The Initiative Foundation announced on December 31, 2023, that it has allocated a total of $30,000 in rapid-response grants to bolster the Somali community in St. Cloud and Central Minnesota. This decision follows a series of alarming reports detailing increased harassment and threats aimed at community members, including incidents of intimidation directed at nonprofit organizations and community leaders.
The funding, which consists of four individual grants, targets organizations that are either led by or support the Somali, new American, and immigrant populations. According to the Initiative Foundation, the grants are designed to “respond to immediate safety concerns, protect staff and community members.” An additional $45,000 is anticipated to be distributed in the near future.
To ensure the safety of the grant recipients, the Initiative Foundation has opted not to publicly identify the organizations receiving the funds. Bob McClintick, the marketing and communications director at the Initiative Foundation, explained to St. Cloud LIVE that “because of the current safety environment, we are being careful not to publicly identify grant recipients… we don’t want additional attention to put people at risk.”
Addressing Immediate Needs
The Initiative Foundation’s action comes in response to recent incidents of intimidation in both workplaces and public spaces, as well as the proliferation of hateful rhetoric online and personal threats directed at community leaders. This has prompted the Foundation to take swift action in collaboration with key partners, including the Morgan Family Foundation and the United Way of Central Minnesota. Other statewide partners include the McKnight Foundation, the Minneapolis Foundation, and the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
The funds will be utilized for a variety of crucial initiatives. These include implementing physical safety measures, providing crisis response and de-escalation training, and addressing short-term basic needs such as food, housing stability, transportation, and healthcare. McClintick emphasized that these efforts aim to restore stability and trust within the affected communities.
In addition to these initiatives, a portion of the funding will also be dedicated to providing access to accurate and culturally responsive legal information. This comprehensive support is intended to empower the Somali community in St. Cloud and foster a safer environment for all its members.
For more information about the Initiative Foundation and its ongoing efforts, visit their official website at www.ifound.org.
