The English Learning Center

We’ll soon be changing the name of our page to Our Saviour’s Community Services. OSCS is centered in the Phillips neighborhood in Minneapolis and operates the English Learning Center and Our Saviour’s Housing: two distinct program areas, with one desire to bring a sense of belonging to our community!

You don’t need to take any action, but when you see “Our Saviour’s Community Services” soon, know that is content from the English Learning Center page that you already know and love.

This week, two state-wide networks that Our Saviour's Community Services participates in are advocating for housing, shelter, and adult basic education to the state legislature.

Tomorrow, the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless is hosting their annual Homeless Day on the Hill. While they are not hosting an in-person program this year, they have created videos highlighting their legislative agenda and people will be meeting with legislators throughout the day tomorrow. Learn more about Homeless Day on the Hill at www.mnhomelesscoalition.org/getinvolved/doth/. Staff and board members from OSCS will be meeting with legislators in person tomorrow.

Throughout this week, Literacy Action Network is hosting an Adult Basic Education Advocacy Week this week to advocate for adult education funding. They have prepared a toolkit that includes their legislative agenda, materials for contacting representatives, classroom materials, and more! View the full toolkit at tinyurl.com/LiteracyActionNetworkToolKit

We are currently hiring for several open roles at Our Saviour's Community Services! We're hiring for full and part-time Shelter Worker positions, a PM Lead Teacher position at the English Learning Center, and a Volunteer and Community Engagement Coordinator on our Development and Communications team.

Learn more about these roles and apply now at oscs-mn.org/employment

Dear Neighbors and Supporters:

OSCS stands against the terror that ICE is inflicting upon our neighbors and community, and we recognize Friday, January 23rd, as a pivotal moment of collective action for Minnesota. Everyone deserves to feel seen, to be met with respect, and to feel safe.

Because we provide essential services, it would not be possible for OSCS to close tomorrow. Team members interested in taking the day off have been encouraged to do so, and we are working together to make sure our participants remain supported, too.

Community care takes many forms, and this work takes all of us.

Together,

Our Saviour’s Community Services

Take Action Today: Evict ICE, Not Us

Without an eviction moratorium, thousands of vulnerable people are facing eviction as soon as February 1st.

Without an eviction moratorium, workers may be forced to leave their homes when it is not safe to do so. Please use your voice to contact Governor Walz and ask him to immediately enact a moratorium on evictions through executive order. No person should have to choose between risking their personal safety and keeping a roof over their head.

Please encourage Governor Walz to pause evictions in the state of Minnesota. Contact his office today at 651-201-3400.

Minneapolis City Council asks Walz to declare eviction moratorium Several Minneapolis City Council members called for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to issue an order that would prohibit evictions of residents amid the ICE surge.

Happy New Year from OSCS!

In recent days, President Trump has verbally attacked our Somali neighbors, has threatened to revoke Temporary Protected Status for Somali community members, and has launched U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting the Minnesota Somali community.
Our Saviour’s Community Services condemns the dehumanizing and xenophobic language used by the President, as well as the hateful ideas espoused.
OSCS, like our city and neighborhood, is a more vibrant, creative, and joy-filled place because of the contributions of members of the Somali community. All are valued; all belong here.
We recognize the fear so many feel right now and the pain this public harassment causes. We are saddened to see it taking place, and we want to reiterate that OSCS believes every person has worth and deserves to feel safe.
OSCS remains committed to creating a sense of belonging and connection for all members of our community.

Thank you all for such a great Give to the Max Day! Together we raised $44,382 to support our students, guests and residents this Give to the Max Day! We are thankful for how our work brings together a community of supporters each year.

We have a small pool of $2,809 matching dollars left, which we are extending through this weekend. If you didn’t get a chance to give yesterday, there’s still time to double the impact of your gift!

Visit givemn.org/oscs to make a gift and have it matched!

As Give to the Max Day becomes Give to the Max evening, we are over two-thirds of the way to our goal of $50,000! All gifts are still being matched until we reach $50,000 to support those seeking emergency shelter, supportive housing, or low-barrier English education.

We’re so grateful to the 51 individuals and families who have supported our goal so far this month – join them before midnight!

Donate now at givemn.org/oscs

We’re 63% of the way towards our Give to the Max Day goal, but the bigger question is... what do Give to the Max Day gifts to Our Saviour’s Community Services support?

We provide low barrier English education, emergency shelter, and supportive housing, but access to these services brings more than that. When people cross paths with us, it often allows them to gain new skills, access to new opportunities, or have a fresh start to their life.

Your gift this Give to the Max Day doesn’t just support Our Saviour’s Community Services - it helps build brighter futures.

Donate now at givemn.org/oscs

Give to the Max Day is today! We asked staff at the English Learning Center, Our Saviour’s Housing, and on our administrative teams to share how your giving impacts OSCS, or what they wished people knew more about. Take a look at some of their answers!

Today, all Give to the Max Day gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar by our community matching pool, until we reach our goal of $50,000. We’re already more than halfway there – can you help us get to 100% by midnight?

Donate now at givemn.org/oscs

Our 2024-2025 Annual Report is now available on our website! This report highlights accomplishments, trends, and changes from our fiscal year that started in April 2024 and ended in March 2025. We’re excited to share all we accomplished during our last fiscal year.

Visit our annual report page to learn more at

2024-2025 Annual Report - Our Saviour's Community Services Read More