Citizens of the Twin Cities win award

Each year, the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award is awarded to public officials at any level who demonstrate politically courageous leadership. This year, the award was granted to the citizens of the Twin Cities, Minn., for their collective courage in protecting and defending their neighbors, communities and human rights during an unprecedented federal immigration enforcement operation — Operation Metro Surge.

The award has recognized acts of political courage since its birth in 1989. Some of its many notable recipients include Mike Pence (2025), Mitt Romney (2021), Nancy Pelosi (2019) and Barack Obama (2017). 

Sophie Callahan, a Point Loma Nazarene University alumna now living in Minnesota, said that the recognition carried an emotional weight for her. In February, she wrote an article for The Point describing what it was like in Minneapolis; now she said that she is proud of the way her community creatively showed resilience and togetherness through grassroots community resistance — but it is bittersweet.

“It is a great honor that our state’s witness of nonviolent resistance is receiving nationwide recognition,” Callahan said in an email interview. “Still, I find it quite alarming that a Profile in Courage award is going to residents of a U.S. city for standing up to their own government.” 

In her November article, she described the stress and trauma that her city was experiencing during the raids. While tensions have since de-escalated, she said the atmosphere in her city is still tense and uneasy. She said there are still more U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the Twin Cities than before Operation Metro Surge took place.

“We are only beginning to hear the depth of trauma and the depth of resiliency,” Callahan said. “I hope that as we are able to share more stories … people will realize the harm of this federal immigration enforcement, and yet how much power individuals and local communities can enact in the face of violence.” 

Greta Solie, a second-year English literature and Spanish double major from Minneapolis also spoke of that sense of pride. Though she is currently studying abroad in Spain and was absent during a bulk of the operation, she said that the award rightfully honors her home community. 

“[Minnesotans] are courageous in absolutely every way, courageous for standing both alone and together for our community, braving the freezing temperatures, and even the government,” Solie said. “This award is so deserved, and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that it went to the right people.”

Despite national attention fading, Solie said she hears from her friends and family back home that the impact is still being deeply felt. 

“I hope things go back to normal in the sense of my community members being able to return to work and leave their houses without feeling a constant threat, and I hope Minnesota heals,” Solie said. “I hope that what has happened and is still happening isn’t forgotten.”

Greta Schramm, a public school teacher in the Twin Cities for over 30 years and the parent of two PLNU students, witnessed the crisis firsthand and jumped into action. She saw her students struggling mentally and emotionally due to their parents or family members being taken by ICE, but also recognized a tangible financial need because many families lost their source of income.

In response, Schramm worked to partner her school district with a local organization, Quincy House, and helped raise money for those who were being financially impacted by the situation. 

Together they were able to donate over $15,000 to families who lost their income in January, and continued to give the months that followed, but have slowed down donations because they are no longer as necessary.

She credits the impact not to any one individual, but to the collective effort she saw in her community.

“It was such an honor, and I truly love the fact that it is not going to one single person … because we all did something different,” Schramm said. “I just worked my corner, my friend Laura worked her corner, my friend Matt worked his, and it truly made a huge difference.”