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St. Paul declares Juneteenth and highlights Nexus Community Partners’ Open Road Fund
Summary
Council adopted a resolution recognizing Juneteenth 2025 and heard from Nexus Community Partners about the Open Road Fund, a program providing $50,000 gifts to Black Minnesotans through Nexus.
The St. Paul City Council adopted a resolution recognizing Juneteenth 2025 as an annual celebration of Black liberation and invited Nexus Community Partners to present its Open Road Fund program.
Council Member Johnson introduced leaders from Nexus Community Partners and described Juneteenth’s historical significance. Rupa Makai, founder and CEO of Nexus Community Partners, described the organization’s focus on entrepreneurship, wealth-building and community leadership. Lavasha Smith, program director for the Open Road Fund, said the fund provides $50,000 gifts to Black residents across Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota as a form of community investment linked to efforts for racial repair and economic opportunity.
Council members thanked Nexus for its community work; Council adopted the Juneteenth resolution by unanimous voice vote. The adopted resolution recognizes Juneteenth in the city and highlights Nexus’s Open Road Fund work; the transcript records the council’s ceremonial adoption but does not allocate city funds to the Open Road Fund.
Nexus representatives encouraged eligible applicants to visit openroad.fund to apply; the transcript records that the Open Road Fund application opens the next day.
