ACER seeks legislative fast track for emergency rental assistance

By Vanessa Muthama

Contributing Writer Focus on Brooklyn Park

“Call legislative leadership, fast track emergency rental assistance.” This was ACER’s statement to Minnesota residents as a result of the proposed legislation aiming at preventing housing eviction.

Unfortunately, there is no bill yet, despite the lawmakers and Minnesota Housing expressing their interest in fast-tracking emergency rental assistance. The “lawmakers must do everything to ensure no family is displaced and unhoused, especially in the colder winter months.” However, why exactly is this organization, fighting to ensure families and individuals stay housed?

African Career, Education, & Resources Inc. (ACER) is a nongovernmental organization that offers community service in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, USA. Its main focus is the Africans in the Diaspora, specifically the West African immigrants. As their mission statement states all they want to achieve is “build power to achieve systematic change that advances racial and economic equity for our communities.”

Interestingly, the NGO focuses on other issues affecting people of color other than housing eviction which can lead to other numerous effects; homelessness, work instability, and risks to one’s health, especially when the eviction is during harsh weather conditions, among others.

The Background ACER was established back in 2008. Since this time, the staff has “looked to community members to bring concerns, ideas, and issues to the table.” Therefore, ACER is concerned with the experiences of the Africans in Brooklyn Park.

It is creating access, equity, and opportunity for groups that are underrepresented in this area.

The Work of ACER ACER addresses 4 main issues affecting hundreds of immigrants including;

Civic Engagement According to ACER “Civic Engagement mission is to help community members come together and make their voices heard.” That is why they empower the community residents to be a part of civic processes by engaging in them.

ACER 4

WASHINGTON – U.S.

Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh joined Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Doug Parker today to sign a memorandum that gives the Occupational Safety and Health Administration the authority to issue certifications in support of applications for

U Nonimmigrant Status and

T Nonimmigrant Status visas.

“U Visas” and “T Visas” allow victims of specific crimes to help law enforcement detect, investigate and prosecute crimes without fear of retaliation based on their immigration status. These visas provide immigration status to noncitizen victims and allow them to remain in the U.S. to assist authorities in combatting human trafficking and other crimes.

For the first time, OSHA will be able to issue these visa certifications – during its workplace safety investigations – when the agency identifies qualifying criminal activities, in that environment, the family males took to the streets, hustled, and did whatever we could to bring money in”, he says.

After joining the gang as a 13-year-old, Mekha was in a maximum security prison by the time he was twenty years old. He was sentenced to more than seven years. While locked up, Mekha got his GED. With encouragement from an instructor who saw his potential, he was also able to overcome what he called “imposter syndrome” and study towards a college degree. After a few classes and excelling in them, he soon discovered that his newfound love for learning was changing his perspectives on education and his life. This was also around the same time he was transferred to a medium-security prison because of the college program offered.

After earning his associate degree while in prison, he transferred again, this time to a 4-year college. This opened doors for his career, starting with a position as an academic advisor and then eventually a position at Freeport West, where he was for more than 15 years. While working at Freeport, Mekha had a series of including manslaughter, trafficking, extortion, felonious assault, forced labor and obstruction of justice. OSHA’s new authority – effective March 30, 2023 – will strengthen its ability to protect all workers, including those whose immigration status or other social and cultural inequities discourage them from sharing information with investigators or reporting workplace safety and health issues. The authority will also provide the agency with a critical tool for protecting immigrant and migrant worker communities regardless of their lack of immigration status or temporary employment authorization.

“Expanding OSHA’s U and T visa certification authority helps the agency better fulfill its mission to make U.S. workplaces as safe and healthy as possible,”said Assistant