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Making a Difference
Adam Sudi, arrived in Fargo, ND on May 13, 2011, from Jordan with his wife Samia and 2 year old daughter, Lujin. The family is originally from Sudan. Adam started working at Northport Hornbachers in October, 2011. The position he was hired for was overnight stocking crew. His shift starts at 11:00 pm and ends at 5:00 am. Since he did not have any personal transportation, he left his house early to catch the bus and waited after his shift for the bus again, sometimes two hours before and two after. Adam never once complained about the transportation issue as he was so grateful to be working.  Evelyn J. Brendemuhl of Hope, North Dakota, donated her 1992 Buick Station Wagon to Lutheran Social Services' New American Service and asked us to donate her car to a deserving family. Adam Sudi was a perfect fit for the donation since he had driven for many years in Sudan and Jordan and also received his ND driver`s license in December, 2011.
On January 12, 2012, the car was donated to Adam. He is very excited and grateful for the donation.
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Fargo Public Library
by Darci Asche
 I grew up in a rural community without a public library. Imagine my amazement at these beautiful public spaces, with computer banks and books, movies, magazines and activities; available to anyone with a library card - for free!
 New American Services has been working closely with the Fargo Public Library over the past several months. FPL Director, Timothy Dirks, has invited refugee groups to the library, to hear about their needs and to promote the library as a place to go to find several different kinds of media: books, magazines, movies and music, plus many other activities and services.
The Fargo Public Library is also an excellent source of material for those volunteers assisting New Americans with their English Language Learning.
  The Fargo Public Library currently has over 1000 children's books and over 1000 adult books, plus DVDs and music CDs in languages from around the world, including Arabic, Chinese, French, Hindi, Nepali, Somali and Spanish. With a library card, books and music CDs may be borrowed for three weeks, while DVDs may be borrowed for one week. The library also lends books about countries from around the world. The library's collection of world language titles is available at either the Main Library, 102 3rd Street North in downtown Fargo, or at the Dr. James Carlson branch, 2801 32nd Avenue South.
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English Language Learning
Collaboration Begins
If you are a non-English speaker or have only limited English speaking ability, there are two resources in our communities that provide resources for you and those who are assisting you.
 The Fargo Public Library was mentioned earlier in the newsletter, as a place to go for hundreds of material offerings. The other resource in our communities is our Adult Learning Centers with professional trained teachers and staff that understand the complexities of learning a new language and who have the abilities to provide comprehensive language learning opportunities.
New American Services, together with the North Dakota State University English Department, have begun an internship partnership that will gather the many resources (including those at the Public Library and Adult Learning Centers), advisers and volunteers to enhance and supplement the language learning opportunities already available.
Phase I of the collaboration is research of language learning tools across media, including the internet, applications for tablets, computer software programs, books, tapes, flashcards, etc.
An advisory committee creation will be included in Phase I, as well as a training for English Language Learner tutors.
Phase II will be the recruitment, training and matching tutors with individuals and small groups to provide language learning enhancement for New American Service's clients. As Phase I comes to completion, you will be hearing more about how you can get involved.
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Lutheran Social Services'
Community Garden
Is your congregation, organization, gardening group or you individually looking for an opportunity to spend time with dirt and plants and interesting people this year?
 Lutheran Social Services is in the planning stages of a community garden on our property at 3911 20th Avenue South in Fargo. We have prepared a 200' x 200' plot of land for a community garden that can accommodate several families and individuals.
If you would like to join us in thinking about this garden and space, food and fellowship, contact Darci Asche at 701-271-1604. Work begins in April!
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Quilts
Our supply of quilts is nearly gone!
 Every year, New American Services receives hundreds of quilts from the groups of women who gather together over many months, cutting, sewing, tying and finishing quilts to give to organizations; locally, nationally and internationally.
As New American Service staff prepare apartments in anticipation of the arrival of a refugee, the finishing touch is a quilt to place on each of the beds or to wrap a child.
If you have a quantity of quilts you could send our way, please call Darci at 701-271-1604. Your gift means a lot to us and to the families we serve.
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Your financial support
helps refugees to start
a new life in the
United States.
Thank you! |
Arrival Stats for January 2012
In the month of January, New American Services provided initial resettlement services to 28 new arrivals; 10 individuals that arrived to Grand Forks and 18 that arrived to Fargo/West Fargo.
26 of 28 individuals were from Bhutan, with one individual from Somalia and one from Sudan.
The total number of arrivals for FY12 is 177 individuals:
Bhutan - 142(80%)
Somalia - 17(10%)
Congo - 9(5%)
Iraq - 6(3%)
Sudan - 3(2%)
Fargo/West Fargo has served a total of 123 individuals and Grand Forks has received 54 individuals. |
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New American
Services
is now on
Facebook!
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Save the dates April 3-4, 2012
Building Bridges Conference 2012
Holiday Inn, Fargo, ND
This two-day conference to brings together service providers, educators and community leaders who work with refugee families. Plenaries and workshops will include the topics of health, integration in community and education.
Click here for information! For more information contact:
Darci Asche
701-271-1604 or dasche@lssnd.org
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Building Bridges Registration
2012 Building Bridges Conference will be held at the Holiday Inn, 3803 13th Ave. S. Fargo on April 3-4. The hotel is currently holding a block of rooms. Cost of the conference is $80.00 for the full two days; $50.00 for Tuesday only and $40.00 for Wednesday only. Register now! Click on the link for speakers and agenda. Join us on Facebook for weekly updates on speakers and topics. Please contact Darci at dasche@lssnd.org to get your name on the mailing list.
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New Employees at New American Services
 Katherine Dachtler is the new employment specialist in Grand Forks. She is married to Dylan and has two little girls, Ada (4), Nellie (1) and a pug, Moses. She previously worked for The Salvation Army of Grand Forks as their Youth Coordinator. Katie has enjoyed getting to know her new co-workers and enjoys the friendly, fast-paced environment that NAS offers.
Turdukan Tostokova has been hired as resettlement coordinator in Bismarck. She was born and grew up in the country of Kyrgyzstan which was one of 15 states of Soviet Union. In 1999, Turdukan immigrated to the United States with her daughter, Cholpon, to join her husband, Kim Schulz. Kim teaches 6th grade at Will-Moore Elementary School in Bismarck. Turdukan has a sister and a brother living in Kyrgyzstan. She loves traveling, cooking, learning languages and reading. |
Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota
New American Services
Darci Asche
Community Support Supervisor
Fargo 701-271-1604 dasche@lssnd.org
Tara Dupper
Grand Forks Refugee
Resettlement Office
701-772-8552 tdupper@lssnd.org Turdukan Tostokova
Bismarck Refugee Resettlement Office
701-223-1510
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