Positive News

Showing the Positive Side.

Last night I followed a link to a website "Immigration History Research Center" (http://www.ihrc.umn.edu/index.php?entry=65370) from the College of Liberal Arts, U of M. The front page made reference about how good news very seldom makes the front page but the only immigration news we read is bad news.

As I read and scroll down the page they are talking about the positive and good news from Guiford County, North Carolina working to foster cross-community understanding with a link to their website. Further down the page talking about the upper Midwest and their unique reasons for trying to bridge the cultural gap between long-time natives and newcomers with a link to the startibune.com. Another story about Worthington and the positive things happening there, and a story about Girl Scouts and their story on the adaptation to life in their new environment and ending with a story about Intermarriage between older and newer Americans.The piece ends with them being unsuccessful in finding much media attention to this phenomenon and the reader must be willing to dig deeper.

In the middle of these stories it was suggested that Minnesota readers might also want to check out this Faribault Blog that you're reading. I am very proud and humbled to be part of this very positive story. We as a Faribault Diversity Coalition have tried since it's conception to be positive and be sensitive to all people. Thank you IHRC for showing the positive side of Immigration news and discussing both sides.

The IHRC has one of the largest and most important collections of materials documenting U.S. immigration and refugee life to be found anywhere in the world. I highly recommend you checking this out. Go to links on the right side of this blog.
Thanks, Milo

Sowers of Seeds
Submitted by Greg Caron

Have you ever looked at yourself as the sower, a generous sower that threw the seed every where, on the field road, on the line fence where there are rocks, thorn bushes and trees, and on the tilled soil?

Well I think we should, I will give you an example:
There was a clothing drive for the needy, anyone could bring clothes and anyone that needed clothes could get them. (These people are the seed sowers) God used this occasion ! The place where the clothes were being brought to was a business. A mother brought her little girl in a couple days before the opening date and asked if she could go through the clothes to get some clothes for her daughter, she had no mittens, hat or coat and it was cold outside. She was given permission to go through the clothes. They found mittens, a hat, and a nice warm coat. She looked adorable in them with her big smile.

There are people kind of on the fence about this clothes drive "for those people". The little girl melted their hearts. In other words she tilled the soil so the seed could take root. The people that gave these clothes probably don't know that they sowed some seeds, but they did, and so did the people that were responsible for organizing the clothing drive.

Thank you and God Bless, Greg Caron

Foldcraft Foundation Grant
Submitted by Bob Kell

On behalf of the Foldcraft Foundation Board of Directors, I am pleased to report that the Foundation Board has authorized a grant to the Faribault Diversity Coalition in the amount of $5,000 for the Welcome Center Immigrant Empowerment Project. We were impressed with the scope of this program and the Faribault Diversity Coalition’s unique ability to provide it.

In the application of its resources to serve the public interest, Foldcraft Foundation gives high priority to the realization of equality of opportunity for all members of society. Accordingly, it is the Foundation’s expectation that in administering this grant your organization will take appropriate affirmative action steps with respect to women and persons of color.

Dennis Blackmer
Treasurer, Foldcraft Foundation