Who we are

Cassandra (Niiwin Muck-Wa Ikwe – Four Bears Woman) was born and raised in East Phillips at Little Earth and is part of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe. After losing her eldest son, Trinidad, as a result of toxic pollution in East Phillips, Cassandra is doing everything she can to stop the destruction of the Roof Depot building. Read more

Clarence is the founder of Blue Water Farms and a community organizer who is focused on sustainability. He is currently one of the founders and president of the Minnesota Aquaculture Association. He serves as secretary of EPNI. Read more

Karen Clark, a resident of East Phillips Neighborhood for more than 40 years, is a former State Representative, and the Activist Executive Director of the Women's Environmental Institute, a volunteer position.

A longtime supporter of East Phillips, Dean founded DJR Architecture in 1985 in the East Phillips Neighborhood with an emphasis on affordable housing and community development. Read more

Abah is the founder and executive director of South East Homes (SEH), the first East African focused program in North America specializing in chemical dependency and mental health. Abah has helped hundreds of individuals by providing resources and a supportive cultural community for their recovery journey. Read more

Carlos grew up in East Phillips and continues to make the neighborhood his home. He is a teacher interested in getting local youths involved in environmental justice. Carlos is shedding light on Minneapolis’s racial health disparities and is advocating for reduced pollution in East Phillips. Read more

In 2024, Brad was voted to fill his late wife Carol’s position on the role. For the last 30 years, Carol and Brad dedicated their lives to improving the East Phillips neighborhood. They have raised children, overseen housing developments, mentored youth, and managed neighborhood beautification within East Phillips. Read more

Steve has been a neighborhood activist and community organizer for decades, supporting racial and environmental justice in East Phillips. He is focused on reducing harmful pollution in East Phillips and growing community participation in local government. Read more