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Recently the Tegeder Committee received a letter from Jesse Phenow, Director at The Urban Village, one of the recipients of a Tegeder Fund grant in December 2023. It reads in part:
The Knyaw (Karen) and Karenni people are persecuted ethnic minorities from the country of Myanmar (Burma). Minnesota is home to the largest Myanmar diaspora community anywhere outside of South East Asia. Right now, in 2023, there are close to 30,000 Knyaw and Karenni refugees currently living in Minnesota.
The Urban Village has been intentionally crafted with one vision in mind. A Karen and Karenni youth who are deeply connected to themselves, deeply connected to our community, and deeply connected to their creator.
The Urban Village programmatic offerings are broken up into our three areas of focus outlined in our mission statement: Connect, Heal, and Launch. We envision A Knyaw and Karenni youth who are bravely embarking on a journey of healing, understanding that we live in a difficult and sometimes dangerous world. A world that requires restoration and instruments of peace. Ultimately, we hope to see an entire generation of Knyaw and Karenni youth who are launching into what makes them come alive and who are sharing it with the world.
The Tegeder grant fund will enhance our culturally relevant community space, allowing us to acquire modern furniture and hospitality items for the benefit of our youth. This updated environment will feature new furniture, Chromebooks for homework assistance, gaming systems/board games/ping pong paddles for enjoyable game nights, and essential school supplies. Your investment in our work holds significant meaning for us, and we eagerly anticipate the utilization of these resources by our youth, made possible through the generosity of the Tegeder grant.Information on how nonprofit organizations can apply or for ways you can contribute to the fund are on The Tegeder Fund page.
