Anti-Racism and Community Support Resources ⋆ Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota

Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota grieves the tragic loss of George Floyd, and we stand in solidarity with those demanding and advocating for justice. We deepen our resolve to uproot the racist systems in homeownership in Minnesota. We further our commitment to learn from and elevate calls for change and action led by communities of color, like the Center For Economic Inclusion, Headwaters Foundation for Justice, Black Visions Collective, and others leading this work. We stand ready to work in partnership with public, private, and philanthropic partners to address systemic racism in our state.

We echo these words from Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity:

“While our state is a comfortable home for many, we know Minnesotans of color, especially Black Minnesotans, rarely enjoy the comforts and safety of this place. We’re one of the most racially segregated states in the country and we have some of the worst racial disparities—in education, homeownership, income, health.

These disparities didn’t happen by accident; racist policies and practices created them. And we will never experience a Minnesota that is a safe home for all if we don’t actively uproot our racism and urgently work to close our racial divides.”

“Sadness, grief, and anger are all appropriate emotions. But resolve must be our motivator. Resolve to continue our fight for justice. Resolve to uproot historic, systemic, and institutional racism. Resolve to further equity for all.”

And these from Oregon Habitat for Humanity:

“We cannot fathom the trauma our Black communities are experiencing. We commit to using our platform to speak out against the systemic racism plaguing our nation.

Racism permeates all systems and institutions in our society—including justice. For George Floyd and many others, we must continue the fight for justice.

We deepen our resolve to uproot the racist systems and institutions in our society. We confirm our commitment to learn from and elevate the calls for action from leaders of local, statewide and national organizations uniting for change.”

Let’s all resolve to build a just and equitable homeownership system, one where racial gaps in homeownership no longer exist, so that every person has the opportunity to thrive.

Advocate

Call or email an elected official to demand swift justice. Contact Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and the Minneapolis City Council and urge them to prosecute all four officers involved in the murder of George Floyd to the fullest extent of the law, and ask for their commitment to end to systemic racism in the city of Minneapolis.
Support the Black Lives Matter movement and organizations on the front lines.
Advocate for racial equity and social justice reform.
Register to vote.
Join the Cost Of Home campaign. Read about our progress and reflections on year one. Then take action.

Donate

Support these organizations working on anti-racism and community rebuilding

Support organizations on the ground, such as Black Visions Collective, Reclaim the Block, and the Minnesota Freedom Fund.
Support the Black Lives Matter movement and organizations on the front lines.

West Broadway Business and Area Coalition is leading rebuilding work.
Minnesota Freedom Fund pays criminal bail and immigration bond for those who cannot afford to as they seek to end discriminatory, coercive, and oppressive jailing and mass incarceration and invest in restorative and transformative justice.
Lake Street’s neighborhood Council is working on rebuilding efforts.
Du Nord Foundation – Support black and brown companies affected by the protests and ongoing work in the community.
Midway Saint Paul Mutual Aid Autonomous Zone Coordination – Non-Police and Non-Governmental care for Midway St. Paul.

Learn

Learn the history. Resources like Mapping Prejudice, Voices of Rondo, Unpacking Minnesota’s Racist Housing Policy History, and Jim Crow of the North shed light on the structural racism embedded into the fabric of the Twin Cities and explain how years of racist housing policies continue to impact us today.
Learn about criminal justice contact, homeownership, and the implications for the black-white wealth gap.
Listen to Dr. Ibram X. Kendi share his insights into how communities of color are experiencing disproportionate burdens and risks during the ongoing pandemic and recession.
Commit to naming, understanding, and uprooting all forms of racism and White supremacy. Be actively anti-racist in every facet of your life.
For white people, learn all the ways you can work toward racial justice.
Racism in Housing

Connect

Talk to a friend. Don’t let this tragic incident of violence in our community fade into the background. Reach out to friends, family, and neighbors and have a conversation about the racism in our community that led to the murder of George Floyd and our resolve for building the equitable community that we want to see.
Listen to Dr. Ibram X. Kendi share his insights into how communities of color are experiencing disproportionate burdens and risks during the ongoing pandemic and recession.
Commit to naming, understanding, and uprooting all forms of racism and White supremacy. Be actively anti-racist in every facet of your life.
For white people, learn all the ways you can work toward racial justice.
Support the Black Lives Matter movement and organizations on the front lines.

Make Personal Change

Commit to naming, understanding, and uprooting all forms of racism and White supremacy. Be actively anti-racist in every facet of your life.
For white people, learn all the ways you can work toward racial justice.
Talk to a friend. Don’t let this tragic incident of violence in our community fade into the background. Reach out to friends, family, and neighbors and have a conversation about the racism in our community that led to the murder of George Floyd and our resolve for building the equitable community that we want to see.

Teach

Resources for Children

Center for Racial Justice in Education – Resources for talking about race, racism, and racialized violence with kids, including recorded interviews, articles, and affinity spaces.
Minneapolis Public Schools
- Family and Caregiver Support for Children
- Mental Health Support
National Child Traumatic Stress Network – Discusses complex trauma in urban African American children, youth, and families and shares tips for providers.
National Museum of African American History and Culture – Guides on talking about race in classrooms, in families (provides age-level guides), and with community.
Saint Paul Public Schools – Provided a document with links resources for supporting children with grief, trauma, and mental health.
University of Minnesota Extension – Early Childhood Mental Health Toolkit – offers research, training videos, and an online case study focused on our youngest community members.
University of Minnesota Extension – Youth Development Insight Blog – Five tips to keep kids talking during stressful times.
University of Minnesota Extension – Center for Family Development – Historical trauma and cultural healing.
EmbraceRace – shares topics, resources, webinars, and curated links about Race in the U.S.

Books:
- 31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism, and resistance
- Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults
Podcasts:
Articles:
- PBS’s Teaching Your Child About Black History Month
- Your Kids Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup from Pretty Good

Advocate

Support the Black Lives Matter movement and organizations on the front lines.

Advocate for racial equity and social justice reform.

Register to vote.

Join the Cost Of Home campaign. Read about our progress and reflections on year one. Then take action.

Donate

Support these organizations working on anti-racism and community rebuilding

Support organizations on the ground, such as Black Visions Collective, Reclaim the Block, and the Minnesota Freedom Fund.

Support the Black Lives Matter movement and organizations on the front lines.

West Broadway Business and Area Coalition is leading rebuilding work.

Minnesota Freedom Fund pays criminal bail and immigration bond for those who cannot afford to as they seek to end discriminatory, coercive, and oppressive jailing and mass incarceration and invest in restorative and transformative justice.

Lake Street’s neighborhood Council is working on rebuilding efforts.

Du Nord Foundation – Support black and brown companies affected by the protests and ongoing work in the community.

Midway Saint Paul Mutual Aid Autonomous Zone Coordination – Non-Police and Non-Governmental care for Midway St. Paul.

Learn

Learn about criminal justice contact, homeownership, and the implications for the black-white wealth gap.

Listen to Dr. Ibram X. Kendi share his insights into how communities of color are experiencing disproportionate burdens and risks during the ongoing pandemic and recession.

Commit to naming, understanding, and uprooting all forms of racism and White supremacy. Be actively anti-racist in every facet of your life.

For white people, learn all the ways you can work toward racial justice.

Racism in Housing

Connect

Listen to Dr. Ibram X. Kendi share his insights into how communities of color are experiencing disproportionate burdens and risks during the ongoing pandemic and recession.

Commit to naming, understanding, and uprooting all forms of racism and White supremacy. Be actively anti-racist in every facet of your life.

For white people, learn all the ways you can work toward racial justice.

Support the Black Lives Matter movement and organizations on the front lines.

Make Personal Change

Commit to naming, understanding, and uprooting all forms of racism and White supremacy. Be actively anti-racist in every facet of your life.

For white people, learn all the ways you can work toward racial justice.

Teach

Resources for Children

Center for Racial Justice in Education – Resources for talking about race, racism, and racialized violence with kids, including recorded interviews, articles, and affinity spaces.

Minneapolis Public Schools

National Child Traumatic Stress Network – Discusses complex trauma in urban African American children, youth, and families and shares tips for providers.

National Museum of African American History and Culture – Guides on talking about race in classrooms, in families (provides age-level guides), and with community.

Saint Paul Public Schools – Provided a document with links resources for supporting children with grief, trauma, and mental health.

University of Minnesota Extension – Early Childhood Mental Health Toolkit – offers research, training videos, and an online case study focused on our youngest community members.

University of Minnesota Extension – Youth Development Insight Blog – Five tips to keep kids talking during stressful times.

University of Minnesota Extension – Center for Family Development – Historical trauma and cultural healing.

EmbraceRace – shares topics, resources, webinars, and curated links about Race in the U.S.

Books:

Podcasts:

Articles:

Thanks to Girl Scouts River Valleys for compiling the above resources!

Thank you to Twin Cities Habitat and to Habitat Portland/Metro East for sharing many of these resources and links.

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Support organizations on the ground, such as Black Visions Collective, Reclaim the Block, and the Minnesota Freedom Fund.