On March 7, The Grand Event Center will host a 12-hour mutual-aid marathon to support Northfield residents impacted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the downtown venue will feature back-to-back performances, with proceeds directed toward community members affected by ICE enforcement actions. The event will include local musicians, St. Olaf student bands Her.Man and Wintry Elementary, political education presentations and other programming.
The marathon is a grassroots effort organized by local groups and volunteers. Raíces in Action, The Grand, Sharing Our Roots, Community Action Center, performers and event staff collaborated to plan the fundraiser.
“Mutual aid is community coming together to make sure that their friends and neighbors are healthy and safe,” Lindsay Ness, co-owner of The Grand, said in an interview with The Olaf Messenger.
Fiona Mundy ’26, a member of Raíces in Action — a network of residents, union workers, college students and farmers connecting affected community members to trusted local resources — said she hopes attendees leave with a deeper understanding of immigration policy.
“What I’m most excited about is the political education part,” Mundy said. “I think it’s really important for people to understand where this problem came from. It’s not an isolated incident. It’s not just one administration. This is a historical issue.”
Alissa Jacobson, farm manager at Sharing Our Roots, described mutual aid as neighbors sharing available resources.
“There’s a lot of power when people come together around music,” Jacobson said. “Mutual aid is sharing what you’re able. If you’ve got extra seats in your car, it’s helping with rideshares or getting kids to school. If you’ve got a loaded pantry full of dried beans, it’s donating those to people who need them.”
Organizers said they hope the event sends a message of solidarity.
“I hope that our neighbors see that we are doing everything we can to try to help,” Ness said. “I hope they know they can ask for that help. This is something that’s being done to them, and it’s not right. I hope they see that they live in a community where they are loved and appreciated, and their presence makes our town richer in every way.”
