My name is Soren, and I run The Clay Pit, a small community ceramic studio in Minneapolis, entirely on my own. ICE activity and occupation in our neighborhood have made it unsafe for people to gather and work. Attendance at the studio has dropped dramatically, classes have been canceled, and income has almost completely disappeared. This is not accidental. State violence like this is designed to destabilize communities and disrupt the informal networks that help us survive.

I cannot cover rent for the studio or for myself. I am also a trans person and rely on ongoing medical care, including hormone therapy. My insurance premiums recently went up, and I now have an outstanding medical bill that I cannot manage on top of lost income. These are essential costs. Without support, I will not be able to stay housed, maintain my health, or keep the studio open.

I know that on paper, a studio like this isn’t “necessary.” But accessible community spaces are invaluable. They are places where people can learn, create, connect, and feel human. They build trust, solidarity, and care in ways institutions often cannot or will not. Losing spaces like this is losing more than a room full of clay; it’s losing a community.

I am trying to raise $8,000 in mutual aid to cover immediate expenses and prevent The Clay Pit from closing. Funds will go directly toward:

-Studio rent

-Personal rent

-A record-breaking heating bill at the studio

-Clay, glaze, and essential supplies to keep the space running

-My medical premium bill

The Clay Pit exists to make art accessible, inclusive, and community-driven. It serves immigrants, queer and trans people, working artists, beginners, and anyone who needs a safe space to create. ICE presence threatens spaces like this on purpose.

This is not charity. This is mutual aid. It is how we survive, resist, and care for each other when the state chooses harm over community.

If you are able to donate, thank you. If you cannot, sharing this is also a form of support. Your help will cover rent, emergency costs, supplies, and medical needs, and allow The Clay Pit to continue as a space rooted in care, access, and solidarity.

Thank you for standing with me and our community.