Action for East African People
Addressing the needs of East African communities worldwide. Take ActionMinnesota Programs & Services
Medical care and social services in Bloomington and Burnsville, Minnesota.
Action Care Community Clinic and Dental
High quality, culturally competent and comprehensive primary, dental and mental health care.
Action Care Healing and Wellness Center
A center for relaxation and wellness featuring chiropractic care, massage therapy, mental health care and more.
International Development
We’re opening project operations in Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
ACTION FOR EAST AFRICAN PEOPLE
A bridge between newcomers and the receiving community.
Action for East African People (AFEAP) is a local 501c3 nonprofit promoting the grassroots advancement and cultivation of the East African (EA) community in Bloomington, Minnesota and surrounding areas. Specifically, the EA community we serve includes the local Somali and Ethiopian immigrant populace. AFEAP’s vision is to empower immigrants towards self-sufficiency and integration through culturally responsive and comprehensive initiatives that challenge inequalities in health, housing and education.
Taking Action
Empowering Girls and Women
Centering women’s health, access to education and economic development. Skills training and self defense/care for girls and women. Prioritizing the needs of East African immigrant women locally.
Increasing Access to Food, Housing, Healthcare, Education and Resources
Addressing the needs of the local immigrant population in Minnesota as well as globally in East Africa. AFEAP has developed a variety of essential partnerships to eliminate barriers to survival and self-sufficiency. We’ve opened comprehensive and accessible health centers in Bloomington and Burnsville, Minnesota.
Economic Development
Job creation, micro-lending, childcare and homelessness programs in East African regions. Assisting immigrants in Minnesota with gainful employment, housing assistance and access to childcare.
What are the challenges?
Minnesota is home to one of the the largest populations of East African immigrants. East Africans came to the United States as a result of a civil war, armed conflicts and drought in their home countries. They make significant contributions to the economy but face many challenges being new to the country and having to navigate cultural and social systems that are marginalizing.
Language Barriers
English is likely not a first language and may not be spoken at all. East African immigrants require translators and interpreters in order to navigate an array of social systems. AFEAP has mobilized volunteers and employees to serve this need.
Access to Employment
Families may need assistance in gaining employment through help with resumes, applications, and communicating with employers. AFEAP works to eliminate a wide range of barriers to self-sufficiency.
Access to Healthcare, Dental and Mental Health
There is a great need for assistance in obtaining health insurance, access to quality care and health education. There is also a cultural stigma surrounding mental health care, special needs and elderly care that AFEAP aims to break through.
Access to Rental Assistance and Home Ownership
Some East African immigrants need help in applying for rental assistance programs. There is a cultural stigma around building credit, making it harder to aquire home ownership. AFEAP provides assistance with credit building and has partnered with Dimespeak to help eliminate barriers to home ownership.
Food Insecurity
As a newcomer to the country or a low-income resident, East Africans may face food insecurity. AFEAP has created a food shelf in partnership with the City of Bloomington to address this need in the surrounding suburbs.
Lack of Centralized Services
AFEAP was created to address the lack of centralized services for East African immigrants and low-income populace in the suburbs. We must holistically address each person with a personalized approach in order to eliminate all barriers to navigating the present cultural and social systems.
Ayan Abukar
AFEAP Executive Director
Ayan Abukar has worked for decades to help underserved communities in the Twin Cities. Ayan is a compassionate woman. She had been seriously affected when she was young, living in the refugee camps of Ethiopia where she began her work with the community. Ayan was among the first East African groups to immigrate to the United States. In 1998, she began building a life in Minnesota and continued to work in the realm of community service, where she now serves as the Executive Director of Action for East African People.
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