https://mailchi.mp/5c59f4ed18dc/30-days-of-thanks-for-5-years-of-support
Dear Friends of Rise & Remember,
October 14, 2025 marked our 5th anniversary as an organization. When we began this journey, we commemorated the day with a birthday celebration to George Floyd in George Floyd Square. In 2022, we pivoted and began participating in the Twin Cities in Motion Marathon Weekend as a birthday run for George Floyd. With our cause rooted in racial justice and healing, running with the rest of the Twin Cities has become an anticipated experience every fall. This year on October 4th, we had a total of 7 participants in the 5k and 10k races this year. Congratulations to all race finishers!
Pictured above at TCM Marathon Weekend from left to right: King Demetrius Pendleton, Paris Stevens, Jeanelle Austin, Phi Khalar, Angela Harrelson, GFS supporter, Neal Baxter, and Eliza Wesley. Photo Credit: King Demetrius Pendleton
We have been busy. After the public presentation of our proposal for the People’s Way in February 2025, we shifted our energy to the 5th Annual Rise & Remember Festival. On May 23-25th we gathered to remember lives stolen by state-sanctioned violence and remember George Floyd. We celebrated black culture with over 80 vendors, a full slate of artists, and a robust self-care fair and kids zone. For the first time, we held a Night of Honor as a community award ceremony and a 2-day street festival. Minnesota’s very own Sounds of Blackness headlined our closing gospel concert with featured guests Tonia Hughes Kendrick, Jearlyn Steele, Kelontae Gavin, and Buddy Locke (father of Amir Locke). Following the concert, the crowd processed to Say Their Names Cemetery, led by Brass Solidarity. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the Kamoinge Strings to close out the 5th Angelversary of George Floyd as the people lit candles at every headstone.
Pictured Above: Pastor Curtis Farrar of Worldwide Outreach for Christ preaches on the Rise & Remember festival stage, Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo credit: Jay Morreale
In May, we also hired 2 new employees: Maya Li Bauer as a part-time Inventory Specialist, and Niall-Julian Universe as a full-time Administrative Coordinator. To help with the transition of new staff, we canceled the summer internship program this year. However, in conversation with Journeys Secondary School (JSS) in St. Paul, MN, we are exploring opportunities to offer a Cultural Heritage Preservation Internship as a part-time job for one or two students throughout the school year. JSS students have been volunteering with Rise & Remember once a week throughout the school year since the Spring of 2024. The students love the People’s Closet, inventory photography, and gardening. After an hour of volunteering, they would grab a bite to eat at Just Turkey as a weekly ritual.
Meanwhile, Rise & Remember committed $10,000 of our budget to support the expenses of the Community Visioning Council (CVC). These expenses were largely catered community meals for the meetings, leadership stipends, and printing expenses. The CVC is a neighbor-based and led body to create a community streets plan for George Floyd Square. They meet every 3rd Saturday of the month at 10 AM at Calvary Lutheran Church.
For exhibits, this Spring, Mona Hunter returned to collaborate with Rise & Remember by curating our 2025 exhibit, “Through a Mother’s Eyes.”
Pictured Above: Flyer for Rise and Remember Exhibit “Through a Mother’s Eyes.”
As a first-time mother, Mona has found herself back on the frontlines of protesting on behalf of her sister, Mariah Samuels, who died a violent death that could have been prevented if the Minneapolis Police Department had not mishandled her case in the days prior to her death on September 14, 2025. Please keep Mona and all families of stolen lives from domestic violence in prayer.
Our work is heavy, and sometimes we need a break. So, we hosted CARE Vol 4 this summer in Silver Lake, MN to curate a space of respite for our year round memorial caretakers, artists, and festival planning committee.
Pictured Above: Canoing experience on Silver Lake, MN. Photo Credit: Jeanelle Austin
In October, the blue mural of George Floyd by Cadex Herrera was vandalized and Twin Cities Art Care stepped in and volunteered their time as Memorial Caretakers to remove layers of the substance that was applied to the mural. Then, Cadex returned to paint the mural with his son and two student volunteers from the University of Minnesota. We also partnered with Memorial Caretakers to document and replace 88 aged or damaged headstones at Say Their Names Cemetery in October.
Pictured Above: Blue Mural of George Floyd vandalized and restored. Photo Credit: Memorial Caretaker and Cadex Herrera.
As we wind down this year, we look forward to our annual 30 days of Thanks this November on our social media platforms. We also plan to co-host our annual holiday party with Families Supporting Families Against Violence on December 20th. At this event, we distribute mutual aide to families in need of support to get through the holidays. We are also hosting our first Town Hall on November 10th at 6 PM at Pillsbury Creative Commons. Come and engage with our expanding team and receive major updates on the 6th annual festival, the People’s Way, and George Floyd’s Permanent Memorial!
We recognize that none of our work is possible without our donors and community volunteers. Rise & Remember exists because you all continue to believe in us and our work to preserve our own story. It has not been an easy road, but 5 years later, we are still here, fighting for racial justice through cultural heritage preservation. We are here because of you and our neighbors.
With all my heart, thank you.
Jeanelle Austin
Executive Director
Rise & Remember
https://mailchi.mp/5c59f4ed18dc/30-days-of-thanks-for-5-years-of-support
