Our “Youth In Charge,” Initiative was recognized by the Whitehouse, and featured at the First Lady’s October Prevention Month twit to highlight youth’s success.   “Youth In Charge” Initiative has successfully reached more than 2,000+ youth of color, especially African and Asian American immigrant and refugee youth, through a bicultural lens. The Initiative honors each youth’s culture, and encourages them to see cultural pride and community togetherness are effective ways to enhance resilience and combat substance usage.  

Under the “Youth In Charge” Initiative, youth celebrate ethnic holidays, practice cultural dances/sports, and create culturally and linguistically appropriate print and digital materials for parents and distribute them through networks of cultural communities with information about sharing cultural assets and values to prevent substance usage.

Next project our youth will support - is the state-wide educational project "Don't Discount Your Life" Initiative.   Since keeping commercial tobacco prices high is the most effective tool to help people quit smoking and prevent youth from starting. Tobacco companies spend billions of dollars to reduce the price of commercial tobacco. Discounts and coupons are used to attract and addict youth, women, BIPOC, low-income, and LGBTQ communities. Cheap commercial tobacco is pervasive and fosters racial inequity and health disparities.

People can stop the tobacco industry from targeting our communities with cheap commercial tobacco through a price discount ordinance. An ordinance would set a minimum price on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco and prohibit the redemption of tobacco coupons and price promotions. Learn more at dontdiscountmylife.org.  

 

DATE/TIME: Thursday, February 11, 2020, 1:00pm-3:00pm
PLACE: Online, Register https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-2-a-science-of-the-positive-approach-to-community-conversations-registration-129501306895

So much of the work of prevention centers on conversations. It is in conversation that the gaps between perceived and actual community norms are explored. At the meeting. In the hallway. Sitting in the bleachers next to another parent. This is where perspectives can be shifted. Equipping coalition/team/community members with skills to effectively facilitate these conversations without raising defensiveness provides a significant impact. In these skill-building workshops, Jason will introduce the concepts of “Let’s Talk” while providing examples of the advantages of this communication style versus other approaches

DATE/TIME: Thursday, February 11, 2021,  5:30 PM - 7:15 PM
PLACE: Online, Register here

Share stories of abundance and vulnerability as we play Story Stitch, a conversation card game made by local diaspora storytelling org Green Card Voices, share pictures and highlights you and yours experienced in 2020, watch the reveal of our spectacular #PaperCraneWish art installation, and write platonic love letters to those who have filled your life with color and wonder.

Stay with us until the end, and we’ll show you how to bring yourself and your household objects to life… through DANCE!

No matter the circumstances that may keep our community apart, like the Ox and Paper Crane in our story, we will find our way back to one another – to share all the moments that remind us of the priceless value of making the most of what we have, together.

DATE/TIME: Saturday, February 13th, 2021 12:00PM
PLACE: Online, Register https://frozenriver.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=45e500dcda510fd8f50e1a31e&id=705b17589d&e=06bc4c5cd0

“Mobile Filmmaking” will be online via Zoom on Saturday, February 13th at 12:00 p.m. The workshop will be taught by Benjamin Boucvalt, who will be teaching attendees about how to use simple equipment (mainly smartphones) to compose and shoot professional-looking videos.

DATE/TIME: Saturday, February 13, 2021, 7:00pm-8:30pm
PLACE: Online, Register https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekI09NMvaykfCqltykReCZfCipA38itmFSV_OPZ1sa8C0wzg/viewform?usp=sf_link

The TAAMN invites old and new friends for an online gathering to celebrate the 2021 Lunar New Year on Saturday, February 13th! While we cannot host an in-person celebration as usual, we still have plenty planned for a joyful virtual gathering! We will also use the occasion to update members on the status of the organization and honor the young recipients of the Elaine Liu Memorial Scholarship Awards and the Minnesota Taiwanese Foundation Youth Awards. We will then wrap up the night with games, interactive activities, and prizes! For more details and registration, please check out the attached google form. 

DATE/TIME: Sunday, February 14th, 2021, 11:00 AM
PLACE: Online, Register https://frozenriver.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=45e500dcda510fd8f50e1a31e&id=b562b5295f&e=06bc4c5cd0
TOPIC: Filling the Blank Page

Malick Ceesay will be teaching “Filling the Blank Page”, which is aimed at helping writers get started or get re-inspired to write their own scripts

DATE/TIME: Sunday, February 14th, 2021, 1:00 PM
PLACE: Online, Register https://frozenriver.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=45e500dcda510fd8f50e1a31e&id=f24575890b&e=06bc4c5cd0
TOPIC: Keeping the Beat

Nathaniel Nelson will be teaching “Keeping the Beat: The Art of Musical Filmmaking”. Nelson’s workshop will focus on shooting and editing live shows and music videos as well as editing for sound and editing to rhythm.