Learning from Place: Little Africa Plaza

Overview

Minnesota is home to a vibrant and growing African diaspora representing many countries, languages, and cultural traditions. In St. Paul, Little Africa has emerged as a cultural corridor where this diversity is expressed and rooted through entrepreneurship, community leadership, art, and food.

Participants will gather at Little Africa Plaza and hear from community leaders and culture bearers about the vision behind the new development and the role of African entrepreneurs in shaping the corridor. The experience will include an Ethiopian coffee ceremony and a cooking demonstration featuring injera, the traditional Ethiopian flatbread prepared by Mamas Market & Deli. Participants will then sample Afro fusion sandwiches and tour the market to learn about traditional foods and spices. Through this experience, participants will learn how food traditions carry stories of family, culture, and community.

Participants will also visit the African Museum, Art and Culture Center, where they will learn about ongoing efforts to elevate African art within the Little Africa cultural corridor and explore opportunities to support this vision through volunteer and event participation.