Balqiis Hersi was born in Somalia. Her mom would travel from Somalia to India for work as a designer. In the eighties, her entire family moved to India to escape the Somali Civil War. Growing up there, Balqiis fell in love with the patterns, colors, and prints used in Indian textiles. This love would stay with her and inspire Zizi Boutique.

Peer Pressure Fitness is a dedicated and goal-oriented neighborhood wellness hub that provides clients the necessary amount of motivation and inspiration to reach their targeted fitness and wellness goals. They service clients by optimizing the 8 Dimensions of Wellness while incorporating Minneapolis Culture to create an uplifting space that promotes personal health and community collaboration through Positivity, Energy, Equality, and Respect.

In 1977, MIGIZI was founded as Migizi Communications, Inc. with a goal of countering the misrepresentations and inaccuracies about Native people in the media. In the 1900s MIGIZI found its home base on Lake Street and shifted to focus on serving youth. Most of the students they serve live along bus lines and being on Lake Street makes their programs accessible for their community.