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EmpowerSEA

Advancing workforce equity, financial empowerment, and business growth for Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota. Advancing workforce equity, financial empowerment, and business growth for Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota. Advancing workforce equity, financial empowerment, and business growth for Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota. Advancing workforce equity, financial empowerment, and business growth for Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota.
Advancing workforce equity, financial empowerment, and business growth for Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota. Advancing workforce equity, financial empowerment, and business growth for Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota. Advancing workforce equity, financial empowerment, and business growth for Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota. Advancing workforce equity, financial empowerment, and business growth for Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota.

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Advancing workforce equity, financial empowerment, and business growth for Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota.

Email: support@edact.org

EmpowerSEA

EmpowerSEA, led by Equitable Development Action (EDACT), is a hybrid workforce and financial empowerment initiative designed to strengthen the employability, financial capacity, and business growth of Southeast Asian communities in Minnesota.

The initiative addresses disparities in workforce participation, business development, and access to financial tools caused by cultural, linguistic, and systemic barriers. EmpowerSEA bridges these gaps through bilingual, culturally responsive, and community-anchored programming that blends workforce training, financial literacy, and small business support.

Over two years, EmpowerSEA will serve 30 individuals and 14 Southeast Asian-led business leaders, equipping them with career-ready skills, financial knowledge, and sustainable business tools.

Program Period FY2026 – FY2027
Cohorts 2 (FY2026 & FY2027)
Service Area 7-County Metro Area
Serving 30 individuals & 14 business leaders

Who It's For

The Program Is For

  • Job seekers
  • Underemployed workers
  • Individuals needing workforce skills
  • Southeast Asian small business owners

Eligibility Requirements

  • At least 18 years old (adult participants only; no K–12 students)
  • Authorized to work in the United States (U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee/asylee, or other work-authorized status)
  • Currently living in Minnesota
  • Of Southeast Asian descent
  • Seeking employment, career advancement, workforce skills, or business growth
  • Able to speak and understand English

Documents Needed to Enroll

  • Proof of identity: state ID, driver's license, or passport
  • Proof of age: driver's license, passport, or birth certificate
  • Proof of right to work: U.S. passport, Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Document, or unrestricted Social Security card
  • Social Security number
  • Proof of Minnesota residency: lease, utility bill, state ID, or mail showing a Minnesota address

Communities

Hmong Lao Vietnamese Karen / Karenni Filipino Burmese Cambodian

What EmpowerSEA Combines

Workforce Readiness Training

Work readiness and career preparation through Minneapolis College.

Digital Literacy

Confidence with workplace tools, online systems, and productivity platforms.

Financial Literacy & Coaching

Budgeting, saving, credit building, and financial goal setting.

Small Business Capacity Building

Technical assistance and workshops for Southeast Asian-led businesses.

Community-Based Support Services

Help with transportation, internet access, and learning materials.

Program Components

EmpowerSEA blends workforce training, financial literacy, and small business support. Each training cycle (Cohort 1 in FY2026 and Cohort 2 in FY2027) prepares participants to move into employment or skill advancement programs.

Foundational and advanced work readiness training is delivered through Minneapolis College, our partner for customized training. Participants build workplace communication and professionalism (teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability); digital and data literacy (workplace tools, online systems, and productivity platforms); and career readiness (résumé and cover letter writing, interview preparation, and job search strategy).

Participants earn certificates in Work Readiness and Digital Literacy through Minneapolis College's Customized Training Division. The certificates verify completion of the workforce preparation modules and are recognized for meeting MOHE-aligned training standards.

In partnership with ThrivEdge Solutions and Stearns Bank, a financial literacy series covers budgeting, saving, and debt management, plus credit building and financial goal setting. Participants establish savings plans and credit-building strategies that lead to improved financial resilience.

EmpowerSEA supports 14 Southeast Asian-led business leaders through direct technical assistance and workshops led by JEJE Tax LLC and EDACT, covering business planning and growth strategy, branding and digital marketing, and tax compliance and bookkeeping systems. Business leaders complete strategic growth plans and take part in peer learning forums to exchange ideas and build collaboration within the Southeast Asian entrepreneurial community.

Support services help every participant take part fully. Participants may receive transportation assistance (bus cards or mileage reimbursement), internet and data support, and training materials and supplies, within program limits.

Program Outcomes

Participants in EmpowerSEA can expect to:

  • Strengthen workplace communication, professionalism, and digital skills
  • Earn Work Readiness and Digital Literacy certificates
  • Build a résumé and cover letter and prepare for interviews
  • Establish a savings plan and credit-building strategy
  • Complete a strategic growth plan (business leaders)
  • Move into employment or skill advancement programs
Get Involved

Program Contacts

Jude Nnadi Executive Director jude.nnadi@edact.org
Addriana Her Case/Program Manager addri@edact.org

Partners

ThrivEdge Solutions
JEJE Tax LLC

Program Resources

Explore and download official EmpowerSEA materials for outreach, awareness, and program information.

Equal Opportunity Law Notice — English Equal Opportunity Law Notice — Arabic Equal Opportunity Law Notice — Chinese Equal Opportunity Law Notice — Hmong Equal Opportunity Law Notice — Laotian Equal Opportunity Law Notice — Russian Equal Opportunity Law Notice — Somali Equal Opportunity Law Notice — Spanish Equal Opportunity Law Notice — Vietnamese

The State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) funded (or funded in part) this training through a grant. The grant recipient created this training. DEED does not endorse this publicity or training or make guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership of the information herein or elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions people ask about EmpowerSEA.

Adults (18+) of Southeast Asian descent who live in Minnesota, are authorized to work in the United States, can speak and understand English, and are seeking employment, career advancement, workforce skills, or business growth. Eligible communities include, but are not limited to, Hmong, Lao, Vietnamese, Karen/Karenni, Filipino, Burmese, and Cambodian.

No. EmpowerSEA serves job seekers, underemployed workers, and people building workforce skills, as well as Southeast Asian small business owners, who also receive business capacity-building support.

Every participant completes an intake assessment to identify strengths, barriers, and training needs. It includes a self-assessment questionnaire (employment history, language proficiency, digital skills, and career goals), a structured interview with the Program Coordinator to identify any support needs, and a work readiness pre-assessment by Minneapolis College covering workplace communication and computer literacy.

Proof of identity, proof of age, proof of your right to work in the U.S., your Social Security number, and proof of Minnesota residency. See "Documents Needed to Enroll" above for examples of what is accepted.

Yes. Participants earn certificates in Work Readiness and Digital Literacy through Minneapolis College's Customized Training Division.

Yes. Participants may receive transportation assistance (bus cards or mileage reimbursement), internet and data support, and training materials and supplies, within program limits.

EmpowerSEA's primary service area is the 7-County Metro Area. Participants must currently live in Minnesota.

Contact our team and we'll walk you through current cohort openings and next steps.