Year in Review- 2025

We did so much in 2025, but do know we couldn't have done it without you!

Check out what we did together!

Image of Navi the Bee with Thumbs up sign and Ntxhee Sua and Riss Leitzke dressed as Bees. Reading a Bee story in ASL at the Walker Center.

Image of template explaining DE's Mission and What we do. Also introducing our Mascot the Bee. Image of red circle with two bees inside.

Image of who we are? Images of 11 core team members: on the top to bottom, JulieAnn, John, Pam, Krissy, Jessalyn, Riss, Kyle, Ntxhee Sua, Del, Jer and Migdalia.

Image of DE's retreat where everyone had to create an image of another team mate. Double image of Kyle JulieAnn and Susan with MDS check of $500.00 donation for their gym.

Images on the top of three book authors, and facilitator for Meet MN Deaf Authors. Image of Kathleen Smith teaching CMV workshop. Image of people attending the Health Care Directive workshop. Image of Community together to chat with Deaf Chinese Scholars.

Image of words announcing our $30,000 grant support from Impact fund. Image of Stephanie Wilcox flyer focused on Breast Cancer Health. Image of DE team and volunteers running for Deaf Organizations. Images of DE at MDMC's Deaf Iftar Event.

Image of people at Dendros for Volunteer Open House. Image of Ntxhee Sua presenting on Deaf Hmong Culture. Image of State Fair collaboration workshop. Image of Ntxhee Sua's Art design, one of the top 3 for State Fair Shirts.

Image of Annual Community Gathering. Image of people dancing. Image of Dack teaching ASL movements. Image of Unisa Joe selling jewelry. Image of Nic leading the servers for food. Image of community together eating.

Image of partnership with the Walker! Team DE standing outside the Walker, with each spelling out W A L K E R. Image of Navi with kid, and playing and dancing with children. Image of Team De and friends.

Image of Deaf Equity at Saints. Image of Kyle Laughery and Riss Leitzke first ever ProTactile language for the National Anthem. Image of DE team at State Fair for team building. Image of community at the ball game. Image of Living works ASIST training in ASL with Tarra and Laura.

Image of E learning- Housing rights. Image of Power of Attorney in person workshop. Image of Friendsgiving. Image of Volunteer Appreciation Movie Night at the Movies Wicked. Image of Navi with Child signing ILY , we met our Fundraising Goal!

Image of everyone at Signing Santa event at the Deaf club. Image of Kids watching Elves tell a story. Image of a family sitting with Santa and Elves. Image of KC Elf who is face painting. Image of Elf volunteers. Image of a family figuring out their Elf names. Image of DE team at restaurant to celebrate the end of the year. Image of DE team end of the year, at Game Show.

Image of gratitude to all organizations who funded our work, sponsored our events, or partnered with us.

Now with 2026 underway, we have already been very busy. With what is happening now in Minnesota, we are focusing on what we can do to support the community.

Just this past few weeks we hosted an event, with a co sponsor, Dendros to bring community together to talk about what is happening in Minnesota, the impact and what we can do to make sure our community has access to the right information.

With over 80 people in attendance, over 10 organizations represented, this connection helped us think about what we could do individually, as an organization, partnering with others to make sure our community has the resources they need, the knowledge of where to get the support if needed, and what they can do for others.

Thanks to all the volunteers, Interpreters, organizers, organizations, community members who came together, to work through this together.

Image of our fab facilitators Laura, and Paula.

Image of ACLU presenter, Summra, on Know your Rights information.

If you live in Minnesota, you know right now we are just trying to survive these past few weeks and know we are BEE HUGGING you. (Image designed by Ntxhee Sua Vang)