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Back row left to right: Joy Spika, Thomasina TopBear, Holly Miskitoos Henning, Charles Garcia, Rony Lopez
Front row left to right:  Simone Tincher and Achak Garcia

The Family Partnership commissioned the BIPOC artist collective City Mischief Murals to create a large-scale mural as a welcoming presence for the agency’s new Building for Better Futures resource center at 1527 E. Lake Street. The mural was installed July 2-6, 2021 on the building’s east facing exterior wall. 

“The mural brightens the space and reflects the diversity and strengths of all the different cultures of the neighborhood. The images are especially powerful for children to identify with, including those attending The Family Partnership’s Four Directions Family Center.”   

City Mischief Artist Statement

Mural by Number Description  

To honor the first nations’ people, upon whose traditional land Minneapolis resides:  

  1. Jingle dress dancer, honoring Ojibwe medicine and space. 
  1. Native American men’s traditional dancer, honoring our warriors, this style of dance that originated with Lakota warriors who were returning from war.  
  1. Lakota morning star, based on star teachings. 

To honor Latino culture: 

  1. Latina’s skirt are the colors of flag of Mexico. 
  1. Marigolds (yellow/orange flowers) represent traditional offerings in Mexican culture. 

To honor the Somali and East African immigrant population in South Minneapolis: 

  1. King Protea (pink flowers) are the national flower in Somali and common throughout East Africa. 
  1. Butterfly has the colors of the flag of Somalia.  
  1. East African/Somali mother reads to a child. 
  1. African drummer represents the roots of African-Americans in the U.S. 
  1. Black Lives Matter fist logo represents the social movement against systemic racism and protests over George Floyd’s murder in 2020 in Minneapolis. 
  1. The logo of The Family Partnership represents outreach, unity, and partnership. 

About City Mischief Murals – The collective’s name was created to represent “the spirit of mischief” of street art, and how cities are often an artist’s landscape. The Black, Indigenous, Latinx and Pacific Islander artist collective produces murals and creative projects with a mission focused on creating opportunities for youth and promoting healing through art. It also creates a safe atmosphere for communities of color in the Twin Cities to practice their art forms.  

Learn more About The Family Partnership.

When high profile athletes Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka withdrew from competition for mental health reasons, it set a powerful example. Our therapist Rachel Collins, MSW shares how this is a cultural change for Black athletes to prioritize themselves above institutions and the gaze of whiteness.

In 2021, both the greatest gymnast of all time and a major tennis star set boundaries around their mental health. First Japan’s tennis star Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open, and this week, USA gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from the finals of the Olympic games.

It has become clear in recent conversations involving Osaka, Biles, and other Black athletes, that many people (who are both a part of the athletic world and those who are spectators) are scared to see this generation of Black people prioritize themselves above institutions and the gaze of whiteness. There are many Black and indigenous POC folks who cannot fathom what it means to simply say “No” – to walk away from all you have worked hard for to take care of their own mental health. However, Black folks have been saying “no” to the violence of grind culture, and have been subversive by finding spaces of rest and joy in order to thrive in places that want to kill us – physically and emotionally.

“To have the power to simply say ‘no’, to prioritize your peace of mind, to say these ‘things’ don’t matter more than myself – is something a lot of Black people have never had the opportunity or privilege or confidence to do.”

Rachel Collins, Outpatient Therapist

What we are witnessing now is a generation of Black people who have seen their parents and others give their all and still not be enough. How many BIPOC LGBTQ+ people stayed in the closet only to end up lonely and disposable in the end? How many Black athletes “never gave up” and are now broke – financially physically, and emotionally drained from cultures that lifted them up when they were winning and at the top of their game only to discard them when they voiced their opinions?

Black millennials and Gen Z are saying this needs to change – now. Black people don’t owe anybody – And will and should continue to refuse to donate their body to these violent systems – and resist by radically resting and caring for themselves.

Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka are asserting the significance of their mental health in a world that has always privileged the physicality and athleticism of black bodies above the welfare of our minds and emotions. The gravity of these two incredible individuals’ actions is huge and can’t be understated.

Let’s applaud this level of self-care, and denounce this idolization of pushing through despite our pain. Just because you need to step back doesn’t make you any less of a champion.

What brave choice will you make today to prioritize your mental health?

Learn more about our Outpatient Mental Health Therapy services.

Photo Credit: Matt Lee on Unsplash

Catherine (Cat) Holl is serving as an Americorp VISTA volunteer at The Family Partnership for a second year. We asked Cat to talk about her mission to design a sustainable volunteer program and promote long-term volunteer relationships.  

What is the Americorps VISTA program? 

Americorps Volunteers in Service to America, or VISTA, is a national service program designed to alleviate poverty. The program focuses on education, public safety, health, and the environment to address unmet community needs.  

Why did you volunteer for The Family Partnership? 

I was looking for jobs in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, and The Family Partnership’s work and approach to solving systemic and institutional issues matched my interest in a position that would be impactful and create lasting social justice change. 

What are you doing for The Family Partnership? 

Because there is no staff Volunteer Coordinator position, my goal is to develop a sustainable volunteer program that supports The Family Partnership’s programs and offers enrichment opportunities for clients and families. I work with program staff to identify their needs and then I create systems for volunteer identification, recruitment, and management.  

What examples of volunteer projects have you managed?    

I oversaw a new pilot program with undergraduate business students from the University of St. Thomas to create a community resource newsletter for current and prospective families. I sustained The Family Partnership’s relationship with Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority (University of Minnesota) for our preschool Halloween events, and, facilitated holiday gifts from Donaldson Companies and winter clothes donations from Rotary clubs.  

Why have you extended your service?   

I really enjoy the work! I hope to create greater impact in developing volunteer relationships and structure for activities. I also feel like I am a valued member of the organization, and I especially like The Family Partnership’s Mobility Mentoring program and Ojibwe and Dakota language immersion program at Four Directions preschool.  

What are your career plans? 

I graduated from the University of Minnesota 2019 with a degree in biology. Being a VISTA was part of taking a break from school before I pursue my Masters of Education to become a secondary science teacher.  

You can find out more about volunteering with The Family Partnership (scroll to Volunteer in the drop down menu).

Follow the Mural Progress and Share Your Photos

The Family Partnership commissioned the BIPOC artist collective City Mischief Murals to create a large-scale mural for the east facing exterior wall of the agency’s new Building for Better Futures resource center at 1527 E. Lake Street.

City Mischief’s name was chosen to represent “the spirit of mischief” of street art, and how cities are often an artist’s landscape. The Black, Indigenous, Latinix and Pacific Islander artist collective produces murals and creative projects with a mission focused on creating opportunities for youth and promoting healing through art. It also creates a safe atmosphere for communities of color in the Twin Cities to practice their art forms.

The vision for the mural is to reflect and celebrate the diversity and strengths of families in the Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods, and provide a welcoming presence for families and individuals accessing services at The Family Partnership.

“This mural will connect all the different cultures in the neighborhood with the younger generation, and will be especially powerful for the children attending Four Directions preschool at The Family Partnership building.”


Thomasina TopBear, a lead artist and co-organizer

Mural Installation Timing

The 54’ wide by nearly 16’ high mural will come to life by artists from City Mischief Murals using gallons of multi-colored bright paint. The artists will primarily use spray paint and a scissor lift for higher areas of the wall.

(July 6 after 4:30 pm if necessary or if thunderstorms delay painting)

City Mischief Artists on Project 

Black, Indigenous, Latinx and Pacific Islander artists from City Mischief Murals:

Follow the Mural Progress and Share Your photos – Stop by to see the progress, take photos, and tag @thefamilypartnership and @citymischief on Instagram.