Solution Sessions: Here’s what went down at the Target Powered Solutions Sessions in Minneapolis.

The city of Minneapolis played host to the first AFROPUNK Live experience in the Midwest region this past June 18-19, 2022. The festivities kicked off with Solution Sessions, AFROPUNK’s signature platform that uses the spirit and power of community to tackle important conversations about how culture, activism, and politics impact folks of color and the solutions that achieve positive results.

This most recent Solution Sessions was powered by Target’s always-on platform Black Beyond Measure, which uplifts and shares Black creator and founder stories, showcasing Black intersectionality and joy and making it easy to buy Black year-round.

Hosted at The Get Down Coffee Co. by entrepreneur artist Lewiee Blaze alongside social activist, podcaster and AFROPUNK veteran Bridget Todd, we engaged community leaders, activists, artists and entrepreneurs in thought provoking dialogue that centered solutions to some of the most prominent issues affecting the Black community today, such as the importance of self-care and accessibility to mental and physical health and wellness resources, how to support Black communities through our collective spending power, the daily challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs and so much more. 

You can head  to https://planetafropunk.com/bbm to watch all six full conversations with our expert panelists as they tackle these community-relevant topics. And to learn more about Target’s #BlackBeyondMeasure platform, click here.

Video 1: Blackface In An Outdoor Space: Michael Chaney (Activist/Founder of Sweaty Pi) & Dian Chaman (Director Of Climate & Resiliency).

Video 2: What It Means Prioritizing Radical Self Care: Marley James (Reviving Roots Therapy & Wellness), Tasha Harris (Co-owner of Kobi Co), Ashlee Wisdome (Health In Her Hue), Camille Cyprian (Penumbra Center For Racial Healing), Kelly Shay (Harmonious World).

Video 3: Mental Health & Wellness: Alexis Yeboah (Minnesota Together), Pleasant Radford JR. (Health Equity Officer at UCARE), Solome Tibebu (Going Digital Behavioral Health Tech).

Video 4:  Buying The Block: Todd Barnes (Equity News Network), Tabota Seyon (Infused Life Plant Based Emporium), Sam Nadeli (Gravity Consulting Co.), Houston White (The Get Down Coffee Co.).

Video 5: Activism Through Art: Anika Bowie (Run Like Harriet), Tony Simmons (High School For Recording Arts).

Video 6: Uplifting our Communities through Arts Education: Gabrielle Grier (Juxtaposition Arts), Chirstopheraaron Deanes (Roho Collective), Cara Deanes (Roho Collective).