by Natalie Copeland | Aug 23, 2017 | Black, Central MN Stories, Education, Muslim, Race, Refugee, Somali
This past weekend, I attended a presentation put on by Cornerstones Center entitled Equity and Access in Education. Through this event, Cornerstones staff and speakers hoped to “initiate conversations about educational equity and barriers to access among immigrants...
by Natalie Copeland | Jul 24, 2017 | Central MN Stories, Community, Immigration, Muslim, Race, Refugee, Religion, Somali
This has been a very tough couple of days for our Somali American neighbors, due to the police shooting in Minneapolis. The backlash that the Somali community as a whole has received is, to me, absolutely ridiculous, and most certainly steeped in white supremacy,...
by Melissa Marolf | Jul 14, 2017 | Central MN Stories, Community, Education, Refugee, Somali
As you may know from my previous blogs, I have taught English as a Second Language to immigrant and refugee students at Apollo High School for the last nine years. I originally taught in a program called Jumpstart, which was so named to give New to Country students...
by Melissa Marolf | Jun 27, 2017 | Immigration, Muslim, Politics, Refugee, Somali
Watching a Trump rally a couple months ago, I was particularly struck by signs being held proudly that read: “Make America Safe Again.” What was at the root of the signs that I saw? How could I better understand their perspective? I questioned myself: “Well, what does...
by Natalie Copeland | Jun 21, 2017 | Central MN Stories, Community, Muslim, Refugee, Somali
Central MN has so many good things. Central MN has so many GREAT things. However, Central MN also has some very ugly things. Let me give you a quick snapshot of this by telling you 3 stories that happened in the St. Cloud area in the past month. Do you want the good...
by Melissa Marolf | May 30, 2017 | Central MN Stories, Education, Somali
As a high school teacher, my life gets rolling from the moment I enter the building. I usually get a few minutes at my desk before the first buses begin to arrive, and then, bam, kids are at my door. I love it. I have my own Morning Joe Show, Apollo High School...
