The vaccine situation in Minnesota is changing fast. But questions remain. Can kids get vaccines? Is the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine safe and available? What about walk-in appointments? We have answers!
Posted inArts
Said Shaiye says immigrant artists are expected to ‘perform trauma.’ He refuses to do that in his debut book, ‘Are You Borg Now?’
In an interview with his younger self, Said Shaiye, a Somali-American writer in Minneapolis, writes around his past by changing subjects and blending genres.
Posted inEducation
A landmark Minneapolis charter school may close forever in June. Its leadership debated the school’s fate in a meeting without Somali parents, community politicians, or the press.
Instead of an open meeting, Cedar Riverside Community School and Pillsbury United Communities held a closed “informal hearing” this week. Somali parents have expressed confusion about whether the school will close and where their children will go in the fall.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Visitors to Minnesota state parks are overwhelmingly white. A task force recommends a new office to make parks more inviting to diverse users.
Outdoor recreation is a huge business in Minnesota. It could be much bigger if people of color saw more campers and hikers who looked like them.
Posted inEducation
Students in Elk River asked the school’s equity specialist to explain looting. Now their parents want him fired.
Teaching about race and policing in a suburban Minnesota school district leads to hateful language on Facebook. A petition backing the educator from an 11-year-old has garnered 15,000 supporters.
Posted inCall-out
Are you a Muslim in Minnesota who’s facing difficulties buying a home? We want to hear about it!
The runaway housing market this year means fewer real estate listings, bidding wars, and pressures to arrange loans and financing. We’ve created a survey to learn more about no-interest loans and your challenges as a Muslim homebuyer.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Interim U.S. attorney for Minnesota explains the scope of the civil rights investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department.
How long will the investigation last? Will it involve police practices in other cities? Anders Folk tells Sahan Journal what to expect from the Department of Justice’s “pattern or practice” investigation.
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The State of Black Entrepreneurship
In recognition of National Small Business Week, a conversation with Tosh Ernest, head of Wealth, Advancing Black Pathways at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
No one has more power to change the Minneapolis Police Department than Mayor Jacob Frey. We asked him what he’s accomplished.
In an interview with Sahan Journal, the mayor pointed to changes he’s made, and what he plans to do next.
Posted inCOMMUNITY VOICES
Hanif: Minnesota has serious health inequities for people of color. Two bills now before the legislature could help fix that.
The state offers great health care, if you’re white. But women of color are at much higher risk during pregnancy or giving birth.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Ilhan Omar and immigrant groups call for more green jobs in Minneapolis
Diverse communities want to be part of building a more resilient and environmentally friendly nation. They rallied for opportunities and a just transition to a green economy.
Posted inImmigration
President Biden’s flip-flop on refugees creates confusion for Minnesota families. We asked an immigration expert what happened to Biden’s campaign promises—and what’s next.
Veena Iyer, executive director of the Immigrant Law Center, reviews the current refugee cap and the numbers for next year—and why those numbers matter to so many people in Minnesota.
Posted inNews
A Somali ride-share driver was shot and killed while on the job in Minneapolis late one night. His widow, soon to give birth to their sixth child, has no answers about what happened.
Those who knew Ahmed Badal said he was always working in order to provide for his family. His death is under investigation, but the family says police have told them very little so far.
Posted inNews
Somali American investigator from the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office alleges Fairview discriminated against him during document handoff.
Routine paperwork exchange allegedly leads to confrontation with security guard. “It doesn’t matter what your job title is,” state investigator Kayseh Magan says. “If you’re Black in America, you’re going to face discrimination.”
Posted inHEALTH
Asian health leaders in Minnesota fill information gap about COVID-19 death rates.
Minnesota Department of Health declined to break down COVID-19 deaths by ethnicity. Hmong health experts and University of Minnesota researchers stepped in to create their own report.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
In efforts to rebuild south Minneapolis from unrest following the George Floyd murder, a push for more community control.
More than 130 businesses were damaged or destroyed, and some fear that outside investors will determine what kinds of businesses move in as the area rebuilds. The community wants to determine its own fate.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
After guilty verdict in George Floyd’s murder, families of Isak Aden and Dolal Idd ask, ‘What about us?’
The Derek Chauvin guilty verdict showed a pair of Somali families that accountability is possible for Minnesota police who kill Black men. They want the same for their lost sons.
Posted inHate Crimes
Minnesota mosque vandalized with racist, Islamophobic graffiti during Ramadan
An imam at the Moorhead–Fargo Islamic Community Center discovered hate speech when he arrived for morning prayers on April 25.
Posted inThe killing of George Floyd
PHOTO: From ‘I can’t breathe’ to ‘guilty,’ a look back on the past 11 months through the lens of Sahan Journal.
It’s been 330 days since George Floyd died under the knee of Derek Chauvin. On Tuesday, a jury convicted Chauvin on all three charges. We’re taking a moment to reflect on what has transpired over the 11 months leading up to this moment. Here, Sahan Journal photographers Ben Hovland and Jaida Grey Eagle share some of their images from the past year.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
In anxious times, Twin Cities residents say the whir of helicopters and the buzz of drones make matters worse.
“You can’t relax,” says one resident. “You don’t know what is going on…so what are we supposed to expect?”
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Minneapolis will soon have the opportunity–or competing opportunities–to vote on the future of the Minneapolis Police Department. We made this cheat sheet to help.
What is the Charter Commission? What happened to the “Defund Police” movement? What does the City Council plan to do next? Here’s what you need to know to make your voice heard.
Posted inFaith
Ramadan is a month devoted to prayer, charity, and reflection. This year, Muslims in Minnesota have found another way to practice—protesting.
From breaking fasts at protests to donating to food drives, Muslim community leaders and activists strive for justice during the holy Islamic month.
Posted inThe killing of George Floyd
‘Black lady, I see you! Black boy, I see you! Black man, I see you!’: Community celebrates Derek Chauvin verdict with screams of relief–and joy.
Shortly after 4 p.m. on April 20, the Chauvin trial verdict was announced outside the Hennepin County Government Center. Sahan Journal videographer Dymanh Chhoun spoke with the crowd downtown and captured people’s reactions as word spread that the jury had found Chauvin guilty on all charges.
Posted inThe killing of George Floyd
After an anguished wait, Chauvin verdict brings a flood of emotions, pledges to do better—and food.
Crowds celebrated outside the Hennepin County courthouse and in George Floyd Square. Politicians praised the verdict and repeated their commitment to racial justice.
Posted inThe killing of George Floyd
‘An important step forward for justice’: Reactions to Chauvin’s guilty verdict
“I was just praying they would find him guilty,” George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, told reporters after exiting the courtroom.
Posted inThe killing of George Floyd
For George Floyd, justice. For Minneapolis, a long-delayed reckoning with racism and police violence
In 9 minutes, 29 seconds, Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. It changed Minnesota forever.
Posted inHEALTH
Anticipating possible unrest, pharmacies and clinics make contingency plans while awaiting Chauvin verdict.
Several clinics and pharmacies were damaged and closed last summer in the days following George Floyd’s killing. The stakes are even higher now because many are giving COVID-19 vaccines.
Posted inCriminal Justice
U.S. Attorney General announces investigation into Minneapolis Police Department for potential discriminatory conduct.
The Justice Department probe will look for systemic violations of constitutional rights. Other cities with “pattern or practice” investigations have seen dramatic drops in police use of force.
Posted inEducation
Mass protests against racism spur statewide student walkout
Youth cite Daunte Wright killing, the Derek Chauvin trial, and racial injustice in their own schools.
Posted inUncategorized
‘We want it to be the right verdict. But this is America’: South Minneapolis Reacts Ahead of Chauvin Trial Verdict
On Saturday, April 17, Sahan Journal spoke with south Minneapolis residents to find out how they are feeling ahead of the Chauvin trial verdict.
Posted inHEALTH
Destroyed by fire and looted, a dental clinic reopens to care for underserved patients in south Minneapolis.
First, Chicago Lake Family Dental closed for the pandemic. Then, the building burned during civil unrest. A year later, Dr. Ali Barbarawi is opening his rebuilt clinic for patients.
Posted inThe killing of George Floyd
Inside the jury room at the Chauvin trial: Evidence, confusing legal terminology, and a lot of latitude to interpret it.
Even lawyers who have tried a lot of cases say they don’t know what exactly goes on when a jury starts to deliberate—or how long it will take to reach a verdict.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Urban farm or public works facility? One of Minnesota’s most diverse and polluted neighborhoods is fighting against the city for a greener future.
A dream for an environmentally friendly community hub in East Phillips seemed dead. Now activists have a renewed sense of hope.
Posted inEducation
Asian American history is rarely taught in schools. Educators say that fuels anti-Asian violence—and are pushing for change.
Scholars say it isn’t just the Georgia attack that killed six Asian women in March. There is a long history across the country, with real-world consequences.
Posted inCOMMUNITY VOICES
Gardner and Chudgar: Justice requires that Minnesota attorney general prosecute officer who killed Daunte Wright
Metro area county attorneys’ agreement not to prosecute their own police violence cases reflects a systemic failure of the state’s criminal justice system.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
VIDEO: ‘They’re choosing to shoot now’: Demonstrators at the Brooklyn Center Police Station say public safety means ‘safety from them.’
Nightly protests have followed the killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright. Police have used flash bangs, tear gas, and aggressive measures to clear the crowds.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
VIDEO: ‘We’re bystanders. Why are they taking it out on us?’ Immigrant business owners on Lake Street share fears about looting in Minneapolis.
Almost a year after the George Floyd unrest, the police killing of Daunte Wright brought looting back to Lake Street.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Who is Mike Elliott, the Brooklyn Center mayor leading the city after the shooting of Daunte Wright?
The 37-year-old leader of Brooklyn Center immigrated from Liberia as a child, and became the Twin Cities suburb’s first Black mayor.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
‘I’m scared because of that booming’: A preschooler and her family watch protests, police in Brooklyn Center.
Tenean Manier has fled Brooklyn Center after protests and police violence erupted outside her window, terrifying her 2 young children.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Many protesters have become familiar with the short-term pain of exposure to tear gas. For some, it might turn out to be a long-term problem, too.
Scientists haven’t really studied the effects of repeated exposure to chemical irritants. In an era of protests, that’s starting to change.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter arrested on 2nd-degree manslaughter charge in killing of Daunte Wright
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension took Potter into custody Wednesday morning, a day after she resigned from the police department.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Tear gas at bedtime: Brooklyn Center residents, including kids, suffer from aggressive police tactics to quell Daunte Wright protests
Residents of apartments near the police station have need to move their children to get away from the tear gas that floats in. They blame the police for the chaos on the lawn in front of their buildings.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Brooklyn Center officer, chief resign in wake of Daunte Wright killing
Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott wants Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to handle the Wright case.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
A Black-focused therapy practice in Minneapolis sees ‘trauma, trauma, trauma.’ Here’s how they’re helping people to heal.
The Derek Chauvin trial. The Daunte Wright killing. According to the mental health practitioners at Creative Kuponya, people of color in Minnesota are feeling hopeless, helpless, and permanently exhausted. The way out, they say, starts with mindfulness, somatic healing practices, and connection with community.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Iconic fist sculpture from George Floyd Square rises in Brooklyn Center, where police killed Daunte Wright.
Artist Jordan Powell-Karis carted the fist to where it was needed: “We get to heal. We get to grieve together.”
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
‘I’m begging you to stop,’ versus ‘control and contain.’ Community defense lawyer Andrew Gordon on how to think about the Daunte Wright protests and the police response.
A Jamaican immigrant has organized mass defense for protesters after police killings. He spoke with Sahan Journal about youth protesters, misunderstandings about looting, and how to protest safely.
Posted inCoronavirus
What you need to know about getting a COVID-19 vaccine in the north metro, following the police killing of Daunte Wright.
Two Walmart locations in Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park are damaged. But Sunday night’s unrest didn’t impact vaccine supply at either location. Appointments are being rescheduled.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
‘Another Black life lost’: Trauma and frustration grow after death of Daunte Wright, but police reforms remain stalled in Minnesota legislature
Legislators of color are pushing plans to improve policing. They’ve gone nowhere in the Republican-controlled Senate.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Brooklyn Center cop who killed Daunte Wright meant to use stun gun instead, police chief says; curfew descends on Twin Cities
Police chief blames “accidental discharge” for fatal shooting that killed 20-year-old Daunte Wright in a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center. Mayor Mike Elliott pledges answers.
Posted inHelping Out
How you can help people in Brooklyn Center right now, in the aftermath of Daunte Wright’s killing
Brooklyn Center, a north Minneapolis suburb, was already a food desert. Now, with businesses boarded up, here’s where you can show up to help clean, drop off food, and send money to local organizers.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
What to know about Brooklyn Center, where police fatally shot Daunte Wright
Brooklyn Center is Minnesota’s most diverse community per capita. Quick facts about the Minneapolis suburb, where police fatally shot 20-year-old Daunte Wright.
Posted inCOMMUNITY VOICES
Irene Fernando and Jeff Lunde: Minnesota transit funding proposal jeopardizes Blue Line Extension.
Light rail project could connect students to education, patients to health care and workers to jobs. But Hennepin County can’t afford to pay Met Council’s capital maintenance costs.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Brooklyn Center police fatally shoot 20-year-old Daunte Wright during traffic stop; police deploy tear gas to clear protests.
A man is dead after being shot by police during a traffic stop on Sunday in the Twin Cities suburb of Brooklyn Center, and a large crowd gathered at the scene Sunday evening to protest the shooting.
Posted inNews
Man apprehended by police at Dar Al Farooq Mosque after entering during Friday prayers.
The Bloomington, Minnesota, Islamic center has been targeted by a bombing, an assault, and neighborhood harassment. Police report the suspect was fleeing a traffic stop.
Posted inThe killing of George Floyd
‘You need to come and visit this space without a camera in your hand’: What the Derek Chauvin trial feels like for the neighbors keeping vigil in George Floyd Square, in their own words.
Every day, visitors and an international media scrum flock to George Floyd Square. At the same time, trial witnesses return to their neighborhood after their testimony. In conversations with Sahan Journal, people in the community talk about Black liberation, “vulturistic” visitors, and why there’s not a TV showing the trial.
Posted inCOMMUNITY VOICES
May Lee-Yang on the killing of Hmong women: ‘I am past anger. I am past community conversations. I want vengeance. I want justice for the dead.’
The Minnesota writer and performer has seen enough anti-Asian hate crimes and murdered Hmong women. “The only conclusion I can come to,” she writes, “is that our lives have very little value in this world.”
Posted inCoronavirus
Minnesota mosques will be full during Ramadan. A vaccination campaign aims to protect Muslims from COVID-19.
Muslim American Society of Minnesota obtained 7,000 doses of vaccine from the state and is rushing to put shots in people’s arms before the holy month begins next week.
Posted inEducation
Minneapolis nonprofit may face ‘corrective action’ for flawed supervision of 21 charter schools.
Pillsbury United Communities last week announced its intention to close Cedar Riverside Community School, citing academic, operational, and governance failures. But the state Department of Education has raised questions about Pillsbury’s own operations.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Long-ago criminal cases have caused a wave of deportations for Minnesotans from Southeast Asia. A proposed law would give some immigrants a chance at redemption.
A new bill addressing “post-conviction relief” hopes to address problems created by Trump’s immigration policy—and prevent deportations.
Posted inThe killing of George Floyd
Racism is making us sick. How can equity in medicine help us heal? A community conversation with Sahan Journal.
The George Floyd killing caused deep trauma for many people of color in Minnesota. The trial of former officer Derek Chauvin has revealed how witnesses to the event continue to suffer. In our third panel discussion, two doctors and a medical researcher talk about how racism affects their patients’ health—and how racism in medicine leads to inadequate medical education and poor care.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Minnesota farmers are 99 percent white and aging. A proposed bill would help diversify the next generation.
Samantha Vang grew up among people who knew how to farm. But they lacked land and resources. She says it’s past time for a change.
Posted inEducation
Pillsbury United announces intent to close landmark Cedar Riverside Community School
The decision not to renew the school’s contract comes after years of parent complaints. Unless the school wins an appeal, it will close June 30.
Posted inEducation
Students of color disproportionately choosing distance learning.
Not every district in Minnesota is keeping track of the demographics of which students are choosing in-person versus distance learning options. But of those that are, many show students of color disproportionately choosing to stay home.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Minnesota’s community solar program leads the nation. Poorer people, often residents of color, are left in the shade.
Community solar ends up prioritizing commercial clients in Minnesota. New models aimed at energy-burdened residents are trying to change that.
Posted inCoronavirus
For every disease, a cure: Minnesota imams lead by example—and the Qur’an—to battle vaccine hesitancy among the faithful.
At a recent health event, 16 imams got COVID vaccines in front of cameras from BBC Somali and Universal Somali TV.
Posted inThe killing of George Floyd
‘We all knew it wasn’t right’: The children who saw Derek Chauvin kill George Floyd, in their own words.
During the second day of the Derek Chauvin trial, four children testified about watching George Floyd die under the knee of the former Minneapolis police officer. The children spoke powerfully about their wish to save Floyd that day outside Cup Foods—and what the police did instead.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Taxpayers, essential workers, homeowners: A portrait of Minnesota’s immigrant population
Chamber of Commerce report finds that four-fifths of immigrants are of working age, and that they make up a large portion of the workforce for in-demand industries.
Posted inEducation
Diversity debate over teaching licenses creates confusion for Minnesota’s teachers of color.
Some education advocacy groups claim a proposed teacher license change could drive teachers of color out of the classroom. But the state agency that controls the license process says they’re wrong. Who’s right? We made a crib sheet for you.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
The average farmer today is a 58-year-old white man growing commodity crops. The Minnesota farmer of the future may be Latino–and organic.
Rodrigo Cala has turned his 46-acre vegetable farm in western Wisconsin into a showcase for sustainable, small-scale farming. Not only is it better for the planet, Cala says. It also provides the easiest entry point for immigrants who want to work their own land.
Posted inBUSINESS & WORK
Latina entrepreneurs find a space online to thrive in pandemic.
Amaury Vidales goes live weekly on her Facebook page, Amaury Accesorios, to show prospective shoppers what new things she has to sell—but it’s not just another virtual boutique.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
The process of selecting a U.S. attorney is supposed to stay secret. But why?
Earlier this month, a series of news reports opened up the closed-door process that produced three finalists: Andy Luger, Surya Saxena, and Lola Velazquez-Aguilu. But not everyone thinks the public has a right to know.
Posted inCOMMUNITY VOICES
Yia Vang: My father is my hero, and he’s afraid for me. But he also embodies the cure for anti-Asian hate. That’s hope.
Fear drives both the perpetrators and the victims of racist acts. The courage of immigrant families shows what it takes to break the cycle.
Posted inRace
A surge of hate crimes has left many Asian Americans feeling vulnerable. A new Minnesota safety patrol aims to stop that fear in the streets.
‘Protecting Asians where they are’: First meetup of the MN Asian Safety Squad walks St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood, offers escorts to community elders.
Posted inCoronavirus
Minnesota meatpacking plants have discovered a secret to vaccinating undocumented workers: Don’t ask for IDs and personal information.
Of the state’s existing 45,000 food-processing workers, some 25,000 received a vaccine within the past two weeks. The mass vaccine drives come a year after some of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the country.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
A quiet storm: Unraveling the kind heart, troubled mind, and sudden death of Dolal Idd.
Family and friends all knew Dolal yearned to turn his life around. Months after he died in a hail of police bullets, they’re still learning how hard he struggled.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Minnesota’s ‘green’ agencies are very white. Programs like the GreenCorps are helping to change that.
Growing up in Golden Valley, Steven Yang loved the outdoors. An AmeriCorps program helped him turn that passion into a career.
Posted inRace
It was just another morning stroll to the school bus stop with his grandson for Tsong Tong Vang. Then the hate speech erupted.
Vang fought and bled for the United States during the Secret War in Southeast Asia. An East St. Paul driver shouted at him to go back there, or he’d be killed.
Posted inRace
‘People can’t turn their backs anymore’: Asian American women often feel invisible. After Atlanta spa killings, they’re making their pain public
Anthea Yur is a veteran of many Minneapolis protests. Thursday was the first time she rallied in support of people who look like her.
Posted inCoronavirus
COVID-19 spreads quickly. So does social media information—and misinformation—about vaccine availability.
A recent vaccine drive to offer appointments in underserved Minneapolis neighborhoods led to confusion and chaos. We found out how this effort started out right—and then went wrong.
Posted inCLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
Rain gardens help Minneapolis’ first ‘eco-mosque’ control flooding
Masjid An-Nur uses public grants for landscaping projects that redirect stormwater into native plantings—instead of sewers.
Posted inThe killing of George Floyd
Who gets to decide if Derek Chauvin is guilty of murder? And who belongs on a jury of his peers? A community conversation with Sahan Journal.
The outcome of the Derek Chauvin trial depends on 12 jurors (and two alternates) who may or may not reflect the race, diversity, and experiences of many people in Minneapolis. In our second panel discussion, Sahan Journal invited three community members to talk about how jury selection does or doesn’t work—and how it should work. What does the jury selection process have to do with justice?
Posted inEducation
A senior at Macalester College found a trick to represent the complex identities of other students of color: He asked them to talk about themselves.
Kori Suzuki says a predominantly white culture makes assumptions about students of color. His new podcast project, “Here We Are,” gives them a chance to tell their own stories.
Posted inCoronavirus
When undocumented means unvaccinated: Some COVID-19 vaccine sites demand U.S. government-issued IDs from eligible Minnesota immigrants seeking shots.
A Latino school employee in Minneapolis says she showed up for her vaccine appointment and got turned away. Why? She couldn’t show a U.S. government-issued ID card.
Posted inCoronavirus
The Wild Goose Chase: How one Latina’s search for a COVID-19 vaccine became a bureaucratic nightmare.
The forms, phone calls and wrong information seemed endless. But Carmen Velasco finally got her shot this week.
Posted inEducation
Musab Hussein needed to rent a laptop to take a University of Minnesota exam. Instead he was told, ‘You do not look like a U of M student.’ And then things got worse.
Students say they’ve long endured racism and microaggressions at the Carlson School. But a computer technician’s treatment of Musab was the last straw.
Posted inCOMMUNITY VOICES
Jeffrey Bissoy-Mattis: There is a rich pipeline of Black talent in the Twin Cities. It still can be hard to find out about events and opportunities.
Plugged’, an app launching this summer, aims to help businesses find Black talent, and help creatives and entrepreneurs market themselves.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Surya Saxena said to be finalist for Minnesota’s next U.S. attorney.
Typically closed selection process bursts open as two candidates of color emerge as finalists for the state’s top federal prosecutor post.
Posted inRemembering Minnesotans lost to COVID-19
Roseville father remembered for his generosity, ability to light up a party.
Raul Castañeda and his partner got COVID-19 at the same time, but that didn’t stop him from waiting on her. Castañeda died in April on his way to the hospital.
Posted inSTORIES FROM THE PANDEMIC
Advocating for patients, addressing vaccine disinformation: Meet the Somali American nurse who has become an ‘unsung hero’ of the COVID-19 pandemic
Hani Jacobson, community health nurse, is fighting for health equity and better COVID-19 care in St. Cloud’s Somali community
Posted inThe killing of George Floyd
What would ‘Justice for George Floyd’ actually look like? A community discussion with Sahan Journal.
Derek Chauvin is in court, but the whole criminal justice system is on trial. As legal proceedings begin, Sahan Journal invited four diverse members of the community to a conversation about race, accountability, the need for change, and the social cost of injustice.
Posted inHOUSING
Somali American renters asked their Minnesota landlord to repair hazardous electrical problems. The property managers commented on the women’s English skills and how many children they had.
Stove coils that explode. Water pooled in light fixtures. Somali American renters at Pondview Townhomes, in Woodbury, point to a long list of maintenance problems. Their attempts to get repairs, they say, lead to inappropriate service bills and racially charged comments from management. A Sahan Journal investigation found failed home inspections—and a community of tenants looking for fair housing.
Posted inEducation
Why 2021 might be the year Minnesota addresses its teacher of color shortage
In the country’s only split legislature, Republicans and Democrats say they’ve never seen so much bipartisan momentum to diversify the educator workforce.
Posted inCoronavirus
Minnesota data shows disparities in race and ethnicity of who’s getting COVID-19 vaccine.
People of color in Minnesota are more vulnerable to the worst impacts of COVID-19 due to a host of factors embedded in decades of economic and health-related systemic racism.
Posted inPOLICING & JUSTICE
Ahmed Ismail Yusuf: George Floyd’s death was a wakeup call about the depths of racism in America. In their treatment of Dolal Idd’s family, sheriff’s deputies chose to ignore it.
Justice has never been blind to color in this country. The upcoming trial of Derek Chauvin offers one more chance to show that it can be.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Andy Luger on short list for Minnesota’s next U.S. attorney, sources say.
Luger’s potential appointment raised concerns among members of the Somali American community, given Luger‘s role administering an anti-extremism program during his previous tenure. Luger also drew criticism from Minneapolis civil rights leaders following the Jamar Clark case.
