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.

18 days to Liberian DED Expiration! Join LiWIM this Sunday in appealing to President Obama.

By Yeamah (yeamyah)

What began 20 years ago is due to end once and for all on March 31st, 2009. Liberian refugees who came to the United States with the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) were supposed to be deported 18 months ago. President Bush “gracefully” approved of the Deferred Enforced Departure 18 months ago, which will officially expire in 18 days: March 31st, 2009. Before leaving office, Bush did not sign on to another 18 months extension, nor did legislation that would allow Liberians on TPS/DED to become Permanent Residents pass during the last session. 

So, with 18 days left, President Obama’s signature allowing for another extension of DED is the only hope for approximately 4,000 (a conservative estimate) Liberians with this status, and frankly, the entire Liberian-American community!

LiWIM IS TAKING ACTION!

Pray the Devil Back to Hell (film)

Pray the Devil Back to Hell is a film on a group of Liberian women who started a movement to end the civil war in their country.

Portrait of Leymah Gbowee Photo Credit: Michael Angelo for Wonderland

The diversifying of Brooklyn Center

by Nekessa

Some of you probably live in Brooklyn Center, others in neighboring Brooklyn Park, and those of you who don’t, well, you might have noticed that hundreds of immigrants– Asian and African– have made the city their home.

$5 To Help MN

IBé

Hey folks! Besides letting my worldview be known in prose and poems, I work for the Greater Twin Cities United Way. And one of the added bonus of my job is having a bird-eye view of some of our community’s most pressing needs. And believe me, it’s getting to be very TIGHT out there. If you are one of the lucky people with still a job and few dollars in your pocket, I know you’ve thought about helping others not so fortunate, but alas you thought the problem is too big for your small hands. Well think again, not so. This morning I logged into our Intranet and came across this video/campaign, and I just thought I would share it with one and all. I hope you consider it. All it takes is $5 and you can help someone in need weather the storm.

Give5Now.org

Rwanda Genocide Survivor Immaculée Ilibagiza to speak here tomorrow

from the St. Thomas Bulletin

 

Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza

Immaculée Ilibagiza, a Rwandan woman who survived the 1994 genocide in her country by hiding in a pastor’s cramped bathroom for three months, will speak on “Faith, Hope and Forgiveness” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, in the auditorium of O’Shaughnessy Educational Center on the St. Paul campus of the University of St. Thomas.

 

Her talk, free and open to the public, is sponsored by St. Thomas’ University Lectures Committee. A reception in the atrium outside the auditorium will follow the talk.

Obama or McCain? First-time voter is “proud to be an American”

by Nekessa

Madin Dula, first time voter.

For Madin Dula, this election is different. The thought of casting her vote makes her smile. This is her third U.S. presidential election, but the first one in which she can vote.

Ten years ago, life was very different for Madin Dula, an Oromo refugee from Ethiopia. Following a civil war in her country, Dula fled to Kenya with her family, settling in a refugee camp.

Want more?

Re-Uniting Refugees

By Nekessa

Of course Minnesota is home to large refugee populations: Somalis, Liberians, and Hmong. Let’s support them, those who speak out, and those who don’t.

On November 10th over 10,000 bloggers from around the world will unite to raise their voices on behalf of more than 40 million voiceless refugees. To ask the world to face the atrocities so many human beings must endure and to join hearts and minds to help bring forward information, understanding and action.

Join us on November 10th to tell your story, share your thoughts and be part of the global solution to a global problem. It is in our power to bring people to act to make a change. The core cause of Bloggers Unite and Refugees United is information. Information leads to empowerment. Bloggers Unite enables ordinary folks to make an extraordinary impact.We hope you will sign up to participate. Your actions will matter. Your words can help change lives.

Together, our voices will make a difference!

If you are a blogger, click here to participate.