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Learn more about Northside Achievement Zone and their transformational work for families in North Minneapolis.

Sondra Samuels, president and CEO of Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), speaks about the impact recent events have had on the North Minneapolis community, and how NAZ has stepped up to help their community process their fear and anxiety through work that brings hope.

ā€œAt NAZ, we have a corny saying that we are hope dealers. You know that African proverb that says when you unite a spider web you can tie up a lion – and for us, we have been tying up a lion of hopelessness because we have each other. This crisis situation has given me a lot of hope, and it’s the families; they are not giving up,ā€ says Sondra.

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