By SK Lo, Founding President & Board Chair of AAUC
Day 2 AAUC 2026 Unity Summit at the University McNamara Center
The AAUC Unity Summit in Minnesota marked our first regional gathering, and its ambitious two-day program left a deep imprint on my heart. What I offer here is not a full account of the Summit’s activities, but my personal reflections on what I witnessed and felt. I am deeply grateful for the tremendous work and effort of our host and co-host teams, led by our Executive Director Ted Fong, whose vision and dedication shaped such an innovative and in-depth exploration of the ICE insurgence in Minnesota and the remarkable success of the Twin Cities communities in pushing ICE out of our state.
Our first day began with a bus tour to three communities disproportionately affected by ICE’s Operation Metro Surge. At HmongTown Market, community members from Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia shared how ICE actions reignited war trauma. Their stories of fear, broken families, and children missing school because they were too afraid to leave home were heartbreaking. The moderator was moved to tears, and many in the audience shared sympathetic tears. Amid this pain, Yeng Her from Immigration Defense Network reminded everyone that voting remains one of the most powerful tools communities have to change the outcomes of what may come.
At Karmel Mall, Somali leaders spoke with clarity, courage, and even humor. Their creation of SALT — Somali American Leadership Table — was both practical and symbolic. “SALT melts ICE,” they joked, but beneath the levity was deep trauma and a fierce commitment to civil rights. Their resilience lifted my spirits.
Town Hall meeting at DHH Church. Dr. SK Lo interviews Michele McKenzie, Executive Director of The Advocates for Human Rights,
and Mikayla Mtanous, Political Director of COPAL, MN.
Our final stop at the DHH Church revealed the overwhelming scale of need within the Latino community. What began as an effort to help a few families grew into support for hundreds of thousands. Volunteers stepped in to manage donations and distribute food weekly. Listening to their stories reminded me how communities often carry burdens that systems fail to address.
Day 2 brought conversations with elected officials and community leaders who navigated Operation Metro Surge from different vantage points. The Minnesota Model presentation offered a powerful blueprint for coalition building.
AAUC 2026 Unity Summit – Day 2 after Sheriff Dawanna Witt’s Speech
The Summit succeeded in touching hearts and opening minds. Yet I left wishing we had inspired more attendees to commit to personal action. Still, I hope they carry the Minnesota Model into their daily lives, strengthening trust and coalition wherever they are.