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

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/.