What started as an effort to address hunger in north Minneapolis has ignited controversy.
Mykela “Keiko” Jackson used a Paths to Black Health Grant from the state of Minnesota to launch the Food Trap Project Bodega—a free food pantry aimed at serving underserved residents located on the property of Sanctuary Covenant Church.
“These grant program funds are specifically designed to support organizations that work with U.S.-born African Americans. For the purposes of this RFP, Black(s) or African American(s) specifically references the U.S.-born African American population for whom studies indicate that health has been impacted as the result of historical trauma. This trauma includes post-traumatic slave syndrome (PTSS) and epigenetic inheritance,” a description of the grant explains.
According to the state’s website, the grant program is designed to reduce health disparities among African Americans and foster a “vibrant and thriving” community.
But now, some say it’s doing the opposite.
Reports emerged that non-Black residents were being turned away from the pantry, raising concerns about racial discrimination in a neighborhood where many diverse groups reside.
Sign sparks allegations of exclusion
At the heart of the backlash was a sign posted on the pantry that read:
“The resources found in here are intended for Black & Indigenous Folx. Please refrain from taking anything if you’re not.”
For some, like Howard Dotson, this message was a slap in the face.
Dotson, a Twin Cities chaplain and caretaker of a nearby apartment building, said one of his tenants was refused help at the pantry because he was white.
“This is not building community, it’s destroying it,” Dotson said, adding that he has filed a complaint with the Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission.
Dotson, who is also white, claims he was personally turned away from the pantry by Jackson.
“I went over there and confronted her,” said Dotson. “I told her that I saw the sign and I asked if she really thought she could take grant money from the state and discriminate against poor white people.”
According to Dotson, Jackson reiterated that the food pantry was established to service Black and Indigenous people, and that he could go across the street to get resources from the church’s free pantry if he needed it.
Jackson defends pantry’s mission amid criticism
Speaking to Alpha News, Jackson admitted to the signage but denied turning anyone away in person.
“There was no one there directly turning them away. They felt entitled to the resources that were not for their demographic—white privilege is real,” said Jackson.
She also dismissed Dotson’s complaint to the Civil Rights Commission as “political violence,” adding, “We hope these white patrons can go about their day and not harass us anymore.”
Jackson argued that the grant specifically targets African-American communities affected by systemic racism and historical disadvantages, and says she sees her work as an effort to right those wrongs.
“The community needs it and wants it, and is willing to go to bat for this cause,” she said.
Jackson’s website states, “The Black community consistently experiences higher rates of hunger compared to whites, due to racism embedded in social, economic, and environmental factors.”
According to Jackson, the free pantry has distributed over 2,000 pounds of food since its opening.
Church severs ties after backlash
Alpha News reached out to Sanctuary Covenant Church for comment. In a statement, the church explained:
“When Mykela Jackson approached us to set up her Food Trap Project in our Sanctuary front field, we were excited to support her. This would be a place accessible to anyone 24×7. No registration necessary. No demographic [information] necessary. Anyone in need would be welcome. As the Sanctuary already hosts a community food pantry, the Food Trap idea resonated with us, and we welcomed her and even paid for her electrical hook up. Ms. Jackson had laid out her entire plan with a written proposal. Nowhere in her original proposal did she indicate that she would be restricting usage to specific communities. This does not align with the vision and mission of the Sanctuary.”
The statement continued: “When we discovered her signage and social media posts, we asked her to abide by her original proposal. Ms. Jackson was unable to do so and decided to move her Food Trap elsewhere. The deadline for moving her trap is 9/30. We’ve already cut power to it.”
In response, Jackson told Alpha News she had already been planning to relocate the pantry, stating the decision was unrelated to the controversy over the signage.
On her Instagram page, Jackson announced that the free pantry would be relocating to Za’Rah Wellness in the near future.
This article was updated with a statement from Sanctuary Covenant Church.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
