Pollen

After the murder of George Floyd and through the ensuing civil unrest, Zedé encountered a flood of social media posts by people who were worried for their families.

That’s why this mother of two founded Seeds Worth Sowing, a mutual aid-based nonprofit intended to nourish and stabilize the lives of parents, caregivers, and their families.

It’s all in an effort to take care of the people who, according to Zedé, are “taking care of our future — our little ones, who depend entirely on us as financial providers, health care providers, and mental health stabilizers.”

Seeds Worth Sowing has mobilized hundreds of volunteers and distributed countless valuable resources, work that gives Zedé hope for the future of Minneapolis. “We can absolutely mobilize and strategize and create these paths together on our road to liberation,” she says.

SEEDS WORTH SOWING — Here is MPLS Seeds Worth Sowing By Cecilia Johnson Zedé Harut doesn’t see parenthood as just one of her many roles in life. She sees it as a sacred calling. That’s why this mother of two founded and directs Seeds Worth Sowing, a mutual aid-based nonprofit intended to nourish and stabilize the lives of paren...

In a housing system that often endorses individual responsibility over mutual aid, Here is MPLS honoree Zahnia Harut proposes an alternative—shelter as community work.

As the executive director and director of nursing for Affinity Residential Care, Zahnia provides healthcare, residential care, housing stabilization services, and positive behavioral supports for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and individuals dealing with homelessness.

“What does a meaningful life mean to you?” This is often the first question Zahnia asks when someone new joins her community — a question that reflects central tenets of her work.

“My community is the Black and Brown disability community. I do this work for them,” she says. “And that is what a meaningful life means to me: to be surrounded by the people I love and who love me, building something together.”

ZAHNIA HARUT — Here is MPLS Zahnia Harut Story By Julie ZhouArt by Anh Tran “What does a meaningful life mean to you?” This is the first question that Zahnia Harut asks when someone new joins her community. It is a question that reflects central tenets of Zahnia’s work: witness and testimony as modes of care, autonomy as...