ABOUT US
Our History
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.
Our People
2024 - 2025 Board of Directors
Scott Morris
Chair
Retired
Global Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Strategist
3M
Trent Bowman
Vice Chair
Community Impact Manager
Bremer Bank
Molly Greenman
Secretary
Retired
President & CEO
The Family Partnership
Chief Bryan Tyner
Treasurer
City of Minneapolis
Fire Chief
Aisha Richardson
Executive Director
Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers
Director of Administrative Support
Minnesota Humanities Center
Clifton Shaw
Director of Technical Operations
Comcast
Shikita Hudson
Endocrinology/Diabetes & Gender Health
Children’s MN
Dr. Amanda Bolton
Founder & CEO
TriSight Consulting
Dr. Myriam Roby
Health Equity Clinical Outcomes Director
Hennepin Healthcare
David Streier
Shareholder | Attorney
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Hal Reynolds
Founder & CEO
DYGI
Leadership Team
Valerie Stevenson
Interim Executive Director
Patricia Harris
Organizational Strategist & Chief Development Officer
Amondo Dickerson
Managing Director of Programs & Operations
Aaron Raivo-Lynch
Senior Director of Camp Operations
Camp Katharine Parsons
Katy Nelson
Senior Director of Development & Communications
Zina Johnson
Director
Mary T. Wellcome Child Development Center
Career Opportunities
Join our team! To see a full listing of available job opportunities and apply at Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, visit career opportunities.
We can't wait to have you on board!
Contact
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center
1301 N. 10th Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55411