Fostering and Sustaining A Network of Diversity Coalitions in Rural Minnesota.

Katherine Fennelly
Professor of Public Affairs
Humphrey Institute
University of Minnesota

Although the absolute number of immigrants and the percent of foreign-born in Minnesota (5 percent) are quite low relative to many other states, the rate of increase in the foreign-born population from 1990 to 2000 was among the highest in the country, leading one anti-immigration organization to call Minnesota a ‘new Ellis Island’. Over half of the foreign-born population entered the state between 1990 and 2000, and between the last two censuses this number increased by 138 percent, compared to 57 percent nation-wide. Rates of increase and overall percentages of foreign-born residents are particularly high in cities and towns with meat processing businesses—core industries in many non-metro communities that rely upon a young, foreign-born labor force that is not available locally. To cite two examples, immigrants comprised 16% of the population of Worthington in 2000, and 21% of the population of Pelican Rapids (homes to West Central Turkeys and Swift Companies respectively.) When one adds the children of immigrants to these numbers, the figures are even more striking. In Worthington, for example, over 60 languages are spoken in the public schools, and in 2005 42% of Worthington public school enrollment was composed of ‘protected’ students.

In spite of the fact that foreign-born workers have contributed substantially to economic development in non-metro communities and their children have slowed or reversed declining school enrollments, negative attitudes toward immigrants are particularly strong in rural areas, both nationally and in Minnesota (see Fennelly and Federico paper on this topic, 2007; and the Minnesota Community Survey, 2004). To counter this sentiment, a number of communities have spawned diversity coalitions or welcome centers to serve foreign-born residents (2). A few examples of these organizations include the Migrant Council of Plainview, the Worthington Collaborative, the Welcome Center of Austin, and the Faribault Diversity Coalition.

Community-based ‘diversity coalitions’ (1) have the potential to help facilitate the integration of immigrants and decrease xenophobia on the part of US-born residents in communities that are rapidly diversifying. Yet, almost nothing is known about their locations, membership, goals or successes. We are in the midst of a research project (3) that entails conducting a census of ‘diversity coalitions’ in rural and suburban Minnesota communities and studying these organizations to document their implicit and explicit objectives and accomplishments. Particular attention is being paid to the organizations’ levels of inclusivity in goal-setting, governance and membership, and the extent to which they are advocating for immigrant rights, and attempting to reduce xenophobia among US-born residents, rather than merely perpetuating the status quo. The project will culminate with a networking conference to be held at Neighborhood House in St. Paul on April 26, 2007, at which organizations can share goals, tactics and successes. The conference and the research should stimulate communities to critically examine the makeup, power structures, purposes and expected outcomes of diversity coalitions, as well as to promote regional collaborations and communication among them. Published papers from the study will be disseminated broadly to inform immigration researchers, foundations, community activists and policymakers in other states as well.

1. ‘minority’ students; note that these include both US- and foreign-born students.
2. these residents are sometimes called ‘newcomers’ although they may have been in the community for many years

3. supported by funds from my Fesler-Lampert Chair and from the Otto Bremer foundation