African Development Center moves to bigger home in Minneapolis

Ten years ago, just a handful of African immigrants tricklied into the Twin Cities. In 2009, conservative estimates put the number of African immigrants at about 100,000. On the West Bank and in suburbs like Brooklyn Park, they are becoming part of the fabric of their communities.

Sixteen years ago, Hussein Samatar, a refugee from Somalia, was struggling to adjust to his adopted country, and discovered that learning to navigate the American system was helpful in moving up the socio-economic ladder. When he founded the African Development Center (ADC)  in 2004, Samatar saw the need to provide resources to African immigrants. Now, he is proud of the work that he, together with his eight-person staff, have done in the community. ADC, through culturally competent interaction, offers its clients, mostly African immigrants, workshops and one-on-one training on financial literacy, business development, and information on home ownership.

Al Jazeera’s Rageh Omaar in Minneapolis

This is a short notice, I just learned about this event (scroll to the bottom of this page for details on event). Rageh Omaar is an internationally renowned reporter. He worked for the BBC for a few years where he covered the conflicts in Somalia and Iraq. However, what makes Omaar stand out and what has made him, perhaps one of the best investigative reporters on broadcast, is his work on Al Jazeera.

Beware: Credit Card Scam in the Twin Cities

By the Minneapolis Police Department, City of Minneapolis

Please be advised that a new type of scam is appearing in the Metro area.

Kenyan Women on a Sex Strike: Why they did it

You’ve probably heard about the women’s sex strike in Kenya. Published below is an excerpt of my reaction to this modern-day Lysistrata . You can read the article in its entirety here.

I must be getting it wrong. Or maybe most people are missing the point of the sex strike.

My first reaction when I heard about the sex strike was: how bold! what a statement! Still, I questioned their use of sex as a tool of peace. And then I began to watch in dismay as the country reacted. Perhaps we all agree that Kenyan politicians need to get their act together. But sex is still a taboo; unspoken.

Cape Verdean Carmen Souza at the Cedar

Carmen Souza| Photo by Ricardo Quintas

Another Cape Verdean songstress is in the cities. Unlike Lura, whose music I love, I have not heard of Carmen Souza. She sounds jazzy and sultry. Simply divine. 

The women who put an end to the Liberian war

by Nekessa

Leymah Gbowee Photo Credit: Michael Angelo for Wonderland

Pray the Devil Back to Hell is a must-watch documentary. You might have heard about how thousands of women in Liberia were instrumental in sending Charles Taylor and other warlords to Ghana for peace talks at the height of the Liberian war.  Maybe you saw one of the women Leymah Gbowee in a telephone interview on CNN’s international edition. However, chances are you have not heard this inspiring story. Because let’s face it no one was interested in telling these women’s story; least of all the international media that was covering the crisis at the time (not just the Western media, but also African media).

A Day in the Life of an Arrested Kenyan Activist

Philo Ikonya (photo courtesty of Dipesh of http://sukumakenya.blogspot.com)

A few days ago, Kenyan activist Philo Ikonya was arrested for protesting her government’s inaction towards a looming famine in the country. It was a peaceful protest; but she was soon arrested. The 50yr old poet and writer was beaten and thrown in a jail cell. Released. And then thrown back in.

From Lincoln to Obama: 200 Years of History

by Nekessa

Abraham Lincoln has been called the greatest American president. He would have been 200 years old today. A lot has been written about Lincoln and his relevance in America’s racial history vis a vis slavery. The underlying them in many of these articles, is that Lincoln is still revered as a great leader, but that he was still coming to terms with racism and the plight of the black people. Did he sign the Emancipation Proclamation for moral reasons? or for economic and political ones? And why is it relevant today, to redefine him?

Last night PBS ran a documentary on Looking for Lincoln. I haven’t watched it, but here’s a link with reviews and interviews; and a quiz on Lincoln myths.

I have compiled below clippings from different articles that ran today on Abraham Lincoln.

“Hire Americans” Senate Says to Bailed out Banks

by Nekessa

The Senate voted Friday to restrict the hiring of foreign workers by banks that are receiving government bailout funds while undergoing vast layoffs.

The legislation by Sens. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, would require the banks to seek American workers before turning to foreign nationals when they’re hiring. It aims to prevent replacement of Americans by foreigners working under the H-1B visa program, which allows employers to bring in workers for high-skilled and advanced-degree jobs.

This law would affect about 300 banks across the US.

Sanders says that this stipulation in the bill would, “make sure that banks receiving a taxpayer bailout are not allowed to import cheaper labor from overseas while they are laying off American workers.”

Read more here.

Just a brief commentary: H1-B visa-holders are not “cheaper” labor. They are generally hired for their professional qualification in their specific trade.The visa worker program is great for the diversification, of talent and work experience, of the American workforce.

Networking on the Net for Jobs

by Nekessa

Today’s numbers on the unemployment are bleak! Eeek!

This morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 598,000 Americans had lost their jobs in January (7.6%). These jobs were across industries throughout the country.

Incidentally, I just read about LaidOffCamp, a networking site for people who have lost their jobs. (You can find them on twitter, and facebook). They are based out in San Fransisco. Is there anything like this here in the Cities?

Check February joblistings for local available jobs.

Update!!
I just went over to Recession Info Center– wow, great website! (thanks Pam!) This website has everything from unemployment benefits, job listings, tips on job searches, extra ways to make money, debt control and housing information.