East African Community Dialogue

Held at Horn Apartments – 3121 Pillsbury Ave S, Minneapolis

July 18, 2024, 5:30-7pm

Attendees

Diini – Coordinator, East African Disability

Abdul – Translator

Hassan – Translator

15 attendees

Guthrie Byard provides introduction to the group

• Providing introduction to his work and his role.
• Explains his objectives in meeting with people.
• Explains initial overview of what we heard from community survey.

Shamalke (sp?) – Introduces himself as consultant on disabilities – has some issues he wants to raise to Guthrie.

• Create a workforce development training program for the east African community. Customer service training, cashier, other training
• Would like to get training places for computer skills.
• Address with the negative connotation with people with disabilities.
• Explaining to people how to go to the City.
• Transportation issues. Can’t go to the Gym at the YMCA because we don’t have the means of transport, safe crossing and ADA accessibility of ramps/etc to access.
• This organization is run by volunteers. This organization needs capacity building. Needs to support the org, provide funding, held ID office space, etc. Office would be helpful.
• Also needs board management and training. Volunteer board, don’t know how to work the board, can the city help train them on the board.

QUESTIONS

NOTES

What can the city do to support people with disabilities in the East African Community?

Community Comments

• The biggest need in the East African community is that of transportation. For example, Metro Mobility you can ride but not all the time. If you want to do shopping it is difficult to do their business.
• The way Metro Mobility works you have to schedule it and if it isn’t right at a specific time then it will leave. That is the biggest need that exists.
• The second thing the community needs is gathering spaces. Also need an office and there are great expenses. If the city can help us with those spaces that would be important.

Guthrie: The city has a small business support unit, there is an opportunity to make the small business support unit more accessible.

Guthrie: We are interested in pushing Uber/Lyft to have accessible transportation options.

What else can the city do to support people with disabilities in the East African Community?

Community Comments

• I think that everything has already been said.
• It would be a good idea for people to know where to go to discuss their concerns and needs.
• What is there available to reach the east African community currently?

Guthrie: Trying to bridge the gap given language issues. If someone from the City is speaking somali that is way easier/more trusting relationship.

Community Comments

• Yes, that would be helpful. We need a place to go to get our questions answered.
• I used to work with Hennepin County office of multicultural services. There used to be space for people to connect with somali and oromo people provided by the County.

Guthrie: I can connect you to the East African Community specialist.

Community Comments

• The issue of the office is very important to this group.
• Simple things are needed at a central place where people with disabilities can go to get help with simple things like paying their electric bill. We can’t call the city for that.
• Need more education on what they can do. There is stigma that if you have a disability you can’t have a job, get education, work. They need help to understand that its possible to get an education and work.

Dinii – adding to what Hodan was saying. Special education services are needed. Right now that contract is given to Lyndale enighborhood, but could be provided to others as well.

• Need education and skills training. We can do jobs that don’t require physical needs. We want to be self-sufficient. If the City can help us achieve our goals. We don’t want to be dependent.
• Some major issues that we face, we already discussed them. But some things not covered. Accessibility in certain areas like Karmel Mall. There aren’t doors that they can use. Many businesses in the neighborhood are not accessible. We need those to be addressed as well.
• Those buildings that have accessibility issues are both businesses and residential. Its not just about sending a picture, its obvious needs.
• New developments surrounding this neighborhood – we need to be at the table to provide input.

Guthrie – there is an advisory committee of people with disabilities. I don’t believe there has been an East African member of that committee to date. That should change.

Community Comments

• Thank you for being here today. I have a question on disparities. I believe the East African community has a large gap in education, etc within the east African disability community. Need equal share with other communities.

Guthrie – The City is not hearing enough from the East African community folks with people with communities.

Diini – very important that we get on that city advisory committee.

Guthrie: I can share issues with the East African community specialist and with the City Council member.

Community Comments

• Community question- The rate is higher when you are getting a vehicle that is accessible. Costs are much more for transportation.  Can you help with that?

Guthrie – We can help with connecting to county services.

Community Comments

• When it comes to shoveling snow, snow removal. When the removal vehicles come around and pushes snow on the edge of the road, often it blocks the accessibility areas. Sometimes we need to wait day until the snow is removed.
• Just want to know if the City of Minneapolis – grants and funding are available – can you help an organization like East African Disabilities succeed.

Guthrie: I can help with identifying resources. Part of it is figuring out what the needs are to identify funding sources.

• I understand that, but we still need someone to help us navigate the systems.
• City of Minneapolis is spending millions of dollars. City needs to have someone to mentor and help them in the grantwriting process so that they can succeed in this work.

Guthrie: When I brought up the small business unity, clearly they are not doing enough. What is it that we can do to support you? Who can help fill out the applications? My office can help be a liaison on this.

Community Comments

• Thank you for everyone participating in this meeting. We need to be solidified on all the points that we discussed today. We need action for these items.
• The advisory committee is important. We need an east African community member on the MOCPD.

How can we keep the conversation going?

Guthrie – we will translate and send out notes.

Community Comments

• This is the City-provided service. Is it possible that you have information regarding the County, State, others. Can you connect the community to all the services they don’t know about?

Guthrie – We should have people from different types of Gov’t to hear from you.

Hodan – Maybe next time bring someone from the East African liaison so we can get their contact information…?

Diini – Please work with me to get more information out.

Community Comments

• There are a lot of organizations that the City supports. Can you help us to connect the East African community to get resources from the city and organizations?
• Dinni and team: We can survey the east African community regarding accessibility.

Suggestion: Since this org is just a fledgling org, we need to gain experience with larger organizations that are doing more work, we can collaborate with other organizations to build our capacity and experience.