Annual
Report

We Came Out Stronger – Together

Working remotely, our administrative and development team cranked out more than 70 grant applications, successfully raising well over a million dollars in emergency aid alone. Donors and congregational partners also stepped up, increasing total contributions by more than $80,000 from the prior year. Everyone grabbed an oar, and we weathered the storm.

Of course, many of us also lost friends, colleagues, and loved ones. And the murder of George Floyd sparked a racial reckoning that will continue to transform our communities, our institutions, and ourselves for years to come.

Yes, there is much more work to do. But we invite you to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable accomplishments of the past year and some of the lessons we’ve learned. Unhoused adults can thrive with just a bit more privacy and support. Adult English learners appreciate the opportunity to learn remotely. And community bonds grow strong when we come together with common purpose.

Thank you for being part of our community this year. We look forward to seeing you again soon, in person!

With gratitude,

David Fey, Interim Executive Director

Meet Khadija

From her first day of school in 2019 to now, Khadija sees a big change in herself. She says, “On the first day, I was scared to speak English.” But Khadija never let that fear stop her from learning. When her friend told her about the English Learning Center, she knew she wanted to attend. “Because I need it. My children are going to school, and I need to have conversations with their teachers. Or when I go to a doctor’s appointment or want to go talk to the manager [of the apartment] in the office downstairs. If you try to speak Somali, people don’t understand, and so I always had to find an interpreter.” Now, however, Khadija feels more independent. She’s also less worried about making mistakes, remembering that everybody has to start somewhere. “Sometimes you’re right. Sometimes you don’t know and you’re wrong. Like right now, I’m just trying.”

Even a pandemic couldn’t stop Khadija from learning. She went from riding to class in the school van to logging in online. While the change presented many new challenges for students, Khadija remained undeterred. She was one of the first Google classroom students and helped the ELC staff learn how best to do distance learning. She says, “Online classes are very different. I got a computer from my school, so I could stay home and feel safe while going to school. [It’s] not harder. When my children are at home, I can learn English. My son helps me. I watch a lot of youtube videos. I practice listening. I can cook and listen to English.”

In recognition of her hard work and contributions during an extraordinary year, Khadija received Literacy Minnesota’s 2020 Outstanding Learner Award! As an ELC staff member wrote in her nomination, “[Khadija’s]determination and dedication to class, despite all the barriers she was facing, were truly inspiring! Her continued attendance helped us to rebuild our program and grow it to what it is today.”

Meet Sheila

On May 1, 2020, Sheila became one of the first guests to stay at the hotel where our shelter began operating when the pandemic began. She’d never been to a shelter before and recalls it was a little hectic and took some time for her to adjust. But she’s glad she came, especially since having COPD put her at much higher risk with COVID. She says, “I thought truly that I was going to be on a long road of suffering. But through the grace of God, it’s been okay. It’s been magnificent, compared to being on the streets. I wouldn’t turn it in right now for nothing in the world. I would not turn it in, and the staff has been nothing but remarkable to me.”

With stable shelter, Sheila has the time and energy to focus on her mental and physical health. She says she keeps all of her appointments, something she wasn’t able to do when she was on the streets. “The appointments they gave me were far away. By the time you get there…I’m homeless, you know, I can’t remember dates and things. But here, I have the support that I need, and that’s the main factor, being able to have the support.” Sheila’s also been working on her sobriety, something she’s committed to doing for her five grandkids. “I need to get myself together in order for me to help my grandkids. So it’s no more usage of drugs in my life. That’s where I’m at now. Staying clean and sober and just staying at peace within myself.”

Sheila most looks forward to the day when she can have her own place, where she can cook and have her grandkids spend the night. She’d like to find some quiet senior housing that’s on the first floor or has an elevator. It’s been a slow process, and she worries that her background will be held against her. But she remains hopeful. “I’m just looking forward to really getting my place and know that I can make it in this life. You know, I’m 59 now. I’ll be 60, and I don’t want to waste no more time on garbage or BS, as they say. When I get my place, I want to be able to come back here and help the fellow people that are struggling and let them know where I was at a time in my life. I want to give back what was really gave to me. I got to give back.”