‘Voices of Lake Street’ Project

When Caroline ‘Fitz’ Fitzpatrick ’26 first visited Lake Street in Minneapolis four years ago, she found enchanting restaurants and colorful murals. She also found a vibrant, resilient community. Now a senior geography major at Macalester College, Fitzpatrick recently spent her January learning from that community—amplifying the voices of immigrant business owners who call Lake Street home.

Through a Live It Fund project, “Voices of Lake Street,” the senior created a digital story map that aims to garner support for the business owners who have weathered many challenges in recent years. The map also works to question the traditional idea of who can wear the title of ‘entrepreneur.’

“Many people think that entrepreneurs are tech bros in Silicon Valley, which I would know—I’m from San Francisco,” Fitzpatrick said. “But really, entrepreneurs are found inside all the mom and pop shops all along Lake Street.”

Coordinated by Macalester’s Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Live It Fund works to provide students with the means to activate change they wish to see in the world. For January projects, students receive up to $2,000 and are challenged to use those funds to transform their ideas into reality.

“We’re essentially asking students to imagine a future that they would like to see and to live it,” said Erik Halaas, a program manager. “Can you dream of what may be possible in your community, in communities locally and globally, and can you bring those things to life that you are imagining?”

Fitzpatrick was recently inspired to pursue her Live It Fund project while interning with the Lake Street Council. It was there, working alongside the council’s program coordinator, and fellow Scot, Matt Kazinka ’11, that she saw an opportunity to share the stories of small business owners. After receiving the green light for her project, she got to work, interviewing entrepreneurs like Trung Pham of Pham’s Rice Bowl, Olivia Rodriguez of Zo Audio, Ramon Hernandez from Monkey Tattoo, and Mariam Mohamed of Hoyo Sambusa. With each conversation, she learned more about what it takes to own a business along Lake Street and how relationships and community play a starring role.

“When I had my daughter, I realized that if I started my own business, I could take care of her better,” Rodriquez told Fitzpatrick. “I could bring her with me, set my own schedule, and be my own boss. I wanted to give employment to my family and my community. That’s very important to me.”

The stories Fitzpatrick collected also reflect the resilience Lake Street business owners have shown in recent years. From the civil unrest following the death of George Floyd in 2020, to a surge of immigration enforcement agents in late 2025, these Minneapolis entrepreneurs have learned to navigate serious hurdles, together.

“I see the community supporting one another and amplifying the voices of those who can’t speak for themselves,” Anisa from Channa Kitchen said. “I see the community stepping up for people like me. And as someone that’s never had that before, it just feels like such a blessing.”

The Live It Fund project served as a powerful learning opportunity for Fitzpatrick. The senior needed to navigate language and cultural barriers, all while gaining the trust and confidence of the project participants.

“This experience gave me the opportunity to connect with community members on a deeper level,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m really passionate about connecting with others—that’s something that brings me so much joy in life.”

Fitzpatrick was one of several Live It Fund recipients pursuing projects around the globe in early 2026. One student traveled to Chile to lead printmaking workshops with local artists to foster better connections with nature. Another used the power of pop music to teach Romanian elementary students English. And closer to campus, another Scot developed a comprehensive website to help former Minnesota inmates access reentry services. See the full list here.

No matter the project, the Live It Fund hopes to give Macalester students the space and structured support necessary for them to create change–albeit on a tight timeline. For January projects, students have just six weeks to bring their vision to life.

“It’s asking a lot of them, but it’s also a great learning opportunity for them to figure out how you can activate change in a short period of time,” Halaas said.

For Fitzpatrick, who successfully completed her interviews and published a brand new website, the true product of her project is now a call to action: visit Lake Street and support immigrant-owned businesses.

“I hope that people feel a sense of inspiration after hearing their stories,” Fitzpatrick said. “Our local immigrant-owned businesses are being hit hard right now, but we can all show up for one another and support each other.”