About Soul of Music Community Development Corporation

The Soul of Music Community Development Corporation (CDC) was founded by a distinguished team of community leaders, educators, musicians, and cultural innovators whose work has helped shape the arts, education, and cultural landscape of Saint Paul's historic Rondo neighborhood and beyond. Founders include Mychael Wright, creator of the Selby Avenue Jazz Festival and the original Golden Thyme Coffee & Café; Cynthia J. Fraction, founder of the Excel Research Scholars Program and the We March for Justice Civil Rights Study Tour at the University of St. Thomas; and Rev. Carl Walker and Grant West, accomplished musicians, artists, and founders of Walker West Music Academy. Collectively, they bring nearly 100 years of leadership, innovation, and service to the communities they have impacted.

Together, they established the Soul of Music CDC, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving African American music history, developing future leaders, and strengthening communities through cultural engagement and revitalization. At the heart of this vision is the Soul of Music Museum—the organization's flagship initiative and premier cultural destination where music, history, education, and community come together through exhibits, performances, archives, oral histories, research, and educational programming.

Rooted in the rich history of Rondo, the museum honors a community whose music, culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship helped shape Saint Paul for generations. From its early beginnings through the challenges of freeway construction and into the present day, Rondo's story reflects enduring strength, innovation, and cultural influence. Guided by the voices of Rondo's elders and enriched by the contributions of African American musicians and artists from across Minnesota and beyond, the museum preserves this legacy while inspiring future generations to build upon it.

A cornerstone of this work is Soul Forward Leaders, the organization's signature earn-and-learn leadership development program for young adults. Through hands-on experience in cultural preservation, archives, museums, research, community engagement, and nonprofit leadership, participants gain professional skills while helping preserve and share African American music history. In doing so, they become the next generation of curators, educators, researchers, cultural leaders, and community changemakers.

At its heart, the Soul of Music Museum is about bridging generations. It is a place where history is preserved, culture is celebrated, young people discover new opportunities, and communities come together through the power of music. By honoring the past, investing in future leaders, and welcoming visitors from all backgrounds, the Soul of Music CDC is helping ensure that the legacy of African American music continues to educate, inspire, and strengthen communities for generations to come.