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Grantee Stories

Migizi Communications

MIGIZI Communications, Inc. has been serving the American Indian community in Minneapolis for thirty-five years, promoting the well-being and success of Native Americans through its focus on media, education equity and youth development. The organization was founded to train Indian journalists to counter the misrepresentations, and inaccuracies about Native People promulgated in the major media through First People Radio, the first nationally distributed Indian radio news program in the country. The next iteration of MIGIZI’s work was to put the tools of communication in the hands of Indian youth to improve their academic performance and self-esteem. Today, MIGIZI carries out its mission through four major program areas: Native Academy which provides academic support and postsecondary preparation to Indian middle school and high school students; First Person Productions that trains Indian youth in new media production skills giving them an opportunity to share their stories and those of the Native community with a global audience; Native Youth Futures that provides youth with entrepreneurial training so that they can contribute to the growth of a vibrant Indian small business sector; and Education Equity work to inform decision making and change the educational policies and practices that have condemned generations of Indian people to poverty and diminished life chances.
MIGIZI Communications, Inc. has been serving the American Indian community in Minneapolis for thirty-five years, promoting the well-being and success of Native Americans through its focus on media, education equity and youth development.

Centro Campesino

Ernesto Vélez notes how coming to Centro Campesino has opened his eyes to the stories of other Latino immigrants. Immigrant workers experience exploitation, and intimidation at an alarmingly frequent rate. Centro Campesino works to give these workers the education and confidence needed to fight for equal working conditions.

Occupy Homes MN

Occupy Homes MN photo
Even as Nick Espinosa found himself gravitating towards the Occupy movements galvanizing the nation, he never thought it would get so personal. Just a few months after the reorganization of the movement into smaller cohorts, including the establishment of Occupy Homes, Nick found himself defending not just others’ homes, but his own as well.

Hmong American Farmers Association

The Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) is committed to Hmong Americans and their families who derive a livelihood from the agricultural industry. The organization is focused on creating an infrastructure of justice that will advance wealth creation and political empowerment for Hmong American farmers and their families.

Anishinaabe O'de

Anishinaabe O'de is a grassroots organizations rooted in the traditions, spirituality, language and value of the annishinaabeg (indigenous peoples). Its focus is on organizing the annishinaabeg community to connect youth to their traditional culture and language serving as a foundation for their well being.

Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Immesion School

Waadookodaading, The Place Where We Help Each Other, is part of a world-wide movement of indigenous communities whose shared experience includes the loss of traditional homelands, degradation of tribal systems of governance and social organizations, as well as displacement of cohesive family-centered communities. Waadookodaading utilizes the gift of the Ojibwe language as a mean through which students and the community can achieve the ultimate goal of national survival through realization of personal, family, educational and tribal sovereignty

OutFront Minnesota

OutFront Minnesota (OutFront) was founded in 1987, and, since that time, has been a catalyst for an expansive network of leaders throughout the state who speak out for equality and organize for change. OutFront's missions to is make Minnesota a place where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Minnesotans have the freedom, power and confidence to make the best decisions for their own lives

Community Action Against Racism

Community Action Against Racism (CAAR) is a grassroots, community-led organization comprised of Hmong American and Pan-Asian community members as well as white allies who are committed to dismantling racism, particularly in broadcast media.

Communities United Against Police Brutality

Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB) was founded in December 2000 to deal with police brutality on an ongoing basis. Prior to the formation of CUAPB, the community engaged in ad hoc organizing that was reactive and only addressed the most egregious incidents of police brutality. CUAPB filled the need for a stable, sustainable organization to systemically take on police brutality, misconduct and abuse of authority and to empower survivors and family members to become part of the solution.

Neighborhoods Organizing for Change

Neighborhoods Organizing for Change is a member-led nonprofit that builds power in low and moderate-income neighborhoods through community organizing. Working togther, NOC members identify the systems and issues that most impact their lives and fight for a more just, inclusive and equitable society.