by Brigid | Sep 21, 2021 | Central MN Stories, Community, Education, Immigrants, Immigration, Refugee
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...
by Kelly | Jan 19, 2020 | Central MN Stories, Community, Immigrants, Immigration, Refugee, Somali
Refugee resettlement in Stearns County has been a hot-button issue for years now. However, there are many details about resettlement that get muddied in the court of public opinion. This blog will lay out facts and resources for you to be able to “do your own...
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 | Jan 28, 2019 | Central MN Stories, Community, Education, Immigrants, Refugee, Somali
My 90 students are refugees and immigrants. They are funny, kind, brilliant, strong, wise, brave, courageous, and chock full of perseverance. I am fortunate to work with them because, after working amongst them for the past twelve years, I know that they are waiting...
by Melissa Marolf | Jul 12, 2018 | Central MN Stories, Education, Immigrants, Immigration, Refugee
I believe that my grandmother, now long dead, would be waving a United States flag wildly in favor of justice and welcome if she were still alive. My mother tells me that my Grandma Olga was a true patriot; no one could say a bad word about her United States of...
by Dawn Holler | Jun 19, 2018 | Community, Education, Immigrants, Refugee
Right now, I’m reading a parenting book and as I read it, I can’t help but think about how this parenting thing is somewhat like trying to raise a community through a change. Now, I’m no parenting expert (thus, the reading of a “parenting” book), but let me see if I...
