District Work Week | March 29-April 2, 2021
Last week, we had another busy district work week. I’m always grateful to be back home and connect with members of our community. Here’s some of the highlights I wanted to share with you:
Monday:
Tiny Homes Visit: I visited the Avivo Village, a tiny home community shelter in Minneapolis. Because of the CARES Act that passed last year, this shelter has provided safe refuge for many of our community members who are facing housing insecurity.
Roots Community Birthing Center Visit: I visited the Roots Community Birth Center to discuss strategies to reduce disparities in Black maternal health services. This facility has provided a safe birthing experience for many women of color in our community.
Tuesday:
Virtual School Visit: Park Terrace Elementary: I always love talking with young people and ensuring they know their voice matters. I had the opportunity to meet with a second-grade class to talk about working in Congress and answer their questions.
Blue Line Driving Tour: I met with members of the MET Council and Hennepin County Commissioners to see the future location of the extension of the Blue Line. The extension of this line will help increase equity and accessibility to jobs in the Northwest Metro. We also discussed ways to increase transportation options for members of our community.
American Rescue Plan Highlight Visit: The American Rescue Plan will provide critical funding to school districts across the country including the Robbinsdale School District. I had the opportunity to talk with the Robbinsdale School District Superintendent, Dr. Stephanie Burrage about how our students will benefit from the additional funding. You can read more about my visit here.
Richfield City Council Meeting: I met with the Richfield City Council to hear their priorities and discuss ways we can support them on a federal level.
Wednesday:
Virtual: Labor Roundtable: As a former union member, I will always fight for economic security for every worker. I joined the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation to discuss how the PRO Act and the American Rescue Plan will impact workers.
Latinx Leaders Constituency Meeting: I hosted a roundtable with Latinx leaders to hear about the exciting work they are doing on behalf of our community. Latinx Minnesotans are overrepresented as essential workers and have been the backbone of our economy in the past year. Ensuring brighter futures for Latinx Minnesotans is not only an issue of equity, but an issue of justice.
Virtual School Visit: Lucy Laney Elementary: I got to talk with more students this week (always my favorite district work meeting!) Back in the day, I used to work as a nutrition educator at Lucy Laney Elementary and always love connecting with the educators and students there.
Stop Asian Hate Press Conference: An attack on one community is an attack on all of us. I hosted a press conference with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and other community leaders to condemn the hate targeted at the AAPI and other marginalized communities. Hate crimes against Asian Americans have increased by nearly 150 percent since the start of the pandemic. We cannot normalize this and must take steps to eradicate all forms of white supremacy. You can watch the full press conference here.
Virtual General Townhall: I hosted my second virtual town hall of the year. I answered your questions on immigration, COVID relief, and what I’ve been working on in Congress. In case you missed it, you can watch the town hall here.
Thursday:
LGBTQIA+ Leaders Constituency Meeting: It was an honor to meet with so many leaders in the LGBTQ community today. As Republicans across the country step up their attacks on trans kids, we know that it is more important than ever to provide safe schools, access to healthcare, mental health support, and inclusion at all levels of our society.
In Solidarity,
Ilhan Omar
