Feb 13 | Empowering Progress Panel Discussion

Author and professor of U.S. history at the University of Minnesota.

William P. Jones is a historian and Professor of History at the University of Minnesota, specializing in the intersections of race, class, and labor in 20th-century U.S. history. His research examines the experiences of African American industrial workers in the Jim Crow South, the Civil Rights Movement, and the history of race and inequality in public employment.

He is the author of several influential books, including The March on Washington: Jobs, Freedom, and the Forgotten History of Civil Rights and The Tribe of Black Ulysses: African American Lumber Workers in the Jim Crow South. Jones's scholarship sheds light on the often-overlooked contributions of African Americans to labor movements and civil rights struggles.

An active public scholar, he has contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, and more. Jones is also an Associate Editor of Labor: Studies in Working-Class History and has served as President of the Labor and Working-Class History Association.

Publications

Awards

• Distinguished Lecturer, Organization of American Historians, 2015 - 2019
• Best Book in Labor Education, United Assocation for Labor Education, 2012 - 2013
• Best Article Award, Labor: Studies in Working-Class History of the Americas, 2010 - 2011
• Community-Engaged Scholar Award, University of Minnesota, 2022
• Jerry Wurf Memorial Fund Scholar-in-Residence, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, 2019-2020
• Faculty Fellowship, Institute for Advanced Study, University of Minnesota, 2017
• NEH Postdoctoral Fellow, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture , 2005 - 2006
• Charles A. Ryskamp Research Fellowship, ACLS, 2007 - 2008

Workforce pioneer, arts advocate and educator focused on promoting African American artists.

Jean Ann Durades is an arts advocate, mentor, and long-time supporter of cultural institutions in the Twin Cities. Over her 60-year career, Durades has been deeply involved in the arts community, volunteering as a guide at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) and curating Durades Dialogues, a series of tours that highlight African American artists and other artists of color.

Durades was the first African American woman to become field consultant with the YMCA. In 1970, she became the first African American woman to hold the position of Regional Associate on the National Council of the YMCA.

In addition to her arts advocacy, Durades has been a mentor to young people, worked with organizations like Restorative Justice Community Action, and supported the local arts scene through regular involvement with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Dakota Jazz Club, and other venues. Her passion for art, particularly African American art, extends to her own extensive collection, which has included pieces by African, Native American, and Asian artists.

Durades continues to educate and engage the community through her advocacy for greater representation and inclusion in the arts.

Durades Dialogue: Mitchell Squire & James Garrett, Jr.

"The Durades Dialogue honors the actions of arts-advocate Jean Ann Durades. The Dialogue brings significant work by artists, curators, and other creatives of African descent to the attention of Minnesota audiences. Topics are oriented toward global perspectives on the creative arts that challenge, rework, and reposition Africa within the global conversation." Learn more

Educator, labor leader, and powerful advocate for workers’ rights, women’s rights, and social justice.

Louise Sundin is an educator, labor leader, and powerful advocate for workers’ rights, women’s rights, and social justice. Currently Sundin is Vice President of the MN AFL-CIO State Retiree Council and the Minneapolis Regional Retiree Council as well as several other worker retiree groups. She also lobbies for public employee pensions. Her deep commitment to civil rights and labor movements is reflected in her 37 years of service on the Nellie Stone Johnson Scholarship board, a program providing financial assistance to union members and their families pursuing higher education.

Sundin worked closely with Johnson, one of the first African American women to hold leadership roles in unions, and she continues to honor Johnson’s legacy through her advocacy. Sundin played a pivotal role in the fundraising, designing, producing, and unveiling the statue of Nellie Stone Johnson in the Minnesota State Capitol. Johnson’s statue is the only legislatively authorized installation memorializing an African American woman in any state capitol building.

Throughout her career, Sundin has been recognized nationally for her work in advancing educational equity and workers’ rights. As a close colleague and mentee of Nellie Stone Johnson, Sundin will speak on Johnson’s enduring contributions to civil rights, human rights, and the labor movement, particularly her pioneering work advocating for workforce diversity and equality in education and employment.

Nellie Stone Johnson Statue Unveiling

Nellie Stone Johnson Woman of the Century

Reflections by Minnesota State Representative Joe Mullery (View PDF)

Through indefatigable hard work, political organizing, fiery oratory, a deep understanding of history and social interaction, and a passion to help common people and those who faced discrimination, Nellie rose from an ordinary citizen to become a champion of womens’ rights, workers’ rights, education and civil rights.

As a farm girl of African and European descent, Nellie began her 80+ years of political life at age 13, door knocking for the Nonpartisan League and the Farmer Labor Party. Later, in Minneapolis, she encountered severe racism, sexism, and anti-worker policies. She realized labor unions could overcome these injustices. When she faced anti-worker changes in her job at the Minneapolis Athletic Club, she recruited for the union and soon became one of the first female Vice Presidents and contract negotiators for a union. She was a sought-after speaker all over the state for workers’ rights and minority rights, and soon became a powerful factor as a board member of the Minnesota AFL-CIO and Central Labor Union.

Nellie was a friend of, and advisor to, Hubert Humphrey. She worked with him closely on issues, especially for people of color and women, regarding education, jobs, housing, medical care as he achieved national leadership on them as Mayor, Senator and Vice President. She provided great help to him in elections by bringing union workers and people of color to his campaigns.

Their friendship was instrumental in convincing other leaders of the Farmer Labor and Democratic parties to merge into the DFL. She wasn’t just a founder of the DFL, and a member of its Executive Committee. She later served as Democratic Party National Committeewoman, a founder of its Black Affairs Department, and served on its Agriculture Committee. Nellie was also a close friend of, and advisor to, Senator and Vice President Walter Mondale and worked with him on his national leadership on civil rights. When he travelled in Africa on his Goodwill Tour, he took Nellie as his “right hand man”.

Nellie was the first Black elected to Minneapolis government, and she was the leading crusader for Minneapolis’ nation-leading Fair Employment ordinance and then its Fair Housing ordinance, and later advanced passage of similar laws for Minnesota. She was on the executive committee of the Minneapolis NAACP for 26 years and served on its national committees, and chaired committees for the Urban League as well as other organizations for people of color.

During her many years on the boards for the state universities and colleges systems, she became known as the “voice for the students and faculty”. Then, she established the first scholarship fund for students of color in those schools. In recognition of her efforts for students, St Cloud State University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate of Letters Degree.

Even though she was offered many great jobs, she chose to establish her own alterations business so that she didn’t have to worry about her employer’s thoughts on her political and union activities, and she could leave her work whenever there was a need for her civic activity.

Nellie opposed racism and tribalism no matter where it came from. She emphasized that she didn’t care whether her elected representative was black or white; she just wanted the one who did the best job, especially for “her people”. She stressed that she strongly supported affirmative action but opposed anyone getting a job just because of their race, especially if they weren’t well qualified. Nellie emphasized she wanted minorities to have an equal opportunity for education and training, and to get the job if qualified. Equal opportunity, not equal results. And she wanted to look at the present and future, not the past. She felt the first help should go to African Americans and Native Americans who face generational poverty. After that, she fought for help for other minorities and even for whites in poverty who hadn’t received an equal opportunity to succeed.

At the age of 74, Nellie recruited and ran the campaign for Van White, who was then elected as the first Black Minneapolis Council member. Even in her 90s she door-knocked for her friend who became a legislator. She received many awards from governmental organizations, unions, businesses and minority groups.

Author, historian and advocate for Saint Paul Rondo and African American baseball history.

Frank White is an author, historian, and community leader dedicated to preserving the history of African American baseball and youth recreation in Minnesota. His book They Played for the Love of the Game shines a light on the untold stories of Black ballplayers in the state, spanning from the 1870s to the 1960s, and highlights their economic struggles and triumphs in the face of discrimination.

White co-created the award-winning exhibit They Played for the Love of the Game: Adding to the Legacy of Minnesota Black Baseball, which earned a 2010 Minnesota History Award. A former athlete and coach, White is also the RBI Program Coordinator for the Minnesota Twins, where he helps provide youth with opportunities to play baseball and develop leadership skills. With a strong commitment to public recreational services and professional athletics, he has contributed to various programs and initiatives for youth programming, authored historical publications, and collaborated on local research projects.

His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2023 Minnesota Twins Community Legacy Award, 1999 Outstanding World Citizen Award, 2008 Partners for Violence Prevention - Spirit of Peace Award and induction into multiple Hall of Fames.

He continues to contribute historical research, including a forthcoming book on early African American contributions in Saint Paul’s Rondo Community.

Frank White articles with Ramsey County Historical Society, St. Paul, Minnesota

Professional Affiliations

• Coalition for the History of African American Contributions to the University of Minnesota Board of Directors, Executive Committee 2001 – 2015
• Minnesota State Historic Preservation Review Board, 3^rd Term
• Minnesota State Capitol Preservation Commission, 1^st Term

Awards & Accomplishments

2023 Play Ball Minnesota & Diamond Awards Terry Ryan Award by Minnesota Twins Community Fund.

2023, Minnesota Twins Community Fund, Community Legacy Award

2023, Minnesota State High School League, Distinguished Service Award, In Recognition Going Above and Beyond in Service.

2019, St. Paul Old Timers Softball Fast Pitch Association, Inducted into Hall of Fame.

2019, Hallie Q Brown, 2019 Halie’s Heroes Award, For dedication and support to Hallie Q Brown Community Center.

September 19, 2019, La Familia Latino Heritage Award 2019, “Therefore, with the appreciation and respect of the Minnesota Latino Community, this commendation is presented to Frank White…”

2017, Minnesota Sports Federation, Inducted into inaugural Hall of Fame as a Touch Football official

2017, July 18, St. Paul Heritage Preservation Commission & Saint Paul Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Award of Recognition in Recognition of “Preserving and sharing the heritage of African American Baseball through exemplary research, documentation, and publishing of They Played for the Love of the Game: Untold Stories of Black Baseball in Minnesota.

2017, May 15, 33^rd Annual Mancini’s Saint Paul Sports Hall of Fame, inducted with a Special Award.

2016, July 7 – 9, 19^th Annual Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference, presented the Robert Peterson Recognition Award for the book, They Played for the Love of the Game: Untold Stories of Black Baseball in Minnesota. THE Robert Peterson Recognition Award, for bodies of work that increase public awareness about the Negro Leagues. Works may include books or articles. The Award is named after the author of the Negro League landmarck publication aptly titled, Only the Ball Was White.

2016, January 18, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Living the Dream Award,” presented by Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Jayne Miller, Superintendent.

2015, May 30, 2015, Community Service Award presented by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of F & A. M. of Minnesota

2014 Omar Bonderud Award, in recognition of outstanding Service in Human Rights on the Dred Scott program presented by the Bloomington Human Rights Commission

February 10, 2014, recognized in pre-game ceremony for contributions and work in the community by the Minnesota Timberwolves professional basketball team. Black History month recognition.

2013 Hall of Honor, Inducted by the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association for his long term commitment and outstanding service in the improvement, promotion and service to High School basketball in the State of Minnesota.

February 20, 2009 Saint Paul Saints Baseball Team, “Friend of the game Award,” Recognized for his work in the community with youth baseball and softball.

2008 Partners for Violence Prevention, Spirit of Peace Award, October 2, 2008 Recognized for his local, regional and national efforts, working to prevent violence in youth sports,

2005 Minnesota State High School League, inducted to the Hall of Fame as a Sports Official.

2003 Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Selected as a Adult Volunteer of the Year for his work in training staff using the Respect Sports model. The program assisted staff in dealing with negative behavior and promoting good sportsmanship at youth athletic events.

2002 Minnesota Recreation and Parks Association Award of Excellence, this program recognizes agencies, organizations and individuals in Minnesota for their outstanding achievements in the parks, recreation and leisure services field. The “Violence is Sports.. It’s not a game any more presentation/workshop”, has been recognized by this award program.

2002 Honorary Citation Award, For your many years of support and dedication to the great game of Football, by the Nike Coach of the Year Football Clinic

2000 Sports Award, For Contributions made to the Richfield Sports Community. Presented by the Richfield Chamber of Commerce

1999 Outstanding World Citizen Award, In recognition of distinguished service in establishing Peace Sites at Schools and Parks and the promotion of a peaceful healthy world. Presented by World Citizen Inc. and the Governor of Minnesota