Blog
Allyship: 6 Ways to Get Started
This May marked the two-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. And recently, our country experienced more racial violence with a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, which was declared a hate crime. Fighting racial violence and injustice requires all of us to...
Bystander Intervention | The Five Ds
When you see someone being bullied or harassed, remember the Five Ds of bystander intervention: Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, and Direct. These five strategies can help you protect and support victims, as well as set a positive example for others by standing up...
My Journey to St. Cloud
St. Cloud, Minnesota, has been my home for the past few years, but my journey started in Somalia. As a young child, I was raised by loving parents and surrounded by a family living in peace. The “peace” didn’t last long; the ongoing Somali Civil War caught up with us,...
LGBTQ Youth: Visibility and Mental Health
LGBTQ youth are at a much higher risk for suicide than their cisgender, heterosexual peers. When they have access to spaces that affirm and support their gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations, that risk decreases. Despite those very clear...
The political and structural context of the police murder of George Floyd
During a pandemic, the savage murder of George Floyd has sparked protest demonstrations and the mobilization of millions who are morally outraged. His brutal death represents the everyday inhuman racist treatment of people of color in the United States. This case is...
It’s Not About You
"I'm fine with gay people, but there are only 2 genders." It's not about you. "I am fine with a woman being on this board, but I'm not fine with it all of the sudden being all women." It's not about you. 'I'm fine with gay marriage, but I just don't want see them...
Benefits of a More Diverse Workplace
In the era of globalization and technology, many companies, large and small, are putting forth the effort to improve cultural diversity in the workplace. As a result of this change, there are numerous benefits to the company, employees, and the local community. Keep...
Partner Highlight: Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota
Where do you call home? Is it defined by where you were born? Where your family lives? Where you’ve spent most of your life? If you’ve read my first blog post or know me personally, you may know I constantly question how identities are connected and transformed by...
My Family Doesn’t Get Things for Free
- Author - Naima I came here as a child refugee. When I read some of the comments made about refugees in St. Cloud, they kind of hurt my feelings. I spent half of my life here in St. Cloud, MN. I feel like some of the residents in this city clearly have...