September 28, 2020 to October 2, 2020

Asian Americans are one of the fastest growing racial groups in Minnesota. At nearly 300,000 strong, Asian American voters like you have the power to make a difference in this election. It’s up to us, this November, to be voters and make our voices heard.   Early voting in Minnesota has already started. By voting early, you can avoid the hassle of waiting in line on election day. Thousands of Asian American voters like you will be voting early this election. You can too! Here’s how:Vote Early by mailVoting by mail is a safe and secure alternative to voting in person without putting yourself or anyone else at risk of COVID-19. Just follow these three simple steps:

• Step 1: Apply! Request your mail-in ballot by visiting: bit.ly/CAALBallotRequest and fill out the form.
• Step 2: Vote! Once your application is accepted, your ballot will be mailed to you to vote from home. When you get your ballot, follow the instructions with your ballot to fill it out and sign it. 
• Step 3: Send! Mail your completed ballot back as soon as possible. Ballots must be mailed back before or on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020. You can track the status of your ballot at mnvotes.org. Alternatively, you can also drop off your ballot at your local county elections office.

Vote Early in-person

You can vote early in-person from now until election day by going to your local county elections office and casting your ballot there. Find your local elections office here: https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/other-ways-to-vote/vote-early-in-person/

Remember, our vote is our power. This will be one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime. Asian American voters like us will make the difference. Be a voter with us. Organize your friends and family to be voters with us. Vote early now and make your voice heard!

Best,
Nick Kor
Movement Building, Senior Manager  

CAAL ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Volunteer to Text Voters with CAAL!

Do you want to make a difference this election season? Join CAAL for one or more shifts on October 3, 4, 6, 7, 18 or 19 to text Asian voters across Minnesota. It’s up to us to make sure our communities have the information they need to fully and safely participate in the election this November 3rd. No previous experience is needed! We’ll include a short training at the start of your shift. All you need is a computer or tablet and an internet connection. Sign up for a shift at the link above or contact Kara at kara@caalmn.org with any questions!

Youth Fellowship Opportunity

CAAL is seeking passionate and hardworking young people (ages 15-24) to support civic engagement efforts for the 2020 elections. Join us in ensuring that Asian Minnesotan communities have access to safe voting during COVID-19. Fellows will work in a team to ensure Asian Minnesotan communities are Ballot-Ready and can safely vote by mail. Fellows will help lead and support community outreach efforts.

Duration: September 2020 to November 2020, 8-10 hrs/week (50 hrs total)
Compensation: Stipend of $750.00
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota (Remote & Limited In-Person)

To apply & learn more: https://caalmn.org/civic-engagement-youth-fellow/ 

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS

Time is Running Out: Plan Your Census Outreach

Join Census Bureau partners nationwide in reminding your network that time is running out to respond to the 2020 Census! Learn more about creative ways you can reach out to your network here, or if you haven’t responded to your census yet, you can learn more about where to be counted here.

NAAAP WIN! MN, Championing Women, presented by U.S. Bank
Tuesday, September 29, 2020 (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM) 

Join NAAAP – MN as they discuss challenges of what women of color in the workplace may encounter. These discussions provide value and unite people on the grounds of both their similarities and differences. While these discussions are still pertinent, let’s are making an effort to move forward and implement measurable actions to achieve the milestones of the greater BIPOC community. Champion women of all backgrounds, together. 

SEAD is Hiring!
Deadline: Wednesday, September 30, 2020

SEAD is growing its team! They are looking to hire a Safety & Healing Justice Cultural Organizer and a Political Education & Language Justice Cultural Organizer. SEAD is gearing up for a critical 2020 and are looking for two dedicated and passionate cultural organizers to engage and produce impact in two issue areas: safety & healing justice and political education & language justice. Cultural organizers should be seasoned in the issue areas, are deeply justice-oriented, grasp Southeast Asian cultural identities, and understand the power and role of art, advocacy, and cultural assets in strategy and narrative to move collective consensus and action.

Asian American Organizing Project presents: “We Are Not Fighting Alone” Zine

Asian American Organizing Project (AAOP) recently released a Zine based on pandemic experiences of community storytellers, such as family, school, discrimination, sexism, grief, and health. Read the stories here. 

Minnesota Immigrant Family Fund – Round 2

After successfully awarding $283,926 to 474 immigrant families during our first round of mutual aid, the MN Immigrant Family COVID-19 Fund announces the launch of our second round of online intake forms which will start on Sunday, September 27, 2020, at 10:00 AM CST. 

Intake forms in English, Khmer, Lao, Spanish, Somali, Swahili, and Vietnamese can be found at this link.

2020 Small Business Credit Survey
Survey Closes Friday, October 31, 2020

Minnesota Hmong Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Federal Reserve on the 2020 Small Business Credit Survey. This survey reaches thousands of small businesses and provides vital information to policymakers who are weighing decisions that affect small businesses. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and is open to businesses currently in operation, those recently closed and those about to launch. The questions ask about business conditions, financing needs, and the effects of the pandemic on your business. All responses are confidential. The survey highlights the experiences of small businesses and provides critical information that service providers, policymakers, and lenders use to improve programs for small business owners. 

Report Discrimination and Bias

If you experience or witness discrimination, please report it to Minnesota’s Discrimination Helpline at 1-833-454-0148 or submit this online form. The helpline is staffed by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Translation/interpretation services are available.