We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dominique Pierre-Toussaint a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dominique, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The West Metro Youth Collaborative:
Powered by: Hennepin County, Hopkins Public Schools, ICA, ResourceWest, City of Hopkins, and Met Council
Proposal presented by:
* Hennepin County Commissioner – Chris LaTondresse,
* Hopkins Public School Board Chair – Jen Westmoreland
* ICA Director of Community Relations-Dominique Pierre-Toussaint
We hope to empower young people to develop programming and design initiatives that meet the unique needs of the youth in our communities.
While the mission, vision, goals, and strategies of the West Metro Youth Collaborative will be co-created by its founding members, potential areas of focus for this initiative include: mentoring, career pathways, after-school programming, mental health and wellness, and community safety.
The need for expanded coordination, programming, and funding for youth-led and youth-focused initiatives is clear and urgent. I am very excited about the opportunity for members of our community to join to strengthen youth voice, opportunity, and social connection in west suburban Hennepin, Minnesota.
There is more work ahead for this project, so stay tuned!
Dominique, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Dominique Pierre-Toussaint!
The ICA Director of Community Relations (formerly the ICA Food Shelf). My role involves creating opportunities that serve individuals in need and nurturing relationships with key community stakeholders. I consult with Hennepin County, Hopkins public schools, the city of Hopkins/Minnetonka, local businesses, nonprofits, and community groups/leaders on projects and issues that benefit our Minnesota West Metro communities. I truly take pride in being a connector and collaborator.
Passions: When it comes to passion, my fire is fueled by serving individuals in need and curating eclectic platforms and events. My circle is all about empowering youth, young adults, and entrepreneurs to share their passions and make a difference right here in Minnesota.
How you can help my mission: If you or your company are interested in sponsoring, donating, mentoring, or providing support through volunteer services, I am eager to connect with you ([email protected]). I want to know what gets your heart pumping and how you can contribute to the causes that matter most.
Dominique aka “Mr. Neek”:
* I was born in Brooklyn, New York, and spent my early days in Far Rockaway, Queens? I’m proud of my Haitian American heritage, and my family’s journey to the United States is a testament to their resilience and strength.
* I was once a bodyguard for the legendary Prince🎸☂🎵. Oh, and I was a high school friend of Ladybug Mecca, a Hip Hop Grammy award winner for the song – Rebirth of slick, from the group Digable Planets.
* During the year 2016, I organized the first Jr. MLB Home Run Derby for ages 12-15 in Hopkins, Minnesota, with the newly appointed Commissioner of the AFL – Arena Football League: Attorney, Lee A Hutton (Champion: Blake Guerin, Mounds View). The New York Rangers Defensemen #79 K’Andre Miller was one of my community youth leaders!
* When I need a pick-me-up, I turn to my first love which is music, and it takes me to a happy place. So, if you ever catch me humming along or tapping my foot to the beat, you know I’m in my element.
Before we wrap up, I want to leave you with my favorite quote, which captures my drive and determination: “I don’t just want to make a difference, I want to be a difference in this world!”
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
When I was raised in Far Rockaway Queens, NY (Edgemere Projects). I had to use my artistic gifts to stay out of the streets. I attended elementary school (P.S. 105) and the crack era began when I entered Junior high school (Benjamin Cardoza 198). I was literally born (August 7th) four days before the birth of Hip Hop (August 11th). My first male teacher of color, wasn’t in the classroom, he was on the radio. His name was hip hop legend Rakim Allah (Eric. B & Rakim). The album “Paid in full” was the blueprint to build my future. I was thé kid always doodling in my composition note book, beating on the desk and lunchroom table, beatboxing, writing poetry/lyrics, graffiti, break dancing and self taught myself how to cut hair. I learned quickly that these gifts helped me build relationships with school teachers, parents, my peers and colleagues in my community.
I was raised in a single parent home with my mother (Angeline Jean) and little sister (Lyn-Davy). I attended school during the weekdays in Far Rock, Queens, but during the weekends I was as always at my Grandmother Abisa Jean house in Brooklyn (Troy Avenue). In Queens, I tested my gifts, but in Brooklyn I enhanced my skills. Due to the attention I was receiving from my gifts, jealousy from others began to rear its ugly side. My mother didn’t want the elements of the streets to determine my fate, and knew that I would prosper from a change of scenery. I moved to Silver Springs Maryland with my Aunt Andrele and her family, for my high school years.
I was encouraged to pursue sports instead of what I was truly passionate about at the time. I was told being creative artistically was not going to benefit me in the future. Let’s fast forward to now. Everything I’m about today I attribute to the Arts!
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Support and encourage the new generation to pursue their natural given gifts, where you start with a vision may take you to a new place, that place sometimes turns to where you truly belong. 
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Mr_neek
- Facebook: Dominique Pierre-Toussaint
- Linkedin: Dominique Pierre – Toussaint
Image Credits
Attorney Lee A Hutton, Commissioner Chris LaTondresse, Mayor Patrick Hanlon, Jen Westmoreland, Mary Moriarty, Angeline Jean, Abisa Jean, Kety Jean, Fritz Alphonse Jean, Andrele Mathurin, Marc-Eli Jean, Kennedy Pierre-Toussaint, Khalen Pierre-Toussaint, Rhoda Miri-Piri Reed, Tracie Pierre-Toussaint, Barb Westmoreland, Society 101