“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.
In Minneapolis, we see schools closed and store doors locked. We feel the weight of this touching the foundation of our communities. This violence, whether visible or systemic, is poisonous. There is no escaping its effects. It creates despair, stress, depression, and a sense of insecurity that is hard to name. We recognize this deeply. Many members of our team are immigrants who have already lived through these experiences in their countries of origin. We also see communities gathered outside, organizing to protect and support their neighbors. While we hear and witness violence now almost every day in the news and on social media, we are also seeing the resilience, power, and soul of our communities.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day emphasizes what we have been witnessing for weeks here in Minnesota: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (MLK). Today is another day to recognize and name the chains that continue to bind us. There are tangible ways to engage in your communities, to show up and care for friends. We show a list of options below for actions, big or small. Violence leads to violence; the way that peace, connection, and steady standing with our morals, our neighbors lead to connection, strength, reassurance, and power.
Let’s work on what we control: the choices we make, the relationships we nurture, and the communities we have already built. We choose to respond by leaning into connection—joining with our friends, neighbors, farmers, and business partners.
The Regenerative Agriculture Alliance was founded on the vision of building a better future through regenerative agriculture. We do this work because we care about people and the land. We believe in nourishing the body, mind, and spirit; we are part of building a peaceful, healthy, and just world. To some, this vision may feel utopian. But when we look at the tangible impacts of our work, we see these values taking root and growing. And so, we keep going—we hunker down and continue building a world grounded in civility, care, community organizing, and systems change.
Folks to know about and support:
Tortillas La Mayzteca, Rochester, MN
(507) 735-8306
facebook.com/tortillas.la.mayzteca
They currently dedicate about 60% of their daily work to providing free meal delivery to the local community.
Sisters Camelot, Minneapolis, MN
facebook.com/SistersFoodshare
collective@sisterscamelot.org
sisterscamelot.org
They show up for low-income and unhoused folks, and now is no exception; they continue to host free meals and provide free groceries to our community.
El Burrito Mercardo, St. Paul, MN
(651) 227-2192
elburritomercado.com
info@elburritomercado.com
facebook.com/ElBurritoMercado
They are partnered with Neighborhood House to connect food with Latino families in St. Paul.
Donate to your local food shelf:
Northfield
Community Action Center Food Shelf
communityactioncenter.org/food-access/
1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suite HS-200, Northfield, MN 55057
507-664-3550
food@communityactioncenter.org
Faribault
Community Action Center Food Shelf
communityactioncenter.org/food-access/
1400 Cannon Circle, Suite #8, Faribault, MN 55021
507-664-3550
faribault@communityactioncenter.org
Minneapolis Food Shelf Map
minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/homegrown/food-shelf-map/
(Below are resources shared from IATP Communications)
- For those inside or outside of Minnesota, you can donate to mutual aid efforts in Minneapolis, including front line organizations, community food distribution, neighborhood and school-based aid, and rent assistance. Donations go a long way in supporting organizations on the ground who are helping people stay fed and housed as they’re unable to go to work in fear of ICE abduction.
- For those in the Twin Cities, here is a compilation of local restaurants, businesses, organizations, and churches who are organizing food drives and fundraising to support their community members.
- For those in the Twin Cities and across Greater Minnesota, read this FAQ on what ICE agents can and cannot legally do, and know your legal rights in an encounter with ICE.
