Written by Rachel McConnell
Attention North Minneapolis residents and visitors! Join us for the fourth annual Northside Ramble on Saturday, September 28 at 1p.m.! The Northside Ramble explores North Minneapolis by bike, while making a positive impact on our community– stopping to support many local breweries and businesses along the way!
This year’s Ramble will focus on celebrating Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurship. Founder of the Rotary Club of North Minneapolis, Natalie Johnson Lee, is coining the event as “Economics in the Black,” showcasing the brilliance, resilience and future of Black entrepreneurship, development and business. Johnson Lee states the event’s journey will take you through multiple stops, each telling a powerful story of success, challenges and the unstoppable spirit of Black business owners.
The title “Economics in the Black” is a play on the financial term “in the black,” representing profitability and success, as well as highlighting the incredible impact and power of Black individuals in the business world– past, present and future.
This year’s route includes stops at V3, Pyres Brewing Company, Jesse Ross’s Wealth Redistribution Project building, Tap In and more!
Your ticket includes an event t-shirt, drink tickets at each brewery stop, and a curated tour of some of North Minneapolis’s most inspiring entrepreneurs. Sign up now by finding the 2024 Northside Ramble on Eventbrite (eventbrite.com/e/2024-northside-ramble-tickets-961546951817) to secure your spot for this unique community experience.
This year, the Rotary Club of North Minneapolis is thrilled to partner with The Link as the beneficiary of funds raised, an organization dedicated to empowering youth and young families to overcome the impacts of poverty and social injustice.
The Link (thelinkmn.org) is a youth and adult-led nonprofit based in North Minneapolis that was founded in 1991 by two local Black community leaders and former Minnesota Vikings players, Jim Marshall and Oscar Reed. The Link provides crisis intervention, supportive services, emergency shelter and housing to youth and young families who are experiencing homelessness, sex trafficking, and/or involvement in the juvenile justice system. The Link operates several programs in North Minneapolis including the Northside Homeless Prevention Program which provides direct financial assistance and stable housing for youth and families facing eviction or homelessness in North Minneapolis.
Serving over 2,000 youth and families across the metro area every year, The Link’s programs help youth and families into safety, stability and provide them with the resources and opportunities so they can focus on their goals without having to worry about where they are going to sleep at night, their safety or where their next meal is coming from. Through The Link, youth have a safe place to call home, are building their confidence, advancing their education, developing leadership skills, fostering healthy relationships, and so much more. To discover more about The Link and how you can support shaping a future where every young person can thrive, visit thelinkmn.org.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for local businesses and organizations interested in contributing to the Northside Ramble’s mission of empowering Black entrepreneurs and supporting The Link. Contact Rotary Club of North Minneapolis Secretary, Jill Kohler, at jikohler@aol.com to discuss your interest in sponsoring this great and impactful event!
Join us on September 28, and let’s ride together for a stronger, more connected North Minneapolis. We look forward to seeing you there! Find the 2024 Northside Ramble on Eventbrite and get your tickets today!
The North Minneapolis Rotary Club meets online every Tuesday by Zoom from 7:35-8:35 a.m. We welcome community members and professionals who want to get involved. Contact us at northmplsrotary@gmail.com to learn more.