Black History Month Grantee Spotlight

February 16, 2024

Creating Community for Minneapolis' Black Youth

The Phyllis Wheatley Community Center (PWCC) has been providing an enriching hub for the BIPOC community of North Minneapolis since 1924. Named after Phyllis Wheatley, the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry, the center epitomizes her legacy of creative resilience by offering a broad range of activities from sports programs to quality educational support. Aiming to nurture mind, body, spirit, family and community, their holistic approach enables Minneapolitans of all ages to thrive.

Wheatley's legacy is a reminder of the importance of recognizing potential and celebrating youth talent. “Hers is a story of tenacity and success despite struggle. Bearing her name means working to provide opportunities for our community to develop those same values, and helping them find roads towards a better future,” affirms PWCC Communications Coordinator Mason Stevenson.

INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS

The Center’s wide range of offerings does just this, serving their participants in diverse ways from “parenting academies” to youth mental health services to summer camps. One of the Center’s most beloved programs is their weekly basketball night in partnership with RISE, with students excited to participate and turnout consistently high. Mentorship is a strong element here, with VP of Programs and Operations, Amondo Dickerson, noticing young people’s tendency to find advocates and people in whom they can confide, knowing they are able to share without judgment.

“Wednesday evenings always see a crew of youth gather, energy high, excited to tell “Mr. Amondo” about their day, week, or whatever has them excited,” says Dickerson. To his delight, the Wednesday game has become the highlight of parents’ calendars too, with the supportive family members getting almost as enthusiastic as their children.

But the basketball court isn’t the only place PWCC is instilling positive growth. In an innovative move, they have embraced all forms of sport for development including esports and all types of computer gaming and game creation. An incredibly popular pastime, computer gaming is also a rapidly rising industry, with proficient coders able to walk into high paying jobs straight out of school.

Thanks to partnerships with Microsoft and Walker West Music Academy, PWCC students are building high demand, future-proofed digital career skills, while at the same time learning important personal skills of emotional regulation that emphasize the importance of empathy and human connection in the digital realm.

“Whether playing in a contact sport or an online game, we ensure participants are cognizant of the fact that their competitor is another person, with feelings as valid as anyone else’s, deserving of respect, compassion and grace,” says Katy Nelson, Senior Director of Development and Communications. The combination of emotional and career development is setting students up for lifelong success and financial stability through work in emerging tech industries.

CREATING COMMUNITY

With 90% of both their participants and coaches being African American, the center is committed to preserving and sharing the rich history of this community in North Minneapolis. On February 21, in honor of Black History Month’s 2024 theme of the Arts, and with their upcoming 100th anniversary, PWCC will host the "Scrapping With Our History" event. The initiative invites the community to co-create photo albums, scrapbooks and presentation boards using the center's extensive collection of historical documents.

Perhaps the most fitting way of honoring Wheatley’s memory this month, though, is their launch of a youth poetry competition. The "Words of Wheatley" Poetry Contest is open to Minneapolis-based students aged 13-19. 

The competition celebrates artistic expression while also providing a platform for young voices to be heard and honored. With sustainable local sponsorship, there are hopes that this could become an annual event.

The Phyllis Wheatley Community Center stands as a testament to the power of community and compassion in uplifting BIPOC youth. By honoring Black excellence, preserving history and providing innovative programs, the center empowers young individuals to flourish mentally, emotionally and socially. In doing so, it embodies the spirit of Phyllis Wheatley and inspires future generations to dream big and be their best selves.

Beyond Sport is proud to help support PWCC's youth mental wellbeing initiatives as part of our Head In the Game program powered by the Z Zurich Foundation. Visit Head In The Game's Resource Hub to access diverse mental wellbeing resources for teens.