Minnesota Youth Collective is dedicated to building the political power of young people in order to better the lives of all Minnesotans. In keeping with that, we want to share a statement on Coronavirus in the hopes that it can provide guidance and assurance to anyone who may want or need it.

As an organization, we’re taking this seriously. Our priority right now is to protect our staff, students, organizers, and community members. We’ve implemented more rigorous health and safety protocols, including encouraging our staff to move to remote work and pausing our field work. By taking these precautions, we can protect herd immunity and slow the spread of COVID-19; this will protect the most vulnerable people in our communities, and give our healthcare systems time to prepare for an influx of patients.

Our advice is to join us in coming together to protect each other and those who are most vulnerable, including but not limited to: black, Indigenous, and people of color, folks who are chronically ill, disabled, incarcerated or detained, uninsured, homeless, elderly, or experiencing poverty. We cannot be ageist, ableist, racist, or otherwise bigoted in our responses. This virus does not discriminate, and neither can we.

Listen to the recommendations of public health experts, epidemiologists, and other healthcare professionals; check your sources, and be wary of misinformation. While we can’t panic, we must take this public health threat seriously. Avoid touching your face, limit your contact with others as much as you can, wash your hands, and be mindful of others. 

Along with our partners, we’re asking leadership and government officials, locally and nationally, to respond quickly and compassionately by providing resources and support to all, like paid sick leave, accessible healthcare, and food assistance. We are also working with our partners to consider and make recommendations on how to protect our democracy, upcoming elections, and voting rights in the midst of this public health threat.

So far, the response to Coronavirus has reinforced our belief that we must continue to work to improve our systems year-round. By strengthening our public health system and policies, local and national infrastructure, and investment in our young people, we will build a healthier and more equitable society for all.

Though we aren’t in the field right now, our work doesn’t stop. We’re still reaching out to young people across our state, both virtually and digitally, and are hoping to collaborate on what building a community in this time looks like. If you’re interested in joining us in that work, please reach out to hey@mnyouthcollective.org.

Take care of yourselves and each other,

Emily Wellen, Executive Director, and the Minnesota Youth Collective Team