Defend Glendale & Public Housing Coalition project manager, Ladan Yusuf, speaking with attendees of the exhibition.
Minnesota Transform supported Defend Glendale & Public Housing Coalition (DG&PHC), a group of activists and residents of Glendale Public Housing, through the creation of the 70th Anniversary Exhibit of Glendale Public Housing Townhomes.
Statement on the exhibit from DG&PHC:
"Creating the 70th Anniversary Exhibit of Glendale Public Housing Townhomes was a rewarding experience for current and former Glendale residents that led this project. As a community-led project, we learned so much about the beautiful hidden history of Glendale and the amazing people that kept this public housing community together for decades.
Even though Minneapolis's political and public systems are rooted in institutional racism and are anti-public housing, we persevered, resisted, jumped over barriers, and created a great exhibit of our history and people, which has never been done before.
Interviews of current and former residents came through word of mouth. Residents donated photos of their families and children to the exhibit. We collected stories that have never been heard or documented; there is more to collect.
In addition, residents and interns made regular visits to the Hennepin County Library Special Collections in downtown Minneapolis. Here we found boxes of newspaper articles, reports, letters, and photos about Glendale, undigitized and donated in the past by residents and neighbors. We sifted through and organized the research in a visual digestible way for the public.
Even though this took a lot of time and patience, we were grateful for the experience. We told our story in a beautiful exhibit with an opening and celebration in Glendale Townhomes on Saturday, May 13th, 2023."
View the digital exhibit at their website, or view the video created as part of the exhibition below.
GLENDALE EXHIBIT TEAM
Project Manager: Ladan Yusuf, Defend Glendale & Public Housing Coalition
Project Manager: Denise Pike, MN Transform, U of M
Graphic Designer: Blackbird Revolt
Illustrator: Ly Fastner
Photographer/Videographer: Kyra Nygard
Website Design: Erica Lee & Jasmine Baxter, MN Transform U of M
Support & Research Intern: Samira Ali,
Video Editing: Sebastian Alfonzo, MN Transform U of M
Internship Coordinator: Michelle Garvey, Ph.D. MN Transform U of M
Display Fabrication: ThreeSeven, LLC
Model Fabrication: Dani Cramer, Research Intern
CONTRIBUTORS
Kenterial Motley, Glendale Resident
Edward Barber, Former Glendale Resident
Duane Whittaker, Former Glendale Resident
Kaaha Kaahiye, Glendale Resident
Ann Munt, Retired Glendale Social Worker
Jerriane Cuff, Ruby Barber’s Family Member
Samira Abdi, Former Glendale Resident
Shanta Mayweather, Former Glendale Resident
Clifton Foster, Former Glendale Resident
Amir Khadar, Artist and Graphic Designer