Many neighborhoods across the Twin Cities region are characterized by a strong cultural identity where people of a particular race, culture, or ethnicity come together to share language, food, customs, and resources. These communities exist because people choose to live near family and friends who share their cultural identity. They also exist because of structural racism. In this context, communities of color and American Indian communities in particular often organize in specific geographies as a means of preservation and resistance.
The creation of cultural corridors is an intentional, strategic effort to build upon the naturally expressed assets of communities that have gravitated to an area due to choice or exclusion. These corridors are efforts to build healthier communities defined by wealth, access to art and food, revitalized public space, and the ability to thrive in the face of displacement.