) andFue Lee (59A); Amanda Cheng Xiong, Brooklyn Park City Council Member – East District; Mike Nelson, former Minnesota House Rep (38A).

Christian Eriksen

Eriksen is serving his first term in the Brooklyn Park City Council. Before his election to the Council, he had served in that city’s Human Rights Commission for six years and was its chair for three years. His platform is perhaps the most expansive of the four candidates running – listing 13 focus areas – many similar to his opponents, but at least five of his priorities caught our eye that do not appear on his opponents’ list including; Reproductive choice, Local Government Aid (LGA), LQBTQ protections, Veterans (he is the son of a veteran).

Notable endorsements: Minnesota House Rep. Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley, District 38A; Shelle Page, Brooklyn Park City Council Member – Central District; Former Brooklyn Park City Council members Tonja West-Hafner and Terry Parks.

Ruth Bittner

Bittner is the only woman in the election to replace Hortman who had the distinction of being the second woman to become Speaker of the Minnesota House. Bittner in a news release announcing her candidacy touts her bona fides as a small business owner and entrepreneur. Before venturing to become a real estate agent, she had started her working career as a food scientist at Land O’Lakes after receiving her degree in Food Science from the University of Minnesota. Should she prevail on Sept. 16, her win will maintain the number of women legislators in the 134-member Minnesota House at 54 (where it was at the time of Hortman’s killing).

This is the first time she is running for office but she says “I am far from unprepared for the immense challenges the role will require.” Her priorities include what she calls “commonsense budgets that bring back fiscal stability to Minnesota,” safety and security and lastly, the restoration of educational excellence.

Notable endorsements: None as of the time of publishing this story.

Early In-person Voting

Early in-person voting for the August 12 special primary election will begin next week on July 31 and end on August 11. Anoka County residents can vote early at the Anoka County Government Center and Coon Rapids City Hall.

Hennepin County residents can vote early at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis and the city halls in Brooklyn Park and Champlin.

Candidate Forum

A candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Brooklyn Park, Osseo and Maple Grove will be held at the Brooklyn Park City Council Chambers on Thursday, July 31 at 6:30 P.M.

The event is free and open to the public. City Hall is located at 5200 85th Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55429.

Omar Fateh could become Minneapolis’ first Muslim mayor after winning DFL endorsement

By
Tom Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
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State Sen. Omar Fateh speaks during his mayoral campaign kickoff at the Brian Coyle Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. On Saturday, July 19, 2025 he won the Democratic party endorsement in his bid. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber
State Sen. Omar Fateh speaks during his mayoral campaign kickoff at the Brian Coyle Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. On Saturday, July 19, 2025 he won the Democratic party endorsement in his bid. Mshale Staff Photo by Jasmine Webber

In the race for Minneapolis mayor, state Sen. Omar Fateh on Saturday won the DFL endorsement over incumbent Jacob Frey during the party’s city convention, held at Target Center.

This is the first time in 16 years that the Minneapolis DFL has endorsed a candidate in the mayor’s race. Previous conventions have ended with no endorsement.

Fateh received the required 60 percent of delegates to secure the endorsement. Him and Mayor Frey were the top vote getters before Fateh prevailed.

” I am incredibly honored to be the DFL endorsed candidate for Minneapolis Mayor,” said Fateh in a post on X shortly after the convention ended. ” This endorsement is a message that Minneapolis residents are done with broken promises, vetoes, and politics as usual. It’s a mandate to build a city that works for all of us.”

Fateh was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2020, becoming the first Somali American and first Muslim to serve in the upper house of the state legislature. He represents District 42 which includes the Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods of Minneapolis.

When he won in 2020, it was a shock to the system, having challenged a popular incumbent from his own party, Sen. Jeff Hayden – at the time one of only two Black people serving at the Minnesota Senate.

As was the case on Saturday, his road to winning the state Senate seat started by winning the DFL endorsement.

If elected, he will be the city’s first Muslim mayor and the second Black person to serve in the role after Sharon Sayles Belton.

When he kicked off his mayoral campaign in December, Fateh said the city deserves a mayor that works with the residents “instead of against us.”

In a statement, the Frey campaign said they plan to continue in the race even without the endorsement because “this election should be decided by the entire city rather than the small group of people who became delegates.”

The statement went on to say that the post-convention campaign that follows give voters an opportunity to contrast the two. “Voters will now have a clear choice between the records and the leadership of Sen. Fateh and Mayor Frey. We look forward to taking our vision to the voters in November.”

Three other candidates besides Fateh and Frey are also running, and they too have said they plan to continue their mayoral bids: Jazz Hampton, Rev. DeWayne Davis and Brenda Short.

The election is November 4. There is no primary for mayor ahead of the November election as the city uses Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) to elect its Mayor and City Council.

African community urged to lobby lawmakers for more mental health resources

By
Cynthia Simba, Mshale Reporter
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L-R, State Representatives Esther Agbaje and Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley (District 38A) along with Ashley Oolman and Helen Ghebre of the Minnesota Dept. of Human Services and Saadia Mohamed of the Minnesota Dept. of Education and Theodore Rose of the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage during a panel discussion on policy responses regarding mental health at the 11th Annual African Mental Health Summit in Brooklyn Center on Friday, July 11, 2025. Mshale Staff Photo by Cynthia Simba
L-R, State Representatives Esther Agbaje and Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley (District 38A) along with Ashley Oolman and Helen Ghebre of the Minnesota Dept. of Human Services and Saadia Mohamed of the Minnesota Dept. of Education and Theodore Rose of the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage during a panel discussion on policy responses regarding mental health at the 11th Annual African Mental Health Summit in Brooklyn Center on Friday, July 11, 2025. Mshale Staff Photo by Cynthia Simba

African immigrants should push their elected officials to ensure that they are not left out of the distribution of mental health resources, according to two lawmakers from the community.

Rep. Esther Agbaje and Rep. Huldah Momanyi-Hiltsley were speaking on Friday in Brooklyn Center at the 11th annual African Mental Health Summit. The lawmakers encouraged individuals to communicate with their representatives to properly identify key community needs and appropriately allocate resources.

“The role of the legislature is to provide resources,” said Agbaje , a Nigerian American who represents District 59B in the Minnesota House of Representatives. “You get what you advocate for.”

Agbaje, whose constituency includes parts of downtown and north Minneapolis, also spoke about the importance of open communication with lawmakers to develop response programs that are culturally competent.

This year’s summit, which had a theme of “Elevating Voices, Expanding Access: Community Interventions Driving Mental Health Data and Transformation”, is the latest in a long campaign by local leaders, organizers, and health professionals to address the issue of mental health in the African community.

In addition to the challenges of dealing with the stigma of mental health professionals and nonprofit organizations working in the African community say they are often underfunded.

In 2023 Minnesota lawmakers allocated $98 million for mental health services for the years 2024 and 2025, but community leaders say underrepresented communities of color did not get their fair share. The elected representatives said they wanted to make sure that in January 2026, when Minnesota state legislatures will allocate funds for the next two years, underrepresented communities will not be left out.

Momanyi-Hiltsley, who was born in Kenya and represents District 38A, encouraged community leaders and citizens to communicate with their state representatives to make sure state policies reflect the needs of various communities.

“I know money is important,” she said. “Policy is also important.”

Momanyi-Hiltsley, whose district includes parts of Brooklyn Park and Osseo, was also one of leaders from the community who received an award for their contribution to mental health initiatives in the African immigrant community. She was awarded the Excellence in Policy Leadership in Mental Health Award.

In the past few years, the Twin Cities area has seen an increasing in the rate of substance abuse and self-harm among young men of African descent, who are twice as likely as whites to die from drug overdose. The summit focused on the need for counseling and resources as a way to prevent substance abuse because the disorder is a mental illness comorbidity, a medical term used when two disorders or illnesses occur in an individual simultaneously or sequentially. More than 60% of adolescents with substance abuse meet the criteria for a mental health diagnosis, according to the United States National Institute of Health.

Rapheal Omoto, a doctor of nurse practice and mental health professional, said he began learning about mental health after his best friend died from accidental alcohol poisoning. His friend’s death also made him reflect on his own mental state.

“I was also an addict because I didn’t know about mental health,” Omoto said.

Omoto, who moved from Kenya 10 years ago, now runs a practice that focuses on providing care that is culturally sensitive.

“Speaking about your mental issues is not a weakness,” he advised. “The earlier you talk about your issues the better.”

Tomini Ola and Joshua Negussie moderate a panel discussion on centering African wisdom and youth voices in mental health at the 11th Annual African mental Summit in Brooklyn Center on Friday, July 11, 2023. Seated left to right are Dr. Samson Alayande, Bili Banjoko, Ruth Ezeagwula, Dr. Charles Wratto and Dr. Raphael Omoto. Mshale Staff Photo by Cynthia Simba

The conversation of mental health is still taboo in many African and minority communities because of the stigma it carries. Individuals often fear gossip and community isolation if they discuss their mental challenges. Cultural shifts and expectations often leave children of immigrants managing societal and cultural expectations on their own which results in mental pain and isolation.

For 21-year-old Joshua Negussie, a child of Ethiopian immigrant parents, the pressures of balancing both worlds almost resulted in him losing his life. After surviving two suicide attempts, he credited his sister with helping to save his life.

“She offered a presence, a place to cry, a reason to stay,” he said.

Negussie has also found community and expression through acting.

“It was the first place I was allowed to cry without consequence,” he said. “I learned that vulnerability is the most important component to human change, real vulnerability is emotional intelligence.”

Mental health services can be accessed through private insurance. There are local organizations that work with individuals on Medical Assistance to provide mental health services and counseling as well. If you are a community leader who is unsure of which state agency to contact with regards to your community, the office of Governor Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan has public engagement liaisons that can connect you with the proper agency.

Mshale was one of the awardees at the summit. The newspaper was honored for Excellence in Voice of the Diaspora for its continued dedication to uplifting and amplifying African voices in the state of Minnesota, as well as its commitment to share resources with the community, including those related to mental health.

Sinkane opens with power and joy at ‘Summer at The Cedar’

By
Susan Budig
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Sinkane performs during the opening night of ‘Summer at The Cedar’ at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. The free outdoor shows run each Wednesday through August 20. Photo: Susan Budig/Mshale
Sinkane performs during the opening night of ‘Summer at The Cedar’ at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. The free outdoor shows run each Wednesday through August 20. Photo: Susan Budig/Mshale

Let’s wake up, take one breath and listen for the sound…

Thus begins the refrain of Sinkane’s anchoring song of the same name as their latest album, We Belong, released last year.

The six-piece band with Sudanese founder and lead singer, Ahmed Gallab, opens the Cedar Cultural Center’s Summer at the Cedar on July 9th, the first of seven weeks of free music at this Minneapolis venue.

Be in tune, follow your light…

The Cedar couldn’t have asked for a better night. The weather is perfect, no storms in the forecast, no rain, no bugs, just an evening sun basking the crowd and the band is fire. They burn through their two-hour set for an audience that takes its sweet time getting up to dance, but once they do, no one can sit back down.

Be yourself, free your mind…

The mix of people in the audience embraces the community where The Cedar resides. The opening song by the band, Come Together, further invites people off the street to stop and have a listen.

The Cedar sometimes has struggled with their sound system, but on this evening, it is flawless. All the instruments, from the keys to the guitars to the percussion and vocalists are clear and vibrant. Small children wear ear protection, but the music isn’t too loud at all for adults.

Ahmed Gallab’s voice rings out sometimes in a falsetto, always with clarity. He has something to say with his music that he writes and he doesn’t miss the opportunity to share it. The second line of singers, Jessica Hart and Ifedayo, take turns to shine as well. Their addition to the sound is essential.

His Sudanese roots show up in his music in its pentatonic notes and, says Gallab, “especially the percussion.” Gallab also sings in Arabic at times, one of Sudan’s official languages.

What a time to be alive…

Mid-way through their setlist of 15 songs, Gallab shares his heart for his ancestral country and its people calling out, “Sudan is going through a humanitarian crisis right now.” Gallab tells us that the women of Sudan are committing mass suicide rather than face rape and torture, an odious fallout of civil war.

Ahmed Gallab sat down with Mshale later to reflect on the show. He added to his public comments.

“It’s really important for anyone who is a part of the Diaspora who has the privilege of having a soapbox and a platform to talk about what’s happening in Sudan. A lot of the people in Sudan can’t really talk about it. They don’t have the means or the resources and I do and I think it’s important for me to talk about it every single time we perform.”

We’re all that we’ve got so hold on…

Gallab offers up Wednesday’s show to his mother-in-law, Liz. “She was my biggest supporter,” he says. Then tells us that she died last November, a victim of cancer. “She taught me unconditional love,” he says in praise of his Minnesotan wife’s mother.

The band plays Liz’s favorite song, “Theme from Life & Livin’ It” and donate a portion of tonight’s merch-table sales to fight breast cancer.

We’re all that we’ve got so be strong…

Later, Gallab tells me other people he admires that influenced his musical journey: Pharaoh Sanders, “He was the reason I started the band.” Sly Stone, “Rest in peace, another big reason,” and Parliament Funkadelic were key influencers as well as Sudanese musician Mohammed Wardi and Nigerians Fela Kuti and William Onyeabor.

Gallab couldn’t omit R&B musicians D’angelo and Erykah Badu, from the list, both are “pretty big,” he says.

Prevailing ’til the break of dawn, because We Belong…

Gallab wraps his show eschewing the usual protocol of how bands exit the stage. “We’ve got two more songs and then we’re done. We’re not going to go off [stage] and then come back [for an encore], that’s stupid.”

Yes, Mama, we made it…

The band:

Ahmed Gallab: lead vocalist, guitar
Ronnie Lanzilotta: Bass
Dave Palazola: Drums
Pat Carr: keys, guitar
Jessica Harp: vocalist
Ifedayo: vocalist

Set list

Come Together
Another Day
U’huh
Telephone
Moonstruck
How We Be
Mean Love
Liming
Runnin’
Passenger
Theme from Life & Livin’ It
K Town Boogie
Imposter
How Sweet Is Your Love
We Belong

Fun Fact

The band’s name, Gallab told me laughingly, is a mondegreen. He’d been listening to J. Ivy’s spoken word performance of “Never Let Me Down.” He thought there was a reference to a god in African culture, Sinkane. But it was actually a shout-out to Joseph Cinqué, an enslaved man who led the revolt on the Amistad ship in 1839. Nonetheless, Gallab had already released his first album and decided to stick with Sinkane.

because We Belong

 

Black Americans still face deep retirement gaps despite higher incomes

By
Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Senior National Correspondent
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Black Americans continue to face serious challenges in saving for retirement, even as their incomes grow, a new study shows.
Black Americans continue to face serious challenges in saving for retirement, even as their incomes grow, a new study shows.

A report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute shows that Black Americans continue to face serious challenges in saving for retirement, even as their incomes grow.

The 2025 Retirement Confidence Survey, which included a special oversample of Black workers and retirees, found that the wealth gap remains wide at every income level. Among households earning $75,000 or more, only 33% of Black Americans reported having $250,000 or more in savings and investments, compared with 63% of non-Black Americans. Debt remains a significant barrier. 63% of higher-income Black households said debt is a problem, while just 45% of non-Black households at the same income level said the same. Nearly half of upper-income Black respondents said debt affects their ability to save or live comfortably in retirement.

While many Black Americans expressed confidence managing day-to-day budgets, fewer felt prepared to invest or plan for the long term. The study showed that Black Americans with higher incomes were less likely to have personally saved for retirement, 77%, compared with 87% of non-Black Americans. Retirement experiences also differed sharply. Forty-four percent of Black retirees said they retired earlier than planned because of a health problem or disability, compared with 32% of non-Black retirees. After leaving their main jobs, Black retirees were more likely to work for pay to make ends meet, and more often said their retirement lifestyle was worse than expected. Access to financial advice and planning remains uneven. Just 31% of Black respondents reported currently working with a financial advisor, although nearly half expect to do so in the future. Black Americans were more likely to seek help with reducing debt, creating wills or estate plans, and arranging life insurance than simply determining if they had saved enough to retire.

Researchers Craig Copeland and Lisa Greenwald wrote, “Black Americans reported disproportionately lower financial resources, and how they feel about retirement and financial security is clearly impacted by having less resources.” They continued, “In particular, Black retirees are struggling with higher likelihoods of their retirement lifestyle being worse than expected and having to retire earlier than planned because of a health problem or disability.” “Still,” the researchers concluded, “there are some modifications in the financial system that could help improve their prospects, such as increased assistance in balancing competing financial priorities like debt reduction, supporting family, and building long-term savings.”

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