Our New Neighbors

   

 July 2011--Volume 5, Issue 2

For all you do... here's to you! 

The support of residents in Fargo, West Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks in the process of refugee resettlement continues to be remarkable. Sincere thanks and appreciation to all of you!

 

Growing Together ~ A Community Garden Ministry

NAS JULY NEWSLETTER

This community project provides a healing place for refugees to work in the garden while involved with others in the community.

Refugee families raise enough garden produce to feed their families and provide resources through selling some produce.  Through the efforts of Jack Wood and others from Growing Together, other community gardens have begun in Fargo, including gardens at Nativity Catholic Parish and the Community Homes neighborhood. 

 

Volunteers and Interns

New American Services has enjoyed the service of many volunteers during the spring and summer semesters of 2011 in Fargo and Grand Forks.  Thank you to Dominique Rolando, Minnesota State University Moorhead; Kavitha Gundala, NDSU; Sifa Bismiwa, NDSU; Roberta Sauvageau, Minot State University; Caitlin Straabe, UND; Tina Collaccico, UND; plus the dozens of other volunteers from Concordia, MSUM and Minnesota Community Technical College. 

    

In Bismarck, we are grateful to Oleana Picknally, Rachael Falzarano,Patricia Clark,  Jade Leingang, Amanda Narveson, Sarah Cavanaugh, Beth Hanretty, Toni Schneider, Kayla Schafer, Kyle Emmel, Jeff Evenson and Mary Kay Vetter.

 

Fargo PublicFargo Library Meeting-NAS June 11 Library 

Tim Dirks, director of the Fargo Public Library, and Branch Services Manager Lori West met with several members of the Bhutanese and Central African community to discuss the resources available at the library when they apply for a free library card. Representatives of the refugee and ethnic communities were also invited to participate in strategic planning for the Fargo library in the coming months.

 

Rotary and Central African Union

The Rotarians of Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead have provided volunteer time, computer donations and software  donations to increase the number of English Language Learners (ELL) offerings in the community. Supplementing the Adult Learning Center's excellent programming, the Rotary members volunteer as ELL mentors for stu

Rotary&CAU NAS 2011

dents and parents of refugee families in the Carl Ben Eielson neighborhood in Fargo.  Additionally, the Rotary  donated a Rosetta Stone program to the Central  

African Union organization.  Pictured right is Eric Bismiwa  

co-director of Central African Union, accepting the donation of a computer and Rosetta Stone English Language Program from the Rotary Club.  


Building Bridges Conference

Approximately 270 community members from North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota attended the 2011 Building Bridges Conference.  Thank you to our co-sponsors: North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, ND Department of Human Services and the City of Fargo.  Participants were given a glimpse of refugee community members' lives, while sharing ideas to welcome refugees and assist them in community integration and self-sufficiency.

 

Team Boaz Bike Giveaway- May 2011Team Boaz  

Bicycle Giveaway

120 donated and repaired bikes were distributed to new Americans in May  with the help of

Salem Evangelical Free Church, Olivet Lutheran Church, Bethel Evangelical Free Church, FM Community Bike Workshop, the Fargo Police Department and West Fargo Police Department and several NDSU volunteers.  

 

New American Services is grateful to the donors of the bikes and resources to purchase locks and helmets, and to the mechanics for the hours and hours of repair work on the bikes.  A special thank you to  Jodi Gramlow-Geffre and sons Grant and Pryce, who collected and distributed athletic shoes to the bike recipients.

 

For more info and pictures of this event, click here.   

 

Giving + Learning 

Giving + Learning continues to provide English tutoring on a one-on-one basis for new Americans using community volunteers who commit to one hour per week of mentoring. They also have responded to the request from English learners in the Jefferson Elementary School neighborhood for group lessons of Fargo. Thanks to the school administrators for providing classroom space.

 

World Refugee Day - Grand Forks

A World Refugee Day celebration was held at the Town Square Farmer's Market on June 18.  Participants were greeted by Grand Forks city Mayor Michael Brown and City Councilman Hal Gershman.

 

Pascal Nsengimana, Nanda and Bishnu Rai,Thamir Kadhim and Wafaa Turbal received Refugee Achievement Awards, and Grand Forks Public Health Department was selected to receive the Service Provider Award. A Volunteer Award was given to Amy Anderson, while Walmart was named Employer of the Year.

 

Following the event, the second annual refugee soccer game was held at Bringewatt Park. 

 

 World Refugee Day - Fargo

NAS world refugee day 2011 Fargo 

New American Services observed international World Refugee Day as part of the City of Fargo Police Department's Community Picnic at Island Park on June 28.  Representatives of refugee communities participated with displays and entertainment was provided by Raices de Mexico and  Bhutanese dancers.NAS world refugee day 2011 Fargo

 

Holding the World Refugee Day observance during the Fargo Police Department Picnic increased the number of people who were made aware of the current global refugee crisis. 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 2011 NAS

Employment Specialist Liza Clough at New American Services in

Grand Forks uses a visual of "fishing lines cast" for jobs to help her clients become aware of the number of applications and interviews necessary in order to secure employment. Of the 222 applications submitted and 61 interviews conducted, 33 job offers were made to new Americans in Grand Forks from November to April. 

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helps refugees to start
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Thank you!   
Arrival Statistics
Listed below are the arrivals to date for FY2011 (10/1/10 to 6/30/11). New American Services has welcomed a total of 220 refugees to North Dakota since Oct. 1, 2010.    


New refugess have arrived from:

Bhutan - 164 (74%)
Burundi - 1 (2%)
Eretria - 10 (5%)
Congo - 8 (4%)
Iraq - 24 (11%)
Ivory Coast - 1
Somalia - 6 (3%)  
Sudan - 3 (3%)
Ukraine -3 (1%)

Individuals resettled in each community
:
Fargo-154
West Fargo - 6
Bismarck - 12
Grand Forks - 48 

NAS JULY NEWSLETTER

"Once in a while

someone comes along, someone who just naturally makes everyone feel a little happier, a little more alive to life."

-Shawn Hewitt 

 

As a part of any job, people come and go, but the mark they leave never fades.  

 

Evan Johnson began at New American Services as volunteer intern while a student at the U of M, Duluth in 2007.  

A communications studies and political science major, Evan returned in 2008 as an employee. From case manager for nine months, to employment specialist in 2009, Evan has helped refugees find employment in North Dakota as well as helping them grow in employment experience and skill.

 

Evan's greatest satisfaction has been developing outreach materials for employers, especially the employment brochure. "Keeping current with employers is the greatest challenge as an effective employment specialist," Evan stated. He developed into a holistic employment specialist, focusing on the client's need to acquire English speaking ability, transportation and child care as part of adequate employment preparation.

 

 "I am impressed of clients initiative, who have so many barriers, especially language barriers, as they begin lives in the U.S," he said. 

 

Soon to be studying for a master's degree in Communication and Rhetorical Studies at New York's Syracuse University, Evan's goal is to teach at the university level.

 

We'll miss you Evan, and wish you the best.

 

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Sinisa Milovanovic
Director
Fargo 701-271-1636 [email protected]  

 

Darci Asche
Community Support Supervisor
Fargo 701-271-1604 [email protected] 

Tara Dupper
Grand Forks Refugee
Resettlement Office  
701-772-8552 [email protected]   

 

Tracy Kuchan
Bismarck Refugee Resettlement Office
701-223-1510
Guided by God's love and grace, Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota brings healing, help and hope.