Community Circles
Changing
Faces, Changing
Communities
Pelican Rapids Area Project
Report
Spring 2000
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Financial support has come
from The Otto Bremer Foundation,
Medtronic, Beim
Foundation, Elmer L. and Eleanor
J. Andersen Foundation, Siegel,
Brill, Gruepner, Duffy & Foster, and Reliastar.
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Changing Faces, Changing
Communities
Changing Faces, Changing Communities
League of Women Voters
of Minnesota Education Fund
Minnesota Statewide
Project Communities
Outcome Potential for
Community-wide Study Circles
Changing Faces,
Changing Communities Study Guide
Immigration and
Pelican Rapids, Three Circles Concerns
English as a Second
Language (ESL)
Agencies Represented
at the Action Forum
A record 8,977
immigrants came to Minnesota directly from their native countries in 1996 (Minnesota Planning
publication). Many of these were refugees – more than forty percent
of Minnesota’s immigrants that year – from places such as the former Soviet
Union, Somalia, Sudan Ethiopia, Eritrea, Cameroon, and Southeast Asian
countries. In addition, Minnesota’s economy is strong at this time, and
immigrants are attracted to a welcoming job market.
Their integration
into the communities in which they settle, however, has not always been
smooth. In response to this development, LWVMNEF is in the middle of a
two-year project to focus community discussions state wide on immigration and
the accompanying issues of race, jobs, housing, language differences and education.
Community
Circle projects began in 17 communities starting in February of 2000. A
statewide kickoff was held February 13 in Pelican Rapids and February 14 in
Eden Prairie and St. Paul. A statewide action forum is scheduled for
Saturday, April 29, 2000, 12:30 - 5:00 p.m. in St. Paul, MN.
The following
communities have agreed to participate in the League of Women Voters of
Minnesota Education Fund Changing
Faces, Changing Communities Project:
Edina St. Cloud Minneaopolis
Edin Prairie Austin Winona
Marshall Mankato St. Paul
Willmar Pelican Rapids Rochester
Northfield St. Peter Plymouth/Wayzata
College of St. Catherine’s Robbinsdale Armstrong High School
The League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund sponsored the organization of the Pelican Rapids Area Community Circles. Changing Faces, Changing Communities is a new one-year project for 1999-2000, which focuses on race and diversity in the State of Minnesota. Community Circles is a process for small-group deliberation, developed in 1990, that uses discussion materials provided by the Study Circle Resource Center of the Topsfield Foundation, based in Connecticut.
The
purpose of the project is to initiate discussion on immigration, race and
diversity, and all of the accompanying issues, such as jobs, schools and
language differences.
The
Community Circles in Pelican Rapids brought a cross-section of individuals –
people who don’t usually have dialogue with others on current issues – together
in face-to-face discussions. After five – two hour discussion
sessions, three Community Circles presented summaries of their discussion at a
Community Action Forum.
Action
Forum Participants included representatives from the Community Circles, policy
makers, agency directors, local media and the public. The participants in the action forum now have a better idea of
the needs of the Pelican Rapids area, and what Pelican Rapids has to offer from
its experience to other communities undergoing similar changes.
Committees
are forming as necessary and appropriate for the Pelican Rapids community.
By participating in study circles,
citizens gain “ownership” of the issues, discover a connection between personal
experiences and public policies, gain a deeper understanding of their own and
others perspectives and concerns. They
discover common ground and a greater desire and ability to work collaboratively
to solve local problems – as individuals, as members of small groups, as
members of larger organizations in the community. Community-wide study circle programs foster new connections among
community members that lead to new levels of community action. They also create new connections between
citizens and government, both at an institutional level and among community
members.
The
purpose of the guide Changing Faces, Changing
Communities is to help people use study circles (or Community
Circles in Minnesota) to talk about and take action on community changes.
Study Guide sessions 1, 2, and 3 deal with immigration in our community. In these sessions we look at how immigration issues touch our daily lives and how they affect our communities. Session 4 deals with what it means to be a citizen. Session 5 has a list of action ideas on how to make a difference on your own, in small groups, or with the whole community.
In organizing the Pelican Rapids Community Circles, the steering committee incorporated the following components:
1. Provide safe settings to talk with people from different backgrounds about common problems
2. Recruit facilitators who are not always experts on the issue, but are there to help the meeting go well.
3. Recruit facilitators from outside of Pelican Rapids, where the facilitators are providing an unbiased setting for fair dialogue, where participants do not know their background or position of the issues.
4. Recruit more than one Community Circle. Community Circles work best when there are many going on at the same time in a community.
5. Enlist the support of groups and leaders in the community.
6. Incorporate 3 rules in each Community Circle:
Participants use “I” statements
Remember listening is ½ of communication
Refrain from judgments.
7. Community Circle Participants recruited from cross sections of the community, differing points of view regarding immigration, and from diverse backgrounds.
8. Recruit co-facilitators to record the dialogue.
9. Explain the difference of “dialogue” verses “debate” to participants.
10.
Provide study guides to each participant
The Community
Circles were diverse. Members ranged in
age from about twenty-five to over seventy years old. At lest seven ethnic groups were represented. Participants ranged widely in economic
status and employment. The mix included
line workers at West Central Turkeys, teachers, health care professionals,
service agencies, businesspersons, homemakers and retirees. Both male and female were participants.
The common
concerns discussed by all three circles included the effects of immigration on
education, housing and employment, as well as the cultural implications of
immigration. All three circles
suggested teaching second languages to English speaking children at a young age
and sensitivity training and workshops for educators and students. They also discussed the housing problem in
Pelican Rapids.
The concerns of
housing discussed by all three circles was the lack of affordable housing, and
that “no vacancy” is common in Pelican Rapids.
Topics related to West Central Turkeys were discussed by all of the
Community Circles. Members were in
agreement that employment opportunities at West Central Turkeys (which offer more
than minimum wage) are critical components to the immigration issues in Pelican
Rapids.
The three circles
stated their cultural implications perceptions in this manner:
Diversity is not the problem
Lack of Tolerance, Respect, not understanding
power, lack of understanding of culture and resources
We can pick up good things from diversity
We are “losing” if we all had a common
identity
Common Concerns of Two Circles
English should be preliminary to Citizenship
status
Term “Citizen” is not always the right to
vote
Concern of One Circle
Citizenship requirements are adequate
Common Concerns of Two circles
Pelican Rapids is known as a Diverse
Community
Mistaken View of all
immigrants on welfare
Most immigrants are off welfare in 3 months
Community job opportunities, reducing welfare
Concerns of One Circle
Immigration Impacts Community in stressful
ways if “too fast”
Immigrants tend to be more conservative
Mistaken
view – Pelican Rapids is full of crime
Mistaken
view – Pelican Rapids School inferiority
Develop a Public Relations Campaign to dispel
the myths
People shut out help that is available
Some privileges have been moved to perceived
rights
Concern of Action Forum Participants
Work on Positive aspects of our diversity
Positive Communication
Public Relations
Media Coverage
Articles
Common Concerns of Two Circles
Facilitate accurate information to newcomers
Reduce conflict from miscommunications
between cultures
Transportation, or lack of –
barrier to services
Develop realistic expectation of immigrant's
ability to obtain service (language) and understand rule
Incorporate Home Visits whenever possible
Mentor Program
Service Agencies
ESL Tutors
Need more people newcomers can contact for
information
Someone to call to answer questions
Identify, train and mentor future leaders
within ethnic groups
Concerns of One Circle
Develop a mentor program to aid in connection
to services
Community Based Multicultural Center for
information and referral
Community based interpreter program to
facilitate correct information
Devise method to get information out to
newcomers about meetings and groups
Provide “Welcome to Minnesota” Booklet to
newcomers
Advisory team or method of determining when
to help, when not to help – prevent enabling
Concerns of Action Forum Participants
Cultural Resource Center
Find funds to re-establish
Interpreter Services
Who and How to Pay
Service Providers need more diversity in the
workforce
Help needed for newcomers
First 30 days (immigrants)
Still tension between ethnic groups
Prejudice
Befrienders (Mentors) needed
Common Concerns of Two Circles
Expand Head Start (it is always full)
Elementary School needs another ESL teacher
Special wing or classroom for ESL kids
Offer Free Spanish as a Second Language Class
for Children and Adults
Explore the pivotal age of truancy/drop outs
between refugee and immigrant children
Offer Ethnic targeted classes:
GED
Home
Buyers Education
Computers/Internet
Concerns
of One Circle
Discipline at School
School needs more rights to discipline
Explore different discipline options that
work for different cultures
Paid Parent Helpers
Professional Interpreters to facilitate
communication
Preventing misunderstanding of the Rules
Power back to the parents (children are not
interpreting)
Recognize different Cultures Adapt Differently
Celebrate the differences in culture in the
early grades
Encourage English Speaking people to learn a
different language
Home Stretch Classes available through
Community Ed, Ethnically Targeted
Develop a Public Relations / Marketing
campaign showcasing Pelican Rapids Schools
Emphasize International opportunities
Emphasize Small Class Sizes
Concerns
of Action Forum Participants
Tutoring in the homes
Friendship and Education (Hand and Hand)
Connect with Service Learning at Fergus Falls
Community College (Community
Connections)
Need for a Multicultural Resource Center
Access to Translators
Bilingual Staffing
Sensitivity training for integration in the
classrooms
Intolerance problem, need to be educated
Sports/Activities for kids
Small Class Sizes
Address/Explore Cultural related Retention
Issues
Federal Programs – Need Full funding
After school and summer programs
Find funding for full day, everyday,
Kindergarten
Explore/Address Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
among students
Literacy Training
Concerns Common to Two Circles
Many are tired after work, hard to attend ESL
Request for Advanced ESL Classes
Need Home Visitors for ESL Tutors
Add another ESL Teacher to Elementary
Lack of ability to read and write in First
Language is ESL Barrier
Explore ways to increase motivation to learn
ESL
Concerns of One Circle
Expand Library Resources for computer aided
ESL
English Fluency will occur by 2nd
Generation
Child Care is a barrier for parents who want
to attend ESL classes
Provide Free Family ESL program at West
Central Turkeys, with incentive
Common Concerns of Two Circles
Some Businesses helped by immigration
Businesses that adapt to cultural needs
Downtown businesses growing smaller
Immigration is seen as the blame
Concerns of One Circle
Overall Economy is doing well
Bank needs to target immigrants for marketing
Promote an Ethnic Restaurant
Need an Ethnic presence in commerce downtown
Concerns of Action Forum Participants
Businesses are adapting to Diversity
New Types of Businesses could begin
Need Help in Establishing
Concerns of Two Circles
Lack of Funding for Translating Documents
Language Barriers result in fewer job
opportunities
Identified need for Professionally trained
Interpreters
Children miss school to interpret
Children given too much power because of
language
Children receive mixed messages “Don’t talk
to strangers” and “We need your help”
Concerns of One Circle
Motivation to learn English is low for some
immigrants
Workers may be more motivated to learn
English if they worked with other ethnicities in their crew
Language barriers causes a lack of knowledge
of available services, loss of connection to services
Concerns of Two Circles
Easier to get a job than to keep a job
Identify previous work history
and find adaptable existing employment opportunities
More Upper Paying Job Opportunities
Will motivate immigrants to learn English
Will provide motivation for higher education
Will help families afford
existing homes in Pelican Rapids, keeping the housing market stable
Will help move Pelican Rapids
from a transitional community to a permanent community (We train and people
move after trained)
Concern of One Circle
Perspective of the Turkey Plant Worker
Need Respect and Recognition
Need more immigrants in supervisory positions
Concerns of Action Forum Participants
Communication is the Key!
Written and Verbal
Communication through ESL & Interpreters
Need more employers willing to hire non-or
LEP
Work permits, some miscommunication as to
what is needed
Ethnic Work ethic
Advocacy/Intermediary for newcomers &
employers
Mentor newcomers and teach the rules
Concerns of Two Circles
Ethnic Targeted Home-ownership Training
Housing (or lack of) is a problem for
commuters
Financing Options – Ethnic Groups Targeted
Concerns of One Circle
Vicious Cycle: Needing a job, needing a place to work, both
need to be first
Too many houses for sale in the community
Whites moving to the country more and more
Immigrants can’t always afford
the houses for sale in Pelican Rapids, or don’t know how to qualify for
mortgage
Concern for stable market value of homes
Buyers can’t qualify
Too many houses for sale
Cultures/Religions in some
ethnic groups prevent paying interest.
Concerned about homeownership for this ethnic group.
Transitional Community
Fear immigrants do not want home ownership
Limited opportunity for higher
employment beyond West Central Turkeys
Money for homeless is not always the solution
Housing is hard to find
Occupancy restrictions barrier for housing
for some families
Identified need for Transitional
Housing in Pelican Rapids (Not Fergus Falls)
Immigrants arrive without
housing, no funds from Social Services for 30 days
Limit stay in Transitional Housing (40 Days)
Concerns by Action Forum Participants
Who do you contact when you need housing?
Transitional Housing
No help with Social Services for the first 30
days
Takes time to find a vacant place to rent
(Too temporary if only 30 days? No place to go?)
Too many homes for sale, where are the
buyers?
Education for homeownership
Ethnic Targeted
Mentor needed
Interpreter needed
Qualification problems
Concerns by Two Circles
Lack of Knowledge of Laws and Differences in
Culture
May cause legal trouble for some immigrants
Marriage at younger ages in other cultures
are considered against the law in our country
Difficult to establish
accurate demographics
Bosnians race
is white, but have many barriers
Somalian’s race
is black, but do not share same challenges as African Americans
Census may be ignored because
of a fear of Government
Television contributes to a common identity
of cultures (stereotyping)
Concerns of Action Forum Participants
Census
completed by all! Have some bilingual people
trained!
Churches outside of Pelican Rapids can be
resources also
Concerns of Two Circles
Need a conscious and deliberate
plan for inclusiveness in all aspects of community planning
Creating more of a sense of “community”
Moving from a transitional
resettlement community to a permanent resettlement community
Parenting and Family Support
Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder Support Groups
Family Mentoring Program
Crime
Victim Services (Sex Crimes in war)
Violence Prevention
Develop an environment where all
community members are better at “Watching out for one another”
Mentor Program
Concerns of One Circle
Use the school to survey students, to develop
action
“Peace” Pole at the schools
More articles in the paper about
the history of culture in the region:
Past and Present
More displays at Otter Tail County Historical
Museum
Youth/Adult Theater, respect for diversity
topics
Multicultural Educational Opportunities
Cultural Foods, Dances, Music,
Art
Prevention and Intervention
Difficult
Employ “It Takes a Village”
Multicultural Resource Center
Community Interpreter Service
Mentor Support and Training
Nationwide Policy needed to
standardize Immunization Cards
Implement a database,
immunization records
Mentor program could
help bridge health care
Food Shelf Task Force
Explore the underlying reason,
overuse
Implement Fair Share Program
Enforce limit, 4 times year
Require agency referrals over 4
times
Pelican Rapids High School, Pelican Rapids Library, and Pelican Valley Health Center provided locations for Community Circle meetings. Pelican Rapids City Hall provided photocopies; Lakes Country State Bank and Lake Region Electrical Cooperative donated miscellaneous supplies. The Pelican Press, Fergus Falls Daily Journal, Fargo Forum, Minnesota Public Radio Detroit Lakes Tribune, and the Pelican Rapids High School Channel 5 provided articles and coverage.
Entertainment for the kick-off event featured local talent. Octaviano Salinas sang in Spanish, and played the accordion for a crowd at the International Potluck. The Vietnamese Dancers and the Pelican Rapids Band of Faith also provided entertainment and support for the Community Circles kick off.
Fergus Falls Community College’s new department named “Community Connections”; a Service Learning program was instrumental in providing co-facilitators for two Community Circles. The Community Connection program also identified student leadership to facilitate the third circle.
Educators, service providers, homemakers, and local
employees also provided volunteer
services for the events.
Johanna Christianson
Glenys Ehlert
Paulette Nettestad
Connie Payson
Dee Bowman
James Onerheim
Dianne Kimm
Joan Jarvis Ellison
City of Pelican Rapids *
Ottertail County Commissioners
* Pelican Rapids Schools *
Rural MN CEP * Lutheran Social Services LIRS *
Fergus Falls Community College
* Rural MN Family Action
Center * Midwest Home Health
* Pelican Rapids Food Shelf *
Johnson’s Furniture * Larry’s Supermarket *
ABE ESL Volunteer Tutor Program
* Pelican Rapids Head Start *
Pelican Drug * West Central Turkeys *
Fergus Falls Daily Journal
* Minnesota
Public Radio * Ottertail County Public Health * Ottertail County Social Services *
Seifert Realty * Ottertail-Wadena CAC *
University of Minnesota Extension Service, Becker County *
Region 4 Council on Domestic Violence
* Legal Services of Northwest
Minnesota * Congressman Colin
Peterson * Christianson’s Bus Service * League
of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund
* Pelican Rapids
Ministerium * Pelican Rapids Chamber of Commerce
