Ep 11- Inside Minnesota’s Underground Aid Network

For every peaceful protest and silent vigil in Minnesota, I uncovered a quieter, tactical operation helping immigrants too afraid to leave their homes. I walk through rooms once filled with youth programs, now transformed into a discreet logistics hub stacked with diapers, formula, food, and essentials — while volunteers coordinate coded deliveries, laundry pick-ups, and even a network of doulas and midwives for women too fearful to seek hospital care. In this episode, Janet Gracia, President and CEO of Neighborhood House, pulls back the curtain on this expanding underground effort and shares the heartbreaking story of a nursing mother detained and sent to Texas, leaving her husband to care for four young children alone.

To learn more about Neighborhood House and to donate

Go behind the scenes at Neighborhood House to see room after room filled with donations for immigrants too afraid to leave their homes.

Janet Gracia's Introduction and Overview of Neighborhood House

• Janet Gracia introduces herself as the president and CEO of Neighborhood House, a 128-year-old organization located on St. Paul's west side.

• The organization has transformed a teen tech center into a storage space for food, cleaning supplies, and menstrual products due to an influx of donations.

• Janet describes the "baby room" filled with diapers, wipes, formula, and baby food, emphasizing the essential support for families.

• The donations are strategically and secretively distributed to avoid ICE agents tracking the volunteers making deliveries.

Human Stories Behind the Donations

• Janet shares a story of a mother detained while going to work, leaving her husband to care for four young children, including an infant she was still nursing.

• The family is now receiving support from Neighborhood House, including resources and assistance.

• Janet reflects on the emotional and practical challenges faced by the father and the children, highlighting the importance of the support provided by Neighborhood House.

• The organization operates two food markets, offers housing stability programs, and provides various educational services, including English classes, GED, and driver's ed.

Challenges Faced by Immigrants and Neighborhood House's Response

• Janet discusses the fear and reluctance of immigrants to seek basic needs and services, even in their homes.

• Neighborhood House has started a partnership with another business to offer laundry services, addressing the needs of women who are too afraid to go to hospitals for childbirth.

• The organization has created a network of doulas and midwives to support high-risk pregnancies at home.

• Janet shares a participant's experience of feeling supported when visiting Neighborhood House, but notes that fear has led families to pull their children out of preschool.

Impact of the Current Situation on Families

• Janet explains that the current situation is creating bigger gaps for families trying to improve their lives, with many facing the threat of eviction.

• 56% of the families receiving new services have never sought help from Neighborhood House before, indicating a growing need for support.

• The donations received are from ordinary citizens, not state governments or corporations, and are from every state in the country and seven international countries.

• Janet highlights the importance of the support from these new donors, which has been crucial in helping families in need.