Creating Welcoming Spaces Part One

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Marnita

Over the next few weeks as we lead up to our annual I Have a Dream Graduation Party I’m going to reflect on how I feel when I walk into most large charity events in the Twin Cities. I’m going to avoid using names because I don’t believe this is about “those bad charities” or about “those people who run those charities,” but rather a type of blindness to how unfriendly and unwelcoming those spaces feel for people who come from under-represented under-resourced groups of individuals.

I grow weary of sitting in rooms where white overly-resourced people treat teens of color as “programs” and “problems to solve,” and “successes” to parade across a stage while they laud themselves for breaking this paradigm. I know that certain segments of our community need extra intentional resources. I’m also sure that many who generously provide the resources to support these programs aren’t conscious that they do this and are genuinely passionate and authentic in their desire to solve critical challenges. Even so, most of the very best of programs don’t authentically include people of color except as “performers” and “dog and pony show” to reinforce the need for the program. I spoke to a young woman of color, who was the emcee of the show and she genuinely loved the program she was supporting. But she was sad too, because not one person in the room knew that although she had been accepted to both Spelman and the UofM, there were no parties planned because her family couldn’t afford a graduation party or send-off, no friends of her parents to practice talking with about what her goals were for the future unless through a formal program. In many ways she was still being defined for having completed high school without having children which most of the middle class and wealthy parents in the room assumed their own children could accomplish. Has anyone ever thought that maybe we are getting different results from the preponderance of kids of color because we functionally treat them differently than dominant culture middle class and upper kids? We treat them as programs to solve instead of treating them as younger members of our community with whom we trade information and share our values person to person.

We often don’t even notice we do it. Many people get mad at people like me for being so “oversensitive” to mention how unwelcoming most public spaces are to the marginalized. Many people will tell me “I don’t even see color” as though it is my failing to notice I’m at the only table in the room with people of color. That even the beautiful and talented vocalist isn’t put at the VIP tables. So no you didn’t see color, because except for the performers and three other people last night, there weren’t any people of color in the room. The room was full of fabulous genuine people last night, most of whom just thought it ordinary that the youth were sequestered at two tables in the back not having a chance to intersect with the many positive adults in the room. It’s unintentional and “because that’s the way we do things.” I don’t believe it’s bad will or a desire to be exclusive. That’s just the net effect.. So even as we talk about how “valuable” they are and that we must let them know it, through our actual words, actions and behaviors, we are marginalizing them. This isn’t unique to one group or charity. And this charity is actually exemplary in what they are doing in their day-to-day work. But the way they show up when intersecting with their donor base, doesn’t actually challenge the narrative of who has value and who doesn’t. It reinforces it. I see this with so many wonderful nonprofits that do instrumental work in the community.

How do you perform the best? What makes you feel competent and capable? What makes you feel powerful? Do you have a dream you hold for yourself for the future? How does your dream intersect with those around you? And how does belonging, fitting and having a place to belong relate to your own success in the world?

 
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Thinking About Diverse Networks

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Marnita

I’m getting ready to deliver a session on networking this week with the Twin Cities Human Resource Alliance (TCHRA) by putting together a list of readings that might be of interest to further expand and hone networking practices. We don’t ever want people to just rest comfortably and worry about widening their own networks without being mindful of how expanded networks might help lead to a more equitable and just community. You don’t have to desire those two things to benefit from the work of Marnita’s Table, but since we are a mission driven non-profit it is our obligation to direct attention to the correlation between networks and professional and economic access. Many of us further ourselves professionally solely through our networks.

Therefore it is all the more important to be mindful as HR professionals that our networks don’t just happen but instead are intentionally cultivated. Our words, actions and behaviors greatly impact who is in our networks. We encourage you to not only seek those who already have expertise in your profession and can “do for you,” but also to remember that sometimes you also have so much to bring to any relationship. We challenge you to cultivate a network that isn’t just large, but diverse.

Things for the HR professional to think about:

Do you have a “bonded” or “bridging” social network? That is do you mostly hang out with and seek help from and provide help to people who are very similar or very different than you? Robert Putnam in Bowling Alone helps to bring clarity to how important social capital is to every part of our life, yet, we often ignore it. Much the way we take the air we breathe for granted because it is invisible.

As an HR professional are you only seeking an enlarged network for your own benefit? How do you ensure that you are also thinking about what you have to offer those in your network, not just what you will receive?

As networks become more closed and it becomes easier to hire through social media networks such as linked-in how will your organization ensure diversity?

What standards are you using to add people to your networks? How does having people across a socio-economic or ethnicity in your network help you? How does you being in their network help them?

 
Posted in HR, Marnita's Table, Research | Comments Off

The Importance of Social Capital

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Marnita

We’ve been talking for years about the critical importance of social capital — who you know, in other words — and today’s New York Times has yet another reminder.

With unemployment lingering at distressingly high levels, many companies are increasingly finding new hires from among those referred by existing employees. That’s great if you’re well connected with people in your industry, whether via social media or other means. But if you’re just trying to break in, and especially if you’re poor and/or of color, the resumes you send in to an employer are just being shunted aside. Actual hires come from people referred by someone on the inside.

So where, if you are a someone without the benefits of connection and networks, do you go? Where else but Marnita’s Table? Where those without resources can meet policy makers, resource holders, and others with useful and important connections in an environment uniquely conducive to the formation of authentic relationships.

 
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Welcome Home/Photo Gallery!

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Marnita
Welcome Home! - 34

This gallery contains 36 photos.

It was an honor to welcome over 150 people in St. Cloud for Welcome Home! hosted by the Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity! If you want to learn more about what we said to each other, go here!  

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Welcome Home!

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Marnita

On January 17th, Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity hosted an Intentional Social Interaction called “Welcome Home!”.

Want to see great photos from the event, go to the photo gallery blog! More photos will be posted this week!

We are having some technical difficulties at our FaceBook Site. If you go to facebook.com/MarnitasTable, you SHOULD be able to see the photo gallery that was uploaded by clicking on “highlights” or “posts by friends,” but we were experiencing some difficulties. Maybe some of you “tech types” can give us an answer why some people can see the photos and some can’t? We’d love for you to tag photos you are in, post comments, “like” the Marnita’s Table facebook page if you enjoyed your experience and to use both the Marnita’s Table Blog here or our facebook site to continue the conversation.

sleeping baby St. Cloud

One of the activities that was extremely enjoyable was called “mindstorm,” a freeform brainstorm with 150 of our closest strangers. Check back to this space weekly. We’ll be updating with facts about affordable housing and new action that was catalyzed as a direct result of this conversation.

Thanks for being a part of Welcome Home!

Question 1:
What is something the government could do to help provide more affordable housing?

Can’t rely on others to fix problem – start collaboratively and expand.
Engage them – take them to the site versus talking at them.
Don’t just rely on government, start in own background.
Counseling network – connecting them to opportunities
Mandatory educational program required for mortgages
Incorporate into the schools & proficiency levels.
Go back to basics – financial – create a budget or balancing a checkbook (financial literacy).
How to survive on x/annual/monthly income.
Change the way you live today, more to live with tomorrow.
Basic needs to include – actual exp (childcare / emergency expenses, car repair).
Put ownership on individuals – find out expenses.
Buy up foreclosures.
Subsidize land trust in St. Cloud area.
Regulations regarding number or ratio of affordable housing units.
Gov incentives to corps/companies who build & rent.
Money.
Rural Development – Funding
Rxxx(?) student loan debt
Increase minimum wage
Voucher program – transition time after getting job – don’t just stop.
Mandatory for communities
Education (encourage) for high school/college students – finances/credit, etc.
Take money from military and give to our own communities.
Ask those who need it, what challenges? What do they need?
Encourage banking police to increase lending to families and /or developers
Help with transitional/transactional costs to build low income housing.
Better programs to help people assimilate – learn language and help connect with full-time work.
Talks in state and fed – looking at budgets.
Human services are being cut – resulting in great hardship – need to increase awareness of what it is like to live in poverty.
Look at recommendations made 6 or 7 years ago – “legislative commission to end poverty”
More government incentives
South Sudanese women – language barrier, so many restrict to qualify for affordable house. We want to live here in a home. Habit required you are working full time. We can’t find FT work.
Grant money for Habitat to buy foreclosed homes.
More money for affordable housing rather than for prisons or war. Children need parents who are at home, not working all the time to afford a home.
Government could identify affordable areas for housing (Greenfield projects).
Relax regulations for who can get mortgages, especially those who were foreclosed on during the recent economic collapse.
Raise the minimum wage.
Create financial incentives for developers/construction to build more affordable homes.
Create affordable loan incentives.
Health care.
Value as community members coming together to make a difference.
Government should be more aware and acknowledge that there is a need.
Incentives for people to give.
Government should give more land for housing.
Bank level – affordable loans.
Encourage building to accommodate large families.
Balance where affordable housing is located; build more facilities that offer affordable housing.
Programs that educate individuals – begin at a young age.
Programs that train individuals to be more competitive.
Help change the law (Ban the box – second chance).
Tax credits for service/product providers on Habitat
Section 8 Housing – too long a wait – Federal $
Encourage “reasonable” materials for Section 8 Housing
More oversight of living conditions, maintenance training
Incentivize Social Security by volunteer encouragement
Teach financial literacy in school
Empty houses – should be donated to programs – Habitat/Anna Marie’s
Build more housing – connect people with low income, so affordable. Refugees have lots of needs. Programs hard to access.
Sudanese – women work, men in school. Income for one person not enough. 6-8 kids with one income.

Welcome Home 11
Since women are working is low pay – can’t get education.
Latino community – $7/$8 an hour – minimum wage.
Men get education leave – mom single. Men go back to Sudan.
Company partnered with government to help buy house. Deducted from paycheck.
Once graduate HS, kids find work – not college.
Under-age kids working.
Latino & Sudan similar story.
Transportation – bus is hard.
Childcare is only daytime, not overnight.
Raise minimum wage, improve housing programs. One person spoke about the HRA in Minneapolis as being a very good example of housing. Another also said housing affects education (make sure that more people are educated) Government should increase grants for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. The government should also improve pay and benefit package for citizens.
Being able to offer assistance with down payments on houses
Be more sensitive to issues of immigrants who wish to own a house for instance, some religions do not allow payment of interest.
Form a model, create a model where interest does not need to be paid.
Rehab loans, and generally, focus on rehab and not just rebuild/build.
Tax credit for housing
Support legal aid, help more people. Increased access to legal help.
Utilizing the organizations already forms
Work with these agencies that understand the troubles that their communities are facing.
Look closer at how individuals transitioning from (jail/prison) find a place they can afford.
Central MN Re-Entry program ? ?
Local government – how could gov. use foreclosed homes to make housing affordable and more accessible.
Could government provide re-development funds for neighborhoods that have a high density of foreclosed homes.
Fund homeless youth shelter/housing
Government/department of Veteran Affairs – services for non-combat vets
Increase mental health services

Question 2:
List programs/success stories/people that you’ve heard about that have made a difference in delivering more affordable housing to a community
Good Samaritan Foundation – couldn’t afford deposit but could afford monthly rent. Behind on electric company help make payment and create payment plan.
Independent homeowners contributing to affordable housing options.
Youth build and mentorship – grow up in Habitat Home “Pay it forward” and help.
Essence Properties – utilizing tax credits provide affordable housing options for women, learning domestic violence situations in Sartell.
Place of Hope – Hope on 9th options – those that have poor credit/restoration. Spectrum – from emergency-transitional to permanent housing options.
Re-entry Project.
Renting 101 (Tri-Cap).
Catholic charities.
Hamp/Harp government programs (refinancing).
Tri-Cap family emergency. Friends.
Central MN Continuum of Care (14 county).
FAIM (Tri-Cap).
Homestretch – Central MN Housing Project.
Community Solutions Team (United Way).
American Dream Program (US Bank).
Homeless Concerns.
Catholic Worker House.
Catholic Charities – The village.
Foreclosure Counseling.
Lutheran Social Services
River Crest – Housing for chronic anebriants[sic] (safe for residents & community)
Tri-Cap Program – Help purchase home
(?) Agencies to help in transition for success starts
Habitat for Humanity (there are no others) -> get family together, closer, independence
St. Cloud HRA
MN Hosing finance
Community Council for Homeless (Wash DC)
Eagle’s Next (homeless vets)
Anna Marie’s (?) – emergency
Church community in Harlem – buy facility – fix it and rent it out
More affordable housing for/by families
Habit for Humanity
HRA
Thrivent
ING/Capital One
Habitat for Humanity
Veterans Administration
Salvation Army
Anna Marie’s House
Catholic charities Housing
Journey Home CentraCare
Habitat for Humanity
Place of Hope
Veterans Home
Catholic Charities
More need for transitional housing
More training for homeowners
Domus type transitional housing
Anna Marie’s and Journey working with them.
Catholic Charities – housing for homeless youth (development now).
Habitat
Re-Store
Bridge to Cultures
FAIM – no state funding, missing federal
Tri-Cap
Place of Hope
Salvation Army
Catholic Charity
VA
Success stories- A friend was able to purchase a house through Tri-Cap’s FAIM program.
Land trust in Duluth
Habitat
St. Cloud HRA with subsidized housing etc.
Catholic Worker Community
Habitat
Money from Government a few years ago (2008)
Anna Marie’s
Catholic Charities
Habitat for Humanity
Tri-Cap
LSS-SASSO
Eagles Healing Nest
Crisis Nursery
Financial counseling

Question 3:
What is something about your cultural story that is important to the conversation about affordable housing
Recycling programs, thrift stores. Starts local works with job training skills, develop soft skills.
90% call crisis nursery don’t have support system.
American Dream: logical step, expectations – more rental vs. owning.
Affordable housing isn’t always home ownership – large family, poor.
Different time – large families common, less space.
Housing/rental (male/female ratios).
Regulations now the number of people in space – becomes barrier and how deteriorates the family structure.
How we define family – extended family. What do you do with elders – send them away vs. taking care of them.
“Cultural differences”. Disposable society – recycling now.
Criminals re-entering the world/finding housing. Discriminatory rental rates and conditions.
View on renting, cross generational.
Relatives in less than ideal circumstances.
Connect the people to the programs.
“Blind” to affordable housing issues.
Grew up in St. Cloud.
Early 90s – 2 bi-racial kids, had trouble getting housing.
Need for education (through churches, etc.) and agencies.
Don’t realize pre. Of homeless/poverty (working people, etc.)
Low income people help each other
Larger family more difficult to find housing
Language being a challenge / hard for parents to get work to afford
Cost of care for the elderly
We left our home as refugees – don’t know if we will ever return or if our children will ever go back. So now THIS is our home. We need our own home to really be settled here. In apartment if my niece comes, she can’t live with us – too many people. Home is a lace we can share with our family – welcoming to everyone. Now you have to let the landlord know if visitors come.
My grandparents came from Germany – they had access to land, 360 acres. They lived off the land. My father took over the farm. You get so connected to the land.
United South Sudan Community. I always talk about “we” – community.
Communication barrier makes it so hard to find FT work.
Father died, mother found minimum wage job. She eventually had to sell it and move to a smaller home.
Divorce can lead to homelessness or instability.
What is need? Can you live with less? Less space?
Lived on east side of town where immigrant families were moving in. difference in religious background lends itself to feeling inside or outside.
Lived in homogenous communities growing up (i.e., Scandinavian farmers)
Girls grew up in Ethiopia then Kenya, refugee camp, grass huts, Minneapolis, St. Cloud. Housing is better here, safe from animals.
Difference in definition of homelessness between Somalis and American. In Somalia, you may not own or be able to rent a home, but aren’t considered homeless if you have shelter on some land. Need food and security.
Multi-generational family units are common in non-native families.
Americans have huge homes that are sitting half-empty – other cultures are more communal.
Family size
Community – many people like to stay close to those that they know and are comfortable with.
Affordable housing for whole family, as a teenager built a house as part of school curriculum.
Contractor – lots of them – can raise awareness
“Successful” business owner – can raise awareness of others “blind” to need
Over 60 age group – can inspire others – instead of lazy retired state
Kenya – knows the slums – the chaos – knows the difference.
Somalia – business owner – credibility – both Somalia and traditional communities
Greater promotion of RSVP/United Way volunteer
International students sometimes homeless, cost of school
Sudanese families are large – apartment doesn’t work
Farming background – kids took over house – not starting over.
Sudan – you don’t leave home unless married – don’t leave at 18. When married – stay for 2 years, train her to move out.
Grandmother raised kids – took care of grandkids and nieces – only 5th grade. Paid bills but did teach kids – didn’t know how to save.
Somali people usually have large families and most organization does not have housing for large families, in such cases the families have to be divided into two households. Some families cannot even afford to pay their rent. The need is so much for just one organization to do the work such as Lutheran social services. We need more hands to help out.
Apartments for little money. Government provides subsidized housing to a citizen – Singapore
Law enforcement with the black community is sometimes unjust.
Resources of family & friends to help support.
Giving time & energy to help those in need.
Language barriers have kept them in the poverty/lower income
After getting a hand up- their family has continued to thrive (Catholic Charities and then Habitat).
Teen parent / poverty cycle
Veterans (1% of population) – should have a place to sleep
Cultural clash – our cities family’s numbers have decreased; new families moving in have larger families.
Low income housing – requirements regarding size, gender
Greed vs. compassion

Question 4:
What is something that you are willing to do personally to help solve the problem of affordable housing

Continue connection financially to Habitat for Humanity.
Trying to figure out a way to rally others in the community.
Financial literacy to give tools for life (where should it be).
Engage students to be teachers. Empower youth-college to high school students.
Connection/teaching opportunity.
Point in time – to get accurate numbers.
Networking – more services exist – share with parents, resources & hope (non-judgmental).
Community housing assessment, encourage participation – accurate study so others can utilize knowledge is power.
Volunteer time and skills.
Educate.
Spreading word about Habitat’s ability to help.
Grants for affordable housing
Meet people affected – volunteer at agencies, etc.
Educate more people
United Way Day of Caring – work in community
Get others involved in learning/meeting activities.
Get on sight to help build
Collaborated efforts
Be more involved in Re-Store
Donating to Re-Store. Easy, good experienceWelcome Home 7
Systems change – collaborative effort
Lucy Stephen is willing to serve on Habitat
Dee R. is going to advocate for language services (teaching people English).
Help build.
Stay on the family selection committee
Take the conversation to St. Cloud State.
Take the conversation to the greater community.
Continue to support Habitat and other organizations in the community.
Become educated – learn more about what our neighbors did with.
Expect to donate furniture and moved into smaller house.
Volunteer for Habitat
Volunteer to help people find apartments – HRA
Volunteer with Habitat; pray
Help with family selection
Organize a fundraiser
Work as volunteer at Habitat
Continue volunteering on sights
Voice issues to Mayor, SCSU about international study
Talk to people about it
Majoli & Patrick – Board of Habitat – Casa Guad & Habitat relationship
Angelina – work with low income – get into housing.
Get educated myself
Talk to the right people
Help build houses for people
Continue to serve on Habitat for Humanity board
Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
Contribute to Anne Marie’s Alliance
Being more aware of what is going on.
Working with Habitat, building
Families moving forwardWelcome Home 4
Working with the local agencies
Helping people get in the position that they can make the right choices – not do it for them.
Go to property managers and talk about peoples’ stories
Try to bring human services and the business community to work together
See the need and fill the need – work for people like me who have been cast aside.
Finding additional businesses to partner with.

Other Observations:
City can be supportive of programs, Habitat partnership to break down barriers.
Credit restoration – beyond just financial (legal, give 2nd chance).
Advocacy – who do you go to advocate/change – city council) to let them know about these obstacles that create barriers.
Who do we talk to/go to to influence.
Housing for people with criminal backgrounds – how can they find housing, who will give them a chance.
Knowledge! Both ways – our community’s awareness & immigrant community’s knowledge.
Focus on renting now vs. owning? Seems to e more rentals available.
Issue: Why does Habitat allow only 2 persons per room?
Further observation: Help families in area increase income so they can afford to pay for Habitat homes.
Complex issue, must start with understanding.
Ask faith-based organizations to set up language mentors to work with new immigrants and refugees – learn English and develop relationships.
People are tending to flock to conversations where they feel comfortable and that are polarized – instead of people hearing one another. Opposing new points and being comfortable with that. This kind of forum is really needed – especially in political arenas – no matter the topic.
Underutilized resources
Senior population – empower, inspire & encourage, incentivize
We are one step closer each time that we meet to have these conversations.
Advocate for people without voice.
Addressing issues in St. Joe, including housing

Welcome Home 2

 
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Welcome Home, January 17th in St. Cloud Minnesota

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Marnita

In keeping with Marnita’s Table mission to make Intentional Social Interaction (“ISI” pronounced Izzy) the new pattern for society where people of color, the disenfranchised, the GLBT, the poor, the unheard and the fragile (the “other”) are automatically included and valued at the policy-making and resource-sharing table.

Our next Table catalyzes Central Minnesotans to get out of their silos and come together to talk about what it really means to have a home.

Welcome Home, Thursday, January 17 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. an intentional social interaction on affordable housing hosted by Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity. This engaging feast and dialogue will explore what it means to have a home and how we can ensure that there is more affordable housing in Central Minnesota.

River’s Edge Convention Center
10 Fourth Avenue South
St. Cloud, MN 56301
Day-Of Event: 612.578.7744 or 612.964.3529

An abundant and delicious feast devised by marnitastable.org will sate most dietary considerations from vegan to carnivore! Dress comfortably and please don’t bring any hostess gifts. You are our guest for dinner. Yes, you are welcome to bring your children of all ages. There is no charge to participate.

Who is invited?
Anyone involved in providing homes/housing/apartments and living spaces for the community
Those who build housing
Those who provide loans for them
Those who sell & rent them
Those who make housing/home policy
Those who help provide supportive services for those who need places to live
Those who are homeless & those who have a place to live and want to share what that means to them
Those new to community who want to build connections
Those who are established in the community who want to extend welcome and insight
Additional stakeholders such as those trying to close the achievement gap–stable housing is a key to success

Please RSVP by January 10 to 612-928-7744 or via e-mail at info@marnitastable.org. Space is limited and demand is high. We will try to accommodate as many participants as possible.

Check back for photos after the event!

 
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Council on Black Minnesotans Legacy Listening Tour

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Marnita

There has been a lot of buzz and discussion about the Council’s Legacy Tour this summer. The Council is excited to have this unique opportunity to reach across the state to listen to the successes and create solutions to the challenges facing the black community in Minnesota.

The Council’s primary function is to be an advisory council to the Governor, Legislature, and state agencies. This makes our organization unique amongst all other black organizations in the state.  The creation of the councils of color over thirty years ago was designed to help communities of color have more legislative parity with the white community as our numbers in population are a faction of their community. What a wonderful opportunity to have a vehicle in which we collectively, Africans, African-Americans, and our allies can shape our ideas of empowerment today into effective policy tomorrow.

How can we advocate for your community and your voice if we do not engage you in conversation? The Legacy Listening Tour provides the Council a unique opportunity to hear from you.

The Council on Black Minnesotans in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center invites you to Our Voices, Our Stories, for our Legacy Listening Tour in Minnesota during the month of October!

We are on our way now to Faribault & Rochester next. There are two dates left from which to choose:

Buckham Memorial Library
11 East Division Street
Faribault, MN 55021

Sunday, October 28, 2-5 p.m.
Plummer House
1091 Plummer Lane SW
Rochester, MN 55902

The Legacy Listening Tour provides the Council a unique opportunity to preserve our cultural heritage; catalyze collaborative relationships across Minnesota while engaging the voices and viewpoints of individual Black Minnesotans. The Council on Black Minnesotans Legacy Listening Tour is supported by the arts and cultural heritage fund that was created by a vote of the people of Minnesota in November 2008.

Your companions for this Intentional Social Interaction are: 
Community members who are passionate about improving the lives of Black Minnesotans whether from around the world or around the way.
Black Minnesotans who wants to share their stories and voices.
Black Minnesotans who want to help others share their voices and stories.
Leaders in philanthropy, public policy, business, advocacy, education, health.

If you know of someone who should be in the room, please extend this invitation on our behalf! Please RSVP to 612.928.7744 or e-mail info@marnitastable.org. Please put the date for which you are RSVPing into the subject line if at all possible!

Answers to common questions:
A feast is served with abundance to serve any dietary concern from vegan to carnivore using Marnita’s Table model (marnitastable.org) of a resource abundant in the environment!  Directions are below. Dress comfortably and please don’t bring any hostess gifts. You are our guest for the feast. There is no charge to participate. Youth are very welcome and are encouraged to attend.

Please let us know if you are able to join us! We look forward to welcoming you to Our Voices Our Stories.

The following actions have already resulted from the Minneapolis and St. Cloud Listening sessions:
  • Job opportunities for attendees
  • Disaffected young black men feeling empowered from the listening session started setting up meetings on how to improve their community
  • Young women deciding to go back to school
  • Community members deciding to join one of the Council’s committees to affect change in their communities
  • Community organizations exploring partnerships with other organizations as a result of attending a listening session.

Legacy funds have gone to support both African and African-American businesses. Funds have also allowed Marnita’s Table to hire young African women to work the events and to be a part of event planning. Our events are designed to have a mix of both African and African-Americans coming together to celebrate our voices, hear our stories, and create solutions for our communities. Allies of the black community are also welcome at our events.

The Council on Black Minnesotans may not have been there for the community in past years, however, we are here for you now and intend to fulfill our legislative mandate and to effectively advocate for you and your communities.

Come see what the hype is all about. We would like to hear your voice and for you to share your story with us. Will you join us?

View pictures from the Minneapolis and St. Cloud Listening Sessions:

Pictures from OVOS 1
Pictures from OVOS 2
 
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Please Join Us at Science Technology Art

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Marnita
Dear Friends of Marnita’s Table:
As you know, Marnita’s Table breaks down barriers across differences. In this polarized time, our work has never been more important. We are proud of the measurable effectiveness of our model of Intentional Social Interaction.
We hope to see you at Science Technology Art, Saturday, November 3rd from 7-11 p.m.!
Go online to http://marnitastable.org/home/science-technology-art-2012/ to order your tickets today! Want to get involved? Call us at 612.928.7744 or e-mail us at info@marnitastable.org.
Kianna Ramos at Le Cordon Bleu is once again planning a spectacular feast . . . Yum. The Youth Advisory Board and so many friends of the Table are coming together to create a magical evening of authentic connection.
Over the next few weeks we’ll be informing you of stories from the Table, about the lives that have been permanently positively changed by coming to just one table. The stories are so varied, yet there is a common theme, we all need connection, relationship and a willingness to come together as one community to move forward. That why the Table isn’t a “nice to have” but instead essential to both individuals and organizations.
Even if you can’t attend, please consider making a donation today.
Thanks!
 
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Start-Up! Intentional Social Interaction on Entrepreneurship

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Carl

As promised, we’re posting the work product from the three working groups at Start-Up, held on May 10, 2012, at the home of Mimi & Dick Bitzan.  85 plus people, including a robust cross-section of the St. Cloud/Central Minnesota community, came together to discuss ways of encouraging entrepreneurship in immigrant communities.

Although the three groups each went into their deliberations with separate charges (supporting existing businesses; identified business opportunities awaiting the “right” entrepreneur; and taking a new business to the next level), it was clear that great minds were thinking alike.

So what we actually got was a plethora of great ideas for new businesses and considerable agreement among the three groups about what was needed to get them going.

Let us count the ways that showed how special the evening was: a group of Latino, Somali, Ethiopian, Sudanese and other women in deep conversation, working their way to a recognition that St. Cloud needs an international market; the St. Cloud banker who exclaimed: “I never realized the immigrant community here had so much entrepreneurial zeal;” or the number of Mexican women willing to leave their homes on Mexican Mother’s Day in favor of discussions about ways to improve their community – just for starters.

Thanks for the energy and enthusiasm of all participants, with a special shout-out to our sponsors, the Central Minnesota Community Foundation and the Initiative Foundation.

1.  How to Support Existing New Businesses in Central Mn (Green)

New Business Ideas:
Mexican restaurant in Cold Spring
Jazz night club
Garden to market service
Local farmers’ market (sustainability project)
Caregivers support service
Sewing/Clothes-making
Diverse restaurants
Business Needs:
Language issues – South Sudanese
Translators
Help starting a business
Business ideas
Discussion:
How to find classes and loans
Place people from different cultures at SBDC
Business start-up mentors within same culture to help new entrepreneurs
Bankers looking for market experience, business plan, sustainability
Importance of building on the skills and assets you already have
 
2.  Identified Business Opportunities (Orange)
Business Ideas:
Produce greenhouse (not flowers)
African restaurant that targets non-Africans
Shoe repair shop
Business mentorship program
Menu planning & grocery shopping list service
Survey high school students about what needs they see
International Food Market
Have a construction company hire low-income people to learn construction skills & build homes for low-income families.
Cultural resource center
Ethnic catering business
College prep service to help students prepare for SAT/ACT etc tests
Art & decoration exchange
Really good breakfast place
Authentic Mexican restaurant
Mobile auto mechanic service (makes house calls)
White water rafting service for after the dam is taken out
Fish market
Ethnic women’s clothing store
Airport/transportation hub
Ethnic hair salon
Boutiques – all kinds
Dessert caterer
Healthcare H.I.M. construction (?)
Housing – larger rental units of 4 or 5 bedrooms
Bonded warehouse
Independent & international film theatre
Women’s Center: one-stop shop for all backgrounds
A “real bakery”
Afterschool programs for special needs teens grades 7-12
Somali language transportation/bus service
Adult theatre (“gray” not “great”)
Eldercare
Job placement service for college grads
Culturally based retirement homes
Sustainability resources store
Ethnic recreation center for elders
Ethnic childcare
Commercial kitchen & cultural food exchange
Sick child care networks
Goat farm
Goat & beehive rental service
Camel farm
River cruises
African artifacts shop
Directory of available business services – provided by a live person
3.  Taking Business to the Next Level (yellow)
Business Idea/Proposed Solution:
Shipping/
FOI3C Financing/Pro bono attorney & Small Business Legal Corp. (stcloudstate.edu/sbdc)
Growing & convincing others/Cultural Resource Management
Micro-financing for shipping equipment to Kenya/
USAID (but too expensive to import food)
Look into Mn Solar Awareness Society for Low Income Energy (a non-profit); help for immigrants
Excessive police attention to ethnic businesses?
How to pay women by the hour for time they put into making piñatas (develop revenue model); how to help them sell their products, who to talk to
Develop a commercial kitchen in St. Cloud/possible location at Bakers Square on Division St.
How to import ethnic food fresh/build an ethnic green house
Research new wine business
Establish incubator for small business

 
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Marnita’s Table Outcomes

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Carl

Maybe the greatest thing about the work of Marnita’s Table – in particular, our model of Intentional Social Interaction – is its effectiveness. While people sometimes let us know later on about a job obtained or grades improved or collaborative relationships launched as a result of a single Table – in fact, we hear back from roughly 15% of Table attendees — that still leaves a great many positive outcomes we never hear about.

Here’s an example. Not too long ago we were in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to meet with our friends and colleagues at the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, an organization rare in the foundation world for its dedication to building social capital in its target communities. We have worked with the CMCF for several years, and they were early converts to the efficacy of our work.

The meeting was to plan a Table on May 10 that would encourage and support immigrant entrepreneurs in Central Minnesota. But first, we asked participants – local business people, foundation representatives, immigrant community leaders, and others – to relate something about their previous experience with Marnita’s Table.

One of the first to speak up was Brian Myres, head of nationwide sales at ING Direct, the international financial services firm, who is also board chair for CMCF. He talked about a Table on volunteerism that we did in St. Cloud two years ago and related how Marnita, near the close of the event, challenged participants to commit to a single action in the near future based on something they had just learned or someone they had just met.

Brian related how he had that day had a great conversation with Tohow Siyad, a Somali refugee who had settled in St. Cloud some years before, and he committed to taking Tohow out to lunch. St. Cloud, not so incidentally, has seen a major influx of refugees and immigrants from Somalia and other parts of East Africa, Mexico, Asia and elsewhere over the last 10 years. The result has been considerable stress and strain between longtime residents, who are mostly of Germanic or Scandinavian extraction and  newcomers. St. Cloud is also noteworthy for being the center of Republican Congresswoman (and former presidential candidate) Michele Bachmann’s district, which tells you that it is a rock-ribbed conservative community.

So Brian and Tohow got together for lunch not long after, and Tohow told Brian about his dream of starting a medical taxi company. Because they had already established a relationship of trust (and, no doubt, Brian recognized a good idea when he heard it), he helped open some doors at CentraCare Health System, the largest medical provider in the region, and at other local financial institutions.

Now, two years later, Tohow is running a thriving company with nine cabs and employees who include immigrants and longtime St. Cloud residents.

Just think how something like this changes the tenor of the conversation about immigration. Rather than looking at immigrants as a drain on community resources – there are some incredible myths out there, such as that every refugee gets a free car from the “government” – suddenly they can be a source of badly needed jobs. And one refugee family has gotten its piece of the American dream.

 

 


 
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