The Minneapolis-based McKnight Foundation has announced grants totaling $1 million in support of efforts to make Minnesota a more welcoming, supportive, and inclusive state.

Awarded in honor of the life of George Floyd, ten one-time grants of $100,000 will be awarded to organizations working to advance healing and systemic justice. The Cultural Wellness Center, a multifaceted African American-led organization in Minneapolis, was awarded the first grant in support of its efforts to help individuals, entrepreneurs, community groups, healthcare systems, and government agencies better understand each other and strengthen the community. Additional awardees will be announced in the coming weeks.

"The McKnight Foundation's generous gift and recognition of our work is a testament to the resiliency and enduring soul of the African American," said Atum Azzahir, executive director and founder of the Cultural Wellness Center. "For twenty-five years, we've been tapping into the wisdom of our elders and our cultural teachings to heal ourselves and build a stronger community. As challenging as this past year has been since Brother Floyd's murder, the support shown by leading institutions like McKnight gives me hope. Only together can we dismantle systemic racism."