22-year-old Amir Locke was shot and killed by a Minneapolis policeman on February 2nd. He was not a suspect or person of interest. Amir was looking forward to a career in the music industry. Instead, Locke is the latest Black man in Minnesota killed by police. Our thoughts and prayers are with Amir’s family and friends. We stand in solidarity with them and everyone in protest, feeling a tremendous sense of loss, as another black life has been cut short by a system of injustice, by a police officer’s gun.
Here in Black History Month, a time we celebrate the accomplishments and successes of African Americans in the U.S., not lost on our minds are names like Floyd, Castille, Wright and now Locke. Their memories inspire us to champion solutions in the sector of public safety. Black History Month, on one hand offers tribute to the trailblazers who’ve paved the way. Let it also be a reminder of how far we still must go, especially in times like this. Our Public Safety Snapshot is being shared with communities in the Twin Cities, as we work toward supporting efforts driving change.
If you find yourself struggling to come to grips with these events that have unfolded the past week, we offer this list below of places you can reach out for healing and assistance.
- The Healing Justice Foundation, created by Dr. Joi Lewis, is rooted in Black liberation and works to provide healing to Black people.
- The Cultural Wellness Center is a transformative space offering classes, coaching, consulting that help community members develop culturally based solutions. Led by Atum Azzahir, the center was started in Minneapolis in 1996.
- Wellness Ways is a space to explore physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. They provide integrative psychotherapy, arts expression, yoga, and meditation, led by Dr. Felicia Washington Sy.
- The Zen Bin is a divinely ordained healing community utilizing Gospel, Hip-Hop and R&B music to heal trauma, release stress and distractions.
- Black Girl In Om is a wellness company founded by Lauren Ash that centers the well-being of Black women, offering meditation, healing sessions, and a popular podcast.
- The Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary is an in-progress nature healing space centered on Black, Indigenous and people of color.
- The African American Child Wellness Institute supports the psychological and spiritual liberation of children of African descent and their families by providing mental health services and holistic wellness resources.
Stay safe and we stand with you against “police executions” in the Twin Cities, Minnesota and throughout the United States.
The Staff at AALF
