MinneAMA: Showing Up for Each Other & Our Community
Minnestar has always been about community — creating inclusive, welcoming spaces for people to connect, share, and support one another. In this moment, our role isn’t to issue statements or prescribe solutions, but to convene our community and create space for honest conversation, shared learning, and thoughtful ways to show up.
This is a challenging moment for our community.
With ongoing ICE activity in our neighborhoods, rapidly changing conditions for immigrant families, and real impacts on workplaces and businesses in Minnesota, many in our community are asking questions like:
How do I actually help, in a way that’s grounded and useful?
How do I support my family, colleagues, and neighbors without burning out?
Where do I plug in if I’m not on the “front lines” but still want to show up?
Minnestar is hosting a special community AMA (Ask Me Anything) as a starting point for connection, learning, and moving from feeling stuck to taking thoughtful action.
What to expect:
A one-hour, live Zoom session
Short reflections from community members and invited guests working directly in community support, mutual aid, workplace contexts, and family support
Open Q&A and discussion with the Minnesota tech community
Concrete examples from others on ways to:
Support your immediate community (neighbors, schools, daycares, small businesses)
Understand business / workplace implications (e.g., I‑9 audits, ICE at workplaces)
Take care of your own mental and emotional health while you’re showing up for others
This session will not be recorded to support open, candid conversation. We’ll share a short written recap and resource list afterward.
Who this is for:
Folks in the Minnesota tech/startup community who are looking for grounded, real talk about what’s happening locally
Folks who feel overwhelmed, angry, uncertain, or stuck — and want help figuring out one tangible next step
Anyone navigating hard conversations at home, at work, or in their community
Why we’re doing this:
Minnestar has always been about community. In this moment, that means:
Acknowledging that what’s happening is not okay
Naming that this is hard and people are experiencing it differently
Creating space to listen, learn, and share lived experience
Encouraging people to act within their own spheres of influence, capacity, and care
What this is not:
A legal clinic or space for individualized legal advice
A training for direct action, rapid response, or civil disobedience
A political organizing or advocacy forum
A space for debating the humanity or rights of our neighbors
A replacement for ongoing organizing, therapy, or legal support
Resources & Ways to Take Action
To help connect conversation to clear action, we’re sharing links to publicly available resources compiling information, mutual aid efforts, and ways to support immigrant and frontline communities, including:
These lists are not comprehensive, and information is changing rapidly. We encourage folks to look for ways to get involved directly in their own neighborhoods and local communities.
We’ve also created a dedicated Slack channel for attendees to continue sharing resources, opportunities, and ways to support one another before and after the session.
A link to join the Minnestar Slack will be included in your registration confirmation. Once you’ve joined, look for the #community-support channel.
Cost / Donations
There is no cost to attend, and Minnestar is not collecting or passing through donations as part of this event. If you have financial resources to share, we encourage you to give directly to organizations listed above or other trusted local efforts in your own community.
Code of Conduct
This event follows the Minnestar Code of Conduct. We’re committed to creating a welcoming, respectful environment where people can participate in good faith and feel safe sharing their perspectives.
We expect attendees to engage with empathy, respect, and care for one another. Harassment, demeaning behavior, or debating the humanity or rights of others will not be tolerated. Minnestar organizers reserve the right to moderate the conversation or remove participants if necessary to uphold these expectations.
You can view the full Minnestar Code of Conduct here.
Virtual Access: Link will be shared day-of event.
If you are unable to attend, this session will not be recorded. We’ll share a short written recap and resource list afterward.
Questions? Email [email protected]