Organization: MN8

Currently there is a lack of formalized knowledge about Khmer Americans in Minnesota despite the fact that Hampton, Minnesota is home to the largest Cambodian Buddhist temple in the world outside of Cambodia. 

From fall 2021 to spring 2022, we worked with members of Wilder Research’s Pro Bono Research Program to conduct the first-of-its-kind Community Needs Assessment of the Cambodian American community in Minnesota. We co-created a mixed-methods project that included a statewide analysis of available data on Cambodian Americans in Minnesota and up to 20 interviews with Cambodian…

Organization: Renewing the Countryside

Farmland access is identified as the biggest challenge for emerging farmers—particularly Black and Brown farmers—in developing viable businesses and growing capacity for community resilience. While finding affordable land to lease or purchase is part of the challenge, an additional challenge is understanding the policies, codes and ordinances that regulate what can be done at county, city and township levels. Through our work and that of our partners working on farmland access, we regularly see emerging farmers…

Organization: Midwest Skateboarding Alliance

All public parks offer benefits of greenspace, recreation, socializing, and safety. Skateparks accomplish this in particular for youth. Modern, state-of-the art skateparks are a tremendous draw for youth and skateboarders of all ages, providing mental, physical and social benefits and a point of pride for the neighborhood. Yet they are too often placed within suburban, predominantly white, high-income areas already privileged with similar amenities. The goal of this project is to address this bias and inherent…