When The World Comes
Knocking At Your Door!
Presenters:
 Deb Pipes – Nicollet County Minnesota Valley Action
Council Employment Counselor
 Becki Hawkins – Area Adult Learning Cooperative
Consortium Coordinator
 Joan Tesdahl – Nicollet County Social Services Director
 Dawn Michels – Nicollet County Social Services Financial
Assistance Supervisor (Eligibility Unit)
SERVICE PROVIDERS’ EFFORTS TO INTEGRATE
REFUGEE FAMILIES INTO NICOLLET COUNTY
 March 1998
 Before the tornado, Minnesota Valley Action Council (MVAC) and
Nicollet County Social Services (NCSS) were working with only one
Somali family. By May 1998 we were working with 25 families.
 June, July, August 1998
 MVAC and NCSS collaborated with Life Lines in Mankato and were
able to provide intensive summer school ESL classes for the Somali
families at Hoover Elementary School in North Mankato.
Transportation and child care was arranged and paid for so that
these families could participate in these classes. This program was
for all age groups and was considered by all a great success.
 Summer 1998
 MVAC and NCSS subscribed to the Language Line in a continued effort to
effectively and efficiently communicate with non English speaking
clients.
 October 1998 and continuing
 The Area Adult Learning Cooperative (AALC) addressed the increased
need for ESL classes in St. Peter. In addition to providing more hours of
instruction, the ESL classes were used to educate the refugees about life
in St. Peter. Educational material and speakers included:
representatives from Law Enforcement; housing and landlords;
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) staff to clarify services and
requirements; Public Health Nursing instruction on WIC, car seats and
immunizations; University of Minnesota Extension office staff on
nutrition and money management; food shelf and transit education, and
child care assistance.

December 4, 1998
 NCSS sponsored “A Conversation with Lul and Friends” workshop for
professionals who needed to learn about the Somali culture. Over 100
area service providers and educators attended this workshop.
 January 1999 and continuing
 MVAC has provided subsidized employment opportunities
for Somali men and women. These employment
opportunities provided on-the-job training with local
employers.
 March 1999
 MVAC and NCSS brought service providers together from
two counties to begin looking at grant opportunities that
would assist with the needs of the refugee populations in
our area. These meetings concluded with the hiring of a
Somali case manager who divided her time between
Nicollet and Blue Earth Counties.
 June 29, 1999
 MVAC and NCSS met with area mental health providers to
start addressing the mental health needs of the refugee
population.
 June 1999
 MVAC and NCSS sponsored Driver’s Education classes for
our Somali families in Nicollet County. MVAC staff
arranged for a retired Driver’s Education instructor from
Winthrop to teach 10 hours of permit learning in Mankato.
Transportation and child care was arranged and paid for so
that these families could participate in these classes.
 September 13, 1999
 Lul Ahmed started as the Nicollet and Blue Earth Counties
new Employment Counselor.
 September 1999 and continuing
 Lul Ahmed provided Somali education and information to
area providers. Lul had spoken with the St. Peter School
District, St. Peter Chamber of Commerce, St. Peter
Kiwanis, Gustavus students, and the St. Peter Ministerial
Association.
 November 1999
 MVAC and NCSS coordinated transportation for the St.
Peter Somali families to participate in the Mankato
Salvation Army Bundle Me Warm Program (a winter
clothing program).
 November 1999
 MVAC sponsored a community potluck at Trinity Church
featuring Somali and American foods, as well as
entertainment. Over 100 community members attended
this potluck and it was considered a success.
 January 2000
 NCSS and the University of Minnesota Extension office
organized and facilitated a Somali Teen Girls’ Group. This
group learned about food preparation, healthy foods, food
safety, and sewing skills while providing support to each
other.
 February 24, 2000
 The University of Minnesota Extension office facilitated
the Women League of Voter’s Community Circle meetings.
These meetings were held to provide immigration
awareness in the community and to identify needs of the
community.
 March 2000
 The University of Minnesota Extension office, Gustavus
Adolphus College, and the Area Adult Learning Cooperative
coordinated efforts to implement a Community Garden.
 April 19, 2000
 MVAC, NCSS and The Center for Victims of Torture
sponsored a training “Flight from Terror to Recovery:
Caring for Torture and War Trauma Survivors”.
Approximately 120 Social Service, Medical, Mental Health
and Education professionals attended this training.
 June 28, 2000
 MVAC and NCSS initiated an exchange of information
meeting with the Community Circle Project.
 October 2000
 MVAC and NCSS worked with Adult Area Education to write
for funding to support intensive ESL classes in St. Peter,
which focused on providing work-place competency skills.
These classes were for limited English speaking people
who were on MFIP and running out of lifetime limited
months.
 October 4, 2000
 MVAC, NCSS, Blue Earth County Human Services, Blue
Earth County Employment Services and The Center for
Victims of Torture sponsored a “Hearing and Healing:
Circles of Women Gather to Listen to Each Other”
workshop to continue addressing the mental health needs
of the refugee women. This workshop brought together
refugee women and mental health professionals.
 October 31, 2000
 MVAC, NCSS and the Work Force Center staff visited the
Owatonna Work Force Center to learn about their
employment efforts with refugee families.
 December 2000
 ESL grant receives funding.
 April 2001
 Intensive ESL classes began April, 2001, and grant
funding for classes continued thru June, 2003.
 2001 Projects:
 Citizenship and Immigration training for Nicollet and Blue
Earth County professionals.
 Implemented a networking group of professionals in
Nicollet and Blue Earth Counties to share what each
agency provided for refugee families. The intent was to
share efforts that were already being implemented and
expand the resources.
 Coordinated with the Area Adult Learning Cooperative to
develop a task force to evaluate the Intensive ESL
classes and to build bridges with community employers
to expand employment opportunities for refugee families
in the St. Peter community.
 Attended meetings initiated by Southern Minnesota
Regional Legal Services, Inc. to identify refugee needs
and specific problems they were facing and work on
solutions.
ADDITIONAL PROJECTS:
• “Cooking Matters” classes with Amy Baack, University of
Minnesota Nutrition Educator
• MVAC and NCSS staff met with County Commissioners to
discuss employment opportunities for immigrants.
• “Blending Journey” project for new immigrant families in
St Peter to learn what the community has to offer ..
Provided by St Peter Community Recreation Department,
St Peter Community & Family Education, and the Area
Adult Learning Cooperative.
• City leaders met to discuss future Diversity Training
opportunities for staff and immigrants.
LESSONS LEARNED:
 Cultural Competency Training is essential.
 Training needs to be ongoing for current and new staff.
 Training needs to be relevant to the new populations
entering the community.
 Continue to educate immigrant communities regarding
critical issues .. such as parenting, public assistance
policies, integrating into a rural Minnesota community, law
enforcement, legal issues, etc.
 The need for service provider collaboration.
QUESTIONS ?
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Deb Pipes, MVAC – 507-934-5224 … dpipes@mnvac.org
Becki Hawkins, AALC – 507-665-4626 … rhawkins@isd2397.org
Joan Tesdahl, NCSS – 507-934-8576 …
jtesdahl@co.nicollet.mn.us
Dawn Michels, NCSS – 507-934-8545 … dmichels@co.nicollet.mn.us