Preface: Asian Media Access is hosting a series of interviews with Northside neighbors to explore how we can navigate this new reality together and find ways to support our neighbors in need. This fourth interview features Todd Gramenz, Chief Executive Officer of Black Culture and other community initiatives.
Todd Gramenz is a dedicated community leader and cultural organizer based in North Minneapolis. He serves as the Planning Specialist for Juneteenth celebrations, co-created the Black Entrepreneur State Fair, and has been actively involved with Black Lives Matter organizing at the Minnesota State Fair. Todd also helped launch the Youth Mental Health and Wellness Center, reflecting his deep commitment to uplifting Black youth and advancing equity through community-driven initiatives.
Q1: Can you share your experience with Juneteenth history in North Minneapolis and what the celebration means to you and your community?
Juneteenth has always meant a lot to me. When I was younger, I remember going to smaller Juneteenth events—seeing the fireworks light up North Minneapolis and feeling that sense of community. It’s always been our Fourth of July. I grew up between Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and I’ve always wondered why we don’t celebrate Juneteenth together, across the river. It takes extra work, but it’s worth it. Over the years, I’ve gone to different Juneteenth events across the cities to experience the culture, try the food, and meet people. But they were never consistent—until recently. After George Floyd’s death, Juneteenth finally started getting the recognition it deserved. In 2022, Minnesota made it a state holiday. That moment, and leaders like Marshall Gibson, inspired me to push for more—to focus on our history and ask why we’re still so divided when we should be coming together to celebrate who we are.
For anyone wanting to learn more about the roots of Juneteenth, I recommend visiting this page on 1776 and this one on 1865 from the Minnesota Juneteenth Jamboree website.
Q2: How has the Black Lives Matter movement contributed to reshaping or revitalizing Juneteenth celebrations in recent years?
The Black Lives Matter movement brought a real shift—not just in how we protest, but in how we tell our stories. When I was in ninth grade, I got my first phone, and I started noticing all the injustices happening around me on the East Side of Saint Paul. It felt like a quiet war zone—no one talked about it, but it was there. Once cameras and social media came into play, especially after cases like Mike Brown in 2014, it changed everything. We could finally document the truth. That visibility gave Juneteenth a new life. It pushed people to think more deeply about why Black communities are still struggling after centuries of “freedom.” I’ve always said, I’m here to save my people—and that means creating real opportunities. BLM made us confront the gaps and inspired me to build something lasting: an enterprise where Black voices, Black businesses, and Black futures can thrive.
Q3: What are some of the key issues you see currently affecting the Black community in North Minneapolis?
One of the biggest issues I see in North Minneapolis is the lack of funding—real funding—for our people. The community was founded here, but they never brought the jobs or the resources with it. That gap creates a cycle: no opportunity leads to frustration, and that can lead to crime. We need to invest in our kids, in their futures. And when it comes to leadership, I don’t feel like they’re truly speaking for us. There’s a bigger fight happening—do we keep protesting forever, or do we start addressing the root causes? I think about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—he didn’t die so we could keep struggling. He died so we could go to school, get educated, raise our families, and live better. But I still see too many Black community members being denied loans and grants—basic resources. That has to change if we want to build something real.
Q4: What potential solutions or actions do you believe could help address these challenges facing the Black community in North Minneapolis?
To really address the challenges we’re facing, we need action on multiple levels. First, we have to keep pushing the government for funding—but at the same time, we can’t wait around. We need to create our own enterprises, make products, sell them, and build ways to keep our community alive. Events like Juneteenth aren’t just celebrations—they’re platforms for that kind of growth. I’ve learned that we need strong partnerships, like the one I have with Asian Media Access. When we come together, we can go so much further—both financially and as a community. Even small actions can make a difference. For example, participating in or volunteering at the Minnesota Juneteenth Jamboree (www.mnjuneteenthjamboree.com) is a powerful way to get involved. That event can help you find your purpose and take your first step. I want to educate our people—how to start a trust account, how to launch a nonprofit. These are things no one’s teaching us, but they’re key to building lasting change.
FMI: If members are interested in connecting with Todd Gramenz, please send him an e-mail at blacklivesmattersaintpaul@gmail.com If members are interested in sharing their viewpoints with Asian Media Access, please contact us at amamedia@amamedia.org.
