Welcome to the August 2026 Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans newsletter. The Council is looking forward to joining leaders from across the state for the 2026 Asian Pacific Minnesotans Leadership Awards Dinner on Saturday, October 24 and preparing for the upcoming midterm elections.

 

Please keep reading for some of the latest news and information.

 

We are excited to host the 2026 Asian Pacific Minnesotans Leadership Awards Dinner on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at the Mystic Lake Center. 

 

At the Dinner, the Council will recognize three individuals or groups who have generously given their time and energy to serving and improving our Asian Pacific Minnesotan community and the state of Minnesota. You can help honor those who work to better the lives of others by nominating someone to receive one of these prestigious awards.

 

Nominations must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026. Winners will be announced in early September.

 

 

 

We are now accepting RSVPs for the Leadership Awards Dinner! RSVP and submit payment by Friday, September 25 to ensure your spot.

 

 

Midterm elections are scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 3. This year’s elections are very important for our state, with every state legislator and the Governor, Attorney General, and other constitutional offices, as well as Congressional Representatives and a U.S. Senator on the ballot. Make sure to register to vote to make your voice heard ahead of the 2027 session!

 

To vote in Minnesota, you must be:

To register to vote, request an absentee ballot, or learn more about when, where, and how vote, visit the website of the Minnesota Secretary of State.

 

The Minnesota Department of Education has announced that it is investing in growing the state’s teacher workforce through more than $41 million in grants across five programs, including Grow Your Own. Most of the 2,884 individuals in teacher preparation programs through these grants are people of color or American Indian, a direct result of the Increase Teachers of Color Act that the Council has championed alongside the other ethnic councils.

 

The Council will continue to support state investments to ensure that there are enough teachers from backgrounds that match Minnesota’s increasingly diverse student population and to promote the best possible educational outcomes for future generations.

 

Do you have an upcoming event that community members should know about? The Council is interested in hearing from you about events, priorities, questions, or feedback on what matters to you and your community. To share your views or provide information to include in an upcoming newsletter, contact Andrew Morris, Legislative and Public Affairs Director, at andrew.morris@state.mn.us.

 

Want to receive these newsletters directly to your inbox? Sign up to receive communications from the Council.