Other Group

Atlas of Blackness

Location:

St. Paul, MN

Type:

Research and Advocacy Organization

Formation:

2021

Executive Director:

Lucina Kayee

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Atlas of Blackness (AOB) is a research and advocacy organization that focuses on documenting the stories of African Americans and providing mentorships to African-American foster youths under the age of 30 in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota region. 1

History and Activities

Atlas of Blackness was launched on July 2, 2021. 2The launch event for the organization was cancelled while supporters were requested to join an event on the same day honoring Isak Aden, 3 an African American man who was shot by the police on July 2, 2019, in what the courts ruled was a justified use of deadly force. 4

AOB produces documentaries focused on individuals in Minnesota, research on welfare and the prison system, and legal support. 5

People

The executive director of Atlas of Blackness is Lucina Kayee. Kayee became the executive director of AOB while also working as a John Lewis young leader for the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. 6 The John Lewis Young Leader Program is a fellowship designed to help students become social justice and civic leaders. 7 Kayee was a John Lewis Young Leader while studying for a master in social work at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. During her fellowship, Kayee produced a documentary entitled Pulse of the Streets: Unmasking the Realities of Black Youth in Minnesota dedicated to exploring the 2020 Minneapolis riots following the death of George Floyd. 8

Sponsor

Atlas of Blackness is financially sponsored by Access Philanthropy Charities, 9 a consulting advisory firm for nonprofits based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 10

References

  1.  “Lucina Kayee.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 16, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucinabkayee/.
  2. @AOBMinnesota Tweet on June 19, 2021 5:26pm. Twitter. Accessed January 16, 2024. https://twitter.com/AOBMinnesota/status/1406377932466106368.
  3. @AOBMinnesota Tweet on July 2, 2021, 2:33pm. Twitter. Accessed January 16, 2024. https://twitter.com/AOBMinnesota/status/1411045402812600324.
  4. “Video Shows Moments Leading UP to Isak Aden’s Fatal Police Shooting.” CBS Minnesota. November 13, 2019. Accessed January 16, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/use-of-lethal-force-justified-in-police-shooting-of-isak-aden/.
  5. “Atlas of Blackness” Every Action. Accessed January 16, 2024. https://secure.everyaction.com/dGrRxKvcoE6uBd945OtthA2.
  6. “Lucina Kayee.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 16, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucinabkayee/.
  7. “John Lewis Young Leaders.” Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. Accessed January 16, 2024. https://rfkhumanrights.org/our-programs/john-lewis-young-leaders.
  8. Lucina Kayee.” Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. Accessed January 16, 2023. https://rfkhumanrights.org/who-we-are/our-people/lucina-kayee-2.
  9. “Atlas of Blackness” Every Action. Accessed January 16, 2024. https://secure.everyaction.com/dGrRxKvcoE6uBd945OtthA2.
  10. “Access Philanthropy.” Access Philanthropy. Accessed January 16, 2024. https://accessphilanthropy.com/.
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Atlas of Blackness


St. Paul, MN