We can all find hope in the spontaneous actions of the many people who want to do good – who far outnumber the few bent on destruction. There are thousands of people who have come out to peacefully protest George Floyd’s killing and demand change to end the prejudices and shatter the structures that led to his killing.  

On Saturday morning, like so many other Minnesotans, I went to Lake Street in South Minneapolis to help clean up. My relatives have businesses in the area that were destroyed. DEED has a CareerForce location there. I wanted to be a part of restoring our community.     

As an entrepreneur who has worked hard in the last twenty years to build community and support businesses in Minnesota, it hurts me to see businesses destroyed. I know that people of color and immigrants who own businesses have faced many obstacles to their success and that they are there to provide for the neighbors’ needs. They have groceries, and prescription medication, clothing, take-out food, and so much more. Seeing the destruction made me think of Somalia and what I witnessed there. I joined marches and peaceful protests when I was in middle-school--my daughters’ age--and we were shot at by opposition and government forces. I left Somalia to come to the US and rebuild my life.    

I saw volunteers of all ages at our CareerForce location and at local businesses. We were all working together, including our DEED Commissioner, Steve Grove. Dozens of volunteers arrived with brooms and gloves – and face masks – to sweep up and remove broken glass and other debris left behind after a few people broke into the CareerForce location. Surveillance video shows they set fires before leaving – and a passerby came in and put out the fires with a fire extinguisher, or the damage could have been much worse.  

Thank you, from all of us, to all of you. We see your good work in supporting our community and taking care of each other. We know it’s happening on the Northside, too, where we have another CareerForce location, on West Broadway, In St Paul and across the Twin Cities. (Our CareerForce locations are currently serving customers over the phone or online, not in person, due to COVID-19.) We know that community-building and recovery and rebuilding efforts are ongoing, and our agency will play a role in strengthening our economy and supporting our workforce. 

The generosity and good will of people stepping in to help will hopefully inspire others to give of their time and talents. This will help us all in the coming weeks and months as we recover from the damage done and focus on rebuilding a more equitable Minnesota.  

If you want to know how you can help in immediate relief and recovery efforts, one way to find ways to volunteer or donate is by visting the Support the Cities Facebook page.