The year in pictures: Azhae'la Hanson's search for joy turns up gold

Three Nellie Stone Freedom Schools scholars used their free time in the cafeteria to make funny faces at each other. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson 

Text and photos by Azhae’la Hanson, Reporter 

My editor, David, often asks me what about a particular photo made me press the shutter. Every time I struggle to answer. 

That answer is always going to be difficult and becoming, as we all are. 

I don’t always prioritize news values when I choose to take a photo. I think about what value the photos have to me, and I hope, to you, and the legacy of North Minneapolis. 

Often, I click the shutter because of a feeling. 

“This is who we are,” sits at the back of my head. 

A community that helps one another, that sings together, plays together, celebrates and mourns together, that stands up for what we believe in, together. 

The queer women-led art house “Red Light House,” hosted its final arts fest at their home in North Minneapolis. Imani and her grandmother scored a cool spot on the hot summer day to crack jokes and enjoy the music.

Maybe that’s this year's theme, and we need it now more than ever. As we enter the new year, remember that community is all we have. 

And we must not forget to seek joy. It is everywhere if you look hard enough. I hope my images help when daily life feels hard. 

Thank you for trusting me with our image. Take care of yourselves, and Happy New Year. 

In July, families of those lost to gun violence hosted a barbecue on West Broadway. Stageina “Pretty Pre” Whiting was killed in a shooting at Boom Island Park in July. Her daughter, Treazure, was held by her father as the family discussed carrying on Whiting’s legacy. 

Zaire Coleman, right, Bobby Rhodes and Noah Tidwell decided to take a break from the festivities and challenged each other to a game of basketball during the Juneteenth holiday. 

Freshman Tavin Stoll ran the Polar flag across the U.S Bank field to kick off the Polars' 3A semifinal match against Annandale. North High football had an undefeated regular season with several outstanding players. Annandale stopped North’s flirtation with perfection in the playoff game. 

Theryl and Grindle Dugas sat on their bed near a window where a stray bullet came and almost hit Grindle. In March, residents in the neighborhood spoke about feeling vulnerable to surrounding crime following a City Council vote earlier that month against refunding a violence intervention group that served Ward 4. 

Nellie Stone Johnson Freedom School scholars rallied at the state capitol as a part of the program's annual National Day of Social Action. Recent efforts by federal officials to dismantle the U.S Department of Education, attacks on funding freezes that support school programming, and an attempted erasure of Black history inspired the crowd to make some noise on the Capitol steps. 

The TKO Drumline gave West Broadway its heartbeat at the Northside's annual September Open Streets block party. 

Northsider MarShaan Johnson invented the Whet Ball, a weighted basketball that can be used for underwater basketball training. He spent his spare time filling each Whet Ball to the right buoyancy by hand in his bathtub.

Nene Hollie took a call at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church. She ran a trauma intervention program at the church that was on call for people facing a crisis in North Minneapolis. The city defunded the program in an August City Council vote. 

Effy Kawira fixed Brandon Mensah’s hair in their dressing room before the start of their performance with the Northside’s Sol Salvation Choir. 

While traveling the country, brothers Jeff and Andrew made North Minneapolis a recent stop this summer. The two met under the tree on the corner of West Broadway and Fourth Street, where Jeff took out his electric clippers and cut his brother's hair, while they discussed where they could eat later that afternoon. 

In January, North High students started a student section called The Tundra to support athletes and promote school spirit. The group brought out record numbers of students at basketball games 

Camden Football Coach, Mark “Dolo” Harris, hosted a youth concert this summer as a community-building event for Northside youth. Last year, The Minnesota Star Tribune voted Harris the All-Metro Sports Award Difference Maker in 2024 for his impact on youth. 

Namir Fearce and Amina Jaafaru held hands and descended the stairs of the Minneapolis Institute of Art after their second performance with the Sol Salvation Choir in March. Sol Salvation is an all- Black community and non-religious choir started in 2024 and led by Northsider, interdisciplinary artist, culture worker, and recent 2025 McKnight Media Arts Grant recipient, Namir Fearce.