Category: Announcement

World Savvy Statement on Recent Events in Minnesota

World Savvy condemns the killing that occurred in Minneapolis and extends our deepest condolences to family, friends, and community members who are grieving. We also want to acknowledge the fear and uncertainty that many students, families, and educators are experiencing right now.

When the world becomes unstable, schools are often one of the first places where that instability shows up. We have seen this in Minnesota over the last few weeks, as schools have faced lockdowns, closures, and disrupted learning. In some districts, absenteeism has surgedas families keep children home out of fear. 

In times like these, schools need more than reassurance. They need support for families in crisis, steady guidance for educators, and coordinated partners who can help them respond quickly and thoughtfully. As fear and uncertainty ripple through classrooms, leaders are balancing instruction with safety, communication, and care for their communities, creating a critical need for outside support. Meeting this moment requires aligned, flexible assistance that steadies adults so they can steady young people.

Yet, these words must be backed up by actions. World Savvy is stepping in as one of those partners, providing rapid, responsive support to schools across the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area to help educators create steadiness, belonging, and continuity of learning.

Our response includes:

• Dedicated time for educators and school leaders to talk, process, and support one another so they aren’t carrying fear or stress alone.
  
• Opportunities for schools to connect with each other, share what’s working, and problem-solve together in real time.
  
• Simple tools and routines that help students talk about what’s happening in their world, think critically, and stay engaged without lowering expectations.
• Hands-on help adjusting plans and lessons when attendance is uneven or learning shifts between in-person and virtual.

World Savvy was founded in the aftermath of 9/11 out of a belief that fear should not be the primary way young people learn about the world. Our work is grounded in a long-standing belief: education is not only about content, but it is also about the conditions that allow students to learn, participate, and thrive. When fear enters classrooms, the response must be care, clarity, and support.

Today’s killing of a civilian during a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis is devastating and unacceptable. As reports emerge that an ICE agent shot and killed a person amid an extraordinary federal deployment, the loss of life and the fear spreading through our community demand immediate attention and accountability.

We express our deepest sorrow to the family and loved ones of the person killed. Moments like this severely strain trust, particularly for immigrant communities already living with heightened fear and uncertainty.

For many young people, this is not an abstract policy debate. It is real life. It is family, community, and safety. Yet too often, civic education avoids the very moments when democracy is most contested. If we want students to be truly ready for civic life, we must support them in asking hard questions, examining power and accountability, and engaging with complexity as it unfolds in real time.

Silence in moments of violence and injustice does not protect students. It leaves them without guidance, context, or space to process fear and grief. Young people deserve learning environments where they can think critically, consider multiple perspectives, and practice engaging with democracy in ways that are informed, compassionate, and humane.

World Savvy stands in solidarity with the Minneapolis community, with immigrant families, and with the educators supporting students through this moment, and all those affected by today’s events. We urge leaders to prioritize transparency, accountability, and human dignity as this situation continues to unfold.

 

Official Statement from World Savvy

In this moment of rising fear and uncertainty for many communities in Minnesota and across the country, World Savvy affirms a simple truth: schools must be places where every young person feels a deep sense of belonging and possibility. When belonging is threatened, students, families, and educators feel it first.

Recent school cancellations in Minnesota, prompted by threats to the safety of those attending amid current events, underscore how quickly fear and disruption can ripple through school communities. When schools are impacted in this way, the effects extend far beyond a single day, touching families, educators, and young people who rely on schools as places of stability, care, and connection.

Our mission is rooted in the idea that schools are one of the few places where young people can safely bring their full identities, histories, and perspectives. When students feel seen and valued, they develop the curiosity, critical thinking, and confidence they need to thrive in their lives and communities.

This commitment is shared across our organization. Our team reflects a broad range of lived experiences, including migration, displacement, multilingualism, and cross-cultural identity. These perspectives strengthen our work and deepen our understanding of what young people need to feel supported and safe in school.

World Savvy remains committed to supporting schools as places of belonging, learning, and opportunity for all students, across lines of background, belief, and experience. Especially in times of heightened tension, education plays a critical role in bringing young people together and preparing the next generation to lead with empathy, responsibility, and understanding.

We stand with educators, students, and families. Our focus remains on building learning environments that reflect the values communities deserve: safety, respect, curiosity, and shared responsibility.

In partnership,

Hamse Warfa
CEO, World Savvy