Black Collective Foundation MN Recognizes Black Immigrant Women Behind Minnesota’s Response to Operation Metro Surge
State senator, nonprofit leaders, and community organizers named Carriers of The Promise as one-year mark of the operation approaches
MINNEAPOLIS — November 12, 2026 — Black Collective Foundation MN has named six Minnesota women as recipients of The Carriers of The Promise award, recognizing leaders who responded during Operation Metro Surge and Operation PARRIS with courage, care, commitment, and direct action on the front lines.
The honorees – leading work across public office, civic engagement, and legal advocacy – represent diverse communities and organizing efforts. As federal enforcement actions that began in November 2025 spread across Minnesota, honorees set up food shelves, delivered and distributed meals, coordinated legal aid for people in detention, organized community watches of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, led civil rights and “know your rights” training, and used their platforms to keep the public informed.
“These honorees served Black immigrant communities, Minnesotans, and Americans during a critical moment in our nation,” said Lulete Mola, CEO and co-founder of Black Collective Foundation MN. “At The Collective, it was important for us to honor the Black immigrant women who worked day and night to defend our communities during Operation Metro Surge and Operation PARRIS, often with little to no recognition of their efforts. Their leadership reminds us that the promise of democracy lives in those who insist, through their actions, that dignity, freedom, and possibility belong to us all.”
The honorees were recognized on October 20, 2026 during Threading Stories of Black Migration, an event hosted by the Foundation to deepen public understanding of the Black immigrant experience in Minnesota. The event also premiered a short film documenting the honorees’ leadership during Operation Metro Surge, part of the Foundation’s effort to elevate the stories of Black immigrant women at the forefront of community response. The film invites viewers to draw inspiration from the women’s courage and will be released to the public in the coming weeks.
The event, film, and award ceremony were supported by MN LEAD (Legal Education, Advocacy, and Defense), the Foundation’s statewide initiative to strengthen Minnesota’s racial justice ecosystem.
“As women, we never asked, ‘Who is going to lead?’ We asked, ‘How can we help?’” said Dr. Habon Abdulle, founder and executive director of Ayada Leads. “That’s the essence of female leadership. We share resources, information, and love.”
The 2026 Carriers of The Promise honorees are:
Dr. Habon Abdulle — Founder & Executive Director, Ayada Leads
Malika Dahir — Executive Director, RISE
Nelima Sitati Munene — Executive Director, ACER, Inc
Nimco Ahmed — Founder, Somali American Coalition of Minnesota
Wintana Melekin — Executive Director, Groundwork Institute & Action
Senator Zaynab Mohamed — Minnesota State Senate, District 63
High-resolution photos and video from the ceremony are available here.
About The Black Collective Foundation MN
Black Collective Foundation MN boldly invests in the people, organizations, and ideas shaping what comes next. A pioneer in culturally specific philanthropy, we move resources, build power, and shape narratives so Black communities and all Minnesotans can live with dignity, prosperity, and possibility.
Media contact: Ruby Oluoch, Director of Communications, ruby@mnblackcf.org
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