About AFRISOTA

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 AFRISOTA is a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the dignity, cultural identity, wellness, and public voice of African immigrant youth and families. We combine community programming, storytelling, research, advocacy, and institutional education to address challenges identified by the people most affected by them. 

 AFRISOTA began with a question: What happens when immigrants who are legally present in the United States still experience exclusion, cultural alienation, discrimination, and institutional harm?

Dr. John Ewu examined that question through his doctoral research, Human Rights Violations Against Legal Immigrants in Minnesota. The research documented barriers that immigrants encounter in workplaces, schools, public systems, and community life. It also affirmed the importance of culture, family, community knowledge, and personal voice in responding to those barriers.

AFRISOTA was established to turn research into community action, creating spaces where African immigrants can speak for themselves, strengthen families, preserve cultural knowledge, support young people, navigate institutions, and contribute to public decisions.

Today, AFRISOTA works with youth, parents, elders, volunteers, researchers, artists, community organizations, and institutions. We believe durable progress begins when communities help define the problem, shape the response, and assess the results.

To strengthen African immigrant youth, elders, families, and communities in Minnesota through culturally grounded programs, storytelling, research, advocacy, and institutional education.