Many people have been looking for additional positive ways to engage in our community since the election, in the interest of building deeper connections and making sure all neighbors feel welcome to our neighborhood and city.  KFNA continues to compile a list of actions each person can take, in case these inspire you to get involved. Please contact the person listed for each action to offer your time or assistance. Thank you!
- Donate nonperishable food now through January 16, at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park (4055 Nicollet) for the 8th annual Minneapolis Park & Rec Board food drive. Neighbors can drop food at any MPLS Rec Center but the center with the most donations wins a free movie in the Park. Recipients of the donated food city-wide are again The Aliveness Project (38th & Nicollet) and Beacon Interfaith, the developing company of Nicollet Square (37th & Nicollet) and the owner of many other transitional housing options.
- Stand up to hate. Call it out by using the new mobile app created by Human Rights Watch. The idea is simple: When you see something, say something. It’s up to each of us to call out intolerance by reporting racist, sexist and homophobic attacks and building a national call to fight against hate.  HRW set up a text-based system that allows you to:
- Easily report incidents of hate in your own community.
- #CallitOut when leaders – in word or deed – cross the line.
By collecting these stories they can draw attention and resources to combat hate. And most importantly, we can show that wherever we are, we are not afraid to speak up and #CallitOut when human rights are under attack.
Additionally, the City of Minneapolis asks that if you witness hate-motivated speech or actions call 911 to report a threat in progress, contact Minneapolis Police to file a police report online or in person, or call 311 to report any non-urgent actions or contact the Civil Rights Department.
The Civil Rights Department enforces the City’s anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws. If you or someone you know is the victim of harassment or discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, sex, LGBT status or other protected classes, please contact 612-673-3012 or visit www.minneapolismn.gov/civilrights/.
- Attend the “Immigration Law Teach-In: Sanctuary and the Rights of Immigrantsâ€, sponsored by the University of Minnesota on Wednesday December 14, 4-5:30pm, in the Mississippi Room, Coffman Union, University of Minnesota. Questions explored will include: What are the rights of undocumented people on campus? What is a sanctuary campus? What is a sanctuary city? What does it mean that Minneapolis is a sanctuary city? What can local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) do on and off campus? Presenters will discuss what these questions mean in both law and in practice, and what may change in the coming months.
- Make a difference in our neighborhood. Help students at Lyndale School, Green Central and Burroughs become successful readers by becoming a Minnesota Reading Corps or Minnesota Math Corps tutor. Visit www.readingandmath.net to find out more about paid, full- or part-time opportunities starting in January.
Stay Involved/Get Involved, Neighbors. KFNA is continuing to crowdsource ideas of what we can do together to make our community a better place. Please feel free to share your ideas on our Facebook page or email us directly at .