Michelle C. Pasco, Ph.D., Ana Mireya Diaz, M.A., M.S., Guanyu Wang, M.A., M.Ed., LMHC
Since the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, neighborhoods in Minneapolis have gone through many changes (especially in South Minneapolis, where considerable protests and unrest broke out in May 2020). The initial demonstrations that occurred were peaceful, as local organizers and community leaders set up a makeshift memorial outside of the Cup Food store where Floyd was killed. These demonstrations also intensified into riots that had a long-lasting effect in the communities in which they happened. Evidence of the protests and riots remains in vacant lots where businesses used to be, and at business locations that remain boarded up (albeit some are still open to commerce). Given the events that have transpired in Minneapolis in the aftermath of George Floyd, it is important to highlight residents’ perceptions of their neighborhoods to understand how residents and community members are experiencing the lasting impact of historical events that transpired in Minneapolis.
The goal of the study is to highlight the voices of residents who live in South Minneapolis who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and their experiences and perceptions of their neighborhoods in the aftermath of George Floyd. Social media and academic literature tend to focus on the challenges and deficits of neighborhoods that are racially concentrated and where crimes occur. However, it is important to shed light on the experiences of people who live in these neighborhoods and communities and show that despite the challenging aspects of the neighborhood, there are strengths that bring communities together. For example, while businesses that were community staples closed and graffiti in public areas, there are also multiple murals across South Minneapolis that capture messages of Black Lives Matter and images of George Floyd and names of other victims of police brutality. This duality exists. Although businesses remain closed, community members still have fond memories of these establishments in the neighborhood.
WANT TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS? PARTICIPATE IN OUR STUDY!
The Minnesota Identity and Neighborhoods Initiative at the University of Minnesota is conducting a study and to learn more about your experiences in your neighborhoods in South Minneapolis since the aftermath of George Floyd. Neighborhoods in Minneapolis have gone through many changes and we want to highlight your voices in the community, especially if you are Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color (BIPOC). We also want to know what you think are the strengths and challenges in your neighborhood and what improvements you think can be made.
The interviews will be approximately 60 minutes either on Zoom or in-person and you will receive a $30 gift card for your participation. This is a short survey to get contact information so we can schedule an interview: https://tinyurl.com/MNNeighborhoodProject.
Please contact mnidentityproject@gmail.com for questions and more information.
Meet the Researchers
Michelle C. Pasco, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota. She received a PhD in Family and Human Development at Arizona State University and before joining the University of Minnesota was a Postdoctoral Research Scholar working on the Arizona Youth Identity Project. Her research incorporates a culturally-informed lens to understand the lived experiences of ethnic-racial minoritized youth and families situated within neighborhood contexts, and uses different methods including, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods to examine how neighborhood factors influence developmental processes and experiences such as ethnic-racial identity, discrimination, and cultural socialization.
Ana Mireya is a Ph.D. candidate in Family Science (major) and Developmental Psychology (minor) at the University of Minnesota. Her research examines health and educational outcomes among families facing severe adversity. Her dissertation research explores risk, protective factors and diverse manifestations of adaptation in partnership with communities conformed as informal settlements in Panama, Central America.
Guanyu Wang, M.A., M.Ed., LMHC, is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Family Social Science (Couple and Family Therapy track) at the University of Minnesota. Her research investigates the roles of Chinese immigrant fathers in family dynamics and their effects on children's psychosocial development, as well as assessment and interventions working with multi-heritage couples in therapy. She employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative data to enhance understanding of cross-cultural couple and family interactions and therapy practices. She also provides individual and couple therapy at Lyn-Lake Psychotherapy and Wellness.
Editor: Ren Koo