|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2026
Contact:
Jay Willms, Director of Council Operations
Telephone: (651) 266-8564 | Email: councilcommunications@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Saint Paul Accepts Historic $100,000 Donation from Unity Church-Unitarian Supporting Reparations Commission Work
Funding Advances City’s Commitment to Reparative Justice and Community Healing
SAINT PAUL – The Saint Paul City Council voted 6-0 to accept a historic $100,000 donation from Unity Church-Unitarian in support of the Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission. Established by the City Council on January 4, 2023, its creation marked a significant step in addressing the lasting impacts of discriminatory policies and practices on African American residents in Saint Paul.
Since the City’s founding, policies such as redlining, racial covenants, and the destruction of the Rondo neighborhood to construct Interstate 94 have contributed to lasting racial disparities in wealth, housing, education, health, and community stability.
The Commission is made up of community members with diverse skills, lived experiences, and professional backgrounds. It was formed to ensure these harms are acknowledged and addressed through community-informed policy recommendations.
The donation from Unity Church–Unitarian will advance the Commission’s work throughout the year, including the development of the upcoming Harm Report, community listening sessions, and public education and outreach. It will also support the Commission’s 2026 work plan, which includes recommendations for a Reparatory Justice Fund, a Slavery Disclosure Ordinance, and an Anti-Black Hate Crime Resolution. These initiatives ensure that residents most impacted by historical injustices help shape policies and programs designed to address racial inequities.
“We are deeply moved by the commitment shown by Unity Church-Unitarian," said Trahern Crews, Chair of the Commission. "This gift is more than just financial support; it is an act of accountability and a testament to the power of community-led healing. It brings us closer to realizing the goals of the Recovery Act and ensuring a more equitable future for all Saint Paul descendants of chattel slavery."
“Accepting our first-ever donation for the Reparations Commission is a historic moment grounded in community leadership and collective action. This contribution reflects years of work by residents, advocates, and commission members who have pushed Saint Paul to move from acknowledgment to repair,” said Ward 7 Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson. “I am deeply grateful to Unity Church Unitarian for their $100,000 donation, which will support public listening sessions, education, and research as our community continues the work of truth, accountability, and justice.”
“As a Saint Paul City Council member whose ancestors survived chattel slavery, state sanctioned violence, and mass incarceration, I know what it means for communities to be treated as permanent second-class citizens”, said Ward 1 Councilmember Anika M. Bowie. “Coming from Rondo, I was raised in a tradition where survival meant collective care, shared resources, and standing together in the face of harm. This investment from Unity Church strengthens our responsibility to deliver real reparative action through economic opportunity, housing stability, accountability in city systems, and policies that affirm the dignity and safety of every resident.”
“This historic gift from Unity Church–Unitarian is a powerful act of partnership and moral leadership,” said Council President and Ward 2 Councilmember Rebecca Noecker. “Reparations work is about truth-telling, accountability, and repair, and this donation directly strengthens the community-led process guiding that work. We are deeply grateful for Unity Church’s commitment to justice and to the healing of harm that continues to shape life outcomes for African American residents in Saint Paul.”
About the City Council
The Saint Paul City Council is the city’s legislative body, setting policy, adopting budgets, and providing direct constituent services across the city’s wards. Learn more at www.stpaul.gov/department/city-council.
###