ASI Announces 2025 Summer Community Fund Recipients

MINNEAPOLIS – The American Swedish Institute announced its latest summer round of awards through the ASI Community Fund, which offers grant opportunities to service-oriented organizations primarily in the Phillips and adjacent Minneapolis neighborhoods. Award amounts were $3,000 for a total of $6,000 awarded to the ​Whittier Community Education and Minnesota Council of Churches.  

ASI Community Fund recipients Summer 2025:  

​Whittier Community Education:

Whittier Elementary School’s After School and Natural Leaders Summer Camp programming includes the “Outstanding Whittier Leaders in Service,” or “O.W.L.S.,” a group of dedicated second, third, and fourth grade student leaders. With support from mentors, these students will plant gardens, care for trees, explore nature, and design their own projects to beautify the school and park. The ASI Community Fund will support more than fifty students as they engage in hands-on nature and gardening activities. Together, students and mentors are expected to log over 300 hours caring for Whittier’s gardens. Mentors will contribute at least 50 hours of leadership support, developing their own skills alongside the students. The community garden spaces will be maintained throughout the season, and students will have the opportunity to cook with the produce they harvest. By the end of the program, students will design and create a unique OWL garden inspired by their own imaginations. 

Minnesota Council of Churches:

Since 1984, Refugee Services has been a Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC) program, providing a welcoming foundation for persecuted individuals and families starting new lives in Minnesota. This grant will support two key initiatives: community navigation assistance and immigration legal services. First, the funds will provide continued support to refugees in Minnesota who face resource gaps in completing their resettlement process. This includes helping to secure stable housing and access essential services during a critical adjustment period. Second, the funding will enhance immigration legal services for refugees, asylees, and other eligible individuals in the Twin Cities. With increasing demand, this support will help MCC meet the legal needs of these communities more effectively, ensuring access to the protections and benefits to which they are entitled.

About the Community Fund: 

The ASI Community Fund was founded in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and seeks to help respond to emerging needs and support ASI neighbors to build, invigorate, and reimagine our shared community. More than $60,000 in awards have been given since the Fund’s establishment in June 2020. Grant funds are intended to support organizations and initiatives aligned with ASI’s mission and values.       

ASI has built longstanding community relationships during the past 15 years through collaborative programs, including the Pippi Project at Andersen and Bancroft elementary schools, PICA Head Start graduations, and the Story Swap program with Wellstone International High School.  ASI also works closely with our Phillips West Neighborhood Organization and other community partners to continue building bridges for understanding and partnership. Future gifts will allow the Fund to grow and continue serving the community.  To contribute to the Fund, please visit  asimn.org/giving.