Uploaded October 2023 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
Minnesota, with its significant immigrant, refugee, and religious and ethnic minority population, has made considerable strides in promoting cultural understanding and religious tolerance. Nevertheless, challenges such as discrimination and xenophobia persist, especially during times of heightened social and political tensions. Additionally, many barriers separate these communities from having their voices heard by each other, as well as the larger population. How can governments and institutions advocate for stronger First Amendment protections for minorities, and foster a society that helps, respects, and celebrates its diverse voices?
Featured:
Veena Iyer is executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, where she leads a team of 30 staff and hundreds of volunteers to provide comprehensive immigrant legal services, education, and advocacy to new Americans across the state. She serves on the Board of Regents of Augsburg University, is on the board of Portico Healthnet, and is a member of the Community Advisory Council of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve’s Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute. Iyer is also past president of the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association and a former board member and committee chair for Minnesota Women Lawyers.
Amna Khalid, an associate professor in the department of history at Carleton College, specializes in modern South Asian history and the history of medicine. She has a strong interest in issues relating to censorship and free expression. Combining her interests and expertise, she hosts a podcast called Banished, which explores what happens when people, ideas, and works of art come into conflict with modern sensibilities. Khalid was educated in Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Jane Prince, a St. Paul City Councilmember representing Ward 7, is a 30-year East Side resident and lives in the Mounds Park neighborhood, where she and her husband, David Murphy, purchased their home in 1984 and raised their son Sam, a 2003 Harding High School graduate. With her previous work as an attorney, a community volunteer, and a council legislative aide, Prince came to elective office with an extensive record of innovative problem-solving and consensus-building.
Chao Xiong joined Sahan Journal as managing editor in March 2022. He previously spent 18 years reporting for the Star Tribune, where he covered general news, policing, and the courts. Xiao is a first-generation Hmong American. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa.
Nina Moini (moderator) is a senior reporter for Minnesota Public Radio News, covering issues around race, class, and communities. She has been reporting in radio and television news for more than a decade in Minnesota. Born to Iranian parents in Denmark, Nina is an immigrant who grew up in the Twin Cities.
Recorded Sept. 19, 2023.
Minnesota, with its significant immigrant, refugee, and religious and ethnic minority population, has made considerable strides in promoting cultural understanding and religious tolerance. Nevertheless, challenges such as discrimination and xenophobia persist, especially during times of heightened social and political tensions. Additionally, many barriers separate these communities from having their voices heard by each other, as well as the larger population. How can governments and institutions advocate for stronger First Amendment protections for minorities, and foster a society that helps, respects, and celebrates its diverse voices?
Featured:
Veena Iyer is executive director of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, where she leads a team of 30 staff and hundreds of volunteers to provide comprehensive immigrant legal services, education, and advocacy to new Americans across the state. She serves on the Board of Regents of Augsburg University, is on the board of Portico Healthnet, and is a member of the Community Advisory Council of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve’s Opportunity and Inclusive Growth Institute. Iyer is also past president of the Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association and a former board member and committee chair for Minnesota Women Lawyers.
Amna Khalid, an associate professor in the department of history at Carleton College, specializes in modern South Asian history and the history of medicine. She has a strong interest in issues relating to censorship and free expression. Combining her interests and expertise, she hosts a podcast called Banished, which explores what happens when people, ideas, and works of art come into conflict with modern sensibilities. Khalid was educated in Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
Jane Prince, a St. Paul City Councilmember representing Ward 7, is a 30-year East Side resident and lives in the Mounds Park neighborhood, where she and her husband, David Murphy, purchased their home in 1984 and raised their son Sam, a 2003 Harding High School graduate. With her previous work as an attorney, a community volunteer, and a council legislative aide, Prince came to elective office with an extensive record of innovative problem-solving and consensus-building.
Chao Xiong joined Sahan Journal as managing editor in March 2022. He previously spent 18 years reporting for the Star Tribune, where he covered general news, policing, and the courts. Xiao is a first-generation Hmong American. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa.
Nina Moini (moderator) is a senior reporter for Minnesota Public Radio News, covering issues around race, class, and communities. She has been reporting in radio and television news for more than a decade in Minnesota. Born to Iranian parents in Denmark, Nina is an immigrant who grew up in the Twin Cities.
Recorded Sept. 19, 2023.
