Speaker 1 00:09 Yeah, <inaudible>
Speaker 2 00:56 <inaudible> <inaudible>
Speaker 0 02:08 Welcome back. This is a jury. So I could be here from Somali link radio at K F a I 90 Bernie three FM and one Oh 6.7 FM in st. Paul for the rest of the world, anywhere in the world, you can always tune in to KFI radio, no matter what program it
[email protected]. Today, we have a wonderful guest Abdulla man is not new to the studio here at KFI. He's very resourceful works with a lot of organizations, very visible in this difficult times where we had COVID-19 that shut us down into our homes. Then we have the unfortunate killing of church Floyd, and the aftermath is a really very trying times. We need to have justice around us and around the world, everybody is really United and I love that that people are United. We also need save it in our communities and neighborhoods, and we want people properties, business to be safe while we are going to be staying on the streets, asking, fighting for justice.
Speaker 0 03:29 So today we are talking about the resources for businesses. A lot of small businesses were really damaged by COVID-19. I'll shut it down for good. Some of them survived and still struggling, and also on Lake street and many other places, including Westpac, we have ensued, uh, all over the city. We have community also their businesses also were shattered or looted or burglarized. So right now, I think, uh, to find out what the resources are out there for small businesses and also, um, nonprofit organizations that also have been, um, close to down by COVID-19 as well as the other issue is that followed. Mr. <inaudible> welcome.
Speaker 3 04:20 Thank you. Uh, thank you. Uh, I think, uh, this is a learning experience for me to speak with the people. Uh, I have a mask on, I don't know how I sound horrible. I would say, uh, thank you for inviting me into this program. I think this is my second time. And as you said, I work with a number of community based organizations that has a lot of resources for our community, uh, and our different neighborhoods. Uh, most of my work I do in Westbank area. Uh, and as you said, uh, it was really unfortunate what happened in our city after the, after the killing of product church, Floyd, uh, unexpected events happened, civil unrest, destruction, looting, uh, pairing in the, a lot of businesses and lots of things happened. Uh, uh, and before that we had the pandemic, uh, that, uh, the, the, the aftermath of COVID-19 is spread, which coast, uh, or forced a lot of businesses organizations to close down and a lot of business and economic loss after the Bundy, uh, after that.
Speaker 3 05:47 So, uh, I will be, I'll be, uh, sharing a lot of different resources with the community. And also, uh, I'll talk about the work that we've done for the last six months from January or from, I mean, from February or early March. And the work that we are doing is still, uh, basically I work with, uh, a number of organizations, as I said before. Uh, the most important ones are, uh, mixed blood theater. Uh, one of the oldest neighborhood theaters in the in Westbank area, or see the Riverside neighborhood. Also, I work with westbound business association, uh, and now I work with, uh, also, uh, Lex with council, which is another resourceful organization. And I joined them, uh, three weeks ago, uh, after they asked me to help, to, to, to support the work that they do in, uh, with, with, with regard to, uh, rebuilding and reviving the businesses that are, that have been damaged or looted, uh, during the civil unrest. So, uh, starting from the work that we have done so far, uh, after the pandemic hit, uh, the world, especially our state or our city, uh, and the businesses were forced or were told to close so that we can at least control the communities spread. There was a lot of resources from the federal, uh, from the state, from the city, from nonprofit organizations.
Speaker 3 07:24 Uh, so, uh, through my work at the West westbound business association, uh, we, we committed that we help all these businesses that lost the, the, uh, they were experiencing economic loss and the team at Westbank business session. And I, uh, we were doing everything we can so that we can, uh, support people with the applications, uh, uh, also, uh, share the information of the resources. I mean, the, the, the COVID-19 relief funds, uh, I think, uh, personally, uh, in my email list only there are thousands of people that receive my email communication, uh, every morning or every other day. Uh, and also, uh, during the months of April and may, uh, I think, uh, uh, I received more than a 50 plus up to a hundred calls per day. That was, I was receiving. And, and the main thing that I was doing was kind of like to help people navigate through the resources, explain to them, uh, the resources that are out there and, and some of them needed an extra hand holding, uh, extra help, which I was trying to do it over the phone.
Speaker 3 08:53 Uh, uh, you can understand, uh, in, in April and may, that was the, the, the times of like how to spot the, the, the spread of the fire. This was really bad. Um, people didn't know about a lot about the social status in proxy practices, uh, how to, how to, how to prevent the community spread. Uh, fortunately, uh, we were a team, uh, uh, I can say yourself, you're, you are part of the team that was helping us spread the word, uh, share the information with the people. And, uh, fortunately, uh, we, we successfully, I can say we successfully helped our community, uh, uh, bust through that difficult time and apply all the resources that was available out there. Uh, uh, educating the people and sharing the information and helping anyone who needs extra help. That was the things that we were doing, uh, after, after, uh, at the beginning of June, uh, in the month of June, that we are still in, uh, through the work, uh, what we're doing.
Speaker 3 10:15 Uh, we kind of like a re in fish, imagine the work that we were doing, uh, which was, uh, how to, how to prepare the people, uh, to, to, to get back to life and still control the community, spread of the fires and educate people how to, how to prevent themselves and how to save lives, uh, and not people out of the spread of the virus. That was the key message that we were doing, especially to the businesses. Uh, you remember, uh, the state, uh, the governor after he's told like that business can be opened. That was the key message that we're trying to send to the people. And it still is the message that was sent. We tell people, I mean, getting back to life, uh, it will not be, it will never be the same. Uh, the fire is still around. The fire is still spreading, so we need, uh, to be proactive and be part of the solution, not part of the spread.
Speaker 0 11:23 Um, thank you. Um, yes. Uh, thanks to my partners. I work with from Hennepin County, uh, uh, we're working with the us census at the same time. We were also working on COVID. So we have so many opportunities where we work with the community, give out masks and sanitizers and educate people. I think that we have done a great work, all of us working on that. Uh, it couldn't have been worse without all that important job. Uh, but tell me, how does,
Speaker 3 11:54 You know, this was the first question I wanted to ask you, what was the impact of COVID-19 to small businesses in the city? Uh, that's a good question. Uh, the, the small businesses in our community, I can say they are the most important unit in our community. Uh, I mean, a lot of families and a lot of community members rely on them, uh, and you know, the East African community in westbound, uh, neighborhood, uh, Westbank district, they, majority of them, or, uh, can say how, like a good number of them. They are self employed people that they, they, that was the only way that, or the only means that they earn income and feed their families. So when COVID-19 was, when the pandemic started and COVID-19 is spread, uh, big became an issue and the, and the state government, or the governor told people like to close businesses and to, to kind of like flatten the curve, uh, uh, all these people, they saw, they, they lost their source of income, which was, uh, really, uh, a big damage to the economy of the state nation or the city level, or to the pockets of these families.
Speaker 3 13:27 So the impact was devastating. The impact was huge. I mean, no matter how much relief you give to the people, it will never be the same amount that they were earning by themselves. So, uh, I mean, a lot of small businesses were struggling to pay the rent for real. Uh, and the, and a lot of families were kind of like struggling to, to sustain a lot of needs that they had, uh, the stimulus check or the advance E I D L money, or, uh, the grants that were coming from the city or the County, or even the triple P program, uh, paycheck protection program. What kind of like in a process of applications, uh, waiting to get approval in case you get approved, then waiting to get paid. So, you know, uh, and this community is they, they're not the, the, the, the average middle income people where they have some, uh, savings somewhere, but they were kind of like people that depend on what they earned the day.
Speaker 3 14:47 So, uh, the economic impact was really huge. Uh, but the nature of our community was really good, uh, helping each other, uh, uh, kinda like sticking together, uh, understanding that we are all in this together. That was the, that was the idea that was the, the ideal world that people lived in. Uh, so small, uh, in the most, I mean, in the ethnic most that we have in the city, a lot of small business owners, especially women, business owners, women of color, immigrant refugees, women, business owners, couldn't sustain that business. And they had to shut down, shut it down. Uh, that was really like a very sad things that happened at our community because they, they, they no longer was, we're not able to, to pay the rent and the other expenses or the overhead costs that are associated with the business. So that, that was an unfortunate things that happened, uh, community and, uh, a lot of laws is in, in terms of economy. So the impact was huge, huge,
Speaker 0 16:04 Okay. There's, some people are saying from some would say businesses. Um, I want to ask you when we come back about, uh, the size of business and not only in the East African community, but in the city, small businesses that really employed a lot of people and a lot of neighborhoods really existed because of those, um, are sustainable, you know, jobs and other opportunities through those small businesses, whatever business areas. So we're going to talk about more the barriers for a lot of those businesses that employ like four, 10 of the 50 people, 40 people, there were barriers to the banks that a lot of banks were favoring, bigger businesses than small businesses. The initial money from Washington DC, there were a lot of barriers. What, what, what are the challenges of all the resources you have and what kind of access do everyone have equally, rather than, you know, some businesses start at 50 people or above, or 200 or 300 people, they have all the things needed. Some small businesses, you know, it's not even a business, actually. It's kind of like self employed store owner at the mall. What are the barriers that has been addressed to a low, small businesses to get the money?
Speaker 3 17:24 Uh, apart from the application process, I could say, uh, the specifically the triple P program paycheck protection program, uh, uh, people kind of like had some challenge with certain punk incisions in, in, in, in the city, uh, specifically, uh, the parents that our community usually use, uh, when, when people go and try to apply the program, they were told like, I mean, the application is not open when in fact the application was ongoing. Uh, some of the people are sharing with me or with us as a team, like some of the punks, we're not giving them a priority. Uh, and w w they were giving priority to bigger businesses or, uh, midsize companies. So, uh, uh, and I think that is a nationwide thing where a bank bank in a session is where we're favoring big businesses, businesses, because they get bigger checks from them.
Speaker 3 18:51 Uh, and that is really unfortunate because, uh, our communities depend on small businesses, family owned businesses, women owned businesses, minority owned businesses, and they were supposed to get the, get the priority. And, uh, and I believe that something that, uh, uh, all authorities, whether it's federal or state or city level they missed initially, but the second, the second phase of triple P application, uh, banks were giving more chance to small and family owned businesses. Uh, and that was really a good news. And I believe, uh, everyone in our community had the opportunity to apply no matter how much they get approved, or no matter the, the, the, the feedback they received, but I'm glad that everyone got the opportunity to apply. Yes. Um, tell me, what is new with Westbank business association in terms of having resources for the community? So, uh, Westbank business association is, is, is, is the hub of the small business owners in Westbank.
Speaker 3 20:17 And it's really, uh, where you go when you need help, if you are a business owner in Westbank district, where you get support, where you get connected, where you network with likeminded individuals, other business owners, and I think, uh, all the institutions and businesses in the Westbank district, they are members of a westbound business association. And I'm really glad, uh, KFI this amazing, uh, radio station. It's a member of Westbank business association. Uh, now we have a number of resources. Uh, all I think are, all I could say is get connected with us, myself, KJ and other team members. Uh, we have, uh, small grants for restaurants right now that we are kind of like, uh, distributing some money to, to restaurants. And we have the technical support for small businesses that we usually have the beta program. And we're always ready to, to, to, to help, uh, connect you to the, uh, uh, if you're a business owner connect that person, that small business owner to any kind of resource out there. So I'm really kind of like proud to be a member of WPP staff.
Speaker 0 21:41 Thank you. Uh, your partner, uh, KJ star had shared with me a message today that she wants me also to share, and that the message goes by the Minnesota starting today. And until the next 10 days, uh, Minnesota legislature has approved the Minnesota small business relief grants. These are grants of $10,000 to small businesses who did not receive the Minnesota small businesses and merchants loan that were available early on in the COVID-19 crisis. Businesses must have less than 50 full time employees. In addition, specific many specific money is set aside for businesses with six or fewer full time workers, minority owned businesses, veteran owned businesses, women owned businesses and businesses inside a cultural models, such as our krama or Riverside mall. That's the message I received from your partner and starting today. Next, the 10 days after 10 days is over. So last time you share you and your partners share with me information to share with the community. I remember you had a flat of people, not only that they could take some guys, but they wanted help technical help. So you mentioned that technical help is there. And if it's there, what kind of help is that?
Speaker 3 23:17 So, uh, usually what we do is whenever there is a new resource, uh, com what we do is we share the information with every business owner in Westbank district. Number one, uh, number two, if the business owner needs a kisser help, help, like with the application help, like if they have questions that we can answer, then we provide these two kinds of helps. If the person needs more help than we can provide. What we try to do is we reach out to the source, uh, to the, to, to, to, to the person in charge of the resource. Like in this case, in this case, a deed, then we will get the answers for the people or for the business owners in our district. So what I would encourage everyone is when you send a message to them, let them, uh, be part of the, our communication system, let them connect with us.
Speaker 3 24:30 And then, uh, we will share the information with them, and we will answer any questions that they have that we can, and if they need a kiss or help with the application, then at that point, uh, we can do that over the phone. Thank you. So you have a lot of resources. Are there money saying if you have a business in Westbank neighborhood, which is a part of us, you, the Riverside is part of it, excuse me. And, uh, there's a lot of farms. It's also available for the business in the West Westbank. We'll come back to Lake street on the other half of the program, but please contact Westbank business association, kg, K star, Jamie, other man, and other team members will be able to help you, uh, Jamie left the organization, but she is still a member of us and a great friend and a loft member of westbound business community.
Speaker 3 25:31 I mean, Westbank, Westbank, district community. So, but she she's no longer work with the BPA. I know she would never stop that's her in her blood. Uh, she's always a good connector and I'm very passionate about the community. Thank you. Um, we'll, we're going to move on to your, uh, right now. Um, what about, you also mentioned it, you have resources for nonprofits. We know mr. Blatt, our theater sovereign of COVID-19, then what's happening right now. See other cultural center or the nonprofits, including KFI. What kind of help do you have or resources for our nonprofits like Brian call emerge or other organizations before we moved to that? Uh, after the killing of product church, Floyd.
Speaker 4 26:25 Yep.
Speaker 3 26:26 There was a disruption to, and the civil unrest that followed there was a disruption to the food chain system in our neighborhood.
Speaker 4 26:37 Yep.
Speaker 3 26:40 Especially when, uh, target and calf foods were looted and burned. And so after the food chain disruption, uh, my colleagues and I, we helped Sue the Riverside youth, which after they came up with the idea of let's do a food Bantry of food distribution for the community. So for the last three weeks, the Cedar Riverside youth, uh, and, uh, mixed supply theater and, uh, the nonprofit community in Westbank or inside the Riverside neighborhood, there was a great thing that they were doing at there. And every day they were disappearing 250 package of food to 250 families. That's big, that's really huge, all types of food, all kinds of household items, detergent, baby items, like everything, and all these food and other items were donated by the great people of Minnesota, wherever they are in the twin cities area in greater Minnesota, people were just coming to strip it like donating food items, building in money, making, shopping for the community and our team about to mix the plots theater with see the Riverside neighborhood and a number of volunteers.
Speaker 3 28:18 There were distributing that money to the community. I mean, that food to the community, that was really an amazing thing that happened for the last three weeks. Uh, now we have, we have a plan, uh, an upcoming plan, which will start, uh, sometimes week, probably Friday or Thursday. And the plan we have is to, to distribute facemasks and hand sanitizers to the community. Uh, I think you follow, uh, the number of cases of COVID-19 case in our neighborhood. And unfortunately we lost a number of elders because of COVID-19 and that's really sad, but it's still, we need to be careful. We need to be careful. And we all know that we will, we will overcome this challenge, but only if we help each other. And if we educate each other, if we support each other, and one way that we can support the community and help educate the community is to distribute the necessity, add items, to protect yourself facemask and has any taxes. And our plan is when people come to us and they're collecting these items, we want to educate, educate them with facts and numbers. So that will continue for three weeks. Uh, if you want to fall into, if you want to be part of it, please reach out to be free or myself, or show up at mixer, plant theater, uh, or show up, show up at Mexicola theater. Uh, the schedule probably will be twice a week or three times a week that we go in to do that.
Speaker 0 30:03 Yeah, perfect. I you're. Right. Um, after the COVID-19 and the devastation is, uh, that followed of the horrible killing of church Floyd, um, it was as Katie, but the traditional Minnesota culture just jumps out. Uh, people got, get out support each other. I'm saying this I've worked with a number of organizations or neighborhood, community leaders who are really clots, a lot of food. Uh, one group I wanna give a shout out is to mother's love initiative in the North side, uh, Lisa Clemens, who's the lead and the rest of the team, amazing work in North Minneapolis. They have done so giving so much food, uh, love, uh, so much things that were needed. I really, uh, went over there. I have seen all kinds of people, uh, dropping continuously items, food. I mean, the line is a van is what amazing. Uh, if everybody came together, the same thing was happening.
Speaker 0 31:16 See what I have seen, uh, other places happening in, uh, for example, um, cafe shops and see what, uh, that are closed, but open just to give away food and, and do this work, uh, the same thing's happening Elliott in the North side Lake street, uh, we've seen everywhere. There's a ton of food being given away to the communities that need them, that there are shops and sources of food. We're parents. We are talking about COVID-19 and the aftermath of what happened, um, after the horrible killing of church void. And the demonstration is that some people led to the anger, led to a lot of destruction in the community. Uh, I just want to tell you every day, those Prost protests are going on peacefully, and that's the way we want them. We want justice for church flight, and we want justice for all the church Floyd's of the world.
Speaker 0 32:18 Um, we're going to dedicate a special show to that, um, historical, um, uh, uh, uh, incident where that, where things got started after the horrible watch of killing of watching the horrible killing church Floyd, and, um, that led to international prostitutes that is still happening. But today we are talking about how do we find resources for all the small businesses that were impacted by the, um, you know, those incidents. And also COVID-19, we've talked about Westbank and the resources available. So if you know, or you want, or, you know, anyone who has needed help as a business person in Westbank, no matter what language, what culture they're from, no matter who they are, they can contact Westbank dismiss association. Mr. <inaudible> let's stop. The severe devastation has taken place on Lake street, Lake street. It's a corridor of business and it's very highly diverse. And you will see a lot of, bit of those businesses are owning people who have immigrant background or people who are people of color, uh, no matter who they are. And most of those businesses are even destroyed. Physically, tell us about that. How extensive is the damage and what the resources you have are available?
Speaker 3 33:51 So, so, uh, Lex street council, it is an independent organization Or association for the business owners on Lake street corridor from the river to the Lake, ah, after the civil unrest, there was three different levels of damage. Number one was the businesses and the properties that were burned to the ground, nothing exists. It's totally gone. The second is the businesses and the properties that were damaged and loaded.
Speaker 5 34:39 Hmm.
Speaker 3 34:41 All the infantry like the inventory were loaded. And the profits, I mean, the glass is the door. The walls were damaged. The damage could be extensive and a slight, I mean, deluding could be extensive and it's light. I mean, it varies, it varies. And the third thing is the economic loss and the emotional disturbance because the business owners on that corridor, uh, during the civil unrest, they were closed. So a puff, the COVID-19 and the pandemic economic loss, they had a second layer of economic loss, which they were closed about 10 days or two weeks. And also, if you are a business owner or you had a property, you, you, a property owner on that corridor, you can imagine the emotional disturbance thinking about all night, whether your property is safe, your business save. Uh, even if it's not touched, people were worried we're up all night.
Speaker 3 36:06 And, uh, there was no police, there was no law and order. There was no protection. There was no nine 11 that you can call or any help that you can expect. So that was really like a mental and emotional disturbance that these communities suffered for two consistent weeks, uh, after the civil in breasts. The beautiful thing is that, uh, the, the, the organizations in the area led by Lake street council and other organizations raised funds to support, uh, Lech street. I can tell you the, we love Lake Street's fundraising program. I mean, Lexus council launched that, uh, the, like the community came together and everyone chipped $50 and six point $5 million were collected. Wow. It is amazing. Uh, other small business owners, they, they, they independently raised funds by their own business owner. Like by the, by themselves. I can tell you mama Sophia, like yes, uh, the business owner of, uh, Indian ocean. Yeah. She'd raised quarter million dollars. That's good. Uh, the owner of other bit like the other owners on Lake street council, there wastes enough amount of money. So that shows the love of the people, how people care about Lake street, how people love these businesses and keep in mind Lake street, business owners, majority of them, uh, people of color immigrants and minority communities. So that was really great supports. Uh, but
Speaker 3 38:14 No matter how much amount of money, amount of money were collected, It will never be the same to the damage that happened during the civil unrest. Uh, there's there's, there are a lot of plans that, that, that are ongoing. Uh, the state released 60 plus million dollars funds for both COVID-19, uh, and civil unrest, economic impact. Uh, there, there are other plans, uh, a city level and state level. I don't know anything about federal level. We'll see, uh, back to Lake street council, the money, or we love Lake street, Lake street, uh, funds that were raised.
Speaker 6 39:11 Hmm. Uh,
Speaker 3 39:15 Now in the process of how to distribute that money back to the business owners, not only small business, small business owners, but also to the nonprofit community on Lake street corridor, that was impacted, that was impacted by the civil unrest. And now the focus is businesses and properties with physical damage, not the economic loss. Okay. Uh, so the application of <inaudible> now is just to make it clear, is the structural damage best misses with physical damage or profits with physical damage, uh, applications we're open from last Monday. I mean, last Friday, and it will close this Friday, uh, so far, uh, we helped, uh, all the businesses. I mean, everyone on Lake street corridor, uh, just to, to define and make precise is legacy corridor is from the river where Marshall, the Lake, I mean, the preach that connects Lake and Marshall to the Lake Lake, but the Masaki yes. Or formerly known Lake Calhoun. Yeah. That's very long and four blocks North and South. So if you have two blocks to Lake street, you are still part of the Lake street corridor, but you are, if you are five blocks away from the Lake street, then you're not part of the lakes Lake street.
Speaker 0 40:57 What you're saying is that it's white enough all the way to like Burma and all the way from the river, right? Yeah. That's almost several miles. Yes. Um, but you're saying us enough away away from Lake street, North of Lake street itself, how many blocks do you have to be away for four blocks? Yep. That's huge. And South fourplex. So you can, you're coming down when you say North you're coming down all the way to 26th, close that 28, 26, somewhere like that to abort. Yep. That's a big, yep. So if you are a business owner in that geographical location and you have a physical damage, the application for the grants of, we love strick, we love Lake street funds. It's open. Yeah. And it's the right time to apply today. My guest, we had a good conversation, mr. Abdulrahman who works with Westbank business association and has been very instrumental along with kg, KJ, KJ star, and many other partners and team team members to really help us in the community business here, uh, to get the technical help, to apply for all the loans or grants that came through.
Speaker 0 42:23 We also talked about there's a new grant available, uh, from the state that's up to $10,000. And if you have any questions or need more information, please go to WBB. A m.org, I believe is that right? wbba.org. Uh, it's a Westpac business association website, and you will find all the information or contacts you need. Uh, now we are talking about also up there, man is working with Lake street council, a council that, um, their members are from the river at Marshall to the, um, uh, Burma, uh, uh, park and, uh, four blocks North of Lake street, all between those and four blocks of North of Lake street. Uh, that's a huge businesses. And we are talking about how we, you talk about how extensive the damage is and now how they are going to address it, uh, their money. You said Lake street, uh, friends of Lake street, uh, council orange raised 6.5 million. Um, and also you said there are businesses that also traces funds by themselves. Will there be any disconnection or criteria that will say your business is raised this amount of money you won't qualify for this grant or that grant? Uh,
Speaker 3 43:58 There there's, there's a refusal committee that will decide who gets the funds and how much you'll get from the funds. But what I'm usually telling people or business owners on Lake street corridor is to apply and to, to be, to, to, to tell the damage that you have, and also to be transparent about how much funds you call you raised through GoFund me or other other platforms. So then the, the, the review committee, we'll, we'll, we'll evaluate your application and we'll give you a feedback. That's what I'm telling people. Also keep in mind. There are a lot of business owners on Lake street, uh, with, with damage with zero resources, with nothing that need help. So everyone will get some,
Speaker 0 44:58 Uh, you mentioned just a lot about a lot of programs to help businesses, um, different programs. Do you know how many programs are there? If some small, small businesses can qualify for this? Do they have, uh, another shot for another grant for Lake street and Westbank?
Speaker 3 45:19 Uh, the, the idea is if you are a business owner, yeah. Check out with your neighborhood business association, connect with them, work with them, get the, get the information of the resources from them. And also they will provide you all the technical support and assistance you need in the case of Westbank business association. That's what we do in, yeah. In the case of Lake street council. Now we are in the crisis of rebuilding, uh, Lake street and helping business open after the civil unrest. Uh, so if you're a business owner, reach out to the neighborhood association, neighborhood business association, and that's where you will get all the support and assistance and information and resources you need.
Speaker 0 46:14 So you're, um, telling the audience, um, uh, that if they live in Westbank, they should be talking to WesBank business association, even in Seward, they should be talking to Seward business association, see what design design and that's different names, different names. Yeah. So first step is get involved, look up, connect with your neighborhood organization, whether it's, um, other organization or business, they will be able to direct you the right person or resource, uh, for Lake street. I know I did volunteer with you. Many of us when covered have been on Westpac business was really on the goal out there. Uh, you're giving us flyers. You want to ask us to work with you to reach out social media, other places, give flyers to the businesses. And I think that there was a huge number of people turn out. A lot of people who own traps are truck drivers, huge business in the East African community. That was helpful. Do you think Lake street council is equipped with the same people that speak Spanish, Somali Oromo, one that is flux that neighborhood of businesses?
Speaker 3 47:33 Uh, yes. Uh, and that's why I'm part of like these organizations to, to, to not only represent the community, but also to provide the services that are needed. Uh, Westbank business association is great. Uh, this district, this neighborhood is diverse and multicultural, and it is, it is, it is, it is an icon for the, for the rest of the city. Lex street is the same. Uh, Lex with cow like corridor is he's one of the PCs corridors in the city, uh, where a majority of the business owners are Latino and East Africans, and not only the businesses, but also the profits, they own the properties. So our community, wherever they do the business, uh, they doing good. Uh, also they need to get involved into the business neighborhood, business associations, serve on the boats, uh, shoved the community part of the PE part of the work that neighborhood associations, neighborhood, business associations are doing it. And that's where you can get connected network with likeminded people. Like I said before, and get to know all the resources that are happening right now, WPP and also links with Casa doing great, phenomenal job.
Speaker 0 49:14 It's great to hear that again at the man, we are coming to a almost few minutes to our end of the program. It always feels like there's not enough time, but we're glad to have you back again. Um, one last question, maybe one or two. Um, do you, sometimes when, for example, you are always out there getting the information to the community, um, and that's good. Um, do you sometimes get people who need help that are out of Westbank or for this matter out of Lake street council, for some of they have a business in Mankato and they hear the work you're doing, do you send them to get those kinds of things? And if you do, what do you do with it?
Speaker 3 49:55 Uh, so, uh, our community is, uh, I'm a part of a very ethnic community, the Somali community. And if someone who's a Somali and Oromo who is in greater Minnesota connect with me and they need help total that I do it. Uh, and it's not a matter of like, do we have a program for this person to help, or do, do we have a grant to do this job? I told her to get that, uh, I mean, uh, I could say in the month of April and may, uh, 40% of the people that are helped were from outside Minneapolis. Wow. And still I was helping the people, uh, with, with, with the information, connect them to the resources and also answer the questions that they need. And also sometimes, uh, help them with the application over the phone. So yes, anywhere people call from us,
Speaker 0 51:00 It's coming also with social service and other issues, the same thing. There are no boundaries in our communities. That's why I'm asking you and it's not easy. Well, we're coming to the end of the show. And I want to say thank you to our producer, Matt Finkel and the team. And I also want to thank my guest update, man, who is from Westpac business association. And now if you know, anyone who needs help and has a business on Lake street or near Lake street or English bank,
Speaker 1 52:13 <inaudible>,
Speaker 2 52:18 <inaudible>.
