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
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 Public 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
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 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 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. 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. |