As 2007 draws to a close… A Message by Bob Kell

This past year has been a unique year for the Faribault Diversity Coalition. The support of the Blue Cross/ Blue Shield and Foldcraft foundations, added to the support from the United Way, the City of Faribault, and generous donors, made it possible for us to expand our services in the community. With the Somali Community Resettlement Service as a partner, the Welcome Center and Coalition have worked to invite Faribault residents of all cultures to join in the effort to build community among us.

What is different? Many residents who needed assistance with communication or information solved problems, found employment, and met needs with the help of Welcome Center staff. People from the Somali, Latino, and mainstream community spent time together in Sharing Circles where they shared experience and perspectives that helped us know one another better. Immigrant and established families planted and harvested gardens in a shared plot, growing more aware of one another in the process. Women from different cultures spent some summer mornings together, learning how their experiences differ but how much their concerns are the same. The need for food support expressed by many led to a newly flourishing food shelf and plans for a mini-coop. People with coats came to share with those in need and many are warmer, both inside and out, because of it.

It was a good year. One was reminded of the common ground we share as human beings. The generosity and desire of people to extend a hand to one another warmed the heart. Of late, that generosity has been so apparent: a $2000 gift from a local donor, an anonymous contribution of $100 “to help people out”, $500 from an organization choosing us as the recipient of their annual Christmas donation…It all makes such a difference.

Where to from here? We head into a new year with more work ahead. The City gave us the opportunity to enlarge our space at the Welcome Center, so our creativity has expanded to fill it! Volunteers from the Sharing Circles have offered to start ESL support classes and teach sewing. We are looking for new ways to help families meet their food need through coop buying. And we are gearing up for a bigger garden.

But the real work is that of continuing to bring people together. We have learned that real community can only exist where there is respect for each one’s truth, a “roll-up-the-sleeves” willingness to find solutions, and a belief in our shared humanity. We invite all who wish to join us this coming year in building that community together.

May you and your family find inspiration in these days, however you celebrate them, as we focus on religious events and year’s end. Peace to you all.

With Best Wishes,
Bob Kell, Welcome Center

A Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Wish to all

As I reflect on this past year a lot of wonderful things have happened with the Faribault Diversity Coalition and all people in Faribault. This past week talking to several people have renewed my faith in what we are doing and what we are about.

This week I asked Abdullah Anhared from the Somali Community Resettlement Service how we fared with Owatonna, Rochester and other cities in the area. While stating that there still needs to be more education with service providers dealing with the immigrant population he feels that Faribault is more accepting and friendlier towards the newcomers. Abdullah feels that this city is far ahead of some of our sister cities in our attitude and acceptance towards the rising immigrant population.

Friday night I was talking to a gentleman from Montgomery who came to town for the first time in quite a while and noticed a large population of new immigrants and how friendly everyone was while walking down the street and entering the shops. He said the immigrants and local townspeople were very cordial and greeted him with a smile as they met him on the street.

It was especially heartwarming last week when I sent out an emergency email asking for clothes for a new refuge family that just came to town and had no warm clothes. Some Angels from South Central College went out and immediately bought brand new clothes and dropped them off at the print shop and within two hours the family had warm bodies and warmer hearts. Several people have been dropping off more clothes for kids and they have been warming kids all over town thanks to the generosity and kind souls of this community.

These are three examples along with the success this year of the Garden Project, International Market, Talking Circles, Warm Clothing Drive, When Africa meets Faribault forum, Welcome Center outreach efforts, emergency food shelf and great dialogue on the blog from a story I wrote sparking some thoughts about immigration issues.

Most of these things are due in part to Bob Kell being full time as Director of the Welcome Center thanks to a Grant from Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, Foldcraft, and other help from local organizations, United Way of Faribault, business’s, Church’s, the City of Faribault, and all the great volunteers. Bob has been able to coordinate all the projects thrown at him by a great Board of Directors, Luis Aguila, Kymn Anderson, Vicky Carrillo, Shirley Drentlaw, Delane James, Milo Larson, Joseph L. Mbele, Lou Stender and Pat Wieseler. Thanks to the Board for taking on many of the projects

I thank each and every one of you for all your support and contributions these past several years. The great thing about this very passionate Diversity Coalition is it’s not just the holiday season that these great and generous things happen but it’s year around. 24/7 you are all making this city a healthier, harmonious, and gentler place.

I wish to also thank the Faribault Daily News and all of you for taking the positive roll in reporting, talking and setting a good example for our children and the rest of the world. Let us be an example of love for all human beings.

We have a lot of work left to do, there is still mistrust, fear of the unknown and lack of education for all so my hope for the coming year is to continue setting a good example and continue doing the simple things and reaching out to all people.

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.

Winter Clothing Drive, The Spirit of Giving and Asking.

Once again another successful Winter Clothing Drive. The weather was frightful, but the Library was delightful.

A lot of faith, big hearts and a little asking is a great recipe for a wonderful Christmas season on a cold snowy day and happy people leaving with many warm smiles and bodies.

A lot of faith:
1. That people would come through by bringing in warm clothes through the month of November.
2. That the word would get out to the people, (200+) that needed some warmth for their bodies, souls and hearts.

Big Hearts:
1. Again in time of need the Faribault Daily News came through with very timely stories asking for clothes and letting people know that it was time to pick up the warm clothes.
2. South Central College Students, Hagre Lutheran Church, and many of the same people that gave last year came in with big smiles and warm clothes.
3. People brought in families to pick up clothes when their cars wouldn’t start or didn’t have transportation and too far to walk.
4. Church’s, companies, schools and organizations spread the word of the needs and to the needy.

A Little Asking:
1. I called Divine Mercy Catholic Church and asked Fr. Thomas Joseph if the Net Team could help sort the mountain of clothes and 6 angels spent 3 hours getting everything just right. Thank you Emily, Chris, Angelle, Freddy, Danielle, and Claudia.
2. The day before distribution of the clothes I asked Paulene Schrieber to do a little splash in the Daily News to remind people to come and pick up warm clothes and she did a lovely piece and pictures on the front and second page. People who saw it brought in more clothes and many that read it left a little warmer because of the article.
3. Thanks again to Buckham Library and wonderful staff for allowing us to use their site and letting us in early on Friday and Saturday and graciously showing the people where to go.

Big Hearts are plentiful in this city and with everyone that we associate with. Once again life around here is a little more harmonious for everyone and a little warmer for others.

Thanks everyone and have a gentle day, Milo

Diversity Poem #2

DIALOGUE
A Seed for Global Relations

The spirit and vision of human beings can be kept alive
Through "dialogue" as the key-
Irrespective of social status, money, and dwelling
From heaven to sea!
Dialogue knows no cultural, geographic,
Or social boundaries on this wide open Earth-
And may open the door to a process of reconciliation
To douse the flame from disparity or racial hearth!

Dialogue can remove the insurmountable walls
Between people and create a new vision-
To embrace interdependence of mankind
And promote diversity as the secret mission!
Replacement of hostility and confrontation can be achieved
Via open dialogue without a doubt-
And conceive our diversity as a step towards peace
To eliminate the matching game of shout!

Dialogue may strengthen friendly relations
Among the nations that we desperately need-
And remove the threats to global peace
Via dialogue as the only seed!
To foster mutual cooperation and promote human rights
With fundamental freedom for all-
Dialogue is the only resource available today,
To influence the Nations - big or small!

Greater inter-relatedness among people can be harmonized
Through dialogue as the essential tool-
While the interactions among cultures will create
The warmth like a blanket made out of wool!
Dialogue may promote the cause for peace
And mutual respect in a crisis time-
To prevent the deadly wars that kill human lives,
Valued only as nickel or dime!

With progress of modern communications,
I cherish to see the silver lining behind the cloudy mind-
To unveil the suspicions and deal with dialogue
For the betterment of precious mankind!
So there's no doubt in my vision today
That dialogue is a seed for the global relations of tomorrow-
And we must allow it to germinate now
For the joy of humanity while removing the sorrow!!

DIALOGUE, A seed for Global Relations written by Hillol Ray, used by permission.


For another Diversity Poem click on the heading: Diversity Poem #2

Happy Thanksgiving Message and Welcome Center Food Drive

To Download Poster click on Title above:

When I started to write a few things to be thankful for this holiday season and thinking with the economy being questionable, wars all over the world, corruption in governments, immigration problems, peoples lives being snuffed out for no reason, crime rates spinning out of control, bad news on every TV channel, I realized in the past 8 years I've been involved in the Faribault Diversity Coalition I have been amazed at the sharing and caring from everyone I've come in contact with.

This Thanksgiving we give thanks for all that all of you have done for our Immigrant friends and neighbors as well as for everyone in this community. I can't help but wonder what this community would be like without all you of you with big hearts. You have all helped in one way or another.

It started with the Faribault Chamber of Commerce led by Kymn Anderson and a small group of people called the Faribault Diversity Coalltion led by Bob Kell and Pat Wieseler. Along came the Humphrey Institute, with Prof. Kathy Fennelly bringing her students and knowledge. Without the Chamber and Kathy Fennelly I believe the citizens of Faribault and the new immigrants would have been strained.

The many organizations that have been a part of the coalition have been a tremendous help with their knowledge and expertise. Even the anti-immigrant groups have been a blessing in disguise. When things looked the bleakest somebody new would come along like Joseph Mbele from St. Olaf College who helped me understand that there are all sides to every situation and everyone needs to be heard.

Organizations like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, United Way of Faribault, City of Faribault, Foldcraft, Diving Mercy, Our Savior's and other Church's in Faribault and surrounding communities have been a tremendous help. The Daily News with their positive news and especially Paulene Schrieber who has been doing a wonderful job for the past 8 years. Thanks to the Police Dept. and Mike Monge from the Fire Department, Turkey Store, non-profit organizations, schools, South Central College, Banks, Dist. one Hospital, K.D.H.L., Buckham Library for use of their facilities and their Librarians who have helped in many ways. Ordinary citizens like Greg Caron my friend and mentor, a librarian from St. Paul, Kathy Fennelly's sisters from New York, Linda Letts from Rochester, Betty Z from Lonsdale, Dr. Richard Huston from Faribault to name a few have given of themselves, money, and encouragement.

Without Bob Kell as our fearless leader and the many wonderful people that have made up our original board of directors, Pat Wieseler, Dan Burns, Larry Lundblad, Kymn Anderson, Shirley Drentlaw, and others we wouldn't have been able to still be going today. Today's Board is equal to the task, there is so much yet to be done and we continue with great enthusiasm.

We're thankful for Hashi and Abdullah from Somali Resettlement Service for being part of the Welcome Center. We are all learning about and from each other.

We are a richer community for learning, absorbing and accepting one another. The world is in our laps with the customs, foods, and stories and knowing we are making a better life for all of us.

The hardest part in thanking everyone is the fear of leaving people out and I know I've done that. To that, I'm sorry. I can't thank all of you enough for bringing a positive attitude and bringing all human beings closer together, we are all God's children and doing His work.

With that I'm asking one more thing and that is the Food Drive below.

Have a gentle day and Happy Thanksgiving, Milo


Many people are working hard. Their children are making tremendous efforts in school. As immigrant families, they have brought so much to our community. But sometimes it is hard to keep food in the cupboard…

Welcome Center Food Drive

We opened a small food shelf in May of 2007
to assist immigrant families and others with food needs.

Through the end of October, we had provided 194 families with 5251 lbs of food.

To be able to continue providing food to families when they
experience emergency need, we need your help.

How can you help?

Needed items:

Rice • Pasta • Oil Flour
Sugar • Tuna • Canned Corn • Cereal
Tomato Sauce • Spaghetti Sauce

Cash donations accepted.
We can purchase many items from the Channel One Food Bank for 18 cents/lb.

$10 can purchase nearly 180 lbs of food.
Donations are tax-deductible.

Donations can be dropped off at the Welcome Center (24 W. Division) or
Faribault Print Shop (402 Central) M-F, 8:30-4:30.

Thank you for your support.

To Download Poster click on Title - "Happy Thanksgiving Message and Welcome Center Food Drive" above.

Celina's Story "Growing up in El Salvador"

A little background from El Salvador.

People from El Salvador are very humble and we live in a small country, we only have fourteen Departments and they are Au’achapa’n, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, La Libertad, Chalatenango, San Salvador, La paz, Cusctlan, cabaña, San Vicente, Usulutan, San Miguel, Morazan, La Union. El Salvador is located in the central American coast of the pacific ocean, and bordering on the north and east with Honduras, on the west with Guatemala. We have a tropical climate. Winter starts in May and ends in October, summer runs from November to April.

My name is Celina Yarbrough; I was born in Houston TX but raised in El ¬Salvador. My mother is Salvadorian and my father was American. He died when I was four years old. When I was little like four and half or five my brother, my sister, my mom and I didn’t have anything to eat after my father death. He died on May eighth of 1992. Our lives were very hard, because we had to work at an early age. My sister Claudia was the oldest. She was six, I was five and my brother Eduardo was four. I never know how to play with dolls, because I never had the time for it, and because we where really poor and didn’t have the money to buy one. We didn’t know anything about agriculture we were too little, but we had the necessity to eat.

At the time my mother, brother, sister and I started working in the fields. Our first job was to plant grass for the animals. My mother was making holes, my sister was putting the roots of the grass in the hole, I was closing the holes with the grass indeed and my brother was jumping on top of the holes that were closed to seal them up really good. When the grass grew nice and big, my mom gave it to some people for the rent and put animal inside of the parcel to eat the grass but, they were going to pay for month either with money, beans, rice, corn, or milk. That was the first year.

The second year we did a bigger parcel of grass, the same process. We also planted corn, squash, rice, sorghum, and beans. Let me tell you how little kids planted so much corn and a very straight line of it. My mom put a rope very tight tied to a tree from end to end so we don’t get the lines like a snake. I don’t know people grow the rice here but, I will tell you how we do it: by hand hoe or oxen drawn plow. After the plow passes there is a person that has the rice in a bowl that is throwing it in the ground and at the same time covering with their feet. When the rice is ready, we cut the plant close to the root. We put nylon on the ground, the nylon had to have a rock in each corner so the wind wouldn’t blow it away, and for the rice we put a plastic barrel in the middle of the nylon with a rock inside so it doesn’t move. The barrel was laid down so we can hit the rice stalks on the barrel to remove the grain. At the end of the day we pick up everything and the rice goes in the plastic sacks. After all the fun of work we had to chase the horse put the saddle on him and put one sack of rice in each side of the horse saddle.

You may laugh about my work experience being so little but, that is something that I know by heart. I might not know how to play with a doll but I know how to work hard.

The third year when I was seven year’s of age we still grew the same kind of vegetables and corn, and school was part time only from seven to noon and from 12 to 5 PM for everybody. Our classes were in the afternoon so in the early morning my mother used to wake us up so we can go to work. It’s true we went to work but it takes 45 minutes walking to field we used to put plastic sacks on the ground so we started sleeping under the corn plants close to the road. At 9:30 AM my mother brought food for us because we were “working really hard” but she always caught us in the field sleeping. Something we worked since the morning stars.

In the small town where I got raised there are people who are very kind and respect each other. The water that we drink we have to go bring it from the river in gallons, or water jugs. We don’t have washing machines, but we have good hands to wash it by hand and dry it on a rope. When there was no electricity we lit a candle at night or for the machine to make masa (dough) for tortillas we have like a shaped rock and hand rock to break the corn seed to make masa (dough). Instead of having are own vehicle for transportation we have buses or horses to ride. There is no stove for cooking but, we have wood to burn. The students don’t use backpacks to bring their books to school. They use plastic bags. If you want to take a shower, you go to the river. I am just giving you some tips on how people from El Salvador are very poor. You know the president is a person that doesn’t have a brain, because he exchange the colon money for dollars and the people that work in agriculture get really low pay for 5 hours they get paid 3 dollars and for 10 hours of work they get 5 dollars per day just imagine. But that includes breakfast and lunch for does that work the ten hours. To get pay in colones there is difference 25 colones per half day no food, 43.75 colones for ten hours that is all I can tell you for right now.


Made on November of 2007
Celina Yarbrough

Warm Clothes Drive

CLICK ON TITLE TO DOWNLOAD FULL SIZE POSTERS



“Bring Warm Clothes”
Winter Clothing Drive and Distribution
Sponsored by the Faribault Diversity Coalition
Supported by BlueCross/BlueShield Foundation and the United Way of Faribault

Just as early Scandinavian immigrants to Minnesota wrote back home to tell friends and relatives to “bring warm clothes” to fend off the winter cold, some immigrant and other families in our community still need those “warm clothes” as cold weather approaches. Please consider donating gently-used or new items of winter clothing that will help a local family this season.

Donations Needed
Coats, Hats, Gloves, Boots
(for children and adults)

(Please bring items that are clean and in good condition only)

Donated Items can be dropped off at:
Faribault Print Shop,
402 Central Avenue N., M-F, 8-4:30
Donations can be dropped
off during the month of Nov.

Distribution: Need warm clothes?

Saturday, Dec 1, 9 am until noon,
Buckham Memorial Library, Great Hall
(11 Division St. E., Faribault)
Please Contact the Welcome Center, 333-5036 for more information.

A Lost Custom

St. John Neumann Hall was filled Saturday with families, laughter, conversations, and the smell of delicious ethnic foods. People were getting acquainted as they sat around tables eating and drinking Latino foods. Young dancers were performing their cultural dances, clothing representing each culture, and films of different cultures showing up on a wall.

This is what is missing in our society today. I remember when I was a kid in the 60's our families, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters would get together several times a year and have picnics, play games, and get to know each other. As we got older, moving further apart, married, having kids, older generations dying off, that all changed. I haven't seen cousins in 40 years. Extended family members are strangers in our culture.

Enter our new immigrants. Family is their life. They live, play and pray together. It is so refreshing to witness and be part of this lost custom.

The fiesta at St. John Neumann Hall came after each "Celebrating our Cultures Weekend" Mass in the church. Each Mass throughout the weekend had representation from parishioners from the different cultures who live in the area and attend St. John Neumann in Eagan. Spanish, European, Asian, Island and African cultures were all represented.

As an added bonus, Fr. Thomas Joseph from Divine Mercy in Faribault interpreted in Spanish for the third of the participants that were Spanish-speaking. Fr. Thomas also did a beautiful homily in English and Spanish for the large crowd. The mixed choir sang in Spanish and English, creating very moving music. The congregation sang with great gusto. The atmosphere in the church was very vibrant, relaxed and very welcoming.

My wish for our newcomers is that they don't lose their family ties and values the longer they live here and that we can all remember and learn from them.

Have a gentle day, Milo

Faribault's Own International Market 2007

Click on above Title for Video.
For smaller slideshow of all pictures click on or paste in browser: http://gallery.mac.com/printerguy402#100130&bgcolor=black







I was very pleased with the Central Park International Market on Saturday, September 1, 2007. The variety and taste experience of the foods was amazing. I think it was much better than the state fair. I'm looking forward to next year and I hope the number of vendors increases. Thank you.
Tom Kotnour

This email was one of the many comments I heard from a very fun, exciting, and successful International Market. The weather was perfect, the smell of many different foods drew us up and down the many vendors several times, and was not disappointed from the many tasteful morsels. There were many different cultures represented and all delicious.

The four music groups and Joseph Mbele telling stories about his home in Tanzania kept us entertained all day. The Fire trucks was a hit with all the kids and parents. Health Finders was there with information, Centro Campesino checked blood pressure and levels of blood sugars. There were many stands with crafts, balloons, handmade carvings and many more.

Some new vendors came later and replaced many of the vendors that ran out of the food early because there was more people then expected. There were at least 5 or 6 times as many people there this year then last. We're having a meeting next week to see what went right and what we can improve on.

A special thanks to Liz Valerio, Eddie and Vicky Carrillo, Joel Raaen, and Hashi who spent the year planning and putting together this wonderful event.

Thanks also to the many people who contributed money, time, place, prizes, vendors, musicians. Thanks to the City of Faribault for the use of Central Park and getting extra electricity. Thanks to BlueCross/BlueShield Foundation for being a part of this success. Thanks to the non-profits who rounded out the event with great information. Thanks to State Bank of Faribault and 1st United for their support. Thanks to Bob Kell for tying up loose ends and being the anchor to our great Faribault Diversity Coalition and Welcome Center.

Thanks to the Somali Community Welcome Center Soccer Team that showed up for the Soccer Tournament, sorry to say no one else showed up but they had a good time anyway and we'll work on that for next year.

And thanks to anybody I've probably have missed, there were so many people involved to make this work, and we're anxious to make next year's Market a bigger and better event for more people to enjoy.

It's times like this that make volunteering a wonderful thing to do. It builds upon your passion for what you believe. You have but one life to live and it's very short so make it the best go around you can. There's nothing like learning about and getting to know each other no matter where you're from, your background, or your philosphies. The time to live is now, if not now, when? There may not be a tomorrow so say hi and smile at one another especially strangers.

For a live and picture video go to: http://gallery.mac.com/printerguy402#100119 or click on the title. You'll need broadband to view.

Have a gentle day, Milo

Diversity Poem & Thoughts

As I opened my email from Lisa Quimby, a frequent contributor and volunteer for the Faribault Diversity Coalition, I found the following thought provoking poem.

After emailing the author Hillol Ray, asking for permission to use this poem, gave his blessings replying, "This is my voluntary contribution to create awareness about Diversity" and invited me to use any other poem from this site, http://iwvpa.net/rayh/.

Please read the following poem by Hillol Ray slowly.


I really like the last paragraph:
"So, let us all now blend our ethnic voice,
To kill any prejudice, or color of choice !
Progress via Diversity: let it be the key -
Around the globe, from heaven to sea !!!

This brings to mind while driving back from my St. John's Oblate Retreat two weeks ago I was reflecting about the weekend and how I was feeling guilty for having ill feelings for one of my fellow Oblates.

It struck me at that moment how we all have people that we come in contact with that we don't exactly care for but we get through it or work it out.

I then thought of many comments relayed to me this past seven years, or my own thoughts at certain times, when taken advantage of by a person of another culture in my work place, the Diversity Coalition, cut off in traffic, or abusing their own cultures, how we judge the whole culture for one person's action.

Why can't we see each person no matter of their race, color or creed as a single human being, not a culture. Why don't we start looking at the action of each person no matter what culture. Let's embrace the many wonderful things of each culture and not dwell on the negative. So, let us all now blend our ethnic voice.

Have a gentle day, Milo

For another Diversity Poem entitled "DIALOGUE A Seed for Global Relations" Click on Heading- Diversity Poem & Thoughts.

International Market, 2007

Please join us for our Second Annual International Market.

Saturday, September 1, 2007, Central Park, Faribault, MN, 10:00 am- 7:00 pm

Authentic Homemade Foods from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala,Somalia, Tex-Mex & More.

Live Music Featuring Local Bands!!!

Hand-made Jewelry, Beauty Care Products, Arts & Crafts

Soccer Trounament, details coming at a later date.

Another Thoughtful Response to my friends question

Here's another thoughtful response to my last entry on the following question from a friend of mine after reading my thoughts about the latest immigration crisis following my stay at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

The response is from Sarah Herder
Development & Communications Director
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
650 Third Avenue South, #550
Minneapolis, MN 55402-1940
Tel: 612-341-3302 ext.126
Fax: 612-341-2971
sherder@mnadvocates.org
www.mnadvocates.org
www.energyofanation.org


COMMENT AND QUESTION!!!!

I went to the blog that you referenced and read your entry. I must admit some questions about these immigration issues, although I am far from informed. Night after night I watch the local news reports of weeping children crying over the loss of their mother who was so mercilessly deported by our supposedly heartless government. I watch picketers and nuns outside of the immigration offices pleading for an exception "in just this one case". Lots of emotional tugging at the heartstrings. And I do feel for the kids and families. But my question is: Shouldn't mom have considered these consequences when she presumably decided to break the law and enter the country illegally? Could she not have forseen that this might be a possible outcome? And where does one draw the line for "just this one exception"? Does the immigrant (illegal) bear any responsibility for the consequences of the decision that they made perhaps years ago when they came here? Or is the argument that we have no right to put any limits on the number of people entering this country because our borders should be porous for anyone in search of (or some would probably say "with a right to" a better life). This seems to me to be far from a clear cut issue of heartless injustice on the part of the US. But immigration reform? Yes it should not be stalled indefinitely. Some sort of bill should be agreed upon and passed. But saying what? I am confused...........


Thoughtful Response from Sarah Herder:

Years ago, before my head was full of statistics and nuances of immigration policy reform, I was talking to a friend of mine who was about to marry a man from Mexico. She had been going through “the system” and we talked often about immigration. One day, I posed a question about the border: “What is the right thing to do about enforcing the border?” She thought for a moment and then said, “They should create a system where people can actually come legally and then they should enforce it.” Years later, after a lot of education, research, and analysis, I think this simple statement gets it exactly right.

It’s very similar to the question about enforcement within our borders. At the heart of the problem with the increased deportations is that they are enforcing what everyone recognizes as bad policy, and that undercuts what people believe to be fair and just. A good policy wouldn’t ask a woman who has been living here for 15 years, has a clean record, and is contributing to our economy to go home. Why would we do that? It creates heartache, yes, but it’s also senseless. Why not give her a reasonable way to apply for legal status?

The second part of the blogger’s comment seems to be asking what the right policy is – and that is the $10 million dollar question, to be sure. It is also the natural follow-up to “let’s make a good policy and enforce it.” At Minnesota Advocates (and as part of the AFFIRM coalition), we advocate for comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) that includes:

1) Labor protections for workers and employers;
2) Protection to refugees and asylum seekers fleeing persecution;
3) Rigorous protection of judicial review and due process rights for immigrants, regardless of status;
4) Measures to end unnecessary immigrant detention, provide alternatives to detention, and uphold detention standards;
5) Protection of human rights and dignity for all persons, including enforcement practices that do not lead to racial profiling or discrimination.
6) A legalization plan for the current undocumented population that contains a realistic and inclusive path towards permanent residency and U.S. citizenship;
7) Legal pathways for future immigration flows to avoid the regeneration of undocumented populations;
8) Family reunification measures that bring and keep families together in an expeditious manner.

These are general components, but it gives people a general idea of what we are looking for in the 800-page documents that make up immigration policy reform…

If anyone is looking for all of the details and statistics, etc – because accurate information is SO important right now – please direct them to www.energyofanation.org. There are facts specific to MN, to the U.S., and educational resources, as well.

Comment, Questions & Thoughts on recent Story

A friend of mine after reading my last story on Immigration Concerns during my recent heart attack sent me the following comments and questions. After reflecting on this I asked for some help from my friends to help clarify a couple of many nagging questions. I hope this sheds some light.


COMMENT AND QUESTION!!!!

I went to the blog that you referenced and read your entry. I must admit some questions about these immigration issues, although I am far from informed. Night after night I watch the local news reports of weeping children crying over the loss of their mother who was so mercilessly deported by our supposedly heartless government. I watch picketers and nuns outside of the immigration offices pleading for an exception "in just this one case". Lots of emotional tugging at the heartstrings. And I do feel for the kids and families. But my question is: Shouldn't mom have considered these consequences when she presumably decided to break the law and enter the country illegally? Could she not have forseen that this might be a possible outcome? And where does one draw the line for "just this one exception"? Does the immigrant (illegal) bear any responsibility for the consequences of the decision that they made perhaps years ago when they came here? Or is the argument that we have no right to put any limits on the number of people entering this country because our borders should be porous for anyone in search of (or some would probably say "with a right to" a better life). This seems to me to be far from a clear cut issue of heartless injustice on the part of the US. But immigration reform? Yes it should not be stalled indefinitely. Some sort of bill should be agreed upon and passed. But saying what? I am confused...........

THOUGHTS AND ANSWERS!!!!

The person has a good question and a reasonable perspective. It is NOT simple. I think most undocumented people know that they are vulnerable and that they can be separated if one of them is caught. The raids keep that awareness very keenly in people's eyes. But people live with the hope that it will not happen...at least not now, at least not to them. Some people will not accept rides from friends who they know are undocumented and do not have a valid drivers license--What might happen if the police stop them? They could all be in danger of deportation. Yet the motives that move people to come here and accept that risk are strong. Some come in real desperation, others with a simple human desire to find a better life. They know there are risks. For some, those risks do not make it worthwhile. For others, the risks are accepted. When in fact immigration agents arrive and people are taken, of course that has human consequences. Family suffer when a loved one, a parent or a child, is taken away. Friends want to advocate for them because it seems "unnecessary"--"Why not let them stay? They are not hurting anyone. They are good people living a good, decent life. When enforcement is so random, why not look away one more time?" The difficulty of resolving this is the "grayness" of the issue for many. Yes, people are responsible for the choices they make and for the consequences those carry. Yes, a nation has a right to ask respect for its borders. Yes, the government (and immigration agents) have a right to enforce the law. But how do we do this humanly in the face of so many persons and families who are now here, rooted, contributing, some with citizenship and some not, interwoven into our society now and with no where else to really go? It got this way because we let it happen over 50 years because it served our needs for cheap labor and cheaper goods. The inequity between our country and Latin America will not go away and neither will the draw to share in what we have that others don't. As Congress tried to resolve this, strong views collided. How do we protect American jobs, how do we enforce borders, how do we avoid any semblance of amnesty (by now making the road to citizenship punitive for those who have been here without permission), how do we resolve this without mass deportations that would devastate families and make a real hole in our economy and our communities? Some certainly voted no because it was too lenient, others because it was too harsh. Everybody is trying to protect something here (including votes). The sadness of no resolution is that it merely leaves a lot of confusion in place: people are left vulnerable, companies continue to use and abuse them, people still cannot build stable lives yet few will abandon this for the even greater uncertainty of returning to their former countries. So the poverty continues. The shadow life continues. We can do better than this.

Personally, I think the more human, just, thing to do is to allow most who are here to stay, without unreasonable barriers such as leaving the country or excessive fines. Many have few resources, after all. I think the border becomes more controllable if people see hope of entering legally in 5 years (if we tell them to wait 20 years, that certainly makes one look to other options)--so we need to increase immigration cuotas. I also think that a strong factor is investment in just economic development in Mexico and Central America. If we can facilitate stronger local economies that can provide jobs, fewer will feel drawn to come north, leaving so much behind. There is no quick fix, but there are moves we can make in the right direction...
Bob Kell--Welcome Center

Community Garden Yielding a Harvest

Submitted by Bob Kell

People, from wherever they are, feel close ties to the earth. There is joy in working the earth, sowing seeds, and watching a garden grow. It is that natural tie to the soil that brought together a very international group in response to the Faribault Diversity Coalition’s invitation to share in a Community Garden project this summer in Faribault. On Saturday, July 7, the group gathered to socialize over ice cream and to celebrate their accomplishments so far.

The garden has almost as much diversity among its gardeners as it has in its vegetables. Twenty families from Guatemala, Somalia, Mexico, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and the local mainstream garden together on a plot provided by Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Each family planted and tends its own section. Donations from local garden centers and funds from the Blue Cross and Foldcraft Foundations helped to get the garden established.

The project’s purpose has been two-fold: to provide additional food resources for the families involved and to foster cross-cultural exchange among the community’s members. The yield of fresh vegetables will be considerable, when all is said and done. Tomatoes, corn, zucchini, radishes, onions, beans, potatoes, watermelons, peppers, and more are well on their way. The connection between the participants is also bearing fruit of its own. People who began as strangers now exchange broad smiles and friendly waves, finding a way to communicate even where a common language does not exist. Those fruits, it is hoped, will last even after the tomatoes are gone.

This project will continue. We learned much this first year. We are looking for a permanent garden location for the next few years. We will start our own seeds earlier next spring so that we have starter plants ready to go. Some would like to get more involved with the farmer’s market. We can only expect a more productive harvest next year.

Our thanks to all who have helped. For more information, contact Bob at 507-333-5036 or welcome@hickorytech.net.

More Questions after my Heart Attack

Isn't it a shame, said one of my nurses at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester tending to me after my heart attack this last weekend, that when Hispanics are admitted no one comes to visit.

This brought to mind how lucky we are when tragedy strikes we aren't left alone in a strange place among strangers. We have family and friends to console us, to help make decisions on our care, or medications, our well being.

The nurse says when many Hispanics are admitted they are brought to the room or intensive care unit and are left alone. Their families are afraid to visit for fear of being questioned or detained by authorities. Even though they may be legal they may have family members or friends who are waiting to become legal.

There is distrust among our Latino friends because of stories of raids throughout the country where everybody is guilty until they are proven otherwise. The story of the mother that was taken away from her Autistic child and the rest of her family last week is heartbreaking. There are stories everyday like this. No one is safe no matter how long they've been living in this country.

Year after year everyone gripes about our immigration problem, but once again the Immigration Reform to support fair, workable immigration reform that provides pathways to residency for immigrants and future workers, supports family unity, upholds human rights and due process, and protects workers is dead. No one can agree on what to do, meanwhile families like these suffer, good loving people. Imagine what it would be like when you were little to have your mother taken away and be sent away without seeing her, telling her you love her or her telling you.

I've been raised to believe there is no complete black and white issues. There are circumstances to every issue. Why are the genuine, loving families of all immigrants being treated this way? Why don't we concentrate our energies on getting rid of the criminals and drug dealers?

As I reflect on this Fourth of July I wonder what our founding fathers would have thought. I wonder how proud they would be when we can't decide on what to do with the Immigration Reform? How it is easier just to send back helpless people back home and leave families all over the country without parents to let the children grow up with distrust, hatred, and without a guiding hand of a mother or father.

By the way I'm doing fine after my heart attack, angiogram and medication, just a little healing process again and ready to pick up the fight once again. I only wish I could explain why these things are happening to the nurse that questioned me, and my wish for this Fourth of July is that once again we can become a country of peace and understanding.

Have a gentle day, Milo

I'm Baaaaccccckkkkkkk

After two months away from the Diversity Coalition, blogging, and volunteering I've come to some conclusions and a few questions.

1. While attending to my business due to new employees this past two months I have had some revelations.

This past four years due to some health problems and realizing there's more to life then work, I've had a lot of time to volunteer while being able to get away from work at will and spending 7 hours at most on the job. I have had energy, time for ideas and working with people to help others. All of a sudden I've had to work 10 and 11 hours plus per day and unable to leave to do what I love best, to help make this city and state more welcoming and help our new friends have a better life.

I have often thought as to why more people especially immigrants don't volunteer more, if at all, or at least help themselves make a better life for themselves. I think I have come to a little realization why this happens.

As the weeks progressed and no end in sight and being too tired to volunteer and exercise I felt empathy for people that this is their life. Plus, many have to commute an extra hour or two for their jobs. Not only do they work long hours, low pay, but many are being taken advantage of, threatened, scared of being deported, families being taken away and broken up, having to learn English while waiting their turn for ESL teachers, sometimes months at a time, but expected to learn the day they arrive into town.

I can only imagine what their circumstances are, why they chose to come here in the first place, to leave their home, to leave family and friends. I can only imagine what it is to feel the pressure of constantly being watched, wonder if the next knock on the door could be INS agents, living in substandard housing and being threatened that if they don't like it they will be turned into law enforcement.

Today a teacher came in frustrated because she can't get minorities to come in and help, or even talk about their children. She sees also that until minorities can live in peace, be accepted, and welcomed this will not change for a generation. Until minorities can trust us there will be little change.

2. Two weeks ago we attended a funeral service for a 62 year old friend who died unexpectedly, one of many this past 5 years. This reminds me how short life is and how we can't go through life bitter towards our new immigrant friends and each other. In the scheme of things most of us have only 40 to 60 years after childhood to live a happy and productive life and shouldn't waste it on hate towards our fellow human beings. Instead let's enjoy the food, customs, friendships and the stories of each other and our cultures. There is such beauty in the eyes of our new friends, and it's wonderful to see how families get together and dress up for all occasions like we use to do 30 years ago. That's one custom among many that I hope they won't lose.

3. I wish to thank Bob, Hashi and Lisvell for all they've done the past two months with the Garden project and the emergency food project as a member of the Channel One Food Bank. Thanks to all who have worked on the International Market coming in September led by Vicky Carrillo. Music, dancers, and great food are being planned as well as a few surprises.

Thank you for supporting the Diversity Coalition by coming to the meetings, donating money and time, donating plants and space for the Community Garden, and especially welcoming our newcomers with understanding, friendship, and a smile. By the way the gardens are doing great, people meeting, talking and sharing with each other on how to grow the vegetables that are growing to share among others.

Thanks to the organizations that has given us grants and help and BlueCross/BlueShield Foundation for making all this possible and their workshops to help, guide and listen. This helps us to create a healthier community for tomorrow.

I am very thankful for the wisdom that comes from the trials and tribulations of life when things don't exactly go how you have planned or want. I believe everything happens for a reason and I have been very blessed this past 7 years to work with wonderful people and organizations. I have met many interesting people, learned much about different cultures, and saw many sides to many stories.

I don't know what the answers are to all the Immigration issues but I do know we can't treat Immigrants or any minority like they are second class. They are warm human beings with a heart, with families, wants, needs, rights, hungry, sick, rich, poor, abused, doctors, lawyers, field workers, and all want what we want, to get through this short life happy and with dignity, to leave this world a little better place.

Let's do the simple things like smiling, talking, and helping each other to be a gentler place. Let's make some good news instead of what you see on TV every day. Turn off the bad news, reach out and touch somebody’s hand and maybe a hug wouldn't be bad once in awhile.

Have a gentle day, Milo

Seeds Are Growing

Over the last few weeks, progress has been made on several projects of the Welcome Center related to increasing food resources. They have been exciting developments and I would like to share them with you.

The Community Garden Project has gotten off to a great start. Twenty-five families have now received their plots out at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, and are excited to get their gardens going. Some bring a great deal of experience and others are novices at this, but all beam as they speak of their plans. The plots have been tilled, but the rest of the work is theirs. Through generous donations from Donahue's Green House, Farmers Seed, and the Faribault Garden Center, we were able to distribute some starter plants and seeds. There will be a lot of tomatoes and chili peppers produced before this is over! Extension has been a great help in getting us on the right path, with help from Judy Keogh and Bettylou Ahlman. A second plot has been tilled by parishioners of Christ Lutheran Church, and is the next spot we will fill. Advice about rabbits and deer has also been useful, as we will try to prevent an early lunch...

All along, one of the accompanying aspects of the garden has been the exchange it will promote between participating families and cultures. Already the spirit seems good. We have heard some interesting stories from a similar project in Rochester...how the Hmong women will often garden for hours from a squatting position with no more than a simple handtool and how certain cultures celebrate that first watermelon with an almost ceremonial parting of the melon by the father who distributes it to his family. We are sure that we will all have a chance to learn more about one another as we join in a common task.

A second development has been with our application to become a member of the Channel One Food Bank. Thursday we received word that we have been approved and can now place our first order next Monday. This is an important step in allowing us to access food resources for the community, complementing the work already being done by the Faribault Food Shelf. We hope to be able to provide another resource for emergency food needs and to try to bring in more food to meet the cultural needs of our communities. Funds can go further when we can find food for 18 cents a pound! We will work hard to focus on staple items that are useful to those we serve.

We invite all of you to stop in at the gardens to visit sometime, whenever you find someone out tending their garden. We will all find ways to communicate! We will continue to update you on the progress and more pictures will be added as the garden''s grow.

Bob

Welcome Center
24 W. Division St., Ste B
Faribault, MN 55021
507-333-5036
FAX 507-333-5037

Conference on Southeast Asian Americans

Conference on Southeast Asian Americans to be held at Carleton, May 12.


Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, is pleased to host the
Conference on Southeast Asian Americans on May 12, 2007. Featuring
multi-disciplinary research presentations by undergraduate students on the
Hmong, Vietnamese, and Cambodian experience in America, this conference is
the first of its kind. The student speakers will represent several
Minnesota and Wisconsin schools, including Carleton, Saint Olaf,
Macalester, University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, and the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. In addition, students are coming from several west and
east coast universities to present their research, including Stanford, the
University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Irvine,
University of California-Santa Cruz, and University of
Massachusetts-Boston. For a list of paper titles and panels see the
conference website:
http://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/posc/Conf_SE_Asian_Amer/

Three prominent scholars in Hmong studies will offer commentary on the
student papers: including Professor Yang Dao, Professor Gary Yia Lee, and
Professor Kou Yang. The keynote speakers: Professor Mai Na Lee, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and Ms. Hai Binh Nguyen, Asian Pacific Environmental Network in Oakland, CAlifornia.

In addition, Penh Lo of Minnesota State University atMankato will deliver a talk on ethnic minority groups in Laos duringlunchtime (Great Hall, Severance Hall). The Honorable Mee Moua, Minnesota State Senator will give a dinner lecture at 6 p.m. (Great Hall, Severance hall) All events are free and open to the public (excluding meals, which are open to the public but require advance reservation and payment in advance or at the door). Conferences essions will be held in Leighton Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on May 12, Saturday.

There will be a special evening performance by Tou Ger Xiong (Carleton
B.A., 1996), rapper and comedian, in Concert Hall from 8-10 p.m. The band Watching Leona will perform after the Tou Ger Xiong performance.

For more information and to register, contact Carolyn Wong at
cwong@carleton.edu or 507-646-4680.

THE AGE OF MOBILITY

Here is an article from the Migration Policy Institute about THE AGE OF MOBILITY, How to Get More Out of Migration in the 21st Century. It is an international perspective on internation migration and what other countries are doing about the influx of immigrants.

http://www.migrationinformation.org/transatlantic/age_mobility_032307.pdf

(If you click on the title above (THE AGE OF MOBILITY) will take you to the pdf article.

Below is a summary of the article.

The first is the weight of earlier policy choices with regard to immigration and integration. Some European governments and societies, most notably Germany, chose to deny for far too long the permanence of immigration and its embeddedness in the host society’s “life”—thus delaying essential efforts to have immigrants become members of the German polity and society. Remarkably, alternative policy choices, whether officially “welcoming” (the Dutch and Nordic models) or ones of “splendid neglect” (the French one), seem to have had similar outcomes. In fact, in virtually all cases, immigrants and their offspring are well behind natives in educational achievement, in economic benchmarks (employment rates, earnings, quality of housing, etc.), in access to opportunity, and in social and political engagement. These cumulative disadvantages translate into varying degrees of economic, social, and political marginalization. Marginalization, in turn, breeds mutual wariness: Many immigrant communities see themselves as aggrieved, while many natives view immigrants and their children with impatience, if not mistrust and suspicion.

Very often, educated foreigners take jobs that require few skills—a function of very consciously restrictive occupational entry barriers (a pernicious but extremely common form of protectionism), lack of sufficient language skills, a temporary inability to negotiate the relevant bureaucracies, lack of adequate information about the local labor market, or, in some instances, personal choice.

The old system blithely and mostly unquestioningly extends to foreigners the full array of social welfare benefits European society has to offer without making such access conditional upon a commensurate set of behavioral expectations—and then bemoans the fact that many non•citizens become dependent on such largesse and that citizens resent the costs associated with this gesture.

• The new system cannot remain the captive of the by now completely unproductive debate about more or less immigration, or skilled vs. unskilled workers, but will forge ahead with a policy conversation about the workers that the economy needs and the society is prepared to accept and treat properly. • The new system can no longer be held up by abstract or ideological debates about permanent or temporary workers but will move on with the recruitment of workers that fill real needs, regardless of their ultimate immigration status. Only then can one move beyond the straightjacket of existing entry categories and allocate visas on the basis of the characteristics of both the job in question and its occupant, and the expected duration of the task.

The policy question then becomes how to protect oneself, and one’s country, from the threat terrorism presents. This is not an easy thing. Intelligence and police work will have to be the frontlines of protection, as will much deeper international cooperation than is either the case today or appears likely in the immediate future. The effort must also include a thorough review of the developed North’s foreign political and economic relations with an eye toward identifying policies that fuel hatred toward it.

Whether or not the age of mobility is already upon us or just over the horizon, the only projection one can make is that mobility in all its forms will only increase. There are four choices: we can hide our heads in the sand about it; we can resist it; we can ratify it; or we can shape it so that we can gain most from it. The thrust of this essay is that there is, really, only one choice: shaping it.

Thanks, Milo

When Africa meets Faribault, the Story

So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.

This is a quote from Morrie Schwartz, in "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom

This came to me yesterday while Joseph J. Mbele, Professor at St. Olaf College was talking to us at the Library about his life here in the United States and the differences of our cultures.

Life in Africa, Joseph explained, is family first everything else second. There are no rest homes, families take care of their elderly. There are no invitations, when there is a marriage, a party of any kind, you hear about it and go. You hear music and noise in the next block, you go.

Schedules are loose in Africa, you start out an hour early to go because you naturally have to stop along the way and talk to your aunt, friends, or just someone along the way and talk about the weather, your family or any other news of interest. You'll still be late because being social is more important then being on time.

Joseph explained about how hard it was to learn to look people in the eye while talking, that is not the custom in Africa. Don't feel bad if we look away often, he explained.

Education is the key to mend cultural differences he explained to the interested group attending on a beautiful spring morning. We need to learn and accept our differences and try to understand why people feel the way they do about our new immigrants.

By learning why Immigrants do what they do, (stand in groups on street corners, look away when talking to them, not learning English fast enough because the lack of ESL teachers, not joining our organizations because of lack of trust, working more then one job because of low pay, and more), we can learn to accept our new friends.

Joseph said that anti-immigrant groups also need to be heard and understood why they feel like they do. What happened to them to feel the way they do. There needs to be understanding on all sides.

Joseph said he gets meaning in his life through teaching his students about the meaning and differences of cultures and his work with the Faribault Diversity Coalition.

He sees the Diversity Coalition as way of loving all people and devoting oneself to the community and creating something that gives purpose and meaning, like Morrie said.

Thanks Joseph for more understanding of the African Culture.

The day ended with wonderful Somalian food brought by Hashi Geedi, Community Outreach Worker for the Welcome Center. The rice, goat meat, and chicken among other foods was delicious, and the desert was a better knowledge of the African Culture.




Have a gentle day, Milo

Circles of Cross-Cultural Sharing

Faribault residents from different cultures have been gathering over these last four weeks in cross-cultural Sharing Circles. The groups have taken place weekly, providing an opportunity for people to share backgrounds and experiences, to learn about one another’s cultures, and to form friendships across cultural lines. As one Somali gentleman said, “Animals get to know one another by smell. People get to know one another by talk.” The talking has opened up our understanding of others who share Faribault with us as a home.

People shared difficult memories of how civil war disrupted their lives, of how things were before and after. People spoke of growing up, of family, of values, of simple life, of reasons for moving on. Questions were raised and answered about how people make a living, of what people eat or don’t eat, of rules here that are important to understand.

In the end, people felt positive about the experience. They could now say “hello” to someone who was no longer a stranger. We had all understood more about one another: about the welcome people wanted to extend, about the struggles of settling anew, about the unity we all desired.

The groups are only a beginning. All said they would welcome other opportunities to continue the conversation. The community gardens, a summer picnic, or shared projects can be the opportunity to build upon what has begun. We encourage others to join with us in what is an ongoing effort to create community among us all.

Bob Kell

*A Lesson in Making Space for People to Contribute in Their Own Way*

Healthy communities use inclusive processes to achieve community goals, which are not reached through pre-determined outcomes developed by a few; they use a fluid, collaborative process that is widely owned.

*A Lesson in Making Space for People to Contribute in Their Own Way* On its Web site, the Faribault Diversity Coalition describes its monthly meetings as a focal point for public work. “You don’t have to belong to an agency or hold a certain position,” the site says. “You don’t have to commit to a long-term involvement. All we seek are people who come to respectfully participate in this effort to understand, to educate ourselves, to work for welcome.”

Coalition member and blogger Milo Larson says that this openness is crucial to building momentum for tackling public problems. “People get involved if they feel welcomed – if we give them space to express their voice in a collaborative way. In general, if people feel not listened to, they won’t engage. If new ideas are pushed aside, it deflates the idea.”

People also need opportunities to contribute in ways that tap their unique skills and talents, and fit their self-interest. When the coalition organized community members to build a bus shelter for neighborhood children, all hands were welcome. Some people contributed by bringing food to the construction site, or donating building materials or money. Jason, a quiet, second-year carpentry student, served as foreman of the project. “He didn’t really speak much, but he came every day to work on the project. It was a great learning experience for him,” said Bob Kell, director of the Diversity Coalition’s Welcome Center.

Kell added, “As organizers, it can be difficult to give people space to be involved at the level they’d like to be involved. Sometimes we have to back off enough to allow for others to express their creativity. Power is generated when people can find a place for themselves in [a community project].”

This story was collected through a group interview conducted by staff of the University of Minnesota's Center for Democracy and Citizenship. The center is working with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation's Healthy Together grant recipients.

Ellen Tveit
Program Manager
Center for the Study of Politics and Governance
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota
301 19th Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612-625-8330
612-624-0068 fax
www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/cspg

When Africa meets Faribault

If this doesn't download, flyers will be at the Faribault Print Shop or Welcome Center.
Have a gentle day, Milo

Impatient and Anxious

The older we get, the more impatient and anxious we become because there is not that much time left to see changes. I want to see more than what I've seen. I want to see some real changes. I want to see a society where I don't have to explain, argue, plead or insist. I want to see a society that will be to me what I want it to be, because I am an American, another human being, and color should not matter. I think the more knowledge and education or history you have, the more difficult it is not to express despair, not to express yourself intemperately. That's difficult and I struggle with it.

This is what John Hope Franklin said in an interview called "Confronting History II" with Dick Gordon on "The Story" http://thestory.org/ ,. In the interview, the 92 year old writer and historian tells stories about his growing up in racist United States. He talks about what has and what has not changed.

As I listen to this, I feel that racism still shows its ugly head, disguised as concern about illegal immigration and resulting in the loss of jobs by the new immigrants.

I am not saying that illegal immigration is right or wrong. I am concerned about how the human being, the soul, is being treated by white America, by the Americans whose grandparents or great grandparents were immigrants.

This "Story" is still being written today all across the country, in our restaurants, clothing stores, schools, service clubs, all over the sector. I am hearing stories of how badly the immigrants are being treated because of not being able to speak perfect English or any English at all.

I believe it is a small minority who feels this way but they are becoming very vocal. I believe we all have to be aware, to be educated about the differences in cultures, to be kind to everyone, lend a helping hand when needed and smile.

Immigrants are not only mistreated but ignored. To be ignored is equally as bad as being mistreated. We have to take a chance and speak up for anyone being mistreated or abused.

I realize while so active in the Faribault Diversity Coalition for 7 years that I am more aware of the good and bad happening to our new immigrant friends. I also realize that if we ignore each other, tensions will rise with mistrust on all sides.

These thoughts came to me after hearing this story and being interviewed by two organizations this past week. I realized that the time is now to make this nation a better place to live. As I get older, I too, am becoming more impatient and anxious.

Have a gentle day, Milo

P.S.

As I was going down to work after Sunday's snowstorm to snowblow the sidewalk, I got stuck in the plowed snow. As I finally gave up rocking the truck back and forth, I was about to get out and in front of the truck was an Hispanic Angel. He pushed the truck as I rocked it back and forth and got free.

I thanked the smiling man as he crossed the street to get back in his warm car, heading in the opposite direction. He could have gone by like dozens of other cars did, but stopped.

After I finished and was heading home, I ran across 6 Somalians standing around a car stuck in the snow down the street. So, paying it forward, I stopped to pull them out with my tow rope and a guy on a bobcat cleaning the sidewalk down the street came up and pushed and they were free. They were as grateful as I was a few minutes before.

In a few minutes a Norwegian, Latino and 6 Somalians bonded and made this world a little better place.