Building Community While Facing Injustice
360 Communities has a long history of facing and navigating injustices. We supported our community during the uprisings after George Floyd’s murder and adapted our services to meet the challenges of the global pandemic. Today, we are at another turning point in history, confronting the unjust actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents in Minnesota. Although this situation is unprecedented, our commitment to delivering safety and stability remains strong, guided by our values of respect, empathy, stewardship, equity, and community.
This means taking positive action to reject narratives that divide people and erode human dignity. It means communities working together to foster neighborhoods where all residents feel safe, valued, and empowered.
Impact of ICE
The social unrest and killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE and Border Patrol actions weigh heavily on our hearts. Instability and fear are damaging the social fabric of our communities and hindering our ability to provide help to neighbors in need.
At our food shelves and resource centers, families hesitate to seek assistance, worried that it will put them or a loved one at risk. Parents fear separation from their children, and children carry anxiety that no child should have to bear. We see families delaying critical support, even when facing eviction or unsafe living conditions, because they fear being targeted. In our violence prevention programs, victims have opted to remain in dangerous situations instead of seeking help or going to court to file restraining orders for fear of unjust detainment. In our student success programs, parents are keeping their children at home. Stress, distraction, and emotional strain have affected learning and well-being.
These impacts extend beyond those we serve to our staff and volunteers as well. Our BIPOC staff and volunteers, as well as those with historically marginalized identities, are experiencing these effects in profound and often unimaginable ways. Many live in the same neighborhoods as the people we serve, fearing ICE will target them because of the color of their skin or their accent. They carry the emotional weight of supporting neighbors who are afraid, while continuing to show up with empathy, professionalism, and care.
The Power of Community
As we work to find thoughtful and effective ways to support the program participants, staff, and volunteers most affected by these actions, we remain motivated, inspired, and amazed by the generosity and commitment of the broader community. Donations of food, time, and financial support continue. Community partners, faith groups, clubs, schools, and local businesses reach out with the common desire to help. This is in the true spirit of this organization. Because the community joins us in this work, we can create hope for the future.
As Coretta Scott King so powerfully reminded us, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” At 360 Communities, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering a compassionate and welcoming place of safety, stability, and hope for all our neighbors. We invite our community to stand with us and continue this important work together.
Intentional Action Creates Hope
Take positive, concrete steps to create the future you want. Start today by choosing at least one of the following actions to make a tangible impact in your community.
- Advocate for targeted communities. Support local immigrant rights organizations, legal aid groups, or community centers providing direct support to families in need.
- Donate to support the local safety net. Your neighbors need your help now more than ever, and there are many worthy nonprofits that can put your contribution to work locally.
- Organize or participate in food drives for your chosen food pantry. Ensure families facing hardship have access to basic necessities.
- Volunteer your time and skills. Lift spirits by building valuable connections while helping to strengthen your community.
- Check out the wealth of resources provided by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. Explore the many ways you can both offer and receive support.
- Connect with local and national organizations and educators. Doing so helps ensure that your impact is intentional and informed, not just for this moment in history but for the ongoing journey ahead, helping us work toward a future where we never return to the place we find ourselves today as a state and nation. Here are some resources to help you learn more about antiracist and anti‑oppressive practices: