| Greetings from ServeMinnesota. As we begin a new month, I am thinking a lot about the idea of “going back to normal” and how much we’d love to get kids back to school, get ourselves back to offices, get back to business as usual – and how all of that is still such a challenge. The truth is, though, we are forever changed from the COVID-19 pandemic and the uprising in Minneapolis last month, both of which have exposed embedded systemic racism in new ways, and we have no interest in actually going back to that “normal” ever again. As you know, ServeMinnesota remains a catalyst for social change, but we are assuring we do so with the lens of social change combined with racial justice and equality. We are working to help our communities rebuild in partnership with the organizations at the frontlines of these issues in the Metro area. As a result, we have been able to secure funding for an additional 50 AmeriCorps members to help in emergency rebuilding efforts starting on July 27 and serving through early December 2020. They will provide service in areas with amplified needs, including increased food insecurity and homelessness. Participating organizations include CLUES, African Economic Development Solutions, Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association, Latino Economic Development Center, Twin Cities Recovery Project, African Development Center and others where members will assist with resource navigation, communication projects and so much more. If you or someone you know would like to apply, the application is here and open through Friday, July 10. Thank you to all who have contributed to our work in the past several months. Your donations and spreading the word about our initiatives help us make needed social change in our community and state. |
Sincerely,
Audrey Suker, CEO of ServeMinnesota
