The 2026 Perry Talks symposium brought together Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, MSR CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard and other distinguished voices near George Floyd Square for a timely conversation on racial justice and First Amendment rights during the Rise & Remember Festival.
Tracey Williams-Dillard
Posted inEducation
Leticia Alvarez – MSR 2026 Grad
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder congratulates Leticia Alvarez on earning her Bachelor of Science in Special Education with honors from Mankato University, completing a journey years in the making as a first-generation college student, mother and future MSR leader.
Posted inEvents
Perry Talks Returns for Rise & Remember Festival With a Powerful Lineup and an Urgent Message
The 2026 Perry Talks symposium takes place May 25 during the Rise & Remember Festival at George Floyd Square, featuring a keynote from Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and a panel including MSR CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard on racial justice and First Amendment rights.
Posted inTracey’s Keepin' It Real
Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real: Building Black Economic Power One Dollar at a Time
On this episode of Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real, MSR Publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard sits down with leaders from the Association for Black Economic Power to discuss financial literacy, economic ownership and building generational wealth in Black Twin Cities communities.
Posted inMSR In the News
MSR CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard Joins National Panel on Reporting ICE and Protests at LMA Summit
Tracey Williams-Dillard joined a panel at the LMA Summit discussing reporting on ICE enforcement, protests and the role of local journalism.
Posted inMSR In the News
WCCO Highlights Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder’s Legacy of Lifting Black Voices
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder WCCO feature highlights the paper’s decades-long commitment to preserving and amplifying Minnesota’s Black community stories.
Posted inMSR In the News
Above all else, gratitude
Senior Editor Jerry Freeman reflects on his 30-year journey with the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, honoring the people and purpose behind 91 years of Black Press legacy.
Posted inBusiness
Minnesota’s Black Business Week blooms at 38th and Chicago
Minneapolis Black Business Week kicked off at the historic 38th and Chicago intersection, now a vibrant hub of Black entrepreneurship. With five new businesses since 2020 and a powerful panel of local leaders, the week highlights a growing movement rooted in legacy, ownership, and transformation.
Posted inMSR In the News
MSR publisher twice honored during Juneteenth
Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, was honored with two Juneteenth awards for her contributions to Black media, legacy, and leadership.
Posted inLocal & State
Tracey Williams-Dillard honored with Congressional Record Award for over 50 Years in journalism
Tracey Williams-Dillard, publisher and CEO of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, was honored with a Congressional Record Award by U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar for more than 50 years of service in journalism and her commitment to amplifying Black voices in Minnesota.
Posted inLocal & State
MSR-hosted event honored George Floyd’s legacy
Marking five years since George Floyd’s murder, MSR hosted a moving event with community leaders, artists, and activists reflecting on justice, grief, and what comes next.
Posted inTracey’s Keepin' It Real
MSR Hosts Powerful Panel on 5-Year Anniversary of George Floyd’s Murder
On the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder hosted a powerful panel at UROC in North Minneapolis, bringing together local leaders, advocates, and families impacted by police violence for an honest and urgent conversation.
Posted inEvents
MSR joins Doors Open Minneapolis 2025
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is one of 75 featured sites for Doors Open Minneapolis 2025, offering visitors a chance to explore its historic headquarters and learn about its legacy of truth-telling and community power.
Posted inLocal & State
Sculpture honoring Cecil Newman delivered to Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
A bronze sculpture of Cecil E. Newman, created by Vi Runquist, was delivered to the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder on March 20, 2025, to honor Newman’s legacy as a champion of Black journalism and social progress in Minnesota.
Posted inEvents, MSR In the News, Women’s History Month
Honoring Minnesota’s women history makers at 1MN History Makers event
Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, will be a featured panelist at 1MN History Makers: Women’s History Month, sharing her experiences in leadership, media, and community empowerment.
Posted inBooks
‘Black Media in Minnesota’ highlights the legacy and future of Black storytelling
In Black Ink and Macalester College hosted a discussion on the newly released book, Black Media in Minnesota: Tradition, Practice & Vision, which celebrates the voices of Black media and highlights the role of Black media in shaping narratives, advocating for the community, and documenting history.
Posted inSister Spokesman Highlights
Sister Spokesman uplifts women of color in media
At the latest Sister Spokesman event, a panel of Black women journalists discussed the challenges and opportunities faced by Black women in the media, highlighting the importance of Black-owned media and the need for more spaces where Black women can lead and tell their own stories.
Posted inMSR In the News
MSR’s CEO honored for 50+ years in news
Tracey Williams-Dillard was honored with six others by the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Half Century Club, recognizing her 50 years of service to the newspaper industry.
Posted inNews
MSR wraps up a milestone year with thanks to our readers
The MSR, the oldest Black-owned newspaper in Minnesota and one of the longest-running family-owned newspapers in the United States, celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2024, reflecting the rich tapestry of Black life and advocating for equality and opportunity for all.
Posted inArts + Culture, Events, Sister Spokesman, Sister Spokesman Highlights
Sister Spokesman takes deep dive into hair care
Runeka Edwards of Unique Fashion and Accessories hosted a hair care event featuring a panel of hair care gurus and vendors dedicated to uplifting Black women and promoting wellness, discussing the science of hair, product choices, and business evolution.