May Day Rally National Day of Action - MSP Airport
2025-05-01 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Minneapolis St. Paul Airport Terminal 1, 4300 Glumack Dr, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55111
We’re joining AFL-CIO, SEIU, and more labor unions this May Day 2025 at the MSP Airport to stand up to Trump/Musk billionaire takeover, corporations like Delta, Uber, Lyft & the Metropolitan Airport Commission who have the power to do right by workers & immigrants at MSP Airport!

Working people across Minnesota are standing up to the billionaire takeover in Washington D.C. & saying HANDS OFF workers, immigrants and our families. There are May Day rallies across the Twin Cities and the whole state. We’re supporting the two largest events below. We get asked a lot: do these rallies even matter? Short answer: YES! When millions of Americans across the country show up to push back against the Trump Regime, moving the needle from apathy to action, it sends a strong and persistent message that average Americans are saying Hands Off to the MAGA agenda. And it’s working! Trump’s approval rating is the lowest for any President at 100 days in the last 80 years. Woot! See you on May Day.

More info HERE

May Day Rally for Worker & Immigrant Rights - Anoka
2025-05-01 16:30 - 17:30 | 3rd Ave. and Main Street, Downtown Anoka

May Day Rally - State Capitol
2025-05-01 16:30 - 17:30 | Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55155
Working people across Minnesota are standing up to the billionaire takeover in Washington D.C. & saying HANDS OFF workers, immigrants and our families. There are May Day rallies across the Twin Cities and the whole state. We’re supporting the two largest events below. We get asked a lot: do these rallies even matter? Short answer: YES! When millions of Americans across the country show up to push back against the Trump Regime, moving the needle from apathy to action, it sends a strong and persistent message that average Americans are saying Hands Off to the MAGA agenda. And it’s working! Trump’s approval rating is the lowest for any President at 100 days in the last 80 years. Woot! See you on May Day.

This is the next really big event: rally for immigrant and workers rights! Initiated by MIRAC, MN Workers United, MN Immigrant Movement, Asamblea de Derechos Civiles, Kalpulli Ketzal Coaltlique, MN8, CAIR-MN, MFT, Indigenous Protector Movement, EPNI.

Have event questions? Email miracmn@gmail.com.

Animal Humane Society Walk for Animals
2025-05-03 09:00 - 13:00 | Minnesota
The Walk for Animals is Animal Humane Society’s largest and most important fundraising event of the year. This one-mile walk, fundraiser, and celebration benefits the thousands of dogs, cats, and critters AHS serves every year, and we’re excited to bring you and your pets even more fun, food, and chances to make a difference this year.

On Saturday, May 3, join thousands of animal lovers and their pets at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds to help more vulnerable, local animals receive the medical care, compassion, and second chances they deserve — one step at a time.

Register today at our website to start changing animals’ lives.

Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025Location: Minnesota State FairgroundsTime: Grounds open at 9 AM; close at 1 PM

Why join us at the Walk for Animals?

With so many incredible activities, vendors, and fun planned on event day, it’s hard to choose just one reason you should register for the Walk.

It could be your chance to meet (and pet!) so many sweet animals. It could be the delicious food options available for you to munch on after you walk or the chance to visit over 50 pet-related businesses in the vendor village.

But the biggest reason to join us is to help make more second chances possible for animals in Minnesota and beyond (not to mention seeing thousands of fellow animal lovers step up for our furry, scaly, and feathered friends). When you fundraise, you help:

Transport dogs from overcrowded shelter partners to safety at AHS

Offer housing, medical care, and necessary resources to more animals awaiting adoption

Provide vital resources to pet parents in our community like free pet food and access to our Pet Helpline to help keep pets with the people who love them

Keep our veterinary services low-cost and accessible to more people in the community

Every step you take and every dollar you raise is another second chance given to an animal in need — what could be better than that?

Sign up now

Show up in style. When you raise $100 by March 31, we’ll ensure you receive your Walk T-shirt before the event so you can wear it proudly on Walk day!

Registration is simple, plus every dollar raised helps dogs, cats, and critters in our community get the care and compassion they deserve.

Protect Our Future: Rally for Disability Funding
2025-05-03 11:00 - 13:00 | Minnesota State Capitol Plaza, 75 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul MN 55155
Join Us for a Rally to Protect Disability Funding!

The Arc Minnesota is sponsoring a Rally to Protect Disability Funding, Programs, and Services in response to some alarming, proposed budget cuts.

The latest proposals would cut critical supports, including funding for University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration, the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, The Disability Law Center, and more—on top of previously proposed cuts to Medicaid.

We need your help.

The rally will feature self-advocates, program leaders, and legislators sharing on the importance of protecting these essential services.

This is a statewide call to action. Please consider offering rides to others in your area and help us spread the word.

More details, including a full list of speakers, will be shared soon.

Thank you for advocating for essential disability rights and services!

CART and ASL will be available

Busing is available! Fill out this form to request a spot on the bus going to the rally. A $10 per person donation is requested. One form per person.

Confirmed Speakers to Date

U.S. Senator Tina Smith

Naveh Eldar – CEO Arc Minnesota

Rep. Kim Hicks (DFL) District: 25A

Rep. Danny Nadeau (R) District 34A

Jillian Nelson, Public Policy Director at the Autism Society of MN (AuSM)

Amy Hewitt – Director of University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration

Sarah Curfman, CEO, Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota (DSAMN)

Sumukha Terakanambi – Self-Advocate

Jenn Purrington, Deputy Director/Legal Director of The Disability Law Center

Mahdi Warsama – CEO Somali Parent Autism Network

Jenny Arndt- Vice Chair of the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities

Mai Thor – Chief Program Officer, Arc Minnesota

Ashley Oolman – Chief Equity Officer, Governor’s Office

Johnathan Murray – Self-Advocate

Deqa Farah – Parent / Advocate

Tina Rucci, Public Policy Director, The Arc Minnesota

A Night 4 HOPE 2025
2025-05-03 16:30 - 22:00 | Minnesota
Join us on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 at A Night 4 HOPE! This event takes place at Bunker Hills Event Center in Coon Rapids. A Night 4 HOPE is our largest fundraising event of the year and is filled with great energy and fun!

The evening will include a social hour with games, dinner, a chance to hear about the young lives that have been changed through HOPE 4 Youth, and the opportunity to bid on silent and live auction items. It is an amazing night of sharing inspirational stories and celebrating the true impact HOPE 4 Youth has made in the lives of young people in our community! The evening will end in celebration with live music from the Power of 10!

Tickets for Tables of 8 are available February 25th & Individual Tickets are available March 3rd!

Timeline of the Evening:

4:30 P.M. Doors Open for Check-in

5:00-6:15 P.M – Social Hour with Games & Appetizers

6:30 P.M. – Dinner

7:00 P.M. – Program with Live Auction & Raffle Winners

8:00 – 10:00 P.M. – Dessert & Live Music from the Power of 10

Christian Nationalism - EduCivic Speaker Series
2025-05-04 13:00 - 14:30 | Eisenhower Community Center, 1001 MN-7, Hopkins, Minnesota, 55305
Join us for a critical conversation about the rise of Christian Nationalism as a hard, far-right political movement and the threat it poses to religious freedom. Trump has created an anti-Christian task force, and this week, the State Department ordered employees to report other employees suspected of having an anti-Christian bias (whatever that is).

Religious freedom is one of America’s most cherished Constitutional rights. It is a freedom protected by the promise of church-state separation. This line of separation is weakening–blurry, frayed, and thinning–under the influential weight of Project 2025’s manifesto of theocratic-authoritarianism.

We will learn about the ways to preserve religious freedom and the theological, secular, and political responses to resisting Christian Nationalism. Jerry Gale, state director of Christians Against Christian Nationalism – MN, will lead this important presentation & discussion.

Free; refreshments served. RSVP kindly requested.

Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota's (AHEM) Call to Action - RESCHEDULED
2025-05-05 18:15 - 18:30 | Sandburg Educational Center, 1902 2nd Ave, Anoka, Minnesota, 55303
● Anoka Hennepin is fast approaching deadlines for curriculum writing and materials adoption for next year. In order to respect the work of teachers to develop the materials needed for students over the summer, we need the school board to take action now!

● Teachers need the school board to trust the teachers of Anoka-Hennepin to draw on our experience and expertise to promote the best possible outcomes for students, both now and as we plan for the 2025-26 school year.

● Teachers deserve credibility, not chaos!

Town Hall featuring Angela Nelson for Senate and DFL Chair Richard Carlbom
2025-05-06 18:30 - 20:30 | Teamsters Local 120, 9422 Ulysses St. NE, Blaine, Minnesota, 55434
Please join us for a Town Hall at Teamsters Local 120 next Tuesday May 6th at 6:30PM featuring Angela Nelson for Senate and moderated by our new State DFL Chair Richard Carlbom. This is a chance for us to show our passion and be in community. We’re going to have a social hour to start, and thanks to Becky Fink, lots of wonderful food. We would love to see you all there. Showing up not only helps you have a voice, but it shows DFL leadership how passionate we are about winning swing districts in Anoka County and the North Metro. Let’s show our voice!

Rally: Defend 1st Amendment Rights
2025-05-08 16:00 - 17:00 | Federal Courthouse Plaza, 4th S 4th St, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415
Join us for our next ITC Defend America’s Essentials Rally – this time to defend our 1st Amendment rights! Since taking office, the Trump regime has actively attempted to destroy our Constitutional rights of free speech and assembly. From demanding educators dissolve their programs on diversity, equity and inclusion, to arresting judges, and more, we are in the midst of a crisis on our democracy. Bring your signs, and make some noise to stand with neighbors to say Hands Off Our 1st Amendment Rights!

RSVP for this event!

A-H School Board Show Up (Work Session)
2025-05-12 17:30 - 20:30 | Educational Services Center, 2727 North Ferry St., Anoka, Minnesota, 55303
The students and faculty of our school districts need our continued support as the right-wing faction seeks to undo years of progress and stop anything related to equity or teaching history honestly without whitewashing.

Work Sessions allow for observation only – but we need people to watch what is happening! Major decisions are often made in these meetings without a written record.

Work Sessions are not in the same location as regular School Board meetings.

St. Francis School Board Show Up
2025-05-12 18:30 - 21:00 | St. Francis Area Schools, 4115 Ambassador Boulevard NW, St. Francis, Minnesota, 55070
The students and faculty of our school districts need our continued support as the right-wing Faction seeks to undo years of progress and stop anything related to equity or teaching history honestly without whitewashing.

Thanks for any effort you can make to help protect our schools!

2nd Annual Community Advocacy Fair!
2025-05-17 11:00 - 14:00 | Anoka County Library Rum River Branch, 4201 6th Avenue NW, Anoka, Minnesota, 55303
Featuring the following organizations . . .

• Abbey Payeur for Anoka-Hennepin School Board

• MN BDS (We are a community of organizations and individuals with a commitment to the Palestinian led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. )

• WAMM (Women Against Military Madness)

• Twin Cities YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard)

• Health Care for All Minnesota

• Alexandra House

• Meals on Wheels of Anoka County

• Urban League Twin Cities

• Indivisible North Metro

• Free Mom Hugs

• Family Table

• Great North Innocence Project

• American Indian OIC

• Fair Vote MN

• Starry Skies North, a chapter of Dark Skies International

• Family Promise

• The Harbor (Food Shelf out of Faith Lutheran Church)

• Nichole Hayden, Gentle Giant Realtor

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A-H School Board Show Up
2025-05-26 18:30 - 21:00 | Sandburg Educational Center, 1902 2nd Ave, Anoka, Minnesota
There is an urgent need for people to attend the next few A-H School Board Meetings, because crucial curriculum decisions are being made, and public input is needed. Otherwise the 3 radical right board members will derail years of good work and place major burdens on teachers and admin– to try to take our schools “back” to a time before we cared about diversity or equity or inclusion. And before we knew the power of hands-on learning. Below is info about upcoming meetings, and then more background about what is happening. Please try to show up to be in the room to let the board know people do not support the radical right program to undermine our schools!

Please add the 3 upcoming public school board meetings to your calendar. Sign up at the start of the meeting if you want to speak. Written comments are very welcome as well. We need representation in the room as well as public comments:

Here is a link for communicating with the school board— even if you cannot attend, send a message to the Board.

Ideas to speak about:

Ask the board to listen to the experts in the room (teachers and curriculum experts) to adopt critical high school curricula and text.

Point out research papers that show direct instruction on its own without hands on application does not stimulate critical thinking skills.

Express your concern that this will disadvantage our students when they take ACTs/SAT and in college education.

Express concern that we will lose staff due to this chaos created by these demands

What is at stake:

At the last work session they decided not to move forward with key curriculum pieces including an update to very outdated physics curriculum because they felt the new curriculum had too much hands-on experiential learning and not enough direct instruction (teachers standing in the front talking at students)!

Experiential learning is research-based as to how students learn best. The reasons for not adopting new social studies/history curriculum is probably obvious- they think it’s too “DEI”. Not adopting a new curriculum is one thing– but they are also ending the social skills curriculum that the district has been using for years called Character Strong. Instead they want the district to create their own (a social skills curriculum is required by state law or they would likely select none). The current curriculum has been embraced by students & staff alike. It’s easy to understand and it works. To ask the district during a time of deep budget cuts to create, train, and implement a whole new curriculum when we have a great one is fiscally irresponsible. The radical right board members seem to think (despite proof to the contrary) that the current curriculum has parts that relate to “equity” (thay have made caring for others a dirty word now!). The CEO of the company that created it wrote a letter saying that DEI is not even a focus of the curriculum.

Here’s what the K-5 curriculum is- Courage, Respect, Perseverance, Gratitude, Empathy, Responsibility, Honesty, Cooperation, Creativity. Each month of the school year focuses on one of these 9 words. How are these bad things to be teaching our kids? In our schools, kids are getting it & using these words on their own unprompted. Teachers report hearing 2nd grade students compliment each other on having good perseverance during a gym game or suggest using their creativity to solve a problem. But the radical right members seem to want to throw this all out in the name of going back to some fabled past– and maybe also in subservience to a national political ethic that represents the opposite of all of these values…

More Background…

Teachers and curriculum specialists spent significant hours and months working hard to research and pilot curricula for ELA (elementary), Science (Biology, Physics, AP Psychology), Social Studies, and SEL. 3 of the 6 school board members (Arco, Audette, Hoekman) did not accept the expert (teacher and curriculum review committee’s) recommendations for Social Studies, Biology, Physics, and Social Studies. Their rationale for refusing the recommendation was based on their personal ideology (for Social Studies) and the belief that direct teaching is better over phenomenon based teaching materials (for Science). They want our already burdened teachers to go back and re-review additional materials and pull this off in a short time.This comes at a time when the district is short of $ 6M funds and teachers lack support due to staffing cuts. These 3 board members do not want to compromise based on their statements made in the April 14 work session (not recorded) and additional meetings held with teachers later that week, instead blaming the other members who are standing firmly to promote critical thinking and competitive advantage for our students.

Thanks for any effort you can make to help protect our schools!
