The Minnesota African-American Museum and Cultural Center

Roxanne Givens has one dream right now, and one challenge: to open Minnesota's first African-American history museum and do so on schedule, by fall 2011. But fund raising during an economic recession is challenging. The Minnesota African-American Museum and Cultural Center already has a home at 17th and 3rd Avenue in Minneapolis, in the historic Coe Mansion near the convention center--a place Givens believes is an ideal backdrop for building cross-cultural relationships, educational advancement and community support. KFAI's Britt Aamodt talked to Givens and MAAM marketing coordinator Shvonne Johnson about the challenges of coordinating and opening a museum in two years, and the rich vein of Minnesota's African-American history they hope to tap for the 8,500-square-foot space. For more information, visit maamcc.org.