Our Recent Impacts on Community

This year, CAAL started out strong with our 5th Annual Asian Minnesotans Day at the Capitol where we drew over 300 attendees to advocate for issues that impact our communities. We continued to hold space for healing in our community as we held a Remembrance for the victims of the Atlanta Shooting. Significantly, we are so close to passing HF4488/SF4245 bill, which would invest in Asian Minnesotans to rebuild strong and resilient communities. The legislation would grant resources to the Coalition of Asian American Leaders to conduct research on the ongoing economic effects of the pandemic, and to provide grants, outreach and technical assistance to Asian MN community leaders, nonprofits and small businesses to strengthen our workforce and build financial wealth.  

In 2017, CAAL, along with other nonprofit leaders in Minnesota, advocated for and was able to pass the Nonprofit Assistance Fund (HF2167/SF2000). This Fund provided 32 grants totaling $1.5 million to nonprofits serving BIPOC communities throughout Minnesota. Read more about the accomplishments of this Fund here.

In 2019, CAAL worked in partnership with the Tiwahe Foundation, the African American Leadership Forum (AALF) and LatinoLEAD  to form the LinkingLeaders Partnership. The purpose of this partnership is to help East Metro institutions and the broader community advance racial equity, and deepen connections and actions across cultural communities. 

In 2021-2022, we established CAAL’s Asian Parents for Education Equity (CAPEE) to strengthen and mobilize parents to powerfully advocate collectively.

In April 2021, Osseo Area Schools adopted a Resolution to Condemn Anti-Asian Hate because of our work in mobilizing students and parents to testify in front of the school board and our relationships with key decision makers, the Superintendent and School Board Members. 

CAAL released a report, the same month Osseo Area Schools adopting the Resolution to Condemn Anti-Asian Hate, with Hmong Public Health Association on disproportionate COVID-19 mortality rates. This report can be used to inform direct service providers and policy makers on how to best serve Asian American communities impacted by COVID-19 across the state. Read the report here.

During the 2022 Legislative Session, youth from our Becoming Organizers, Becoming Advocates (BOBA) is CAAL’s youth leadership and organizing program testified for the inclusion of Ethnic Studies in their schools.