Our Programs

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We center and amplify the lived experiences of African immigrants through authentic storytelling, cultural expression, and digital engagement. This program affirms identity, builds empathy, and disrupts harmful narratives.

Activities:

1.  Afrisota Digital YouTube Channel: Documentaries, personal stories, interviews with elders/youth, cultural spotlights. African immigrants to share their stories, experiences, and perspectives. Through insightful interviews, we showcase the diversity, resilience, and talents of our community members. These interviews provide a voice to those who are often marginalized and offer valuable insights into the challenges, triumphs, and aspirations of African immigrants in Minnesota.

2. "Our Voices" Campaign: Ongoing digital and/or print archive of community testimonials and migration stories.

3. Podcast or Short Film Series on identity, resilience, and intergenerational healing

Community Outcomes:

i. Preserves community memory and language

ii. Builds cultural pride in youth and families

iii. Creates advocacy tools rooted in lived experience

We equip African immigrant youth with tools for identity development, leadership, emotional wellness, and community safety through culturally grounded mentorship and peer support.

Activities:

1. Workshops: We focus on cultural identity, mental health, peer conflict management, storytelling, alcohol use, drug abuse, violence prevention, and advocacy.

2. Youth Mentorship Pairing: We pair youth with mentors from African immigrant backgrounds.

3. Civic Engagement Training: We facilitate youth speaking at school boards, city councils.

4. "Roots & Wings" We organize 

Summer Youth Leadership Camp. 

Community Outcomes:

i. Decreases youth disengagement and isolation

ii. Builds protective factors against violence or exploitation

iii. Develops next-generation community leaders

We strengthen African immigrant families through culturally relevant navigation of systems, parenting support, and healing spaces. This program addresses the intergenerational and systemic challenges many families face.

Activities:

1. Workshops: We focus on helping parents navigate parenting across cultures and helping families balance African cultural values with U.S. systems.

2. Family Healing Circles: We provide space for Intergenerational storytelling and healing sessions.

3. Resource Navigation Help Desk: We assist with education, housing, immigration, legal, and employment questions.

Community Outcomes:

i. Stronger parent-child relationships

ii. Increased access to culturally safe services

iii. Decreased family stress and crisis escalation

We challenge systemic inequities impacting African immigrants through civic education, policy advocacy, and direct support navigating institutions like schools, courts, and healthcare.

Activities:

1. Workshops/Interviews: We focus on immigrant rights, immigration process, school system navigation, police encounters, civic engagements, etc.).

2. Cultural Competency Advocacy: We foster cultural Competency Advocacy with Schools, Medical institutions, and the police. We help institutions improve service to African immigrant youth and families.

3. Research: We gather insights and stories to inform advocacy efforts through research.

Community Outcomes:

i. Increased self-advocacy and institutional accountability.

ii. More equitable treatment of African immigrants in key systems.

iii. Greater civic and political participation

We educate schools, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and nonprofits on how to serve African immigrants with cultural humility, respect, and equity.

Activities:

1. Training Series: We focus on helping institutions to provide Services to African immigrants with dignity.

3. Panel Discussions: We organize Youth & Parent Panels to share direct experience with systems.

Community Outcomes:

i. Reduced misunderstandings and bias in systems.

ii. Better access and outcomes for African families.

iii. Stronger community-institution partnerships.