Economic Development

- housing - voting - Small Business

NEWS & STORIES

5 Reasons to Get Excited About the ACER Innovation and Catalyst Center (ACER ICC)

Oct 172 min read

Economic Development

5 Reasons to Get Excited About the ACER Innovation and Catalyst Center (ACER ICC)

From Nigerian Roots to Minnesota Cuisine: The Inspiring Journey of Kafayat Abodunrin

Jul 83 min read

Economic Development

From Nigerian Roots to Minnesota Cuisine: The Inspiring Journey of Kafayat Abodunrin

Food is a bridge that connects people, across cultures and generations. For Kafayat, food was how she connected with her mother and...

Jan 311 min read

Civic Engagement

ACER Annual Report 2023

2023 has been a year of transformational work for ACER. Here's a quick overview of the impact of ACER in the community and areas of focus...

Mar 29, 20231 min read

Economic Development

Buy Back the Block

In their January 2023 report, "Five Ways City Leaders Can Support Black Entrepreneurs' efforts to ‘buy back the block’," the Brookings...

Mar 2, 20231 min read

Economic Development

Harnessing the Power of Black Wealth

ACER wrapped up Black History Month with a discussion on Building Black Wealth.

What the crisis at this Brooklyn Park office building says about the state of black-owned businesses

Jan 31, 20232 min read

Economic Development

What the crisis at this Brooklyn Park office building says about the state of black-owned businesses

Since the Brooklyn Executive Plaza was purchased by a new owner in August 2021, the status of the predominantly black immigrant owned...

Denise Butler to be honored with 2022 Top Women in Finance Award

Nov 7, 20223 min read

Economic Development

Denise Butler to be honored with 2022 Top Women in Finance Award

Denise Butler, the Associate Director and Director of Economic and Community Development at Brooklyn Park nonprofit ACER (African Career,...

A tour of BIPOC Business in Crystal and the brooklyns

Oct 31, 20226 min read

Economic Development

A tour of BIPOC Business in Crystal and the brooklyns

ACER hosted a tour of business corridors featuring BIPOC-owned/operated businesses located in the cities of Crystal, Brooklyn Park, and...

ACER and COPAL receive joint funding for workforce development

Oct 17, 20221 min read

Economic Development

ACER and COPAL receive joint funding for workforce development

CCX reports that ACER and our project partner COPAL received a joint $ 1 million check to fund workforce development in local African and...

With the proper input, BLRT can benefit businesses and diverse communities

Sep 12, 20221 min read

Economic Development

With the proper input, BLRT can benefit businesses and diverse communities

ACER Communications Manager Agnes Omwoyo, writing in the Sun Post, advocates for community engagement in BLRT extension.

ACER RECEIVES CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Mar 16, 20222 min read

Economic Development

ACER RECEIVES CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

March 16, 2022 Brooklyn Park, MN — African Career, Education, & Resources Inc. (ACER) will receive $500,000 as a part of the direct...

THE OPPORTUNITY SITE TASK FORCE PRESENTS DATA

Dec 23, 20212 min read

Economic Development

THE OPPORTUNITY SITE TASK FORCE PRESENTS DATA

The Opportunity Site is an approximately 80-acre area west of Highway 100 and east of Shingle Creek Parkway, between Bass Lake Road and...

BUSINESS OWNER FLORENCE KARP FINDS SUCCESS WITH ELEVATE BUSINESS HC

Sep 8, 20213 min read

Economic Development

BUSINESS OWNER FLORENCE KARP FINDS SUCCESS WITH ELEVATE BUSINESS HC

Last week the folks at Hennepin County came to ACER’s offices to capture small business owner Florence Karp’s success story. To support...

AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR WALZ AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN

Dec 17, 20201 min read

Economic Development

AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNOR WALZ AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN

ACER signed on to this letter in collaboration with almost 20 other organizations as we advocated for specific funding for our...

Community Advocacy Group ACER Protests with “Car Action”

Apr 22, 20201 min read

Economic Development

Community Advocacy Group ACER Protests with “Car Action”

At the beginning of the pandemic, before we really knew what COVID was or how to respond to it, we knew evictions for our small business...

EQUITY IN PLACE: HOW ACER AND PARTNERS ARE SHAPING INVESTMENT IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION

Jun 22, 20181 min read

Housing Justice

EQUITY IN PLACE: HOW ACER AND PARTNERS ARE SHAPING INVESTMENT IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION

ACER is a member of the Equity in Place coalition, a diverse group of strategic partners from place-based, housing, and advocacy...

Dec 20, 20171 min read

Economic Development

The Blue Line Coalition

ACER is a co-chair of the Blue Line Coalition, a group of community organizations working to incorporate community power and voices in...