Minnesota's Kenyan community is grieving the loss of an influential community leader, Thomas Nyambane, to coronavirus. Nyambane, affectionately referred to as Dr. Nyambane, was a college educator and was just a few years into his retirement following a career of teaching at Hennepin Technical College. He died yesterday (May 17) aged 69.
His death is the first reported fatality of...
If your income has decreased due to the coronavirus pandemic and you have lost the health insurance you had through your work, you might qualify for coverage through MNsure. MNsure has a new special enrollment period option that allows Minnesotans to enroll in private coverage.
You may qualify if:
• Your household income recently decreased,
• You are newly eligible for an...
Editor's note: Deputy Commissioner Hamse Warfa originally sent this message to Mshale eNewsletter subscribers on May 7, 2020.
My name is Hamse Warfa and I am the deputy commissioner for Workforce Development at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). DEED is working with Mshale and other community publications to get the word out about help for people...
More than 10 community groups that include the Black Immigrant Collective and ISAIAH, have launched the Minnesota Immigrant Families COVID-19 Fund to raise funds to help the state's undocumented community who have been left without access to state and federal economic programs designed to offer relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of May 11, the fundraising which is going on...
One of the first testing labs in the state to offer COVID-19 testing has expanded to more clinic locations and is now supporting testing in long-term care, shelter and other settings by deploying teams of paramedics and nurses to do onsite collection. This expansion is vitally important to bring testing to underrepresented populations in Hennepin County and reduce transmission...
Governor Walz at Monday's daily COVID-19 briefing invited Abdirahman Kahin, owner of Afro Deli and the 2018 African Awards Business of the Year, to share the challenges restaurants have been facing following the governor’s order in March to close all restaurants except for takeout and delivery due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Walz has been under mounting pressure to end...
Boni Njenga, a Bloomington resident, has announced he is running for Hennepin County Commissioner in District 5 challenging first term incumbent Debbie Goettel. In a Zoom interview with Mshale as he observed Ramadan and the governor's shelter-in-place order, Njenga discussed his platform.
Njenga said he is running because it is time for fresh ideas and action, and wants to be...
In a historic move last night marking the first day of Ramadan, the Adhan, the Muslim call to prayer rang out in the Minneapolis Cedar-Riverside neighborhood following the granting of a special permit by Mayor Jacob Frey on Tuesday.
Mayor Frey said the move is intended to help residents maintain safe physical distance during the holy month. Places of worship...
The biggest and brightest of the African music world got together—while staying apart—on Saturday, and naturally, the African Giant was there. Taking his rightful place alongside the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and Lizzo, Burna Boy performed “African Giant” and “Hallelujah” for the One World: Together at Home concert Saturday from a comfortable looking chair in Lagos, Nigeria. Down in...
Attorney Esther Agbaje is on a mission to create positive change in her community. The 34-year-old Minnesota native has announced that she's running for the Minnesota House of Representatives seat in District 59B, which includes most of downtown Minneapolis and North Minneapolis.
Born in Saint Paul to Nigerian immigrants, Agbaje was raised in the Midway neighborhood before moving around the...
To protect the public's health and slow the rate of transmission of COVID-19, Governor Walz extended the executive order directing Minnesotans to stay at home and limit movements outside of their home beyond essential needs.
This order extension is effective from March 27 at 11:59 p.m. to May 3 at 11:59 p.m. The Governor’s order to stay home is forecasted...
