by Kelly Bonde | Jan 27, 2020 | Central MN Stories, Community, Muslim, Religion
Many years back I went to see an author present at St. Ben’s campus on a Wednesday night. Before the event my significant other at the time and I walked through St. Joseph after we had dinner. A couple of boys sped by on their bikes, jumping the curb. I heard one of...
by Unite Cloud | Aug 27, 2019 | Central MN Stories, Community, Muslim, Religion, Somali
A while ago, my friend and I were talking about the 2016 mall stabbing that happened in St. Cloud. I recalled praying that the suspect was not Muslim, especially not Somali, because I was scared of the backlash the Somali community might get. When it was confirmed...
by Kelly | Aug 19, 2019 | Central MN Stories, Community, Muslim, Religion, Somali
The issue of Islamophobia is very real in MN. In the last four years, I have attended events where speakers purport that “one day all Muslims will rise up and behead your children and grandchildren.” When my Muslim friends participate in community meetings or...
by Kellie Monsen | Jun 11, 2019 | Education, Know Your Neighbor, Muslim, Race, Refugee, Religion
I returned to St. Cloud this week after spending 11 days in the beautiful country of Lebanon. It’s hard to process all that I’ve experience during this trip. Before I left for the Middle East, I had many people ask why I would ever want to go there. Most...
by Melissa Marolf | May 29, 2019 | Central MN Stories, Community, Education, Muslim
I am wowed. It is Ramadan, Week 2, and my 90 high school students, all but one of whom are Muslim, are demonstrating that they are faithful, loving, and dedicated youngsters. Ramadan began on May 5 and ends the evening of June 4 in 2019; it falls at different times...
by Unite Cloud | Mar 15, 2019 | Muslim, Religion
Friends, by now you’ve probably heard of the tragic attacks on two mosques in New Zealand during their Friday congregational prayers that left 49 people dead and 50 or more in hospitals. Like the Tree of Life synagogue attack in Pittsburg, the terrorists cited the...