Community Corner

Workshop Aims to 'Bridge' Cultural Divide in Richfield

Somali and Hispanic leaders are making presentations Thursday afternoon at Hope Presbyterian Church.

With , a gap in understanding new cultures is also surfacing.

In an attempt to "build a bridge to a more cohesive community," the Family Stability Workgroup of the Richfield Community Council is sponsoring a . The goal is teaching Richfield residents about the city's growing Latino and Somali cultures. The workshops begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at .

Latinos and Somalis are two of the largest immigrant communities within the city, workshop organizers say. The workshops will focus on the basics of each culture—histories, family systems and beliefs—as well as the challenges Somalis and Latinos face with education and adapting to U.S. culture. Organizers also hope the workshops foster greater appreciation and understanding of the cultures, allow service providers to give better help and encourage conversation between all local residents.

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Presenters include Garat Ibrahim, who works with Somali refugees and Hispanic immigrants for the Center for a New Community, and Abdimalik Askar, who escaped the Somali civil war in 1991 and now is working on a doctoral degree in leadership, along with Enrique Estrada of St. Paul's Neighborhood House, who will speak on Latino culture.

The Somali presentation starts at 2 p.m. and the Latino presentation begins at 3:15 p.m. Each runs an hour.

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More than 100 community members and service providers have confirmed their attendance. The event is open to all. Email lchambers@cityofrichfield.org or call Camillo DeSantis at 612-866-5171 for information or reservations.

Stay tuned for more from Richfield Patch on the workshop and more stories surrounding the city's growing diversity.


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