Official portrait of Alex Pretti from the US Department of Veterans Affairs
The board and staff of Youthprise would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, neighbors and V.A. co-workers of Alex Pretti, who was slain this past weekend while peacefully protesting the presence of ICE and Border Patrol agents in the city of Minneapolis and state of Minnesota.
Alex Pretti will be remembered by many as a fallen soldier and martyr in the ongoing battle for liberty and justice for all. His untimely death at the hands of ICE agents this past weekend has caused grief, pain and heartache to the state of Minnesota and across the nation. As we mourn his passing, Youthprise will continue to support young people and the communities that are being targeted.
We are reaching out during an extremely difficult and destabilizing moment for many communities in Minnesota. Recent ICE activity has created widespread fear, disruption, and trauma, especially for immigrant families and the young people and community organizations we work alongside every day. As an intermediary organization closely connected to youth, community‑based partners, and public systems, Youthprise is concerned about both the immediate and long‑term impacts of this moment.
We want to share how we are responding to support young people and partners most affected, and to ensure the well‑being of our own staff.
SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE, GRANTEES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS
- Meeting Emergency Needs: Across our programs, we have implemented multiple strategies to meet urgent needs, reduce operational pressures, and create spaces for safety and grounding. These strategies include providing emergency funding and bridge loans for organizations negatively impacted by the uncertainties of this crisis, as well as supporting the capacity of young people and youth-led organizations to meet the moment through funding, partnership, and fiscal sponsorship.
- We are partnering with Every Meal: to expand food distribution for families served through our Nutrition Program. We are also raising supplemental funds to support emergency food access, as many young people and families are experiencing increased barriers and disruptions during this time. These resources will help us respond rapidly to hunger‑related needs and provide stabilizing support to those most affected.
- We are also raising funds to expand our existing Emergency Basic Needs Fund: which provides immediate assistance for essentials such as food, emergency supplies, transportation, and other critical needs. Expanding this fund allows us to respond quickly and flexibly to urgent requests from young people and families whose stability has been directly impacted by the current climate.
- Extending Flexibility to Our Partners and Grantees: We have extended additional flexibility on grant requirements, documentation deadlines, and other expectations for our community partners. We understand that many organizations are experiencing program closures, reduced attendance, staffing challenges, and elevated emotional needs among youth. We want to ensure our partners do not bear additional administrative pressure during an already challenging time.
- Providing Supportive Spaces for Young People: We are hosting virtual gatherings for young people across our network, including those served by grantee programs and those engaged in our systems‑change initiatives. These gatherings offer a safe, supportive space for young people to process, connect, and care for one another. We will share resources, discuss ways to stay safe while engaging in community action, and create space for youth to reflect and brainstorm how we can support one another during this time.
- Publicizing Resources: We launched an Emergency Resource Page on our website featuring mental health supports, legal aid, basic needs assistance, and resources tailored specifically for this moment. Another page provides resources for talking to young people in times of crisis.
SUPPORTING OUR STAFF
Our team is also experiencing the emotional and practical impacts of this moment, including managing caregiving responsibilities, school closures, community safety concerns, and the stress of supporting others while processing their own experiences. To support them, we have implemented:
- Flexible schedules to accommodate personal and family needs;
- Voluntary virtual processing spaces for staff who want time and space to reflect together;
- Shifts from in‑person or hybrid activities to fully virtual formats, including staff meetings and other planned gatherings, to reduce stress and maintain safety.
