May 18, 2020 to May 22, 2020
Like most organizations, here at CAAL, we have been busy responding to the crisis. In the past, we would have given ourselves more time to carry out activities, but now, we are completing activities in days and weeks; not months and years. It has not been easy, but the moment requires it and our community’s health and well-being demands it.
In last than six weeks, we’ve provided over $150,000 to support individual BIPOC leaders who are using their expertise to address urgent community needs, and fund Asian Minnesotan organizations who are helping our most vulnerable community members. We’ve hosted eight virtual events, established the Asian Minnesotans Against Racism & Xenophobia Collaborative, hosted regular information sessions with Asian Minnesotan organizations, held numerous conversations, and advocated for communities with local, state and federal offices.
As this pandemic continues to dramatically impact people’s lives, these actions remain critical, because they enable communities to speak truthfully about how they are being impacted, lift up how communities are stepping up, and name where inequities and gaps are. But doing these things alone won’t lead to more power sharing, equitable resource distribution, or increased and sustained participation in our democracy from those who are most marginalized; so, we are embarking on a parallel process to reimagine the future. It is one of the most important things we can do with impacted communities if we are serious about transformative change.
I know we are not alone in using processes – e.g. scenario planning, theory of social change, future mapping, human-centered design – to look again at the near and far future, even as we are responding. What I hope happens is that we all do so by centering the most impacted communities – letting those most impacted be our greatest teachers in reimagining the future. By doing so, those who are privileged to lead organizations/groups, and those who hold positions of power and authority, will help ensure that the future we are creating addresses shared power and equitable resource distribution.
It is through the reimagining process that we make room for the community’s hopes, dreams and assets – that’s something we must never give up on.
Onwards in solidarity,
Bo Thao-Urabe
Executive & Network Director
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT!
HELP US REACH OUR $10,000 GOAL.
The community needs us, but we need you. Your past generosity enabled us to champion the community, created #MinneAsianStories, started the Spark Leadership Fund and so much more. Your generosity lets us put community first. This month, your donation will go even further because we have a $10,000 match fund. Act now to support CAAL’s powerful work for Asian Minnesotans.
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HOW COVID-19 IS IMPACTING ASIAN MINNESOTANS
The Minnesota State Legislature passed legislation this week to address COVID-19 emergency relief grants and loans. The 2020 legislative session will end at midnight tonight. A special session is scheduled for June 12.
Billions of stimulus dollars have come and gone, but small and micro businesses are still struggling to access support. On May 11, we wrote to DEED to ask for a more comprehensive support system for micro and small businesses, especially those owned by underrepresented communities in the Asian, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities. These businesses are the economic engines in many communities, so let’s do more to support them.
Below are a few stories from entrepreneurs about the impact of COVID-19 on their livelihood. Please share the following videos with policymakers and lending institutions as they make decisions that will impact all of us.
SDK – Soe Doh, owner of SDK, an auto mechanic and transport business. His business provides employment to many Karen people.
Rain Nail Studio – Raingsey Sin, owner of Rain Nail Studio, Rochester, Minnesota
If you’re a micro or small business, please help us understand your experience by completing our Asian Minnesotan Small/Micro Business COVID-19 Survey. We do ask for demographic and contact information because we want to understand our diverse community, and want to keep you updated about relevant information and resources.
WITNESS OR EXPERIENCE DISCRIMINATION? REPORT IT.
If you have experienced or witnessed discrimination, please complete this online form to report it, or call 651-539-1133 | 1-800-657-3704 | 1-833-454-0418. Language interpretation services are available by phone.
Minnesotans are Experiencing Bias at Grocery Stores and in Parking Lots
We are also hearing about Minnesotans who are positively intervening when they see others being treated unfairly. This story demonstrates both:
My father was confronted in front of a grocery store in Maplewood by another customer who told my father to return to China. When my father explained that he wasn’t Chinese, the man grabbed my father’s jacket collar. Luckily a security guard intervened and told the other man to stop harassing my father. Children Experience Discrimination and Bias Before distance learning, students experienced bias at school: My children’s friend was bullied at school because the other student thought they were Chinese. Minnesotans Calling on Behalf of Their Parents
When we receive reports of bias incidents, it’s often on behalf of parents:
My mother was in a parking lot when a woman approached my mom, called her a “Chinawoman” and gave her the finger.My parents were at a bank in Brooklyn Park today. A person in the drive thru line cut them off. The person called my dad “Chinese” and said, “You’re the reason the virus is here.” They then spit towards my dad.These stories represent the pain and backlash that communities, particularly the Asian Minnesotans, are facing during COVID-19. They also represent hope and the opportunity to work towards building a state where people can live with dignity and joy.
If you are interested in our anti-racism and anti-xenophobia work, please contact, Kara Carmosino at Kara@caalmn.org.
COMING UP NEXT…
Please join our Education Work Group meeting on Wednesday, May 20 (4:30pm – 6:00pm) where we will be joined by Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker to discuss Minnesota’s plan for distance learning for the rest of the semester, summer, and fall. Please register by using this link ASAP.
Join the next Economics Work Group meeting on Thursday, May 28 (4:00pm – 5:30pm). We’ve invited Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Steve Grove to join us.
For more information about our Economics or Education work, contact KaYing Yang at KaYing@caalmn.org.
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 and combating racism and hate. Specifically, all your 2020 donations will support leaders through our Spark Leadership Fund, be used to support Asian Minnesotan organizations through the Stronger Together Fund, as well as used to support collaborative work to combat racism and hate.