News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Friday December 19th 2025
Cultural Wellness Center
Dreamland on 38th Street – Cultural Healing through Culinary Heritage
Serial entrepreneur and civil rights advocate Anthony Brutus Cassius knew the dreamers of his day needed a place to gather and plan, create and connect. Cassius first found that space at FosterӪs Sweet Shop, where he and other prominent black Minneapolitans met monthly and strategized for civil rights in the 1930s. Among friends and fellow reformers, Cassius learned the importance of social entrepreneurism. Inspired by what he found at FosterӪs Sweet Shop, Cassius opened the Dreamland Caf̩ on 38th Street and Fourth Avenue in 1937, in the heart of the south sideӪs black community. In highly segregated Minneapolis, many considered the Dreamland Caf̩ to be the only social center for African-Americans, and the restaurant drew celebrities like Lena Horne and Frankie Lymon when they came to town.
Dreamland Café Reimagined
Today, 38th street is poised to become one of six cultural districts in Minneapolis, created to drive economic development in the city”™s most diverse neighborhoods. Dreamland on 38th will be an anchor project in the 38th Street Cultural Corridor. Dreamland on 38th is a joint venture between the nonprofit Cultural Wellness Center, one of the original founders and co-owners of the Midtown Global Market, and African-American entrepreneur Dr.… Read the rest “Cultural Wellness Center”
Phillips Community is focus of syringe disposal pilot program
By LINDSEY FENNER
The City of Minneapolis is piloting a project for syringe litter clean up and disposal, centered around the Phillips Community. The project is in response to the concerning amount of syringe litter Phillips residents encounter on a daily basis. The City began doing syringe litter sweeps in July and August along Bloomington Avenue, the Greenway, and adjacent alleys. Most recently, in November, the City installed ten Syringe Drop Boxes in and near Phillips to continue to address the issue. The boxes will be emptied weekly and can be easily reinstalled if the location needs to be adjusted. According to a city spokesperson, 800 syringes have been collected from the Drop Boxes between November 6 and November 27, with the majority collected at 25th and Bloomington. In addition, there will be a pilot of 30 syringe disposal buckets for use by businesses and non-profits. The project is currently funded by a grant from the National Association of County and City Health Officials, with a recommendation by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey to include funding in the 2020 Minneapolis budget.
The syringe disposal pilot was presented at a community meeting on November 2 at the Sabathani Community Center.… Read the rest “Phillips Community is focus of syringe disposal pilot program”
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