Revitalizing the East Side: 30,000 Feet’s New Arts + Tech Center Brings Hope and Opportunity to the Neighborhood

At a time when funding for Black-led organizations is shrinking nationwide, one St. Paul nonprofit is defying the trend and transforming its neighborhood in the process.

Today, 30,000 Feet celebrates the grand opening of its new Black Arts + Tech Center on the city’s East Side, a 13,000-square-foot hub that fuses art, technology, and culture under one roof.

The $8 million project turns a once-vacant lot into a state-of-the-art creative innovation space. For a community long overlooked by major investment, the moment feels bigger than a ribbon cutting.

It is a declaration that the East Side, one of St. Paul’s most diverse yet historically underfunded neighborhoods, is rising.

“This new Black Arts + Tech Center represents a dream coming alive, a place where youth can see themselves, be creative, and build real career pathways in technology and the arts,” said Kevin Robinson, co-Executive Director of 30,000 Feet. “It’s thrilling to imagine students walking through these doors, discovering passions, and knowing the community supports them every step of the way.”

A Beacon of Possibility

Inside the new center, you’ll find multimedia labs, recording studios, robotics classrooms, and gallery spaces designed to inspire the next generation of artists, coders, and innovators.

30,000 Feet’s existing programs, from Tech Geeks, a paid workforce development track in coding and web design, to Arts Residencies and College & Career Readiness initiatives, already serve more than 1,000 youth annually. With this expansion, Kevin says the organization expects to double its reach and strengthen partnerships with local schools, businesses, and artists.

“Every time I hear a young person say, ‘I never knew I could do that’ or ‘I can’t wait to come back tomorrow,’ it reminds me why we launched 30,000 Feet,” said Kevin. “That spark of possibility, that’s what gets me up in the morning. I’m excited that we’re expanding our reach and doubling the number of students we serve.”

Revitalization From Within

The opening also represents something deeper for East St. Paul, a community that has seen waves of economic decline and uneven investment over the years.

As some funders pull back support for racial equity work, the success of 30,000 Feet stands as a counter-narrative: a story of resilience, creativity, and community-led progress.

By anchoring this new hub in the neighborhood it serves, 30,000 Feet is ensuring that the benefits of revitalization stay local, from jobs and contracts to public art, youth programs, and family engagement opportunities.

“Watching young artists’ faces light up when they pick up a brush or code their first project, that energy is electric,” said Vanessa Young, co-Executive Director of 30,000 Feet. “I can’t wait to bring more students into a space that feels safe, inspiring, and full of opportunity.”

“We’re on the verge of something special, a home where culture, tech, and youth converge,” Vanessa added. “I’m thrilled to lead programs that nurture voices, untapped talent, and future leaders, where every student will feel seen, challenged, and supported.”