Even though the drawdown of ICE agents has started to calm the chaos of Operation Metro Surge, Minneapolis continues to reel from the violence and trauma of the occupation. Immigrant-owned businesses have been hit the hardest financially. We estimate that along the Lake Street Corridor, more than 1,000 immigrant-owned businesses lost a cumulative $46 million in December and January, and many were forced to shut down temporarily. Without immediate support from friends like you, more businesses will be at risk of closing, causing continued crises for our friends, families, and community members in Minneapolis.

WITH ALL OF THIS IN MIND, WE ASK THAT YOU BECOME A PARTNER OF THESE SMALL BUSINESSES BY COMMITTING TO PROVIDING A RAPID RESPONSE THROUGH A ONE-TIME OR RECURRING MONTHLY GIFT.

Small businesses serve as the historical and cultural lifeblood of the state, with generational legacies that each hold a unique story and a deep connection to the communities they serve. Not only do these businesses provide employment, livelihood, and economic opportunity to the residents they support, they provide imperative cultural connections to visitors and the community members that frequent them. We all need these spaces to thrive; their dreams directly reflect our own aspirations for our children, families, friends, and colleagues. Their permanent closure would irrevocably change the way of life in Minneapolis.

Your financial support is urgently vital right now to keep our work moving forward. The funds will allow the Lake Street Council to quickly and efficiently distribute resources and support directly to businesses along the corridor. We will work hard to ensure every business survives the destructive impact of Operation Metro Surge and returns to a way of life in which we, together as a community, all thrive.

Thank you in advance for your consideration, and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.