January – May
We kicked off 2025 with the return of Open Road Fund’s Community Education Sessions: a free, virtual workshop series exploring homeownership, conquering money shame, pursuing a post-secondary education, and practicing joy.
- One of the most rewarding parts of offering these sessions was collaborating with incredible community allies in our shared mission to build Black wealth!
June – August
Summer is our most active time of year. We hit the road to connect with folks at Juneteenth celebrations across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota; launched our annual application period; and hosted Community Care Calls.
- Reflecting on ancestry, lineage, and legacy can be deeply emotional, and our Community Care Calls helped applicants navigate these feelings. We had the honor of welcoming back three incredible Black mental health practitioners: Dr. Aja King, Dr. BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, and Dr. Cedric Weatherspoon. These sessions were truly life-giving!
We also had two exciting new things happen this summer: a special Saint Paul resolution, and a new team member!
- On June 18, a group of Open Road Fund staff, advisory committee members, family and friends were invited to a Saint Paul City Council Meeting, where council members passed a resolution honoring Juneteenth 2025 as an annual celebration of Black Liberation in Saint Paul—with a special acknowledgment of the Open Road Fund!
- Right as our 2025 giftmaking cycle launched, we welcomed Atlese Robinson to the team as our new Grant Associate.
September – December
In September, the third round of Open Road Fund recipients was selected. That means by the end of this winter, the Open Road Fund will have given $14.9 million in $50,000 gifts to 298 Black folks in the region!
- Building on prior recipient feedback, all awardees completed financial coaching with Katherine Lankford and Tiana Danforth this year. The coaching provided guidance and tools to help awardees navigate their financial goals and strengthen their overall journey.
September also wrapped up the initial phase of the qualitative portion of our 2025 longitudinal study with Research in Action.
- Throughout the year, 42 recipients shared their experiences through focus groups and interviews, offering valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in their wealth-building and healing journeys. Data collection will continue in the years ahead.
- Plus, we released our second evaluation report this year, which can be accessed here. We’re already preparing new data and insights for our next report, scheduled for release in Spring 2026!
Wrapping up a year of celebration, Nexus hosted our final 20th anniversary event in November, centering the voices of ORF awardees who shared their real-life journeys, triumphs, and lessons.
- Their stories offered the community insight, inspiration, and a deeper connection to the work and impact of the program!
Opportunities for 2026
- As our storytelling project continues to grow, we’re excited to share more stories and experiences from our community in the year ahead, celebrating their journeys and the impact of their voices.
- On behalf of our community, we continue to refine and strengthen the technical side of the application to ensure it remains accessible, easy to use, and truly supportive of our people. We know a few bumps and glitches showed up this year, and we’re taking those seriously as we learn, adjust, and work toward a smoother, more supportive experience in 2026.
- Note: If you’re still missing an email regarding your application, please let us know! You can reach us at ORFSupport@nexuscp.org.
Together, we’re building a future rich with possibility. The Open Road Fund 2026 application opens Juneteenth 2026! We remain honored to be stewards of this fund.