FoFo Bristol: The Suited Queen
After a journey that brought her to 3 different colleges, pursuing 3 different degrees, Felicia “FoFo” Bristol found her way back to her roots. “It just makes sense that I’m at Minneapolis College. I’m from North Minneapolis. In everything I do I want to give back to my hood.”
It would also make sense that she would return to Minneapolis College to study exactly what it is that sparked her interest as a child: fashion design. “When I was a kid I always wanted to play in fabric, try on dresses and heels,” said Bristol. “Minneapolis College is the only college in the Midwest that has the Industrial Sewing Methods technology trade available to us in the program.”
A student in the Apparel Technologies program, Bristol is using her knowledge to build her own brand called The Suited Queen Collection; curated with the same quality, care and timeless feel of Louis Vuitton, but tailored specifically for the Midwest. “I want to make clothing that fits Midwestern women. Clothing that gives us confidence, empowerment and boosts our self-esteem.”
Bristol’s goals for the brand align with her greater visions for Minneapolis College and Minneapolis as a whole. She wants to see the community come together and support one another. This desire is what ultimately sparked her interest in getting involved in various activities across campus. Not only is Bristol working to start her own club, called I AM, through which she hopes to help create a space for students to explore their diverse array of cultures, but she also serves as the Senator of Diversity on the Student Senate. This involvement with the Student Senate also led Bristol to join the LeadMN Governing Council, where she advocates for students across the state who are working to achieve their educational goals.
Bristol sees voting as another key component to advocacy work. She was recently appointed as a Campus Election Engagement Project (CEEP) Fellow, where she works to ensure information about the voting process is accessible to campus community members. She is also a key member of the Minneapolis College Get Out the Vote campaign, where she developed the idea for a weekly series called Popcorn and Politics, inviting students, staff and faculty to learn about the election process and engage in bipartisan discussion around important voting topics.
Bristol keeps busy because she wants her peers and colleagues to know that they can be the change they want to see across the College and the greater Minneapolis community.
“Through all I do I want to continue to empower myself and my community. Minneapolis has been put on [the map] for violence, but we can also be put on for empowerment.”