Ordway announces 2025 Sally Awards recipients, celebrating Minnesota’s visionary art community

Sally Awards honors extraordinary achievements in arts access, learning, leadership, vision and legacy.

Tish Jones joins other community members during a live taping of a State of Minnesota Town Hall at MPR regarding the influx of federal agents throughout the state in January 2026, as part of Operation Metro Surge. Jones comments and offers historical perspective and to question the new narrative of “needed neighbors” being the reason behind “the unity and less “unruly” response in 2026 than in 2020.”

Poet, Tish Jones, performing "The Children Are Watching," an original spoken word poem, at The Target Center in Minneapolis, MN, on January 11, 2026. This work was shared as part of the Timberwolves' Martin Luther King Night and Halftime Performance Event.

An original work reflecting on the five years since the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis Police Officer (Derek Chauvin) and the state of the world.

Black Excellence Performance for the MN Lynx June 17, 2025

One strategy. One tool. One aspect of the necessary work of rebuilding a radically just and inclusive tomorrow. For TakeAction MN circa 2014… and it is still important.

Poetry by Tish Jones - www.tishjonespoet.com

Music by Big Cats - bigcatsbeats.net

Video by Line Break Media - linebreakmedia.org

A Regional Emmy Award Winning alternative video for my original poem entitled, “On Our Collective Power” which was originally commissioned by Pillsbury United Communities, that includes photos and videos from the Twin Cities community. Video x Acowsay Film Company.

A brief history of Hip Hop culture.

We carry one another’s stories with us once we have been blessed to bear witness.

Tish Jones tells her story about having teachers invest in her interest in poetry while growing up, and where poetry, hip hop, and MCing have led her in her life.