Bright Spots Worth Celebrating

CAPI USA is using their food shelf and produce distribution events to promote the 2020 census and to encourage voter education, registration, and mobilization.

COPAL is hosting 24 “COPAL en la Comunidad” events across Minnesota in the lead up to the 2020 election to engage Latinx voters and provide Covid, census, and election resources.

To support local immigrant businesses in a time of tremendous need, AEDS is bringing Little Africa Fest to your living room with a four-day online celebration of food, music, and art.

Alumni of the Seeds and Schools project in the central highlands of Peru purchased radios for students who didn’t have the technology to access classes from home.

As a token of appreciation, Neighborhood Development Center and Midtown Global Market organized Meals for Medics, providing 50+ meals per day for frontline workers at Abbott Hospital.

MEDA is helping BIPOC-owned businesses survive and thrive during COVID-19 by providing business consulting, access to capital, and step-by-step guides to navigating the pandemic.

Springboard expanded its Personal Emergency Relief Fund through which eligible applicants can receive up to $500 to compensate for cancelled work. Apps are available in English, Somali, and Hmong.

The Minnesota Council on Foundations and Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation created the Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund for coronavirus. To date 50 philanthropic entities contributed $11M.

The Center for Energy and Environment now provides virtual Home Energy Squad visits to help customers find their biggest energy savings. The visit is conducted online and costs nothing.

The Wilder Foundation’s Healthy Aging team is delivering meals, making wellness calls, and providing much-needed human connection for more than 500 older adults and caregivers.

Feng Zhang, Ph.D., a McKnight Neuroscience Tech Awardee, and his team developed a one-hour, at-home Covid-19 test prototype with the goal of early detection and containment.

Are you a budding screenwriter or film producer? My Film North has moved their spring classes online and is offering its lowest rates ever!

The Loft Literary Center has gone virtual with #WordPlay, an online book festival. Join more than 100 authors, poets, and songwriters for readings and discussion.

Virtually explore the Minnesota Museum of American Art, engage with the artwork as a family, and explore resources related to the art and artists on view!

The Playwrights’ Center has taken action to create income streams for unemployed theater artists and provide connection during Covid-19 with a virtual spring 2020 Season.

The Minnesota Orchestra is hosting at home performances where you’ll experience orchestra musicians practicing, performing and continuing to share music directly from their homes.

Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN) is holding online hangouts to help us stay connected. Follow them for the latest events and let them know what two-wheels topics you’d like to talk about.

TU Dance is offering open online dance classes with their teaching artists through June 12. Check out their schedule, take a class, and support their efforts if you’re able.

The American Indian Community Housing Organization quickly launched an online store to ensure indigenous artists & entrepreneurs could continue to sell their products.

CLUES recognizes that negative feelings can accompany isolation, so their mental health professionals have created videos in Spanish and English to help reduce anxiety.

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Minnesota and Fresh Energy are asking MN utilities to keep customers turned on and sharing which utilities are suspending disconnections.

Coffee House Press launched the Coffee House Writers Project to commission original, short works from artists who have lost income due to COVID-19.  

The Coalition of Asian American Leaders is standing against anti-Asian discrimination and violence and uplifting the rich and diverse stories of the Asian Minnesotan community.