DREAMLAND ON 38TH
The Vision
The vision is to create a flexible, supportive work space for African-American entrepreneurs to start and expand small businesses focused on the intersection of food and heritage— and to offer a dynamic space to host community gatherings and events. Dreamland on 38th will leverage the Cultural Wellness Center’s many cultural, community and business networks to create social and economic opportunities that enrich African-American entrepreneurs, entities and services.
With its unique mission, Dreamland on 38th honors the legacy of A.B. Cassius, his social entrepreneurism, his commitment to building a strong black community in Minneapolis—and his focus on food as a way to bring people together.
Read the full feature in Alley News
Dreamland Café Reimagined
This capativating documentary explores the history and importance of Dreamland on 38th. The conversation with Retired WCCO News Anchor, Don Shelby and the Cultural Wellness Center's Historian, Anthony Taylor takes you on tour of the history and racial policies and practices in South Minneapolis to the rise and restoration of Dreamland.
Dreamland will Include...
CWC headquarters with space for staff, partners,
and community members to connect and
participate in on-site classes, trainings, and
community gatherings.
A cultural health and wellness practitioner program
with space for practitioners to train and provide
culturally grounded health, wellness, and beauty
services, as well as continuing education,
training, and technical assistance for
entrepreneurs and practitioners.
Library and archive space with a focus on selfstudy
and scholarship, supported by retail/café
space. A catering kitchen will support food
service and entrepreneurship with support
from CWC’s commercial kitchen at the nearby
Midtown Global Market.
AN ECONOMIC ENGINE
Dreamland on 38th will expand our reach and impact so we can expand our capacity to build equitable health and wealth via our cultural lens and approach. Dreamland on 38th is the natural next step for our collaborative and transformative work, creating a physical anchor for community health, wellness, economic opportunity, and human development.
Dreamland will contribute to the broader redevelopment of a historic Black economic district and support CWC as the organization selected to lead the visioning and development process for George Floyd Square.
Dreamland is an opportunity to implement
a development model that economically
benefits Black and other communities of
color at each stage of the process. This
includes ownership, but also the real
estate, design, and construction firms who
benefit economically from residential and
commercial real estate development.
PROJECT IMPACT
Facilitating 5+ new businesses per year
inside Dreamland
Helping 20+ businesses grow in a stable,
sustainable, manner.
Creating 60+ jobs per year, as
entrepreneurs start and grow their
businesses.
Anticipated Outcomes:
Incubating and expanding existing
businesses inside Dreamland as well along
38th Street and Lake Street.
Welcoming over 5,000 community
residents who will participate in community
and
cultural events each year.
Sharing the knowledge and belief that
culture is a resource critical to achieve
self-efficacy, financial stability, and
resiliency and in individuals gaining the
self-mastery, self-worth, and selfdetermination
to build strong families and
in turn contribute to our community.
THE CULTURAL WELLNESS CENTER"S
CULTURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MODEL
Catalyzing a Cultural
The Story
Anthony Brutus Cassius, a visionary serial entrepreneur and passionate civil rights advocate, recognized the need for a gathering hub where dreamers of his time could unite, strategize, create, and foster connections. In the 1930s, Cassius found this vital space at Foster's Sweet Shop, a monthly meeting place where he, along with other influential black Minneapolitans, charted the course for civil rights advancement. Among the camaraderie of friends and fellow reformers, Cassius imbibed the essence of social entrepreneurship.
Inspired by the vibrant atmosphere at Foster's Sweet Shop, Cassius embarked on a transformative journey in 1937, opening the Dreamland Café at the intersection of 38th Street and Fourth Avenue, right at the heart of Minneapolis's south side black community. In a highly segregated Minneapolis, the Dreamland Café stood as a beacon, often recognized as the sole social center for African-Americans in the city. This remarkable establishment even attracted renowned figures such as Lena Horne and Frankie Lymon when they visited the area.
The History
