Minneapolis, 1924 — The United States at the height of Jim Crow law, a time when segregation was the norm and racism codified, a place where being Black put one at enormous risk, a group of forward-thinking women from the Minneapolis WCA Foundation decided they needed to act.

 

Upon discovering that young Black women coming to the city to study at the University of Minnesota were barred from dorms and had no place to stay, the women took matters into their own hands: they raised funds, secured a space, and on October 17, 1924, they opened the Phyllis Wheatley Settlement House in North Minneapolis—the city’s first organization dedicated to uplifting African Americans.

​

What began as a boarding house for college women quickly became much more. The Wheatley evolved into a vibrant hub for the Black community, where activists, educators, and entertainers gathered. It became a place to work, play, learn, and advocate for equality in the face of systemic racism.

​

Today, the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center continues this mission, offering programs that support children, youth, families, and elders. They focus on helping individuals build skills, connect with others, and take charge of their futures.​

​