One Voice Minnesota Newsletter 5/09

Here's a newsletter from One Voice Minnesota: http://sites.google.com/site/onevoiceminnesota/Home If you're interested in this and would like more newsletters and information please check out this website. Thanks, Milo

Thank you for being a part of the One Voice Minnesota (OVM) Network! The OVM network is a networking tool for individuals and organizations across Minnesota working to combat bias, promote education, and create welcoming communities. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact Becca Riedell atonevoiceminnesota@gmail.com or 612.341.3302 x119. Keep your eyes on your mailbox for a copy of this newsletter.

In this addition of the monthly newsletter you will find:

1. Mark your Calendars: World Refugee Day is June 20th
2. Upcoming Events
3. Successful Event: Cake Decorating at LSS-Minneapolis
4. Take Action: The Faribault Welcome Center Seeks Your Help
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1. Mark your Calendars: World Refugee Day is June 20th
Submitted by Alexis Walstad

Come celebrate the nearly 90,000 refugees that have made Minnesota their home since 1976. In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly established June 20 as World Refugee Day. Since 2001, people around the world have celebrated the day with events that honor the world’s 31.7 million refugees and others in comparable situations and raise awareness about refugee issues.

This is the third annual large-scale World Refugee Day event in the Twin Cities. Last year's event at Minnehaha Park drew about 2,000 participants, double the previous year's celebration, and this year's event will build on that success. Staff of local refugee- and immigrant-serving organizations have come together to plan for June 20, 2009, which will feature an immigrant resource fair, a variety of cultural music and dance performances, ethnic foods and vendors, children’s activities and speakers from different refugee groups.

For more information, visit: www.tcworldrefugeeday.org
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2. Upcoming Events

May 13th 6:30pm-8pm- State of Students of Color & American Indian Students Forum

What:
Minnesota Minority Education Partnership Inc (MMEP) will convene a research-based forum centered on the academic achievement of students of color and American Indian students. Components of the evening will include highlights from MMEP’s 2009 State of Students of Color & American Indian Students Executive Summary, an interactive discussion amongst attendees, and an introduction of the “Minnesota Covenant for Education Equity with Excellence”

Where:
Willmar Arts Education Center
611 5th Street SW
Willmar, Minnesota

Free and open to the public.
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May 20th 7pm-9pm- Spice and Slice of Asia: Looking for Asian America

What:
Get a glimpse of how cultural heritage influences the daily living and work of Asians and Asian Americans. Celebrated photographer and author Wing Young Huie will present images an stories that both mirror and contradict popular stereotypes of Asian Americans

Photo exhibit runs May 4-31

Where:
Ridgedale Library
12601 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka, Minnesota

Free and open to the public.
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May 27th 6pm-8pm- Cultural Orientation through the Eyes of a Refugee in Dadaab

What:
Presented by the International Institute of Minnesota’s Refugee Mentoring Program. What do you know about the U.S.? What do refugees know about the U.S. before coming here? What are their hopes and fears? What do they expect when they get here? A presentation by Robinson Cook will attempt to answer these questions.

Where:
International Institute of Minnesota
Hall of Nations
1694 Como Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota

Free and open to the public, however pre-registration is required. Contact Sarah Lazarewicz at slazarewicz@iimn.org
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May 28th 6:30pm-9pm- Spice and Slice of Asia: Looking for Asian America

What:
Get a glimpse of how cultural heritage influences the daily living and work of Asians and Asian Americans. Local Hmong artist and authors will show slides and discuss how their bicultural experience plays a part in their work and lives.

Art exhibit runs May 4-31

Where:
Brookdale Library
6125 Shingle Creek Parkway
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota

Free and open to the public.
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3. Successful Event: Cake Decorating at LSS-Minneapolis
Submitted by Elizabeth Lock
Lutheran Social Service- Minneapolis

LSS had its third successful cake decorating training in connection with Hockenberg Newburgh during the last week of April. This training combines 3 days of customer service soft skills training at LSS with five days of cake decorating training at the Hockenberg Newburgh training facilities in Eden Prairie. During the training clients learn both the basics of how to ice a cake, as well as slightly more difficult decorating techniques such as bordering and creating a variety of flowers. Although it is too soon to determine for our most recent class, historically we have had a placement rating of approximately 1/3 of the clients who completed the class in a position with Cub Foods. We finished up on May 7th with a graduation ceremony where clients received a certificate of completion and got to look at all of the photos that were taken over the course of the week at class. Over all it was a very fun training to take part in and all of the participants learned a lot.
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4. Take Action: The Faribault Welcome Center Seeks Your Help
Submitted by Bob Kell
Faribault Welcome Center

Immigrant and refugee residents of Faribault have come to find the Welcome Center as a resource for resettlement. Whether they need assistance with a form or with food, with ESL or employment, with contact with immigration or unemployment, the Center has tried to assist. Other efforts such as the Community Garden and Sharing Circles have promoted integration and inclusion, calling upon everyone to work together to
build a respectful, welcoming community. Yet, as with many non-profits, the funding to provide such services has become harder to find. We were able to delay a crisis by donor generosity and advances on expected funding, but a challenge faces us in these coming months. If anyone has ideas for possible foundation or government grant support, or if anyone would like to share personally in our mission, please contact us at welcome@hickorytech.net or 507-333-5036. Good luck with your work and thanks for your support!