Minnesotans take victory lap at JFK Courage Awards

The people of the Twin Cities were honored Sunday, May 31, at the JFK Presidential Library and Museum in Boston with the JFK Profile in Courage Award. The honor recognized “compassion and unwavering commitment to the ideals that sustain our democracy” during Metro Surge, a massive federal initiative that peaked with 3,000 to 4,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents primarily in Minneapolis and St. Paul earlier this year.

“It was just a beautiful opportunity to recognize the passion and courage of Minnesotans,” said Sheletta Brundidge. “We fought ICE and never stopped. This moment allowed us to look back and see what we accomplished as a community.”

During Metro Surge, Brundidge led a prayer vigil at the Renee Good memorial and started a GoFundMe campaign for businesses affected by the ICE presence. Brundidge attended the awards ceremony in Boston, wearing a custom jean jacket with pictures of Renee Good and Alex Pretti under the words, ‘We the People.’ Good and Pretti were shot and killed by ICE agents during Metro Surge.

Caroline Kennedy presented the JFK Profile in Courage Award to four Minnesotans who took the stage to accept the award on behalf of the people of the Twin Cities. They were Imam Yusuf Abdulle, Co-Founder, Somali American Leadership Table and Executive Director, Islamic Association of North America; Natalie Ehret, Founder, Haven Watch; Carolina Ortiz, Associate Executive Director, COPAL; and Zena Stenvik, Superintendent, Columbia Heights Public Schools.

“I got the shivers when they went up and got the award,” said Ann Leahy, from St. Paul. “These were regular folks who did something at a time it was needed.” Leahy got a ticket to the awards ceremony through a family connection to a member on the board of the JFK Library and Museum.

Leahy attended protests in Minneapolis, paid her respects at the Renee Good Memorial, and, among other efforts, drove two neighbor kids to school every day. “When I would drive them around, they would slump down in the back seat,” Leahy said. The kids and their parents were not undocumented, but as Leahy said, anyone with brown or black skin was a target during Metro Surge.

Brundidge and Leahy represented the people of the Twin Cities, whose small efforts made a big impact. Brundidge said politicians helped, like Sen. Amy Klobuchar and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her helped too. Both were in attendance at the event.

“We fought back because our leaders had our backs,” Brundidge explained. “We were able to stand up for justice because we knew our Senators, Attorney General, County Prosecutors, Mayors, and Governor would step up for us.”

Brundidge said the highlight of her night was being able to meet Renee Good’s family and show them her jean jacket. “They saw me and said, ‘Our mom would love one of those jackets.’” Thankfully, Brundige is a planner and had a second jacket on hand to give to the family to bring home to Good’s mom, who wasn’t up to being at the event and could use the comfort.

Leahy’s highlight was meeting the Twin Cities recipients who accepted the JFK Profile in Courage Award. The trophy itself is modeled after 18th-century lanterns used on New England whaling ships. It is meant to symbolize moral direction, consistency, and navigation through political storms. As demonstrated by the Twin Cities recipients exchanging cards and talking next steps, receiving the award does not keep the storms from coming.

“This was really a chance for them to take a breath. But they went to the lobby to ask what’s next?” Leahy admitted that the determination of the four and all of the people of the Twin Cities has encouraged her to do more. “I’m awestruck, and it’s an incentive to get even more involved myself.”