North Star Organizing Bootcamp and Consulting Services

We want to take a moment to give deep thanks and recognition to our founder, Alfreda, for her leadership and commitment during the recent ICE surge here in Minnesota.

During a time when thousands of federal agents were deployed across our communities and families were living in fear, organizers and neighbors stepped up in powerful way protecting one another, sharing resources, and building collective strength.

Alfreda’s steady leadership, courage, and dedication to community organizing helped guide that response. Whether it was supporting rapid organizing efforts, uplifting community voices, or helping people stay connected and informed, her impact has been meaningful and lasting.

This work is not easy but it is necessary. And we are grateful to have a leader who shows up with integrity, vision, and a deep commitment to the people.

Thank you, Alfreda, for all that you do. 💛✊🏽
Your leadership continues to inspire us.

Family, thank you for being here.
In this cold, in this moment of fear and intimidation, your presence matters. It tells the truth: we will not be silent, and we will not be divided.
My name is Alfreda Daniels. I am a Black woman, an immigrant, and a rank-and-file Teamsters 120 member. And I feel compelled to speak out about what is happening to our Somali community and to Somali workers.
Because what we are seeing right now is not random. And it is not just about immigration.
It is about workers.
We know that Amazon workers across this country have been standing up and organizing with the Teamsters. And we also know that Somali Amazon workers here in Minnesota have been detained by ICE.
These are workers who break their bodies through long shifts, dangerous conditions, and impossible quotas to deliver our packages and bring us the holidays, while creating record profits for one of the wealthiest corporations in the world.
And instead of protection, they are met with punishment.
We know that Uber and rideshare drivers, many of whom are organizing to become union members with SEIU Local 26, have been taken by ICE directly from the airport kidnapped from their workplaces.
And let’s be clear: these targeted attacks on the Somali community have not stopped ICE from going after our Latino neighbors. This is not about one group it is about seeing how far they can go against all of us.
Just last weekend in Chanhassen, two construction workers were hospitalized after ICE held them on a roof in negative-20-degree weather. Roofers work in those conditions to build our homes, to keep this state running.
Community allies stood up, called out ICE’s cruelty, and the agents who couldn’t handle Minnesota winters eventually left. One worker escaped because people intervened. At least one was still detained after that ordeal.
These are not criminals. These are our neighbors. These are our co-workers. These are working people.
ICE is not just targeting people because of race or immigration status. They are targeting people because they are organizing, because they are workers, because they are part of the working class.
And we’ve seen this before.
The same administration attacking immigrants is attacking women’s rights, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, unhoused people, Asian communities, Black communities, and promoting mass incarceration and prison labor known as modern-day slavery.
This is a strategy: Criminalize. Divide. Silence. Exploit.
But they picked the wrong state. They picked the wrong workers. And they picked the wrong moment.
Because Minnesota is a labor state. Minnesota is an immigrant state. And when they come for one group of workers, they wake up all workers.
As a Teamster, I know this to be true: An injury to one is an injury to all.
Minnesota is our home. This country is our home. And we are not going anywhere.
If you come for our co-workers, our neighbors, our families,
you will have to face all of us.
So we organize. We protect each other. We turn fear into power.
And when we fight, we win.
Say it with me: When we fight, we win!
And together, loud and clear:
ICE IS NOT WELCOME HERE!
Thank you.