https://mn.gov/ en-us https://mn.gov/ https://mn.gov/ 2024-06-27T19:54:08Z https://mn.gov%252Fcmah%252Fresources%252Fstatements%252Findex.jsp?id=32-630463 <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Council of Minnesotans of African stands in community and solidarity with Kenyan Americans in Minnesota as we receive difficult news coming out of Kenya. Minnesota boasts one of the largest Kenyan American populations in the United States. We ask that community members take time for their self-care as they manage the uncertainties of news about the situation in Kenya.</div> 2024-06-05T19:19:41Z https://mn.gov%252Fcmah%252Fresources%252Fstatements%252Findex.jsp?id=32-630446 <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage extends our gratitude and appreciation to Representative Hodan Hassan for her dedicated service and leadership in the Minnesota Legislature. As a Somali woman and the second only Muslim woman to serve in this body, Hassan has been an inspirational figure and a powerful advocate for our community’s racial equity. Her efforts have significantly advanced broader movements for social justice in Minnesota.</div> 2024-05-23T16:42:28Z https://mn.gov%252Fcmah%252Fresources%252Fstatements%252Findex.jsp?id=32-625411 <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Minnesota took a major step in the movement to combat child welfare disparities this week when Governor Tim Walz signed the African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act into law.</div> <div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Child welfare disparities harm impacted children and families. The legislation provides critical tools for preventing harm and strengthening the stability and well-being of children and families. The Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage (CMAH) congratulates the bill authors, community partners, and state leaders for their work in getting the bill passed and signed.</div> 2024-02-27T22:28:23Z https://mn.gov%252Fcmah%252Fresources%252Fstatements%252Findex.jsp?id=32-609543 Minnesota should create statewide tools to combat disproportionality. The 2024 Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act (AAFPA) provides a package of tools for systemic change. If the true purpose of child welfare is to protect the best interests of the child, then the child welfare system must stop the arbitrary removal of Black children from Black families. AAFPA establishes minimum standards to prevent arbitrary and unnecessary removal of Black children from their families. 2024-01-17T23:00:00Z https://mn.gov%252Fcmah%252Fresources%252Fstatements%252Findex.jsp?id=32-606992 <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Monday was Martin Luther King, Jr, National Day of Service. The Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage thanks everyone who took time to reflect and honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We thank Governor Walz, Lt Governor Flanagan, Dr. Stephanie Burrage, and the Governor's Council on the MLK Day Celebration for bringing Minnesotans together for the state's festivities: One Dream, One Minnesota! </p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">These state leaders encouraged Minnesotans of all ages to do what they can to engage the spirit of the MLK Day of Service. There are many ways an individual can participate in that spirit of service. You could read, reflect, talk, teach, learn, listen, volunteer, or do other things---in the name of service! There's no act too big or too small. What matters is the giving of oneself to the spirit of service, an active will to serve others.</p> 2023-09-27T19:48:35Z https://mn.gov%252Fcmah%252Fresources%252Fstatements%252Findex.jsp?id=32-593406 <p class="Default" style="line-height:110%" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; line-height:110%">Representative Ruth Richardson resigned from the Minnesota House earlier this month. The Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage thanks Rep. Richardson for her public service and leadership in the Minnesota Legislature. Richardson has been a tremendous resource to our Council’s racial equity agenda and to broader movements for social justice in Minnesota. </span></p> 2023-08-21T23:07:04Z https://mn.gov%252Fcmah%252Fresources%252Fstatements%252Findex.jsp?id=32-587881 This statement reaffirms COUNCIL FOR MINNESOTANS OF AFRICAN HERITAGE  (thereafter “the agency”) is committed to Minnesota’s statewide affirmative action efforts and providing equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants in accordance with equal opportunity and affirmative action laws. 2023-07-07T16:12:18Z https://mn.gov%252Fcmah%252Fresources%252Fstatements%252Findex.jsp?id=32-584636 Our three ethnic councils were created by the Minnesota Legislature as non-cabinet, executive branch agencies to amplify the voices of communities of color. We advise government on issues that affect our constituent ethnic communities and support the equitable participation of our diverse communities in the resources of the state and economy. Against the move to weaken contemporary racial diversity and equity tools (and the increasing inequities this move portends), our councils urge leaders and organizations in the public and private sectors alike to partner with historically marginalized communities in the collective local and national work of expanding spaces of diversity, equity, and freedom. 2023-07-07T15:59:14Z https://mn.gov%252Fcmah%252Fresources%252Fstatements%252Findex.jsp?id=32-584632 Our three ethnic councils have come together to express our concern that the unqualified rejection of race-conscious college admissions would reduce racial diversity and increase systemic inequities in higher education and beyond for generations to come. The move to eliminate affirmative action without replacing it with something better weakens our national racial equity toolkit at a time of growing demographic diversity and widening racial disparities. Calling this a disappointment would be an understatement. 2023-06-01T18:13:37Z https://mn.gov%252Fcmah%252Fresources%252Fstatements%252Findex.jsp?id=32-579853 As we reflect on the events that marked the third anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage recognizes the immeasurable impact that his murder has had on Minnesota and the world. Unfortunately, Mr. Floyd’s murder was one of several high-profile, brutal murders of citizens at the hand of law enforcement. We are encouraged and motivated by the racial justice movement that has pushed forward equitable and inclusive culture change in how we govern community safety and police conduct in Minnesota and elsewhere.