Articles by SA STAFF

No Picture

Welcoming Week

By Anisa Hajimumin, Assistant Commissioner for Immigrant and Refugee Affairs The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is proud to participate in Welcoming Week September 12-20, a national initiative to celebrate and affirm the importance of inclusivity and connections for immigrants, refugees and long-term residents of Minnesota. As an agency, we focus on workforce and economic development and know firsthand the positive impact of immigrants and refugees on our state’s community and economic development. My role as the Assistant Commissioner for Immigrant and Refugee Affairs is central to helping the State of Minnesota make connections and create pathways for workers and business owners to be successful. I wanted to join DEED because I saw real barriers that immigrant and refugee business owners face in Minnesota. In my previous role as a consultant, I helped people connect to state information and resources. Many immigrant and refugee business owners were relying on other people to help them know what forms to fill out or what fees to pay and how to grow their businesses. I saw a real opportunity to work with state agencies to improve access to information for our immigrant and refugee communities and bring people together. In…


No Picture

Governor Walz proclaims September Recovery Month

Highlights transformative power of recovery from substance use and mental illness In recognition of National Recovery Month, Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed September 2020 Recovery Month in the state of Minnesota. The theme for this year’s Recovery Month is “Join the voices of recovery: Together we are stronger.” This month Minnesota recognizes that not only is it possible to recover, but that recovery is common. “Too often substance use disorder and mental illness are seen as a life sentence, rather than the treatable diseases they are,” said Minnesota Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “While the pandemic has made life more difficult for many of the people who were already struggling, Minnesota has an abundance of resources available to help people find and maintain their recovery and live full, rich and productive lives.” In 2018, there were over 56,000 admissions to chemical dependency treatment in Minnesota. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, most who enter chemical dependency treatment complete it and show considerable improvement, and abstinence from substance use and other benefits of treatment tend to continue over the long term. Similarly, mental illness is common, but treatable. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nationally,…


Young, educated and Black: Here’s how Minnesota’s politicians with African roots are reshaping the state’s politics.

Fifty years ago, lawmakers in Washington opened the doors to immigrants from Africa. Today, dozens of new Americans — from Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Somalia, and more — are running for BY: Ibrahim Hiris Via Sahan Journal Black immigrants are changing the Minnesota political landscape at a pace never seen before.  Barely four years ago, the highest-ranking elected official in the community was Abdi Warsame, a Somali immigrant who was sworn into the Minneapolis City Council in January 2014.  Now, the state can count at least 13 Black immigrant elected officials, including U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar; state Representatives Mohamud Noor and Hodan Hassan; and Mayor Mike Elliott of Brooklyn Center.  In the DFL August primary, a few more Black immigrants emerged victorious. Among them are 30-year-old Omar Fateh, who will likely win a seat in the State Senate; and 35-year-old Esther Agbaje who secured another likely spot in the State House.    The surge in the number of Black immigrants seeking elected positions is conspicuous not only in the Twin Cities metro area. It’s also taking place outside the metro area, in cities like Mankato, St. Cloud and Austin.   State demographer Susan Brower points to two factors possibly contributing to the surge: First, the…


Dawladihii Sayidka

1960 ilaa 1969: waa tariikh kooban. Bishii June 26keedi, 1960 waxa xornimo qaatay dalkii la oran jiray British Somaliland Protectorate. Bishii July 1deedi, 1960 waxa xornimo qaatay dalkii la oran jiray Italian Somali Trust Terriroty. Isla maalinta, July 1deedi, waxa dhacay is-raacii labada dal. Dalkan cusub wuxu lahaa baarlamaan ka kooban 123 mudane (90 koonfur iyo 33 wwaqooyi). Dalku wuxu la baxay Magaca Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya(Somali Republic). Mudadaas sagaalka sanadood ahaa waxay Soomaliya yeelatay saddex dawladood: 1. Dawladii Caabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke(AHN). 2. Dawladii Cabdirisaaq Xaaji Xussein(AHN). 3. Dawladii Maxamed Xaaji Ibrahim Cigaal(AHN). Waxaa kale oo ay Somaliya dooratay laba Madaxweyne: 1. Aadan Abdule Cisman(Aadan Cadde(AHN). 2. Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke(AHN) Dadku inta badan waxay isku qaldaan Madaxweynaha iyo Dawladnimada. Dawladda waxa madax u ah Raisalwasaaraha. Dalka waxa ka madax ka ah Madaxweynaha. Raisalwasaaruhu wuxu xukumaa dawladda. Madaxweynuhu waa astaanka midnimada dalka. Tusaale, markii uu Mudane Aadan Cabdule madaxweynaha ahaa, laba dawladood baa la dhisay: Dawladii Mudane Cabdirashiid Cali Sharmaarke iyo dawladdii Mudane Cabadirisaq Xaaji Xussein. Markii Cabdirashiid loo doortay madaxweyne, waxa la dhisay dawladdii Mudane Maxamed Xaaji Ibrahim Cigaal. Sidaas darteed madaxweynaha, sida uu qorayey dastuurkii wakhtigaas(iyo kan haddaba), baarlamaanka ayaa soo dooranaya. Kabacdi madaxweynuhu wuxuu soo magacaabayaa raislawasare. Dawladda uu soo…


Ask a muslim scholar July 2020

Is it permissible to donate blood? Blood donation is considered an extremely meritorious and rewarding act of charity in Islam; since Islam exhorts us to be charitable to all of God's creation; we cannot think of any charity greater than a gift of life. It is a matter of common knowledge that in many cases, persons injured in accidents, etc. can only be saved from imminent death if they are given enough blood to replace what they have lost. So by giving blood, which is in short supply today, Muslims are helping people live; by doing this they are indeed carrying out the order of Allah,"Whoever saves the life of a single person, it is as if he has saved  all of humanity." (Al-Ma'idah: 32) Based on the above and similar considerations, scholars and jurists have agreed that Muslims should have no inhibitions whatsoever in donating blood in the communities they are living. They should consider such activities as a most rewarding act of charity. We cannot make any distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims in donating and receiving blood; all of our bodies and faculties are in a way Muslim (obedient to the laws of Allah). Just as Islam encourages…


MAXAAD KA TAQAAN NOLOSHA MIYIGA/BADIYAHA

Halkan kuma soo koobi karayno nolosha miyiga(baadiyaha), laakiin in yar baan ka qoreynaa si ay dhalinyaradu, weliba kuwa qurbaha ku nool, fikrad uga qaataan. Nolosha baadiyaha waa nolol ad u adag oo weliba kolba meel loo guuro. Xoolaha ayaa lagu dhaqdaa sida geela, lo’da iyo ariga. Guuritaanka waxa keenaya waxa weeye kolba meesha baad(caws) iyo biyo laga helayo ayaa loo guuraa. Reerku inta aanu guurin waxa la diraa SAHAN. Sahan waxa la yiraahdaa marka rag la diro si ay u soo hubiyaan meesha loo guurayo in ay tahay meel dadka iyo duunyadaba u roon. Marka waa laga war sugaa. Abwaan Hadraawi waa kii yiri “RUUX AAD SUGAYSOO MAAN WAA LA SAADSHAA, SAHAN WAA LA DHAWRAA.” Shanku marka uu soo noqdo ayaa la wareystaa. Wixii ay ku taliyaan ayaa lagu camal falaa, sida ha la guuro ama yaan la guurin. Duunyau(xooluhu) waaa in ay baad iyo biyo ka heli karaan. Dadkuna waa in uu ku noolaan karo Meesha loo guurayo. Haddii la isla garto in meeshaas ay fiican tahay, waxa loo diyaaar garoobaya sidii loo guuri laha. Wax alaale wixii agab ah (alaao) waxa lagu raraa AWRTA. Waxaa kale oo awrta la saaraa dadka waayeelka ah ee aan socon karin iyo…


Cafimaadka Dhimirka

“Maanka/maskaxda caafimaadka qabta” Waa marka uu qofka gaaro heer uu ogyahay waxa karaankiisu yahay, marka uu maareyn karo daruufaha nolosha ee caadiga ah, uuna wax u qaban karo naftiisa iyo bulshada uu la noolyahay.  Si qofka uu ugu noolaado nolol tayo leh waxaa muuhiim ah in uu la socdo xaalada caafimaad ee uu maankiisa ku suganyahay iyo inaanbarano sida aan u ilaalin laheyn caafimaadka maankeena. Soomaali haddaan nahay , marka aan ka hadalno caafimaadka maskaxda waxaan ka fekernaa qofka waalan oo keliya. Marka qofku gaaro heerka waallida waa heerka ugu dambeysa uguna xag jirta xanuunada ku dhaca maskaxda. Marka waxaa muhiim ah in aan diiradda saarno sidii aan u maareyn laheyn caafimaad qabka maskaxda    Calaamadaha lagu garto marka qofka caadimaadka maskaxdiisu fiican tahay waxaa ka mid ah:  Kartida wax barasho  Kartida in wax la dareemo, laga hadlo lana maareeyo dareemada kala duwan ee nolosha.  Kartida in xiriir wanaagsan lala yeesho dadka kale  Kartida in la aqbalo in nolosha sida la rabo aanay mar walba noqoneyn.  Waxay xamili karaan baahida nolosha iyo dhibka la soo gudboonaada.  Go’aamadoodana iyaga ayaa gaari kara Somaalida waa bulsho isku xiran, istaakuleysa, wada xiriirta isna garab taagan, dhaqamadaasna waa…


THE FORGOTTEN EPEDEMIC IN THE SOMALI COMMUNITY

As the United States of America struggles with Covid-19 (C-19) and racial tensions, there is a silent killer among Somali youth that is thriving and killing at a much higher rate than C-19. In the last few weeks, more than ten young Somali boys and girls have been hospitalized due to a drug overdose. Three have been confirmed dead. Opioid abuse is killing Somali youth in Minnesota at a higher rate than the national average and resources are very limited. As parents mourn the sudden death of their otherwise healthy children, community leaders and politicians -alike have turned a blind eye. With Covid-19 crisis limiting schools and extracurricular activities, the Somali youth are abusing drugs and alcohol more than ever which has also increased violence among the youth. As reported by this publication, Somali youth were greatly affected by the killing of George Floyd and the riots that followed. They were on the front lines of the protests in an effort to show their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. This chain of events has made 2020 a deadly year for the Somali youth in MN. At one of the funerals of the deceased young men, there were over…


True Somail story

NIN LUMAY ISAGOO 4 JIR AH OO LAHWLAY   Cabdirisaq Ciise Guray wuxu ku dhashay magaalada Hargeys 1970kii. Isagoo 4 jir ah ayey Aayadii u ka xaysay miyi/baadiye. Waxa la geeyey baadiyaha magaalada Awaare oo ku taala Kilinka Shanaad ee Itoobiya. Dhawr cisho ka bacdi Cabdirisaq isagoo keligii ah ayuu duurka u kacay si uu ugu soo ciyaaro. Dib uguma soo noqon reerkii ee wuu sii socday. Reerkii wuu ka fogaadey. NIn iska socda ayaa arkay raadka ilmahan yar ee keligii ah. Ninkii raadkii ayuu raacay. Wuxu u tagey Cabdirisaq oo geed hoos jiifa.   Ninkan waxa la yiraahdaa Maxamed Cali Qaasim. Maxamed wuxuu inankii u kaxeeyey Dhagaxbuur. Odaygan Maxamed inankii wuu korsaday. Wuxu u bixiyey Axmed Maxamed Cali. Axmed markii uu weydnaadey oo uu wax bartay, wuxu tegey Addis Abab. Shaqo ayuu ka helay. Mudo sanado ah ayuu Addis Ababa ka shaqaynayey.   Malin maalmaha ka mida ah ayaa waxa soo wacay odey Maxamd. Wuxu u sheegay in uu xanuunsanayo. Wuxu bilaabay in uu waaniyo. Markii waanadii uu dhamaystay ayuu u sheegay in uusan aabihii ahayn. Axmed intuu yaabay ayuu telefoonkii ku dhigay. Axmed muddo saddex cisho ayuu yaabanaa oo aanu odeygii la hadlin. Markii dambe wuxu go’aansaday in…


No Picture

Promise Act Fact Sheet

PROVIDING RESOURCES, OPPORTUNITY, AND MAXIMIZING INVESTMENTS IN STRIVING ENTREPRENEURS ACT THE PROMISE ACT IS INSPIRED BY THE VOICES, STORIES, AND STRENGTH OF MINNESOTANS WHO ARE DEDICATED TO REBUILDING OUR CITIES AND COMMUNITIES. Create a special panel to review cases and provide direct compensation to impacted individuals. Partner with cities and community organizations to create economic relief programs for impacted businesses and organizations. Give local units of government flexibility and tools to prevent gentrification. Direct the Minnesota Department of Commerce to assist business owners, and require insurance companies to notify the department of any rejected claims. Help with the rising cost of leases for eligible residential and commercial properties. Eliminate the sales tax on the purchase of construction materials used to rebuild damaged or destroyed properties. Provide property and sales tax cuts for eligible properties. Establish a Metropolitan Area Redevelopment Corporation to create a long-term plan for equity-driven redevelopment and transformation.