Introduction of the Brittany Clardy Act
Introduction of the Brittany Clardy Act: Crisis of Missing Black Women and Girls
Last week, Alongside Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and advocates I introduced the Brittany Clardy Act, critical legislation to address the alarming rates of missing and murdered Black women and girls nationwide. The Brittany Clardy Act will establish a national Office of Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls within the Department of Justice to comprehensively study this crisis. Minnesota has led efforts to address this crisis with the office of Missing of African American Women and Girls and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task force. We hope to take their findings and apply it nation wide.
The Hillock — Senior Living
On account of the numerous economic challenges plaguing seniors in the U.S., I remain committed to supporting facilities like The Hillock Affordable Senior Living. The Hillock provides safe and affordable housing for over 100 seniors in Minneapolis. As I toured the facility, I met with staff and senior residents to discuss the far reaching consequences that unaffordable housing has on various sectors, such as health care and food security. Protecting and upholding affordable housing is integral to effectively serving seniors within our community.
Project Sweetie Pie
Ahead of the upcoming Farm Bill, I met with members of Project Sweetie Pie to discuss the critical intersection of urban agriculture, workforce development, and racial equity. Gathering input from community programs that advocate for food security, community building, and environmental justice is crucial to addressing pertinent food supply and agricultural issues. Throughout my tour of the neighborhood garden, I was delighted and encouraged by Project Sweetie Pie’s efforts to serve the North Minneapolis community. Programs and nonprofits such as Project Sweetie Pie are instrumental to the prosperity of our communities.
Boys & Girls Club Check Presentation
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to give back to an organization that has devotedly served the youth of Minneapolis for over 80 years. I’m proud to have secured $750,000 in federal funding for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. This investment will facilitate the expansion of the organization’s enriching services– like its academic programs and sports leagues– to hundreds of children and teens! Presenting the Boys and Girls Clubs with this funding was a fulfilling and unforgettable experience.
Minneapolis Water Works
I visited the Minneapolis Water Treatment Facility, which treats drinking water for Minneapolis and seven surrounding suburbs, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, the University of Minnesota, and many other large institutions in the Twin Cities. We discussed the difficulty that urban and suburban communities are experiencing in getting prioritized for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), which would help them replace failing water infrastructure. On this visit, we also toured the facility, walked through their technology, and talked updates on what they have been able to accomplish recently with federal funding.
Life Source
I recently visited LifeSource’s Headquarters, a non-profit Organ Procurement Organization based in our district that now serves the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Wisconsin. During my visit, I met with Kelly White, the Chief Executive Officer, and Susan Mau Larson, the Chief Administrative Office. We discussed their mission and work, and I had the honor of touring the facility.
SACA — Food Shelf Open House
I visited the Southern Anoka Community Assistance (SACA) Food Shelter to celebrate their new location in Columbia Heights! We helped secure $1 million to purchase the incredible new facility which includes a warehouse for storing food, a food shelf, a thrift store, offices for staff and client consultations, and a technology center for workforce development and employment training services. The new location will enable this community institution to serve 50% more families and expand hunger relief, basic needs, and family navigation services.
In Service,
Ilhan Omar
