April 27, 2020 to May 1, 2020
A theme is emerging in this pandemic, and we have the opportunity to change our course by getting serious about tackling it. In Minnesota and across the country, Black, Indigenous, Asian and Latinx communities are disproportionally impacted. Beyond race, being low income, limited English, LGBTQ+, undocumented, mixed immigration status, Muslim just layers and intensifies the disparities. Among the most appalling statistics are the death rates in Indigenous and Black communities, the high loss jobs in Southeast Asian communities, the rapid learning loss and disconnection in e-learning for families without access to the Internet or technology literacy, the rampant hate violence towards Asians, and the intentional exclusion of undocumented and mixed status families from receiving relief aid. Historic and systemic conditions created the inequities we began the pandemic with, but this crisis has exacerbated it. So, what will we do about it?
This has been weighing on me, and everyday I’m hearing the desperate cries from communities who are suffering. I’m concerned that those who hold power are moving without centering those who are suffering the most, and planning and designing without a commitment to justice and equity. I’m proud of how we have been working with our community, and we are talking to BIPOC-led organizations to discuss what our solidarity can look like in this moment. Everyone is fighting so hard for their communities, because it often means the difference between life and death, but I urge government, philanthropic and private sector leaders to turn outwards to listen to our concerns, thoughts and ideas about the future.
We are still in the response stage in this crisis, and recovery and rebuilding are yet to come. We have the opportunity to change how we do things, and I hope we will change our course so that history doesn’t repeat itself. I welcome your invitations, so let’s do this together.
In community,
Bo Thao-Urabe
Executive & Network Director
Join us on May 1, 2020 from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM for a Facebook Live Broadcast of our Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and 2020 #MinneAsianStories celebration. Even in a crisis, we must celebrate community and who we are. We will be joined by Governor Walz, Lt. Governor Flanagan, Representative Kaohly Her, Commissioner Irene Fernando, and Asian Minnesotan storytellers and performance artists Annie Moua, Aylina Chum, Katherine Thao, Kevin Xiong, and Ananya Chatterjea.
LISTENING TO COMMUNITY
Why Distance Learning Can’t Always Come First: A Student Perspective
Read Annie Moua, one of our Becoming Organizers, Become Advocates (BOBA) youth leader’s recent article about how e-learning during COVID-19 is working for her.
“I want you to really take a moment and imagine how it feels to walk in my shoes for a day: I’m a Queer, Hmong, Asian-American Woman. I come from a low-income family. I’m currently a senior at Patrick Henry High School. My parents divorced as soon as I finished kindergarten. And my single mother, all eight of my siblings, and I live under the same roof. I want you to consider what this moment is like from my perspective. As I go into detail about my life, financial security, and safety, I urge you to take seriously the needs of families like mine in this crisis. And for those who will relate to my experiences, understand that you are not alone.”
EDUCATION
CAAL joined other education advocacy organizations to urge Governor Walz and MDE Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker to use approximately $14 million in education funding from the CARES Act to achieve short-term and long-term equitable outcomes for students. Many students around the state have immediate unmet needs—such as, having limited or no access to the internet and technology, inadequate tailored support for special education students, English Learners and other vulnerable populations. It is imperative that Minnesota think about how we will address learning loss, and can address the needs of all students.
Our joint letter outlines six recommendations, including providing guidance to guarantee equity spending in each of Minnesota’s 327 school districts and 169 charter schools, and suggests how MDE could support districts to address learning loss recovery. In addition, as standards-based testing has been post-poned, we urged MDE to work to ensure diagnostic assessments are in place to determine where students are academically.
The COVID-19 crisis has heightened inequities even more, and we urge education and elected leaders to ensure the cracks in our system are addressed so students who have the greatest challenges don’t fall behind even more during this time of significant change and turmoil. As promising practices in distance learning and learning loss are identified, we urge leaders to adopt them for those who have the least.
We applaud the proactive work of Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) staff to address COVID related racism targeting Asian Minnesotans, and Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) for passing their resolution to acknowledge and commit to addressing anti-Asian racism and xenophobia. While schools are closed, education leaders must do all that they can so when students and teachers return, everyone understands how racism and xenophobia will be dealt with.
ECONOMICS
Federal and state funding decisions are moving very fast and we continue to be concern about the lack of inclusion and how information is reaching Asian Minnesotan businesses and communities. We must act quickly and work with organizations and government leaders to access these funding opportunities, as well as inform them about the challenges facing Asian Minnesotan small businesses. The Minnesota Senate has introduced legislation (SF 4481) to provide $10 Million to provide small business relief grants of up to $10,000 to individual businesses. The House is considering a similar bill. CAAL will host another zoom conversation on Thursday, April 30 at 4:00 P.M. to hear directly from community and small businesses, so that we can continue to inform decision makers. Please join us by registering for the Economic Stimulus Conversation with Asian Minnesotans.
The long awaited unemployment insurance that covers independent contractors, self employed and gig works has started. If you fall into any of these categories, and have already applied, there’s nothing else for you to do. If you have not applied, please go to the MN Unemployment Insurance website and use this step-by-step guide to complete your application.
There is small business assistance available from federal, state, and local sources. DEED has a guide here detailing all of the resources in one spot to help businesses determine which programs work best for them. However, we hear that nearly all the funds have been dispersed.
SURVEY – HOW ARE MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES FARING?
Due to the fast-moving impact of COVID-19, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis is administering a survey to gauge the economic effects on Minnesota minority-owned businesses. We’ve joined them to support their effort.
Please take this 5-minute survey to make sure you’re included. All responses are anonymous. If you get this survey from multiple sources, please respond to the survey only once.
STRONGER TOGETHER FUND
Our first deadline for the Stronger Together Fund just passed. We will review applications and applicants will hear back by Friday, May 1, 2020. Additional announcements about funding opportunities will be made soon.
SPARK LEADERSHIP FUND
Since the State of Emergency was declared in Minnesota, we’ve provided funding to 22 projects through the Spark Leadership Fund. BIPOC leaders are stepping up and using their expertise, networks and influences to address urgent community needs during this crisis. Projects have ranged from creating IPOC healing spaces to making masks to distributing food. Here are a few examples of leaders and projects we’ve supported:
2020 Spark Leadership Recipients: Naida Medicine Crow, Tene Wells, Alexis Chum-Phan, and Pang Yang (left to right)
Naida Medicine Crow is making sure that the Indigenous homeless population is not left behind. She’s using her time to engage community members and advocating for a mobile health care unit for the homeless population to ensure they have access to healthcare during this crisis.
Tene Wells understands that even in a crisis, leaders need support. That’s why she’s providing 10 free coaching sessions to leaders of color to help them remain creative, consider enterprising initiatives, restructure their business model, launch new initiatives, and or consider how to grow the bottom line.
Alexis Chum-Phan is an 8th grader at Rosemount Middle School who has been making masks for the past few weeks for elderly care homes and nurses at Allina Hospitals and clinics. She’s using the Spark funds to make more masks for communities who now need them, but cannot afford them.
Pang Yang used her Spark funds to host a virtual music concert to address mental health and prevent suicide. The concert reached over 100,000 people on Youtube and over 24,000 people on Facebook.
If you’ve got an idea that addresses an urgent need, apply today! We will accept applications until funds run out.
WITNESS OR EXPERIENCE DISCRIMINATION? REPORT IT.
If you have experienced or witnessed discrimination, please complete the online form, or call 651-539-1133 | 1-800-657-3704 or 1-833-454-0418. Language interpretation services are available.
BYSTANDER TRAINING
We provided input to help start this Bystander Training supported by Asian American Advancing Justice and Hollaback! Join in and learn about how how to be an effective bystander without compromising your safety. Upcoming training dates are:
- Saturday, May 2
- Thursday, May 7
- Wednesday, May 13
- Thursday, May 21
- Saturday, May 30
Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, CAAL will use all donations raised in 2020 to address and support our community to respond and recover from this crisis. We know that CAAL is only as strong as our community is; that’s why we are putting all our donated funds towards supporting leaders, organizations, reporting about the State of Asian Minnesotans and combating racism and xenophobia.
Make a donation during the month of May and your donation will be matched.
Every dollar you donate turns into $2.