Faribault Diversity Coalition receives second Blue Cross Foundation grant to promote good health among new Minnesotans

NEWS RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Bob Kell, 333-5036

Faribault, Minn. (December 27, 2006) — The Faribault Diversity Coalition has received a $100,000 grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation under the Healthy Together: Creating Community with New Americans initiative. It’s one of 11 grants awarded to promote good health among Minnesota’s growing immigrant populations — and longtime Minnesotans — by increasing their sense of connection with each other. Research shows that communities that are more cohesive are also healthier, overall.

The Faribault Diversity Coalition will use this second grant to extend its program, building on work done through an earlier grant from the Blue Cross Foundation. The Diversity Coalition works to promote cross-cultural respect and understanding through opportunities where immigrant and mainstream residents of Faribault engage in dialogue and exchange. The Coalition also works to assist immigrants in accessing needed resources and to support their full integration as participating members of the community. During the planning grant phase, the building of a school bus shelter at the Cannon River Mobile Home Park and a series of immigration forums provided opportunities for community members to engage with one another in meeting a need and looking for greater understanding. This new grant will allow expanded efforts over the next two years to create such opportunities and to invite all Faribault residents to join in building a welcoming community. Ongoing information can be found on the Coalition blog http://faribodiversity.blogspot.com.

“The funded projects serve new Minnesotans from all over the world,” said Joan Cleary, foundation vice president. “We’re proud to be able to continue our support of the important work the Faribault Diversity Coalition has been doing in the community.”

“The Blue Cross Foundation grant is a tremendous lift to our efforts,” says Bob Kell, director of the Coalition’s Welcome Center. “We believe strongly that when people open doors, either to welcome or to generously share the newness they bring, the resulting community is healthier, stronger, and richer. We look forward to what we can accomplish together in the coming years.”

The Faribault Diversity Coalition began in 1995 as a gathering of community members seeking to understand and respond positively to the growing cultural diversity of the community. Operating for a time as a committee of the Chamber of Commerce, it has since become a non-profit organization dedicated to the mission of supporting immigrant integration and community unity.

For more information on the Faribault Diversity Coalition, contact the Welcome Center, (507) 333-5036, 24 W. Division St., Faribault. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.bluecrossmn.com/foundation" www.bluecrossmn.com/foundation or call (651) 662-3950 or toll free 1-866-812-1593.

The Blue Cross Foundation’s purpose is to look beyond health care today for ideas that create healthier communities tomorrow. By addressing key social, economic and environmental factors that determine health — beyond genes, lifestyle and access to health care — the Foundation’s work extends beyond the traditional reach of the health care system to improve community health long-term and close the health gap that affects many Minnesotans. Since it was established 20 years ago, the Foundation has become the state’s largest grantmaking foundation to exclusively dedicate its assets to improving health in Minnesota, awarding $20 million since 1986.

Winter Clothing Drive

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I wish all of you a very special Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

This has been a very special year because so many of you have given so freely of yourselves for welcoming the immigrants and making this city a more hospitable community. I believe we have all benefited from this past year in building relations in all cultures by building the Bus Shelter - "For The Children", having great food and friendships at the first "International Market", the Ice Cream Social at the Band Concerts in the Park, the many forums, workshops, talking circles, and learning about each other's cultures and stories and getting to know our new brothers and sisters as well those that have been here for many years.

I wish to thank all who gave of themselves this past year and the donations during the year from friends in Faribault, a librarian in St. Paul, Angels from New York, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Rochester, and all over Minnesota for filling a need to bridge a gap between all people no matter of race, color or creed.

I thank all the Foundations, Business's, Law Enforcement, Faribault Chamber of Commerce, South Central College, Fire, Government, Health and Educational institutions and Organizations who helped us make Faribault a welcoming community.

I especially want to thank Bob Kell for leading us this year and the past 6 years with his grace and knowledge and thanks to Dan Burns and Larry Lumblad who were a great part of our mission this past 6 years and moved on this past Summer on their new careers. Also a special thanks to Greg Caron for being the go to guy for everything and being a special friend and bridge to the Latino Community. Thanks to Dan Zelzke for organizing the Ice Cream Socials at the Park and making it possible for the International Market which Vicky Carrillo so wonderfully led. I also want to thank current Board Members, Luis Aguila, Kymn Anderson, Vicky Carrillo, Shirley Drentlaw, Edna Garcia, Gwen Jackson, Joseph L. Mbele, Sally Peters, and Pat Wieseler for there generosity, guidance, friendship and organizing our many projects. There are so many more to thank and am terribly sorry if I've missed your name or organization. Thank you all for your support and attending our monthly meetings and for exercising hospitality to our neighbors, sometimes it just takes a smile.

I thank you for the honor of letting me be the President and Communicator of the Faribault Diversity Coalition for which I cherish and take very seriously. You have all shown the Christmas Spirit throughout the year to this great organization.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Milo

Rehus-Beal-Ledeats, Feliz Navidad, Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny, Novy Rok, Glædelig Jul, Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!or Zalig Kerstfeast, Mele Kalikimaka, Froehliche Weihnachten, Nollaig Shona Dhuit or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat, Buone Feste Natalizie, Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay, Nollaig Shona Dhuit or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat, God Jul or Gledelig Jul, Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie, Chung Mung Giang Sinh, Cestitamo Bozic, God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År, La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou, Feliz Natal, Maligayan Pasko!, Merry Keshmish, Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!, Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah, Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto, Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova, Kala Christouyenna!, Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo, Gesëende Kersfees. and many more around the world wishes.