CAPI USA Is Supporting Immigrant Communities in Minnesota during COVID-19, and You Can Help

Minnesotans are stepping up and making a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I want to make sure people know about all the organizations out there doing great work and helping during this crisis and beyond. I’m profiling a different nonprofit each day to share their information and their story.

Today’s entry is CAPI USA, led by my good friend Ekta Prakash. Beginning as the Centre for Asian and Pacific Islanders in 1982, the organization was started by a coalition of church groups who were helping refugees arriving in Minnesota from Southeast Asia in the aftermath of the Vietnam conflict, but with varied backgrounds, experiences, and cultural traditions. Over the years, the organization expanded its focus to include new refugees and immigrants from all over the world—including East and West Africa, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Thailand, among others—providing a safe and strong support system to help their journey into their new life. In 2008, it changed its name to CAPI USA to reflect its multicultural focus.

CAPI USA offers a broad continuum of programs and services to the people it serves, including culturally specific food shelves; assistance with health insurance enrollment, immunizations, and eldercare programs; educational and vocational training to help secure sustainable employment; civic engagement; and so much more.

The faces of CAPI participants. CAPI USA

During the COVID-19 pandemic, CAPI has scaled back but continued to provide services. Its food shelf is open Wednesdays and Thursdays for curbside pickup only but helps anyone who needs food or resources. Caseworkers and counselors are working remotely and helping clients by telephone, including with insurance enrollment and the US Census. I believe it is important to note that CAPI’s clients and families are among those who are being wrongfully targeted by racist and ignorant individuals in the wake of this pandemic; on top of addressing the unique challenges we all are dealing with because of COVID-19, the organization and those it serves are also having to address these despicable prejudices as well. You can read a joint statement about these challenges from a group of Asian Minnesotan organizations here.

CAPI USA is a phenomenal organization that does great work. Head on over to its website to learn more about what its staff does and how you can help!