August 10, 2020 – August 14, 2020

Earlier this month, the Voting Right Act turned 55, in the midst of Black August and nationwide conversations around the legacy of Rep. John Lewis. The right to vote and realities of continued voter suppression are at the top of my mind, as our elected officials are debating how to respond to the multi-faceted crises families are facing due to COVID-19 and the structural racism and legacies of injustice that the uprisings around the country continue to expose. Having a say in our representation is one critical part of building the world we want to see instead.

At CAAL, we know that elections are just one way that change happens, as part of a broader diversity of tactics within social justice movements. Yet the people we elect make decisions that help or hurt our families and communities, and elections shape the terrain in which we organize. Here in Minnesota, our state primary is this Tuesday, August 11! Will you join all of us at CAAL in making sure your voice is heard?

• If you have a mail-in ballot, ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day to be counted. You can also return your ballot in person no later than 3 p.m. on Election Day to the election office that sent your ballot.
• If you’ve already voted, check the status of your ballot here to make sure it’s been counted.
• If you plan to vote in person on Election Day, look up your polling place here! You can also register to vote at your polling place if you are not yet registered.

If you can’t vote, you can still talk to loved ones about how they’re voting, and why it’s important that they do! Let’s make our voices heard together.

Best,
Kara Carmosino
Social Justice Leadership Senior Manager

Ramsey & Hennepin County Small Business Relief Funds

Ramsey County’s application ends August 18, 2020
Hennepin County’s application ends August 12, 2020 
 

Education Work Group
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 (4:00 PM – 5:30 PM)

Please register here in order to receive the meeting information.

Economics Work Group
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 (4:00 PM to 5:30 PM)

Please register here in order to receive the meeting information.

State of Asian Minnesotans: Visibility and Survival in the Age of Covid-19
Thursday, August 27, 2020 (3:00 PM – 4:30 PM)

In this session, community leaders and experts will come together to discuss the barriers that shape healthcare disparities for Asian Minnesotans, including the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19, and how communities are responding. Hear from health policy and public health experts and community voices on addressing the health, well-being and survival of our communities in this moment of COVID-19. To receive the Zoom link, please register here.

Cultural Wellness Directory Inquiry Form

The African American Leadership Forum’s (AALF) 2020 Collective Impact Workstreams have partnered with the Cultural Wellness Center and Relationships LLC to create the directory, called the Cultural Health & Wellness Directory, which serves as a digital repository of providers, including BIPOC community cultural healers and licensed mental/behavioral health providers to support the health & well-being of communities of color. We need you help to populate this directory with BIPOC healers working to make a difference in our community. If you’re a BIPOC healer, complete the form and share it among your networks. Complete the Inquiry Form here.

Report Discrimination and Bias

If you experience or witness discrimination based on race, where you come from, your immigration status, or anything else, call Minnesota’s Discrimination Helpline at 1-833-454-0148 or submit this online form. The helpline is staffed by investigators from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Translation/interpretation services are available.