$1500: Transforming Families MN
$1475: ACLU / ACLU MN
$700: Hopkins Pride Festival
$500: Trans Prom
$500: Twin Cities Arab Film Festival
$375: St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts
$300: Columbia Heights Pride
$300: Gender Justice
$200: Lake Pepin Pride
$150: Austin Pride Festival
$125: Golden Valley Pride Festival
$100: Canvas Health
$100: City of Sun Prairie, WI
We look forward to working together again in 2024!
It has been an honor to be the docent of this vital message. Since our start in 2016, we've given almost $100,000 back to our community and helped to fundraise much more through creative collaborations and strong partnerships.
We're here because of you and your commitment to building a more just, inclusive, and equitable for everyone. In 2023, we look forward to continuing this work and sharing a rainbow of welcome together.
]]>
As graduates of the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, we were thrilled to make a maroon and gold sign for the Minnesota Alumni Market! What a fun way to welcome students and staff back to campus! We’re also proud to be featured with some of our favorite local businesses including Peace Coffee, Fair Anita, Yen Chee Design, HiBAR, Wood From the Hood, and others.
Product Details:
Exclusively available at the Minnesota Alumni Market: https://www.mnalumnimarket.com/products/all-are-welcome-here-lawn-sign
]]>We had a rainbow of fun volunteering with the Golden Valley Pride team on Saturday for their Food & Necessities Drive from PRISM.
PRISM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 by folks who were concerned about local hungry and homeless families. What started as a small, informal effort has since evolved into a strong, sustainable organization that is considered a leading provider of basic needs services in the northwest Twin Cities suburbs. Nearly 50 years later its mission remains the same: to provide social services and connections that empower people in our community to build healthy, stable lives.
Thank you to everyone for making this event a success. It felt amazing to see and hug friends in person and make new ones, too!
]]>We feel so lucky to be able to use our businesses to unite and mobilize our community on behalf of NAMI MN!
Thank you to every single one of you who donated an item, bid, contributed, or shared this project. Over 150 supporters bid on items donated by over 60 small businesses, artists, and makers. Together, we raised $5,300 for NAMI MN!
🌟If you won an auction item, be sure to complete the check-out process so we can send it to you
🌟If you donated an auction item, we'll send you an email with the winner's contact information very soon.
🌟If you didn’t win an item, you can still donate to NAMI MN and support its mission to champion justice, dignity, and respect for all people affected by mental illnesses.
This auction was sponsored by All Are Welcome Here, Brio Marketing, Minneapolis Craft Market, and We Sparkle. We are so grateful to be part of this amazing team of women-owned businesses!
]]>The All Together Auction is an opportunity to raise awareness about our incredible community of artists, makers, and small businesses while also also raising funds for NAMI Minnesota (National Association on Mental Illness), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with mental illness and their families.
Many Minnesotans have utilized NAMI’s services over the last 12 months due to the ongoing pandemic, and funds raised from the All Together Auction will support their programming and services including their free support groups and online classes.
Last year, our community partners crushed our fundraising goal and we raised $12,000 for NAMI so they could make their mental health services available to more people. This year, our goal is to raise $5,000. Working together, we know we'll reach this goal, too!
The All Together Auction is sponsored by All Are Welcome Here, Minneapolis Craft Market, Brio Marketing, We Sparkle, and the amazing artists, makers and small businesses in our community.
]]>"You may remember seeing an ‘All Are Welcome Here’ sign in our lobby. We love that sign and wanted to make it clear in every language that you are welcome here. Jackie, one of our social workers, collaborated with All Are Welcome Here to use all of the common languages that are represented in our neighbors to create one sign. When STEP opens back up to the public in the future, you’ll see one of these posters in every office. You matter and we are so happy you are our neighbor."
Sending a rainbow of gratitude to STEP: St. Louis Park Emergency Program for all that they do. The St. Louis Park Emergency Program's mission is to identify, address and respond to the critical and emergency needs of residents in St. Louis Park. STEP provides direct assistance and support services to residents of St. Louis Park, targeting households with low incomes and those faced with financial crisis. Learn more at: https://stepslp.org.
]]>Our business donated over $14,000 to 20 local non-profits, media organizations, small businesses, and social service projects that are working to make our world more just and equitable.
In a dark year, the All Together Auction was one of the highlights of 2020. In partnership with Brio Marketing, Minneapolis Craft Market, Power of 100 MSP, and We Sparkle, we raised $12,597 for NAMI Minnesota so they could move their mental health resources online and make support accessible to more people.
If you’re an artist, maker, or small business you can use your talents to support mental health in Minnesota by creating the pieces buyers will bid on to support the cause. To donate an item, please fill out our Google survey before April 18. Bidding starts Wednesday, May 12!
]]>With all of the ups and downs of the pandemic and everything else 2020 threw at us, mental health is more important than ever. That’s why we are bringing back the All Together Auction.
The All Together Auction is designed to raise awareness of local artists and small businesses while raising funds for NAMI Minnesota.
Last year, over 120 vendors contributed to the All Together Auction raising a whopping $12,000 for NAMI MN so they could move their resources online and make support accessible to more people.
As a maker, you have the fantastic opportunity to use your talents to support mental health in Minnesota by creating the pieces buyers will bid on to support the cause! To donate an item, please fill out this Google survey by April 25. Then get ready to bid May 10-17!
Like you, we’ve tried a million different styles of masks (which is why it took us so long to make some) and these are one of our very favorites. Beautiful, comfortable, and durable, our reusable, three-layer masks are constructed with high quality machine-washable combed cotton (on the outside and the inside) with a breathable polyester fiber middle layer. Other features include:
These masks are modeled by our friend Brittany. As a dental hygienist, she was one of the front line workers during this pandemic helping many people with their dental care needs during this difficult time. You can't see it from the photo, but she seriously has the best smile and this amazing ability to make people feel at ease. She also wanted to take this opportunity to remind all of you to brush and floss twice daily.
Thank you for all you do, Brittany, including humoring us and our camera. You can get your mask here >
As always, 10% of our sales are donated to the ACLU / ACLU-MN.
]]>The video features our founder, Jaime Chismar (she/her/hers), a graphic designer, photographer, and life-long writer living in St. Louis Park. In 2016, she discovered the power of four words: All Are Welcome Here, and her life was forever changed. What started as a lawn sign is now a social enterprise business based on a simple idea: respect and compassion for all.
The conference (affectionately known as YAK) is sponsored by Success Beyond The Classroom, a nonprofit that creates powerful learning experiences that challenge students (grades 4-8) to explore interests, discover new perspectives, connect with professionals in the community, and visualize their success beyond the classroom. Success Beyond the Classroom’s (SBC) history includes 30+ years of working with schools to provide relevant, highly valued enrichment programs to students across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.
Learn more about YAK and SBC at https://successbeyond.org/programs/yac/.
]]>DISCLAIMER FOR MASK: UPDATED 03.01.2021
All ARE WELCOME HERE PROVIDES THE MASK AND ITS PACKAGING AS-IS, WITH ANY AND ALL FAULTS, AND THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE USE, SUITABILITY, EFFECTIVENESS, USAGE SPAN, CLEANLINESS, STORAGE, SAFETY, TRANSPORT, PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY IS WITH THE RECIPIENT AND USER.
ALL ARE WELCOME HERE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
ALL ARE WELCOME HERE DISCLAIMS THAT THE MASK:
ALL ARE WELCOME HERE DOES NOT WARRANT, REPRESENT, PROMISE OR OTHERWISE STATE THAT THE MASK IS OF A CERTAIN CONDITION, VALUE, PERFORMANCE, QUALITY, CHARACTERISTIC, SAFETY, OR FITNESS OR HAS BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE SAME.
SOCK FANCY, LLC SUPPLIED THE MASK TO ALL ARE WELCOME HERE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASK CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.SOCKFANCY.COM AND ON THE ACCOMPANYING CARD FROM SOCK FANCY, LLC.
FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT MASKS ALL ARE WELCOME HERE ENCOURAGES THE PURCHASER, RECIPIENT, OR BUYER OF THE MASK TO VISIT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION’S WEBSITE AT WWW.CDC.GOV.
IN THE EVENT THAT A PURCHASER, RECIPIENT, OR BUYER OF THE MASK TRANSFERS IT TO ANOTHER, THIS DISCLAIMER AND THE SOCK FANCY, LLC CARD SHOULD ACCOMPANY THE MASK.
]]>We are super excited to be a sponsor of this year's Virtual Green Gifts Fair created by Do it Green! Minnesota! Over 60 eco-conscious businesses are participating in their virtual marketplace.
There are also some pretty amazing family-friendly (and contact-less) activities that promote environmental stewardship and community building during these times of social distancing and distance learning at the Midtown Global Market including:
Don’t forget to check out their silent auction. It includes some with some pretty amazing items from local businesses. Learn more at https://digmn.org/
And, if you're ordering from our website be sure to take 10% your order with code GGF2020!
]]>She referenced a quote by astrophysicist Carl Sagan about a photograph from space depicting a far-off Earth.
“To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known,” Sagan said.
Chismar reflected, “All Are Welcome Here isn’t just about humans being better to each other. We have a lot to figure out. But it’s also how we can be better as a species. ... We have nowhere else to go. This is our home. We have to make it more welcoming or we’re not going to survive.”
“It doesn’t necessarily reflect everyone’s experience, but it’s an ideal we can all work toward to make our world more just and equitable” Chismar said.
Here's a link to the full story: https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_sailor/community/stlouispark/st-louis-park-designers-all-are-welcome-here-enterprise-has-worldwide-impact/article_7a04d92e-23aa-11eb-b093-3f7e3930cfe5.html
]]>We can't believe it! What started as response to the 2016 election transformed into something greater than we ever expected. Four years later, we’re here because of your commitment and your work to make our world more just, inclusive and equitable for everyone.
Our woman-owned business has shipped our products to every county in Minnesota, every state in the U.S., and all around the world including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Singapore, and Switzerland. We've donated over $70,000 back to our community and helped to fundraise much more through creative collaborations and strong partnerships.
What are our plans for the future? Like many of you, we’re navigating these uncertain times with a little more hope and optimism, and an undeniable certainty that there is much more work to do together.
]]>We are so excited to share our new VOTE tees and support an organization working to register and educate new voters in our community. $20 from the sale of each shirt will be donated to Neighborhood House, a multi-service community organization serving low-income, immigrant, and refugee families in St. Paul and Ramsey County. Every day, they help hundreds of people with food access and housing stability, as well as educational opportunities for all ages.
And because they serve folks who are so often underrepresented in the civic arena, they work to promote and educate participants on things like the 2020 Census and voting so that their voices can be heard too. Right now they’re working on registering voters so that more people can advocate for themselves on a political level. Learn more about Neighborhood House and their work here: www.neighb.org
This is a limited edition, presale tee. Sales end midnight on Tuesday, September 8. Shirts will ship the week of September 21. Order yours here >
]]>WRITTEN BY LIZ SPIELMAN // PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSMACK & DIANA FRASER
Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, queer filmmaker Diana Fraser felt fortunate to find a doctor she was comfortable coming out to. But when she moved to Minneapolis, she felt afraid trying to find a new doctor. As a result, she only sought care when absolutely necessary. It wasn’t until she discussed her experiences with her friends that she realized she wasn’t alone and that many felt the same way.
Originally planning to be pre-med in college, Diana made the switch to a career in film, receiving a degree in Cinema and Media Studies at Carleton College. Since graduating, Diana has worked on the logistical side of productions, worked on multimedia series, digital series, documentaries, live productions, studio shows, and on a number of feature and short films.
With the skills in film and the passion for telling stories, Diana set out to create a space for those missing conversations around health care, developing the idea of a 5-part miniseries around women's health care.
"I always loved telling stories, but throughout college and my early career I had stayed behind the camera. I typically freelance as a producer (the project manager of the film world). But even so, I kept mentioning this film idea offhandedly until finally a friend said, ‘Why don't YOU make it?’ It was a game-changer for someone to encourage me to direct instead of helping create someone else's vision."
Though the miniseries never happened, Diana did receive some funding through the Minnesota State Arts Board in 2018, and she was able to bring part of her miniseries to life, with her directing debut film Patient No More.
The documentary draws you in immediately by beginning with the simple question: “When I say health care, what do you think of?” It then dives into powerful interviews and stories, creating a welcoming space where historically marginalized groups and individuals have a chance to see and be seen - and most importantly, to have their stories heard. From preventative care to mental health to family planning and everything in between, Patient No More identifies barriers that impact quality of care and quality of life from a range of perspectives. Community advocates, patients, health care providers, educators and more speak frankly about their experiences navigating our complicated health care system and supporting more care specific to the needs of LGBTQ+ women.
The documentary also creates an important and much needed space to feature voices from LGBTQ+ BIPOC women. Two thirds of the way through the documentary, audiences are brought into an incredibly powerful roundtable discussion between exclusively queer women of color.
It's in this space, that audiences are able to listen into these vital conversations and hear how things like social justice, physical autonomy, and sex education are all intricately connected and inform one another. Also, importantly, that queer women of color are not a monolith: everyone has different needs!
Diana said that particular section of the film was essential, and that their voices were not only critical to the round table conversation in the documentary, but also to the ongoing conversation at large.
"You can't talk about queer women's health care if you ignore BIPOC queer folks. You can't just erase an entire swath of people and call the rest of the story 'complete.' Out of the 21 womxn we interviewed more than half were BIPOC queer folks. The fact that their voices have been historically left out of the conversation is inexcusable. When I wrote the grant, I made a commitment: this film was not allowed to proceed if we weren't fully committed to representation in front of and behind the camera. It's a practice I hope all media companies will adopt with pride in the next few years. To me, it's no longer 'optional;' it's necessary."
Patient No More's title itself provides clever wordplay and nicely ties in the film’s overall goal of acknowledging the systemic revolution that is needed for LGBTQ+ women to create healthier and stronger communities - something that will not be patiently waited for any longer. This change starts with healthcare leaders and companies listening to their patients and working to create health care environments that are supportive of everyone in the LGBTQ+ community.
While working on her documentary, Diana discovered that there are many health care providers, companies, and organizations working to create more open, inclusive, and welcoming spaces with an LGBTQ+ focus including: Hennepin Healthcare, Park Nicollet Gender Services Clinic, Family Tree Clinic, Smitten Kitten, Red Door, Women's Cancer Resource Center, Gender Justice, JustUs Health, and Reclaim.
Unfortunately, one issue near and dear to Diana's heart had to be left on the cutting room floor: the harmful effects of bi-erasure. It is not only prevalent in health care, but in the larger LGBTQ+ community. Accepting the "B" in the LGBTQ+ acronym is to welcome everyone and make a healthier and stronger community. After all, isn't that the goal?
"The queer community is comprised of so many beautiful facets of identity, orientations, attractions, and romantics. Diminishing that rainbow of experiences is heartbreaking to me, but more importantly it is dangerous. Bisexual folks report some of the highest rates of mental health conditions in the country, and approximately 40% of bi-identified folks have attempted suicide. Our reality is not a joke, and should not be dismissed or ignored."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Diana is still hard at work telling the stories of underrepresented voices and bringing positive energy into the world. As Patient No More launches into the distribution phase, Diana is researching two potential projects: the first is a queer digital series about faith and spirituality; the second is a follow-up documentary about queer veterans' access to health care. She has also found other outlets for her love of creativity and community using her sewing skills to make masks for hospital employees and immunocompromised friends. Over 75 and counting!
In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, Diana reminds us that it’s important to jump in and commit to doing the important work to fight for justice and systemic change. She reflects on some important advice shared by former Minnesota State Representative Erin Maye Quade in Patient No More: "We don't need allies anymore -- although allies are wonderful -- we need accomplices." To Diana this means that the ally path is intrinsically linked to becoming an accomplice for all manner of social justice work. "It is a long road and it's a journey I will always be on as a white woman, regardless of my other identities. But I am committed to walking it. It is hard. It suffers missteps and reroutes. It requires compassion and graciousness. It necessitates painful self-reflection. It emphasizes unlearning and relearning what you were taught. But the work is worth it."
In celebration of Pride month, Twin Cities PBS is featuring programming centered on telling the stories of the LGBTQ+ community. On June 25, TPT will be hosting a virtual screening Patient No More with a filmmaker Q&A from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Tickets are free and available on Eventbrite. Patient No More will also air on June 29 at 10 p.m on TPT2 as part of their expanded Pride programming. See the complete schedule and more at tpt.org/pride2020.
Interested in hosting your own screening? Contact Diana through the Patient No More website.
Help us celebrate the incredible individuals and organizations that are turning the All Are Welcome Here message into action in our community. Nominate as many people as you like (even yourself, we won’t tell). Selected Allies for All receive:
We started off with a goal to raise $2,500 for NAMI Minnesota, and you all crushed in in less than an hour! We moved our goal to $5000 and you all got us there in less than five hours!
By the close of our All Together Auction, we raised raised $10,500+ PLUS we unlocked $500 from All Are Welcome Here, and $250 each from Minneapolis Craft Market, Brio Marketing, We Sparkle, and Power of 100 MSP making our grand total $12,000!
We feel so lucky to be able to use our business to unite and mobilize our community for the greater good! THANK YOU to every single one of you who donated an item, bid, contributed, or shared this project. From pastoral paintings to Prince earrings to cotton candy parties to cute face masks, over 350 supporters bid on items donated by over 130 small businesses, artists, and makers. It’s proof that when we each do a little thing, big things can happen!
If you want to support to NAMI Minnesota and their efforts to provide mental health services to more Minnesotans during the COVID-19 crisis, go to www.namimn.org to make a donation.
]]>
WRITTEN BY PAIGE DRESOW // PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSMACK
Cat Polivoda is spreading inclusion, body acceptance, and badassery all over the Twin Cities and beyond. When Cat opened Cake Plus-Size Resale in 2017, she not only made a home for plus-size fashion in Minneapolis, but created an accepting, fat-positive community no matter who you love, which pronouns you use, or where you are from.
While the clothes are the first thing customers see, the welcoming atmosphere at Cake has become a big part of the store's growing popularity in person and online.
Sharing her love of fashion and understanding of how to style plus-size bodies, Cat’s one-on-one styling sessions are in high demand. Based on your goals, Cat can help you dress and feel your best. Often her one-on-one sessions include coaching to help clients incorporate body positivity into their daily life or strategies for body hang-ups they've been feeling.
Beyond Cake, Cat has a podcast with co-host Saraya Boghani called Matter of Fat where they highlight all things fat liberation to both a local and worldwide audience. Their podcasts feature a diverse range of guests -- both influencers and everyday people -- that are not afraid to confront beauty standards and the social constructs behind them all while promoting body positivity and love. You can listen to Cat’s podcast here: https://soundcloud.com/matteroffatpod
Cat also developed and teaches a virtual e-course, Big, Bold Confidence, for plus-size/curvy/fat folks to build and grow confidence. While registration for this month's session is already closed, you can find out more on her website and get on the waitlist for a future session at https://www.catinspired.com/bigbold.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Cake's storefront is temporarily closed, but you can still shop the latest looks on Cake’s website or on Cake’s Instagram -- including the newest trends in swimwear! Cat's also offering Virtual Style Chats, a fun opportunity for you to ask Cat ANYthing style related with 30 minute and a 90-minute video chat or phone call options. Learn more and book online at https://www.cakeplussize.com/stylesessions
Help us celebrate the incredible individuals and organizations that are turning the All Are Welcome Here message into action in our community. Nominate as many people as you like (even yourself, we won’t tell). Selected Allies for All receive:
https://www.32auctions.com/alltogetherauction.
The All Together Auction is an opportunity to raise awareness about our incredible community of artists, makers, and small businesses while also also raising funds for NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with mental illness and their families.
We support NAMI's mission and current efforts to move their free support groups and classes online to increase availability and accessibility because we believe that now, more than ever, Minnesotans need resources for coping with the ongoing global crisis and its aftershocks.
Our goal is to raise $2,500 for NAMI Minnesota and their ongoing efforts to promote the development of community mental health programs and services, change public attitudes about mental illnesses, improve access to services and increase opportunities for recovery. If we reach our goal of $2500, All Are Welcome Here will donate an additional $500, and Minneapolis Craft Market, Brio Marketing, We Sparkle, and POwer of 100 MSP will donate $250 -- an additional $1500!
The auction will run Monday, April 20 - Monday, April 27. It is a collaboration between All Are Welcome Here, Minneapolis Craft Market, Brio Marketing, We Sparkle, Power of 100 MSP, and the amazing artists, makers and small businesses in our community. By joining together, we hope to share the creativity and generosity of our local small business and maker community with a larger audience of supporters and potential customers in our community and beyond.
Calling all local artists, makers, and independent small businesses! This auction only works if we can gather contributions from amazing organizations like yours. Here are some guidelines for contributions you can offer to help make our auction a success:
To get started, please fill out this Google form about your contribution and your business by Wednesday, April 15: https://forms.gle/NkoGUS7qtmboT9dd6
The auction will be organized by All Are Welcome Here (AAWH) on 32auctions, an online auction platform: https://www.32auctions.com/alltogetherauction. You can see a recent example created by our friends at St. Croix Chocolate Company: https://www.32auctions.com/StCroixChocolateCo.
When the auction is over, AAWH will email participating businesses with the auction winner’s name and address. Each creator, maker or business will be responsible for shipping their contribution directly to the auction winner.
Online auction timeline:
With the help of Brio Marketing, All Are Welcome Here will create a media kit with assets for you to use on your social media channels. In the spirit of collaboration, we encourage you to promote your participation and give a shout out to another local business or two who are participating in the auction on social media channels.
Michelle Maryns is on a mission to make the business world a more welcoming place for all. Her company, vWe Sparkle is harnessing technology to help small businesses reach their full potential while addressing systemic barriers and creating opportunities to lift up the community and economy.
(Photo: Michelle at her work space in Junior Achievement of the Midwest, a nonprofit business innovation lab dedicated to supporting high school students and their entrepreneurial endeavors.)
This may be the first time you’re hearing about Michelle or We Sparkle, but it definitely won’t be the last time. Michelle’s important work is winning awards (she won the Minnesota Cup Impact Division last year) and receiving local and national attention for a good reason. Michelle is one of those people who is going to change our world for the better.
Michelle is one of three up-and-coming entrepreneurs that will present at the FeMNist Day Showcase today for a chance to win $10,000 grand prize that will help one of these entrepreneurs take their business to the next level. Good luck, Michelle!
Michelle: 'We're dedicated to building a strong and inclusive economy by connecting diverse entrepreneurs with business tools that help them save time, increase sales, and invest in the community."
We Sparkle is bridging the racial wealth gap by creating digital tools that help small businesses thrive, especially those led by women of color. This is the fastest growing segment of entrepreneurs and has grown by 163% in the last 11 years. Unfortunately, revenue earned by women of color businesses is not equal to their peers and that is a problem. If they were, it would add 4 million new jobs and $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy!
Currently in beta testing, We Sparkle’s first tool is an artificial intelligence assistant that automates tedious administrative work (like scheduling appointments and answering FAQ’s) while also strategically upselling products and services. This helps business owners focus on important internal improvements that can help grow their business. Plus, a portion of the service fees for We Sparkle creates opportunities for participating businesses to donate to a local nonprofits of their choice. It’s a win-win for everyone!
We Sparkle inspires us to lift each other up to make the world a better place. We can’t all build rockstar startups like Michelle, but we can take her advice to heart in our everyday lives to help make our community and world a more welcoming place for all. Here are are three ways to be welcoming in your everyday life:
Michelle: "It can be as simple as smiling, saying hello, helping someone with the door or a heavy grocery bag, or wishing someone a good day."
Michelle: "Every vote counts and it influences who we elect to represent us and the values we want to uphold in our communities. If it weren't for people electing representatives who developed policies that allowed for my parents to seek asylum here in the U.S., my family would probably not be here today and contributing in the ways that we are toward our communities."
Michelle: "How you spend your dollars also has a huge effect on our economy and communities. I try to shop at small local businesses, especially those owned by entrepreneurs from underestimated communities, as much as I can because I want to support them, their families, and their employees with my spending dollars. I am especially interested in supporting social enterprises that help to create a positive social and/or environmental impact in our communities through their products/services, profit sharing, or sourcing."
We Sparkle helps small businesses leverage artificial intelligence (AI) technology to save time and increase sales. Their first tool is a conversational AI assistant for mobile devices that they are currently beta testing. Want to be a beta tester? For more information and ways to bridge the equity gap in our local business community and beyond at www.wesparkle.org.
Help us celebrate the incredible individuals and organizations that are turning the All Are Welcome Here message into action in our community. Nominate as many people as you like (even yourself, we won’t tell). Selected Allies for All receive:
Not only was this experience super fun for everyone involved, it also shed light on what the word "welcome" means, the inspiring things happening in our community, and creative ways that we can continue moving forward together. We’re sharing these stories to celebrate our community, inspire others, and show the power of a message turned into actions big and small.
On Thursday, February 20, Planned Parenthood is hosting Ready or Hot: Fashion Meets Passion for Planned Parenthood, a radically inclusive, body-positive fashion show that celebrates bold self-expression, positive change, and the vital work of Planned Parenthood. This year's impressive line-up of runway models includes Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and local music icons HALEY, Lazerbeak, SYM1, and more!
All Are Welcome Here is proud to have donated 250 of our new VOTE stickers to the event. (Our founder is a young breast cancer survivor who strongly believes in their preventative education and affordable early screening programs.) We are also proud to have had the opportunity to meet (and photograph) Zeenat and Shannon who share beautiful wisdom and insight into the inclusive work happening every day at Planned Parenthood. At the time of this interview, Zeenat was an Educator, and Shannon was and still is a Nurse Practitioner.
As an educator, Zeenat understands the importance of providing youth and adults with comprehensive sex education so they can make healthy decisions. Sometimes it’s easy to get discouraged by current events big and small, but Zeenat reminds us that there is hope in the qualities that make America strong.
"I believe so much of what makes America strong is people creating connections while continuing to keep their identity. Respect, compassion, empathy and advocacy are what makes this country beautiful and showcases our incredible capacity to love fully and freely."
What a beautiful place it would be if each of us took these qualities to heart and applied them to our everyday lives. Note: Since this interview, Zeenat has moved out east and is now an educator at Day One, a nonprofit that provides critical education and guidance to New York City's youth on dating abuse and domestic violence. Learn more at https://www.dayoneny.org
(Photo: Shannon, Planned Parenthood Nurse Practitioner | By: Shuttersmack Photography + Design)
As a nurse practitioner, Shannon provides quality, non-judgmental sexual and reproductive health care to every patient. She is a tireless advocate for sexual health and speaks up for what she believes in order to inspire others to do the same. Spreading awareness and inspiring action starts with each of us. Together, we all have the power to use our voices to champion inclusivity.
Shannon reminds us that the work is never done: "Inclusivity feels like it is applied to only certain portions of the population at times. I think there needs to be more community awareness and efforts to be inclusive and welcoming of EVERYONE, regardless of their background."
Planned Parenthood has been providing high-quality health care and education to women, men, and young people for more than 100 years. Planned Parenthood is:
Zeenat: "[Planned Parenthood] is committed to providing services and educational programs that are culturally specific and competent while addressing unique challenges faced by each community. [They] use every opportunity to partner with organizations that already do incredible work and align with goals around health equity. All educational programs prioritize providing vital information by working with people’s values and needs."
Shannon: "We emphasize the importance of keeping our doors open and providing quality health care to every individual that presents to the clinic. No matter what."
Everyone has a part to play in making the world a more welcoming place for all. How can you embrace this message of kindness and apply it to your everyday life?
Zeenat recommends education, awareness, and kindness are a great place to start:
"Being aware of what is going on in the world around you and especially the changes affecting people in this country is incredibly important. When you know the struggles and fears that others are facing, you can be better prepared to be welcoming.
We need as many people as possible standing up for others because it shows that we not only accept everyone but will fight for them and their rights. Educating yourself, voting, volunteering, referring people to helpful resources are all ways to make others feel welcome.
Most of all, be kind – to your neighbor, your coworker, your classmate. The smallest of actions can go a very long way."
Tickets are still on sale. Get yours today and we'll see you there!
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-north-central-states/ways-to-give/ready-or-hot
Help us celebrate the incredible individuals and organizations that are turning the All Are Welcome Here message into action in our community. Nominate as many people as you like (even yourself, we won’t tell). Selected Allies for All receive:
We so are grateful to have been part of the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association's celebration Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration, and one of the 91 organizations and groups united for equity, justice, and resources for all. (The number 91 is linked to the number of years since King's birth that his life and memory has helped guide and uplift community.)
The event included a community meal and free books for the first 150 kids. Many people and organizations including ours brought much needed donations for the food drive. We also sponsored a postcard activity that asked participants "How can we build a more welcoming world" and hung the answers for all to read and contemplate.
The packed auditorium was treated to a musical performance by the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus (photo above); storytelling by Gigi Bisong (photo below) who spoke about her family's participation in school desegregation; a reading of Dr. King’s speech: “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution” by Fartun Weli, Founder & Executive Director of Isuroon (photo below); and closing remarks and musical praise by Nicoshia & Relentless Worship (too busy celebrating to take a photo).
We also want to give a special thank you to all the amazing Americorps Minnesota members who made this event a success including Molly, Karina and Courtney who helped us set up and take down our postcard installation.
We look forward to continuing Dr. King's call to unite in service to our community in 2020.
]]>The end of 2019 was a bit of a whirlwind and we needed some time to recharge and refocus for 2020. We are so excited to start working on ALL THE IDEAS that won't let us sleep at night. There is so much to do and we hope you'll join our efforts (more details to come) to make our community and our country a more welcoming place for all.
We also wanted to take a moment to introduce ourselves to all our new followers and reacquaint ourselves with our amazing supporters who have been with us since our start in November 2016. Thank you all!
All Are Welcome Here is a woman-owned Minnesota-based business founded on a simple idea: respect and compassion for all. We make beautiful products that promote a more welcoming world and give the majority of our profits back to organizations that do the same: over $60,000 and counting!
In 2020, we will continue to donate 10% of our online sales to the ACLU / ACLU-MN. For almost 100 years, the ACLU has been our nation’s guardian of liberty, working in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country. Whether it’s achieving full equality for LGBTQ+ people, ending mass incarceration, protecting immigrants and refugees, or preserving the right to vote, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach.
We will also continue to work with schools, businesses, non-profits, and religious organizations on customized campaigns and community events (where we typically donate 20% of our sales back to the organizers). Since our start, we've supported the Festival of Nations, International Institute of Minnesota, Kids In Need of Defense (KIND), Planned Parenthood, RECLAIM, Stomp Out Suicide 5K, Transforming Families MN and Wayside Recovery Center just to name a few.
At the end of 2019, we soft launched a new campaign, Allies for All, to recognize the everyday people who work to make our community more welcoming for all. Learn more and nominate your coworkers, friends and neighbors here >
We're always looking for new ways to collaborate and serve our community, and welcome your ideas for new partnerships.
Not only was this experience super fun for everyone involved, it also shed light on what the word “welcome” means, the inspiring things happening in our community, and creative ways that we can continue moving forward together. We’re sharing these stories to celebrate our community, inspire others, and show the power of a message turned into actions big and small.
(Photo: Jess modeling the AAWH women’s style tanks, Sarah baseball tee. | By: Shuttersmack Photography + Design)
Sarah and Angela are the very definition of boss ladies. As artists themselves, they saw an opportunity to create a fun, creative environment that promotes the work of independent and local makers. With their knack for creating beautiful brick and mortar stores, Sarah and Angela are pioneers who set up shop in up-and-coming neighborhoods that are destined to become cool places people want to be.
Since launching in 2007, i like you has collaborated with over 200 artists (especially women makers) to provide the most fun assortment of artistic treasures. They also employ a rad staff of kick-ass ladies, like Jess, who connect customers with artists and set the tone of the overall friendly store atmosphere.
(Photo: Owners Angela & Sarah celebrating outside their iconic store in NE Minneapolis.)
i like you isn’t just a store offering unique handmade gifts from local Minnesota artists, it’s an environment that builds community through craft.
Even item in the store has a personal connection to the artist who made it. i like you stores are proud to be the link between artist and customer. Staff can tell you all about the artist who made your sassy earrings, greeting card, cat mittens, soy candle...we could go on!
Sarah: “We really love getting to know our customers and artists, and believe everyone needs to be heard. There is something to be learned from every single person you meet!”
(Note to self: Find awesome yellow jacket — like this one modeled by Sarah Sweet — and pair it with every AAWH tank and tee in existence. | By: Shuttersmack Photography + Design)
Our All Are Welcome signs proudly made their first retail appearance in the windows of i like you stores in 2016 and they have been one of our biggest supporters ever since. They champion the message of All Are Welcome Here by literally carrying it (our merchandise) with them on the road to all sorts of craft markets and events throughout the Twin Cities.
When Sarah and Angela saw the All Are Welcome Here sign for the first time in November 2016, they knew it belonged in their store. They immediately embraced the message and helped distribute signs into their communities by selling them during their busy holiday season.
A welcoming world starts with being open and willing to invite others in, like Sarah and Angela when they didn’t hesitate to bring All Are Welcome Here into their stores. For their customers, i like you stores exemplify the same open arms approach, curating a warm, accessible experience for all. With friendly shopping assistance (all you need do is ask!) and even a whimsical play area for kids in their NE location, so parents can shop in peace, i like you stores provide a welcoming space for anyone and everyone that says… “C’mon in!”
(Photo: Jess Arnold, store manager, proudly holding an All Are Welcome Here sign. | By: Shuttersmack Photography + Design)
This holiday season, you can support the i like you ladies and local makers by buying one-of-a-kind handmade gifts. Right now, shipping is free if you purchase online before Friday, December 20. But to get the true i like you store experience, we recommend stopping in to their Minneapolis or Saint Paul locations.
Everyone has a part to play in making the world a more welcoming place for all. How can you embrace this message of kindness and apply it to your everyday life?
Sarah’s recommends starting small because you never know where simple gestures can lead: “It's crazy to me how blocked off we are getting from each other. Even just walking down the street, I am smiling and ready for someone to make eye contact with me. We need to nurture real face to face interactions more and stop ignoring the life and possibilities that are happening all around us.”
Help us celebrate the incredible individuals and organizations that are turning the All Are Welcome Here message into action in our community. Nominate as many people as you like (even yourself, we won’t tell). Selected Allies for All receive:
Not only was this experience super fun for everyone involved, it also shed light on what the word “welcome” means, the inspiring things happening in our community, and creative ways that we can continue moving forward together as a society that welcomes everyone. We’re sharing these stories to celebrate our community, inspire others and show the power of a message turned into action.
(Photo: Heidi and Gigi Rich proudly wear our All U.S. tees, now on sale for $20 each | By: Shuttersmack Photography + Design)
Each year, Art Buddies empowers hundreds of kids in the Twin Cities area through creative mentoring with volunteers who want to share their special talents and energy with with kids in need. Heidi is Executive Director of Art Buddies. Her daughter, Gigi is an Art Buddies volunteer.
Heidi: “Art Buddies is a joyful and welcoming place for everyone! Every buddy is a valued member of our community, and we work hard to celebrate the individual at every session.”
Heidi: “Every step of Art Buddies is designed to empower and welcome both the students, mentors and the school communities we serve.”
Although the student/mentor collaboration can be simplified to the designing and building of a custom DIY costume, the collaborative program’s true goal is to spark imagination and build confidence in young minds. Mentors guide and support students as they create ambitious projects that help them realize their own creative potential.
(Photo: Art Buddies in their handmade costumes ready for a parade through their school. | By: David Sherman, Art Buddies volunteer)
Over the course of 7-10 weeks, mentors will connect with their students weekly to help them create a costume using a huge collection of art supplies provided by the Art Buddies organization. The project culminates in a celebration featuring a costume parade and professional photoshoot. From beginning to end, the process is all about providing a fun, inspiring experience for all involved.
Heidi: “The young scholars are empowered to lead their project and to lead the groups and discussion. Art Buddies ends every program semester with an evaluation for every participant to share their ideas, for us to learn how we can keep growing and adapting to be our best.”
(Photo: Heidi and her Art Buddy | By: Dan Marshall, Art Buddies volunteer)
Everyone has a part to play in making the world a more welcoming place for all. How can you embrace this message of kindness and apply it to your everyday life?
Here’s what Heidi recommends: “Start with a conversation. Be mindful of inclusion. There is nothing like getting to know folks from other communities or cultures to break down fear or barriers. We start conversations in our community spaces, parks, and schools. Find every opportunity you can to facilitate connection. Equity and Inclusion in our public programs, schools and parks is a great place to start.”
Help us celebrate the incredible individuals and organizations that are turning the All Are Welcome Here message into action in our community. Nominate as many people as you like (even yourself, we won’t tell). Selected Allies for All receive:
Thank you Smartpress for the wonderful write-up -- and photographs -- of our project and for being an amazing partner for our prints, clings, and magnets! We love your work and are so grateful for all the times you've made our work look better with your whipsmart expertise and endless patience.
"Designer Jaime Chismar buzzes with an electric, infectious energy. The woman behind a simple graphic that literally planted a stake in the ground, she’s seen her idea go viral, translated into over two dozen languages, and take on a life of its own. What started in 2016 as a simple passion project, All Are Welcome Here has pushed Chismar in unexpected directions as she works to turn it into positive community activism worldwide."
]]>Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off today, and with it brings a renewed call for respect and compassion for migrant people from Central and South America, many of whom are fleeing violence and following a legal process to seek asylum in our country. All Are Welcome Here has designed a brand new t-shirt to raise money for KIND: Kids in Need of Defense.
When children are separated from their parents at the border—and when children come to the United States unaccompanied—having an attorney to represent them at immigration court might mean the difference between a life of safety and promise, and one of danger and hopelessness.
KIND provides pro bono lawyers to make sure kids’ rights and well-being are protected. They also work with policymakers to improve the laws protecting migrant children in the United States, Central America, and Mexico.
Our new t-shirt design promotes the critical values of respect and compassion for all, and starting today, we will donate $10 to KIND for every t-shirt we sell during Hispanic Heritage Month. Order yours by Oct.15 >
]]>What happens when two small woman-owned Minnesota businesses — Hagen & Oats and All Are Welcome Here — join forces to give back to their community? They create a limited edition artwork to promote a more welcoming world! Together we raised $220 for RECLAIM, a nonprofit that provides financially and culturally accessible care to LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
If you ordered one of our limited-edition wooden signs, they will be ready for pick up next week at Hagen & Oats's adorable and welcoming shop at Mall of America. Thank you all for your support!
]]>It is such an honor to have our project, our new sign for the ACLU-MN, and our founder be featured on REWIRE, a non-profit publication that serves to inspire curious young adults from all walks of life supported by PBS.
"To have something kind of go viral in your community — it’s mind-blowing... It’s like being struck by lightning and you’re forever changed by that experience," said Jaime Chismar. "I never feel like this project is about me. I feel like I’m the docent for this sign... an agent for a giant rainbow of happiness."
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