Who we are

Friendship Academy of the Arts (FAA) was founded in 2000 by a group of community leaders committed to addressing the dire opportunity gap for African-American students in Minnesota. A group of educators from Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church embarked on a mission to create a school that provided access to a high quality education and the arts. After 2 years of planning the school opened in 2000 with 37 students and ended the year with 47.

Due to family and community demand, FAA has expanded to  a K-8 school and is now operating at two locations. The Primary site (2600 E. 38th St.) serves grades K-1st and the Intermediate site (3320 E. 41st St.) serves grades 2nd-8th. FAA prides itself in being a school started by the community, sustained by the community, and will continue to be led by the community it serves into the future.

FAA has had 4 Executive Directors: Ethel Norewood (2000-2012), Dr. Nell Collier (2012-2015), Dr. B. Charvez Russell (2015-2021), and Carr Kpanyor (2021-present).

First Location: Basement of Central Lutheran Church 2000-2004 K-4th Grades

Second Location: Sabathani Community Center 2004-2007 K-6th Grades

Friendship Academy of the Arts - Primary 2007-present K-1st Grades

Friendship Academy of the Arts - Intermediate 2020-present 2nd - 8th Grades