Sidney Pisano is a community organizer residing on the East Side of Saint Paul. Born and raised in South Minneapolis, Sid holds deep interest and passion for arts, building people power, learning, and eating delicious food.

Geordie Flantz is the founder of Trilingua Cinema. A writer by trade, he grew up on a dairy farm in Southern Minnesota, was educated in Ohio and Indiana, and now calls the East Side home. A lover of film, he is passionate about art and social justice.

Ismail Khadar is a multidisciplinary artist and researcher born, raised, and based on the East Side. Ranging from poetry, prose, and playwriting Ismail has explored themes of home, isolation, and identity.

Roxanne Sanchez

Kara Park is an organizer, facilitator and coalition builder with over a decade of experience in state and national social justice movements, including Asian American organizing efforts in both Minnesota and Oregon. She currently works as a Program Director at All Due Respect, a national effort to improve labor conditions for community organizers, and is a proud resident of the East Side.

Julissa Fuentes-Roberts is the co-owner and leader of CML Group, guiding buyers, sellers, and investors in creating long-term wealth through strategic real estate planning. As President of NAHREP Twin Cities, she focuses on mentorship, education, and connecting resources to better serve the Hispanic community. Committed to leadership development, Julissa is passionate about fostering connections and empowering others to build generational wealth.

Ruti “BC” Mejia is Queer brown womxn from the Nawat Pipil and Maya Lenca Nations in the Usulutan territory located in Kuskatan now known as El Salvador. She is a member of Kalpulli Yaocenoxtli, traditional Mexican-Nahuatl danza group, Co-Founder Interthrival Indigenous Youth Coalition. Former Youth Music and Technology Specialist at Indigenous Peoples Task Force. Ruti holds a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and American Indian Studies from Augsburg University. Currently, she serves as the Partnership Director at Indigenous Roots Cultural Art Center located in the Dakota lands of Imniza Ska, Mni Sota.

Joe Karlsson

Kazua Melissa Vang

Eric Salinas is a chef, DJ, and passionate community builder. A longtime resident of the East Side.