December 21, 2020 to December 25, 2020
There is not a person who has been left untouched by crises this year. I’ve been impacted in profound ways personally and professionally, but through it all, I’ve been grateful to have you, the CAAL community.
We boldly stepped into 2020 with excitement and a full schedule of activities designed to serve the community. Then, in February, we started getting calls from community members about anti-Asian violence. Quickly we organized locally and nationally to understand the scale because, throughout history, public health pandemics have scapegoated our ancestors. We didn’t stand by to see what would happen; instead, we helped create a statewide discrimination helpline and formed the Asian Minnesotan Alliance for Justice to situate our work in this anti-racism movement moment.
Like most organizations, we also transitioned to virtual work. We paused to assess the situation, but continued our planned economic research, policy advocacy, leadership building, education organizing, immigration services, and community-building work in addition to responding to the moment. We mobilized and leveraged our relationships and broad network to bring people together to understand what was happening, and prioritize communities made most vulnerable to lift those voices and solutions. You can find many of these truths on our YouTube channel. We also wrapped up our State of Asian Minnesotans virtual series.
We brought you more narratives about who Asian Minnesotans are through our #MinneAsianStories, showcasing 31 storytellers, six artists, and an accompanying book that reached 91,000 people. Throughout the year, we produced short videos sharing how COVID and the uprisings against racism impacted the community. We also finished three important reports – Power, Politics, and Preservation of Heritage Languages, Stronger Together: An Assessment of Asian Minnesota Nonprofits During COVID-19, and Redefining Wealth Through Communal and Cultural Assets.
Through our Spark Leadership Fund, we provided over $50,000 in financial support to Black, Indigenous, Asian and Latinx leaders who stepped up to use their expertise to address urgent community needs at this time. We also provided more than $200,000 to support Asian nonprofits through our Stronger Together Fund because we know that ensuring cultural and in-language support is available to our diverse communities is critical at this time. We served communities in the Twin Cities, Rochester, St. Cloud, and Marshall and surrounding areas.
We mobilized youth leaders to ensure our communities could fully participate in democracy; together, we reach nearly 30,000 Asian American voters. We also trained, guided, and supported leaders from across generations and sectors through our MOVEE and BOBA Youth Leadership Programs. All this, and it still does not capture everything we’ve been able to do together because of our CAAL community.
What I know to be true is that we’ve worked harder and with more conviction than ever before because we believe in the potential of our people, our state, and our country.
In a year unlike anything we’ve experienced in recent history, we’ve been unable to raise funds from individuals as we’ve done in years past, but as a nonprofit, we still need your support. So, I am turning to you and asking you to consider a year-end gift to CAAL’s #PaperCraneWish Campaign to help us reach our $20,000 goal. We still need to raise $8,500 more to achieve this goal. As you head out for the holidays, please consider supporting us so that we continue to put community first.
Happy Holidays from all of us at CAAL!
With gratitude,
Bo Thao-Urabe
Executive & Network Director
CAAL ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
Research Briefing: Redefining Wealth Through Communal and Cultural Assets
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 from 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM CST
We are pleased to invite you to join us for the official launch and briefing on the findings of our recently published economic research report on Asian Minnesotans and wealth building entitled, “Redefining Wealth Through Communal and Cultural Assets.” This first research of its kind was conducted with communities from 10 different Asian ethnic groups and offers a deeper look at practices and values that drive wealth building in this population. At this event, we will go in-depth about the research findings. You’ll then hear from leaders working on wealth building from various angles who will react to and share how they imagine using the research findings.
In this critical time, when everyone is contemplating how we will build back more inclusively and better, we must explore future prosperity models grounded in cultural intelligence and values to combat poverty and build wealth. Whether you are moving solutions in the banking, housing, workforce, small business, or in the general community development field, the report findings can help you innovate and align efforts with the community’s values and definitions of wealth.
Please register in advance for the event here.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES & EVENTS
Important Updates on Unemployment Benefits
Here’s what students should know about the recent court ruling on unemployment benefits for those who lost their jobs due to COVID-19:
1. Students who lost their job due to COVID 19 WILL receive unemployment insurance if they can document their job experience.
2. Students MUST apply by December 25, 2020.
3. Students will find clear, specific instructions about how to apply here.
Together Apart: Gathering in the Time of COVID
Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at 6:30 PM CST
The pandemic hasn’t been easy on any of us, especially when human connection is an intrinsic cultural and community value for Southeast Asian and other immigrant communities. Many are finding it harder to safely be together while apart, virtually and socially distant; without sacrificing a sense of community and belonging. Join the SEAD Project for an engaging and informative roundtable discussion on how to gather safely with a frontline doctor, a public health specialist, a faith leader, and a psychologist.
Register here: bit.ly/togetherapartpanel
By Us, For Us: API Healing Series #3 – Healing Thru Laughter w/ FAWK’s Naomi Ko
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM CST
*In an effort to create a safer space, this series will be for Asian Americans only.
Pan Asian Voices for Equity-Minnesota (PAVE-MN) is proud to be hosting the third in our BY US, FOR US: Asian American Healing Series – Healing Thru Laughter with FAWK’s Naomi Ko. This will be a time for us to come together as a community to laugh, decompress, and celebrate joy. Register today!
Big Emotions Beyond the Surface: Playwriting for Beginners
Instructor: Katie Ka Vang
Cost: Sliding scale ($15 – $200)
Dates: Saturdays, January 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2021 from 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM CST
Do you have an idea for a play, a solo show, or a half started play you’d like to work on? This will be a virtual Playwriting course. This course is designed to help new writers put an idea onto the page in a safe environment and ask questions. This course will help writers discover themselves, through characters, mechanics, and possibilities of a world they want to see. Through writing exercises, facilitated group discussions, reading and listening, this class will help you craft a play. Register today!
***** This is a pay what you can course. Participants are required to attend all sessions. A $50 deposit will be required and refunded at the completion of the course.
Job Opportunity: Grants and Operations Manager
The AAPI Civic Engagement Fund has created a new position – Grants and Operations Manager – to administer their grants processes and day-to-day functions.
The Grants and Operations Manager will create and execute policies and procedures to process grants and contracts. They will facilitate the design, development, and implementation of grant-tracking technologies and vendor management systems while supporting the capacity development needs of their grantee cohort. They are looking for someone who is experienced in creating organizational systems and processes and driven to support and strengthen AAPI communities. See the full job description here.