Dear Neighbors, This will be one of my last newsletters to you before the November election. It has been an honor to serve South Minneapolis for the last two years, and I look forward to the work we can continue to do together. I hope to see you out in the community this summer/fall. If you are hosting an event you’d like me to attend, or if you want to meet either at the Capitol or in-district, don’t hesitate to reach out. 2024 Session Review with MN Asian Pacific Caucus Please join me and other members of the MAP Caucus on August 1st for a review of the 2024 session. We have ten AANHPI legislators representing districts across the metro, and we want to connect with our communities to celebrate our accomplishments and talk about the work ahead. White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders VisitEarlier this month, the MN Asian Pacific - MAP Caucus was honored to host Ambassador Katherine Tai and members of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. MAP members discussed the unique assets and challenges of the AANHPI community here in Minnesota, from the need for flexible small business support to the challenges of helping our communities navigate government bureaucracy. Thank you to Commissioner Kaying Yang for your leadership in bringing the President’s Advisory Commission Meeting and Economic Summit to Minnesota. From the gathering at Minnesota Humanities Center, to the summit at Metro State, our AAPI communities felt heard.  Mental Health Cultural Community Continuing Education for Individuals due on a rolling basis until Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Office of Rural Health and Primary are soliciting grant proposals from mental health professionals from communities of color or underrepresented communities to become qualified to serve as supervisors for mental health practitioners pursuing licensure. The Mental Health Cultural Community Continuing Education Grant Program was established for the purpose of assisting mental health professionals to pursue a course of study, through post-secondary training or continuing education, that is expected to lead to recognition as a board-approved supervisor. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed on a quarterly basis, until all funds have been dispersed. For more information or to apply, visit the Mental Health Cultural Community Education Grant for Individuals webpage. First Generation Down Payment Assistance – Live! Earlier this summer, both Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation and Minnesota Housing Finance Agency opened their applications for first generation down payment assistance. The program will help thousands of first-time home buyers whose parents have never owned a home before or lost it in foreclosure. Both programs offer forgivable loans and assistance up to $32,000 that can be layered with other programs. I hope you or someone you know will take advantage of these opportunities towards homeownership. - MMCDC First Generation Down Payment Assistance.
- MHFA First Generation Homebuyer Loan Program.
Share your Input on Prescription Drug PricingDFLers are interested in hearing from Minnesotans about how prescription drug prices impact their health care, what affordability concerns exist, and which drugs might benefit from pricing transparency. If you are interested in providing your insights, you can complete the Public Input on Prescription Drug Price Transparency in Minnesota form to share your experiences and help guide the Minnesota Department of Health’s ongoing drug price transparency work. Minnesota Aspiring Teachers of Color Scholarship due August 2 The application is now open for the Minnesota Aspiring Teachers of Color Scholarship, a pilot program providing postsecondary financial assistance to eligible undergraduate and graduate students who are preparing to become teachers. To receive an award, students must belong to a racial or ethnic group underrepresented in the state’s teacher workforce, demonstrate financial need and must be enrolled in either a Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) approved program seeking initial licensure or in a two-year program specifically designed to prepare early childhood educators. Full-time students can receive up to $10,000 annually. Awards for students enrolled less than full-time are prorated on a per-credit basis. Applicants selected to receive an award are expected to serve as a full-time teacher in Minnesota after completing their program. Students can find more information and apply for the scholarship on the Minnesota Office of Higher Education website. Students must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Minnesota Dream Act application. The priority application deadline is August 2, 2024. Keep in TouchPlease continue to reach out anytime if you need assistance or have questions at rep.samantha.sencer-mura@house.mn.gov or 651-297-7087. You can also follow my Facebook page. In community, Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura Minnesota House of Representatives |