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