NEW “MINNESOTA DREAMERS FUND” WILL HELP AREA YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS CAPITALIZE ON NEW FEDERAL POLICY, CONTRIBUTE TO MINNESOTA ECONOMY The Minneapolis Foundation partnering with foundations, businesses, and legal services agencies to help young immigrants gain protected status under the new federal policy; invites public to contribute.

MINNEAPOLIS – Beginning last month thousands of young, foreign-born Minnesota residents will have new opportunities to participate in the state’s economy thanks to the implementation of a new federal policy that resembles the DREAM Act. In Minnesota, numerous philanthropic and business leaders are embracing this policy change for its potential to significantly benefit our state’s economy and create greater equity among our community's residents. 

To help our young people and our state make the most of this opportunity, The Minneapolis Foundation is pleased to launch the “Minnesota DREAMers Fund: Helping Immigrant Youth Shape A Stronger Future for All of Us.”The goal is to raise $500,000 to cover the legal services required to help an estimated 850 low-income youth and young adults take advantage of this opportunity and help our state add valuable new members to the workforce. Businesses, foundations, and community members across the state are invited to contribute to the fund. Initial gifts to the fund have come from six foundations (see below).
 
“Immigrant youth are critical to our future economy and success. We need everyone in Minnesota, including our next generation of new Americans, to participate in our workforce if we want to compete in the global economy,” says Sandra Vargas, CEO of The Minneapolis Foundation. “Welcoming these young people into the mainstream economy means businesses will have more workers at all ends of the skill spectrum to help lead, sustain and grow Minnesota’s private sector.”
 
“The business case for supporting Minnesota’s immigrant youth is undeniable,” noted Bill Blazar, 
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. “More than 1 in 6 Minnesotans under the age of 19 are the children of immigrants, and are key to the development and growth of our state’s economy. The new federal policy will equip thousands of young Minnesotans to fully participate in our economy, lending their perspectives, insights and talents to make our state stronger. It’s an undeniable win-win.”

The Issue:
On August 15, 2012, new federal policy go into effect: young people who entered the U.S. with parents who did not have proper immigration status will now be eligible to reside and work in this country without risk of deportation. In Minnesota, some 2,100 - 4,000 estimated young people between the ages of 15 and 30 can apply for this special status known as "deferred action status." In addition to employment eligibility, the policy will open doors to higher education and the ability to acquire a driver’s license. These young people are informally known as "DREAMers," in reference to the DREAM Act, a federal bill that would provide these and other opportunities to immigrant youth. 
Prior to this policy change, undocumented youth who grew up in Minnesota, attended the same K-12 schools as other young people – for many, Minnesota is the only home they have known – and yet have been unable to work, pursue higher education, or contribute intellectual capital to our economy due to their lack of documentation. This missed opportunity was felt particularly acutely in many greater Minnesota communities where employers struggle to attract and retain native-born workers.

The Fund:
 The goal is to provide services to help 850 low-income youth and young adults who cannot afford private attorneys gain deferred action status. The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota will directly provide and oversee the delivery of these services. The Minneapolis Foundation established and will administer the Fund, will manage the distribution of grants from the Fund, and will report to the community on its impact.
 
“We’re grateful for the foundation and corporate leadership for making sure ILCM can reach as many people as possible with valuable, accurate information and legal representation. The Minnesota DREAMers Fund will help ensure our state benefits from this constructive policy and that eligible youth and young adults will be able to take full advantage of the opportunity. It will also mitigate the risk of eligible individuals being taken advantage of by unscrupulous parties,” says John Keller, Executive Director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. “Unfortunately, with any vulnerable population seeking financial or legal assistance, the risk of fraud is very real.”
 
To Contribute
To date, $200,000 has been raised. Individuals, families, businesses, and others are invited to contribute in any amount to help reach the $500,000 goal.  There are three easy ways to give:
 1.Donations in any amount are accepted via credit card at GiveMN.
2. Text “MPLS" to 80077 to make a $10 donation with the charge applied to the next cell phone bill.
3.Checks can be sent to The Minneapolis Foundation, 800 IDS Center, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis MN 55402.                

Learn more about immigration in Minnesota here. Visit the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota for more on the deferred action status policy. 
 Minnesota DREAMers Fund: Helping Immigrant Youth Shape A Stronger Future for All of Us contributors include:
 •The Minneapolis Foundation
 •El Fondo de Nuestra Comunidad
 •The Blandin Foundation
 •The F.R. Bigelow Foundation
 •The Saint Paul Foundation
 •Women’s Foundation of Minnesota 

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The Minneapolis Foundation helps people support their community and causes they care about, and invests in efforts to ensure every person in Minneapolis has the opportunity to thrive. Established in 1915, The Minneapolis Foundation now manages more than $600 million in assets, administers more than 1,100 charitable funds and distributes approximately $36 million in grants each year. In addition, The Minneapolis Foundation works with other community leaders to improve the quality of life in our region and serve as a catalyst for discussion and action on critical issues. From time to time, the Foundation brings together local foundations, businesses, and individuals to give together for greater community impact on critical issues. Most recently, the Foundation raised and distributed more than $1.7 million to assist individuals impacted by the 2011 tornado in North Minneapolis through its Minnesota Helps Fund.