Somali American Coalition
Welcome to the Somali American Coalition (SAC)! Our organization is committed to advocating for social and economic justice for immigrant and underserved communities.
We are thrilled to share our mission, vision, core values, and overarching goals with you. We aim to create lasting and meaningful change for the immigrant community in Minnesota, helping them thrive and contribute fully to the state's social and economic fabric.
Our overarching objective is to empower and mobilize the immigrant community to be agents of change, together with our allies and partners, in confronting systemic barriers and inequities. Our movement is rooted in the principles of equity, solidarity, and inclusion to effectively advocate for the needs of underserved communities. Through the pursuit of this vision, we believe we can create a better world for our community.
Our core values include:
• Equity: We believe that all immigrants should have access to the same opportunities, resources, and protections, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or immigration status. We strive to eliminate systemic barriers and promote fairness and justice for all.
• Inclusion: We strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all members of our organization and community, regardless of their background or identity. We value diversity and seek to foster a sense of belonging for all.
• Solidarity: We recognize that the struggles of immigrants are interconnected and that we must work together with other communities and movements to achieve our goals. We are dedicated to building coalitions and partnerships that empower our communities and amplify our voices.
• Empowerment: We believe that the immigrant community has the power to effect change, and we aim to provide them with the tools, resources, and knowledge to do so. We support capacity-building and leadership development to empower our communities to be agents of change.
• Advocacy: We are committed to advocating for policies and programs that promote social and economic justice for immigrants, and to holding institutions accountable for upholding their rights and needs.
• Respect: We believe in treating all individuals with respect, dignity, and compassion. We value the diversity of experiences and perspectives within the immigrant community and strive to create a safe and supportive space for all.
By embracing these core values and principles, a newly formed organization can create a strong foundation for its work and ensure that it remains true to its mission and goals.
Our commitments:
• We are committed to listening to and prioritizing the needs and perspectives of the immigrant community in all our work and decision-making processes.
• We are committed to conducting our operations with transparency, integrity, and accountability. We will keep our members and the community informed of our actions and progress.
• We are committed to working towards building strong coalitions and partnerships with other organizations and movements that share our goals and to collaborate and engage in mutual support.
• We are committed to centering equity, inclusion, and respect in all our interactions and programming. We will actively work towards dismantling systems of oppression and discrimination.
• We are committed to providing resources, training, and support to the immigrant community to help them advocate for themselves and effect change. We will work towards building their leadership and power.
• We are committed to advocating for policy change at the local, state, and national levels to advance the rights and needs of the immigrant community. We will hold institutions accountable for upholding their obligations.
By making these commitments and promises, we aim to build trust and confidence in our organization. We strive to create a culture of collaboration and action grounded in our values and principles. We recognize the critical importance of affordable housing, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment to the immigrant community, and we are dedicated to making a meaningful impact within the Somali community in Minnesota
Our Mission
Our organization's founding mission is to empower and support the Somali community in Minnesota by advocating for state and national policy reforms, social justice, education, healthcare, and resources.
Our Vision
Our vision for this organization is to improve the lives of Somali Americans in Minnesota by providing social and economic justice and resources in a culturally appropriate setting.