Homelessness 201: MN Immigration 101 & How to Protect Yourself and the People Receiving Housing Supports on ZOOM

Course Description: 

According to MN Compass, nearly half a million immigrants and refugees call Minnesota home, making up approximately 8% of the state’s population. Immigrants and refugees who are within the housing system may face additional layered challenges when unhoused and seeking housing supports, such as language barriers, mistrust of the system, and immigration barriers (ex: undocumented status barring them from receiving certain public benefits). This webinar will cover the following topics: an overview of the federal immigration system; examples of state, county, and city policies pertaining to immigration and refugee safety; and how to protect yourself and clients from immigration enforcement and detention/deportation. No preliminary knowledge is needed for this webinar — you’ll only need an open mind and an interest in learning!

Presenter Bio:

Rebecca (she/they) believes in organizing from a place of love, care, and abundance in order to radically imagine another world. She grew up as the oldest child of a Malaysian Chinese immigrant family and within working-class East and Southeast Asian communities on Lenape Land (known today as Brooklyn, New York). After relocating to Dakota and Anishinaabe land (known today as Minneapolis, Minnesota), Rebecca learned about the power of communities uniting together for change through protests and grassroots organizing. They have a background in program management and qualitative research.

Rebecca currently is the Organizing Director of MN8, a non-profit that supports Southeast Asian community members affected by detention and deportation and fights for systemic change to make Minnesota safer for all people, especially immigrants and refugees. At MN8, they lead local and state organizing efforts, such as disentangling local counties from ICE and passing legislation to expand options for relief for community members with deportation orders.

In addition to her work with MN8, Rebecca is a volunteer at Boneshaker Books, a volunteer-run, radical bookstore in Minneapolis. Rebecca is nourished by spending time with her loved ones, going indoor rock climbing (perhaps outdoors one day), and reading fiction novels.

Rebecca is a proud graduate from Haverford College where they graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Growth & Structure of Cities and a Spanish minor. They are also a proud graduate of the University of Minnesota Center for Urban & Regional Affairs (CURA) Neighborhoods Now! program.

How to register:  Registration below is broken into Member & Non-Member.  If you are unsure whether you are part of a member organization or would like more information about membership, please contact Michele.  If you choose to pay by credit card, you will be walked through payment process and receive an automated email confirming your payment and registration.  If you choose to pay by check, you will receive an invoice from MESH.  Payment is expected prior to training date.  Please contact Michele if scholarship help is needed.  You may register more than 1 person at a time and note the names in the space provided.  I will send out the Zoom link the day prior. If you do not see the reminder email with the link – please check your spam/junk folder or email Michele right away.