Minnesota Prairie Roots

Writing and photography by Audrey Kletscher Helbling

Hope & possibilities at Ridgeview Heights housing project in Faribault April 10, 2026

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Randy and I stand in front of the larger of two Ridgeview Heights apartments under construction in Faribault. The east apartment building is in the background. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo by Anika Rychner, April 2026)

SCENT OF NEW WOOD, of a new build, holds the promise of new beginnings.

And that’s exactly what’s possible with the construction of two mixed use housing units under construction a block off Central Avenue in downtown Faribault.

Inside the first floor of a two-level apartment in the larger west side building, much work remains to be done. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo April 2026)

Wednesday afternoon Randy and I toured the complexes, which will offer two emergency rent-free furnished apartments and six market rate workforce apartments to local families in need of shelter. This aims to be temporary as families transition to more stable and permanent housing.

The Faribault Community Action Center is the lead on the $2.5 million Ridgeview Heights project funded by grants, an in-kind land donation from the City of Faribault, financing and donations. I’m proud to say that the extended Helbling family collected and gifted monies to the project at our annual reunion last summer. For that reason, especially, I wanted to walk through the apartments, grab a few quick photos with my smartphone and text them to my in-laws.

A view of the Ridgeview Heights apartments under a wide April sky. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo April 2026)

As I walked across the dirt, followed makeshift board sidewalks and climbed temporary wooden stairs into several units, I considered the hope each apartment represents. I thought, too, of the excitement these families will feel upon stepping into their new homes.

I remember the thrill of moving into a new house as a child. My parents, with the help of extended family and a local carpenter, built a new house to replace the aging farmhouse that our family of eight outgrew. Not only did we gain much-needed space, but we also got a bathroom. No more trips to the outhouse.

That memory flashed through my mind while touring Ridgeview Heights during the invitation-only event. The scent of new construction, exposed framing, unfinished floors, a space awaiting a family, felt comfortably familiar.

Inside an apartment in the east building, which is nearing completion. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo April 2026)

I visualized bunk beds stacked in a small bedroom. I visualized a small kitchen table snugged against a wall. I visualized family photos displayed on the extra thick window sills crafted into this net-zero energy build with multi-layered walls.

I heard children laughing, the murmur of a television, the quiet voice of a mother soothing a child. I saw towels hanging in the bathroom, shoes nested in the closet, dishes sitting on the kitchen counter. I smelled coffee brewing, dinner cooking.

Construction is further along on the smaller east apartment complex where Randy and I posed for a photo. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo by Anika Rychner, April 2026)

It was easy to imagine all of this as I followed CAC Community Resource Manager Becky Ford, then CAC Interim Executive Director Anika Rychner, on tours of several apartments. Carefully climbing unfinished wooden stairs to the second floor of one apartment, I thought of the feet that will eventually ascend and descend these stairs. And when we paused to look out a wide window to a view of the city, I stood in awe of the inspiring scene, of the viaduct bridging the river to the other side of town.

The name Ridgeview Heights fits. Those who will call this hilltop place their home can rise to new heights here on the ridge. Ridgeview Heights inspires hope, possibilities and new beginnings.

FYI: To learn more about Ridgeview Heights, slated to open this fall, click here.

© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

The value of village, especially now April 7, 2026

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Colorful, eye-catching art decorates a collection box for donations to the Faribault Community Action Center. This box is located just inside the entry to the Shattuck-St. Mary’s School athletic complex. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo April 2026)

“IT TAKES A VILLAGE to raise a child,” according to an African proverb turned catchphrase by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in her 1996 book, It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us.

While I’ve not read Clinton’s book, I understand the importance of a village, of community, in the lives of children. Kids learn, not only from their parents, teachers and each other, but also from being out and about in their communities.

They learn, and teach us adults, about care and compassion, about service and giving back, of lifting up community. In these days of innumerable challenges in America, such lessons are truly more important than ever.

Some of the items collected at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lakeville, during a special food shelf drive earlier this year. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo)

I need only look within my own core family to see this. In mid-February, my two elementary-aged grandchildren helped their mom, my eldest, transport items from their Lakeville church to a food shelf in nearby Farmington. The kids sorted donated items. And my first grade grandson wrote about the experience for a school assignment complete with illustrations. “I helped at church (beacus (sic) of ICE),” Isaac wrote.

He knew. His mom has been working tirelessly soliciting cash donations, buying and delivering groceries to a south metro food shelf, and sorting and bagging donations during and after Operation Metro Surge. Not only has she assisted those sheltering in their homes, but she has also taught her children an important lesson in helping others.

Kids are never too young to learn about generosity, about loving their neighbors. About giving of themselves in service to community.

This shows the entry to the Shattuck-St. Mary’s athletic complex, a gym on the left, the soccer dome (where I sometimes walk) to the right and the ice arenas straight ahead. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo April 2026)

That brings me to Shattuck-St. Mary’s, a private college prep school in Faribault. While heading to walk at the Shattuck dome on a recent morning, I noticed several cardboard collection boxes in the public gathering space/hallway of the athletic complex. I stopped to investigate.

Promotional photos of Shattuck are posted on a wall behind a collection box set outside an ice arena and the hallway leading to the soccer dome. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo April 2026)

While the boxes were empty, I read about their purpose. Students, calling themselves “Sabre Storm,” “The Breakfast Club” and “Team Cheese,” are collecting non-perishable food and household and personal care items for the Faribault Community Action Center.

Signage details the project. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo April 2026)

Most needed are: dry beans, canned soups, ramen noodles, canned chicken/tuna, size 7 diapers and pull-ups. I expect those attending hockey and soccer games, and other activities inside the sports complex will drop donations into the collection boxes.

A dozen Shattuck students signed their names on a collection box outside an ice arena. Sabre is the school name and symbol. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo April 2026)

I love that students like Jorge, Lara, Max, Miranda, Yujin, Rhys, Gael and 38 others, who signed the boxes, are connecting with the Faribault community via this drive. There’s not only a “heightened need” for food, household and personal care items at the Community Action Center, but also for cash donations.

Loving this “Sabre Storm” collection box art showing diverse hands reaching out and encircling a state of Minnesota map. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo April 2026)

I read that on the CAC website. But I’ve also heard this from a friend who volunteers at the CAC. The increased need all circles back to my grandson’s words, “beacus (sic) of ICE.” Many people in Faribault were sheltering in place, unable to work, during the height of federal immigration enforcement. And just because that operation has scaled back, the crisis has not ended.

A group of students calling themselves “The Breakfast Club” have signed on to collect donations for the Community Action Center in Faribault. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo April 2026)

The CAC has established a Community Response Fund “to meet urgent and evolving community needs” for food, rental assistance, etc. Every donation helps, my friend says. Even $10.

Growing generosity and kindness at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School via collecting donations. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo April 2026)

It takes a village. It takes a village to raise children. And it takes a village to help our neighbors through a crisis, a crisis created by the federal government. A crisis that has left too many Minnesota families facing overwhelming financial challenges, trauma, personal struggles and an uncertain future.

Fifteen Shattuck students signed this donation box as “Team Cheese.” (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo April 2026)

FYI: Please consider making a financial gift to the Faribault Community Action Center Community Response Fund. Click here to learn more. To those of you who have already donated, thank you. I appreciate your generosity during these challenging times in my community. It takes a village.

© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

How you can help my southern Minnesota community of Faribault following Operation Metro Surge February 26, 2026

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A painting on burlap by Mexican artist Jose Maria de Servin from my art collection. It seems to fit the moment. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo)

AS I GATHERED INFORMATION for this blog post, I wondered how to start. I’ll begin with one simple statement: The need is great here in Minnesota following the largest mass federal immigration enforcement in the country.

That’s a broad, undefined statement which I want to narrow down to specifics in my community of 25,000 in southeastern Minnesota, an hour south of Minneapolis. Faribault is a blue collar city, home to many people of color, including Somalis, Hispanics and Latinos, the demographic hit hardest by the months’ long Operation Metro Surge.

I can’t tell you how many people have been taken from my Greater Minnesota community by ICE. I can’t tell you how many people have been racially profiled, stopped and questioned. But residents of Faribault have been taken. And stopped, because of their skin color. I know this simply by being out and about, talking with people. This federal activity, which initially saw 3,000 immigration agents in the state, is not done, despite statements otherwise.

This shows a portion of a promo I received in the mail this week from the Community Action Center with locations in Faribault and in Northfield.

FACING FINANCIAL CHALLENGES

That brings me to the topic of today’s post. Need. And how you can help the many people in my community who now find themselves facing financial challenges due to ICE activity. Many have been sheltering in their homes, afraid to go to work or the grocery store or church. Afraid to take their kids to school…

The fear they’ve felt of being detained, even if they’ve done nothing wrong, even if they are here legally, even if they are American citizens, has been great. As a white woman, as a human being, I feel a moral obligation to do what I can for my neighbors who are suffering. Many people in Faribault have stepped up—taking kids to school, delivering groceries, driving people to work, donating food and money…

Some of you have asked me how you can help, and some of you have already helped. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your kindness, your care, your compassion, your support, your encouragement and your financial gifts.

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church has been a collection site for food and non-food items during the current crisis. (Graphic sourced from the Our Savior’s Facebook page)

FACING EVICTION

Monies for rental assistance seem to be the main need right now. Last week the Faribault City Council did not move forward with a request from the Faribault Community Action Center for $50,000 in emergency rental assistance. I won’t get into reasons behind that denial. It’s done.

The demand for funds to assist renters facing eviction is high. These are people who have not gone to work because they fear ICE. No work equals no income equals no money to pay the rent or other expenses.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Faribault is among the organizations helping people in my community. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo February 2026)

HELPING PEOPLE IN FARIBAULT

I’ve compiled a short list of selected places to which you can donate monies that will help those impacted by federal immigration enforcement, and others, in Faribault. Please click on the boldfaced organization names to reach websites, where you will find donation tabs and more information. Thank you for considering my request to help people in my community. I am grateful.

Faribault Community Action Center. Donate to the CAC Community Response Fund which meets urgent and evolving needs such as for food and rent. Please designate your gift for the FARIBAULT CAC as one exists in neighboring Northfield. That town’s council approved a $50,000 request for emergency rental assistance.

Spreading Warmth: Supporting Immigrant Families in Faribault. This is a GoFundMe campaign aiming to raise $30,000 (a new goal) to help struggling immigrant families. Thus far, the effort has raised nearly $21,000. The organizer provides detailed info on needs and how families have already been helped.

Faribault Supporting Families. This group manages a small community-supported fund to help families facing urgent immigration-related challenges.

Three Rivers Community Action. This organization offers multi-faceted services, including in the area of housing, such as rental assistance.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul. This faith-based nonprofit offers food, clothing, household and limited financial aid to qualifying individuals and families.

©Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

Dispatches from the protest line in Faribault February 22, 2026

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Protesters line up along Minnesota State Highway 60 in Faribault two weeks ago. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo February 2026)

WE PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday, grabbed our signs from the back of the van and headed to the sidewalk. There Randy and I joined others filtering in to protest by the Rice County government services building along busy Minnesota State Highway 60/Fourth Street in Faribault.

For six Saturday mornings now, people have gathered here to raise their voices against aggressive federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and against many other policies and directives of the Trump administration negatively affecting our lives (and that of our neighbors) and/or threatening our country. Whatever concerns someone—democracy, Constitutional rights, due process, tariffs, the economy, voting rights, authoritarianism, immigration—those topics are covered in signage and/or in conversations.

Saturday morning we stood some 40 strong in 15-degree temps with a biting wind. That’s about half our usual number. Some of the regulars were missing, but I also saw many new faces.

Protesting against ICE two weeks ago. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo February 2026)

ICE IS STILL HERE

Top on all of our minds remains Operation Metro Surge, the largest mass immigration enforcement effort in the country which saw 3,000 federal agents descend on Minnesota. That includes here in our community, home to many Latinos, Hispanics and Somalis.

Despite the announced drawdown of those agents, ICE activity in Faribault has not decreased since they started working here in early December, according to one protester I questioned on Saturday. He laughed when I inquired, a telling response. He’s a trustworthy source, a boots-on-the-ground individual who is active and informed.

Groceries and personal care items collected by a church in the south metro for those in need. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo February 2026)

THE PERSONAL & FINANCIAL FALL-OUT

To hear stories of retired teachers giving kids rides to school is simultaneously heartening and heartbreaking. Parents should be driving their children to school or walking them to the bus stop. But, because of ICE, others are doing that while they are sheltered at home, afraid to leave, not working, not going to the grocery store.

Food shelves have sprung up in schools and in churches, supplementing already existing nonprofit food shelves. The need is great. I recently started volunteering at a local food shelf.

Families unable to pay rent now face eviction. The Faribault City Council last week denied a request from the Faribault Community Action Center for $50,000 in emergency rental assistance. In neighboring Northfield, the city council unanimously approved an identical request from the Northfield Community Action Center.

Faribault is a blue collar community that runs red. Northfield is white collar blue.

A sign held at a previous protest. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo)

REACTIONS TO OUR PROTESTS

Whenever we protest, we are subjected to profanity, vulgarity and negative behavior from passing motorists among the overwhelmingly positive support. Based on my observations the four past Saturday mornings, the loudest and angriest are white women probably in their forties. I don’t understand the intensity of their angry outbursts. We just smile and wave, figuring we got to them with our messages.

Near the center of this frame, a protester carries a Rebel Loon sign. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo February 2026)

THE STORIES

I like to mingle when I protest. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, to hear stories. Like that of an elementary school student who returned to classes last week after a two-month absence. Or the first-time protester whose husband, an immigrant, has worked mostly remotely rather than drive to his job in Minneapolis. Or the man who crafted a Rebel Loon (the Minnesota state bird) sign and was protesting for someone who could not be there for fear of ICE.

These are real stories of real people in my community. I may not know the little girl who returned to school or the protester’s husband or the friend of the Rebel Loon guy. But I do know that I care about the people in my community who have lived in, and continue to live in, fear of federal immigration agents regardless of legal status. Residents of my community have been racially profiled, stopped, questioned because they are black or brown, have an accent, dress differently. I have talked to a Hispanic woman, an American citizen, who was stopped by ICE.

This is why I protest in the deep cold of a Minnesota winter, standing beside others with signs, Minnesota state flags and peace flags in a town of 25,000 where protesting exposes you to criticism. It matters to my profiled and targeted neighbors that I am publicly standing up for them. They’ve told me so. I cannot remain silent. We are stronger together. Minnesota Strong.

The winter boots I wear while protesting. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo)

BREAD BAGS

We protesters brave the cold for those who cannot safely stand here. We wrap scarves around our necks, put on parkas, pull on long johns and ear flapper caps and wool socks and winter boots, sometimes adding foot and hand warmers. Several of us joked about returning next week with bread bags inside our boots for another layer of warmth, a throwback to our childhood days.

By then I’d been outside for an hour, my cheeks slapped red by the wind, my fingers and toes growing numb. But I was laughing, deep belly laughing, at the bread bag stories. It felt good to laugh with these protesters, to find comedic relief in the darkest of times.

© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling