Articles by SA STAFF

PRESS RELEASE DEED

By Hamse Warfa, Deputy Commissioner    Starting over in a new country is hard. A new language, a new culture, a new set of rules⁠—so many that are unwritten. It’s overwhelming. When my family left Somalia for the refugee camps, we lost everything. When we left the camps and arrived in California, we lost everything again. Each time we had to start over. Each time, we had to reengage in the economy – finding new jobs, building wealth, and finding financial security for our family. I know that there are ways for our state to work with local leaders and community organizations to do better.    I am excited to announce a new position at DEED focused on helping state government bring together New Americans, employers, local governments, nonprofits and other partners to create the welcoming communities we all want and engage all Minnesotans more fully in a successful state economy.    Today, Anisa Hajimumin joins DEED’s leadership team as the Assistant Commissioner for Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, a grant-funded position reporting to me that fills a long-standing need in Minnesota. Anisa will serve as the state’s primary specialist on immigrant and refugee affairs working across state agencies and with the governor’s office, as well as with community and business leaders throughout Minnesota to break down barriers and build connections.     Anisa will play a significant role in helping to rebuild a more equitable Minnesota, fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive…


GEORGE FLOYD

GEORGE FLOYD On may 25 th , 2020 another police killing of an unarmed black man was caught on a smart phone video that was just as shocking and gruesome as many others that came before it. His name was George Floyd. As always, people were outraged, and many took to the streets to peacefully protest. George Floyd was killed on a busy intersection in South Minneapolis. A very diverse and a progressive neighborhood that prides itself on welcoming people from all backgrounds with love. Just few days before the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, an EMT in Louisville Kentucky, was killed by police who were executing a “no-knock” warrant in her home as she slept in her bed. A week before that, an unarmed black man was gunned down by a white neighborhood watch for jogging in the wrong neighborhood. Even before George Floyd’s death, the rage, and the mistrust in the American justice system among blacks in America was at an all-time high; and then George Floyd got murdered. George pled for his life for a long eight and half minutes that was now seen around the world. He literally begged the officer to get off his…


Dhs Press Release June 2020

State expands eligibility, doubles funding for third round of emergency child care grants   For the third round of Peacetime Emergency Child Care Grants, the Minnesota Department of Human Services will expand eligibility criteria and double available grant dollars to continue to help provide child care for essential workers and meet increased demand as businesses reopen. Current funding for the third round of grants is about $9.8 million and the additional $10 million will come from the federal Child Care Development Block Grant and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.   “As the COVID-19 emergency evolves, more businesses open, and providers struggle with increased public health impact, the demand for child care and need for financial supports increases,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “Doubling the funding for this next round of grants will help more child care providers meet the needs of working families.”   By law, state-licensed family child care programs and child care centers as well as tribally licensed programs are eligible for the grants. The commissioner of Human Services has the authority to add other program types. For round three of the grants, eligibility is expanded to allow certain certified child care centers to…


Cudurka Covid 19

Maxaad ka taqaana cudurka Covid 19 (Koofid 19)? Sida aad la socotaan, dunida waxaa faro kulul ku haya cudurka Covid 19 oo uu keeno Korona fayras.   Covid 19 waxuu ku dhacay dad ka badan 6 milyan waxaana u geeriyootay dad gaaraya ilaa iyo 4 boqoloo kun dunida oo dhan.   Waxaa muhiim ah innuu qof kasta la socdo maclumaadka dhabta ah ee la xidhiidha cudurka isaga oo kala soconaaya baraha laga helo xogaha cafimaadka ee lagu kalsonaankaro sida kuwa Ururka Cafimaadka Aduunka (WHO), Barta rukta xakameenta cudurada ee Mareykanka (CDC), Waaxda cafimaadka Guud ee Minnesota iyo idaacadaha iyo telefishinada qaranka.   NB: Waxaa baraha qaar lagu fidiyaa maclumaad aan sax ahayn oo dadka cabsi ku abuura, sidaas darteed hubso in wararka kusoo gaara ay yihiin kuwo run ah oo ka yimi ilo lagu kalsoonyahay.   Covid 19 wuxuu ku dhici karo qofkasta oo ku nool dunida oo da’a kasta leh. Wadamada uu sida daran uu u saameeyey waxaa ka mid dalkan Mareykanka oo uu kuu dhacay dad ka badan 2 milyan waxaan u dhimatay dad ka badan boqo kun .   Calaamada lagu garto waxay soo shaacbaxaan 2 ilaa iyo 14 maalmood gudahood ka dib marka uu cudurka haleelo…


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Ask a Scholar June 2020

ASK A MUSLIM SCHOLAR JUNE 2020 Is prayer valid when we pray in congregation in a mosque keeping 6 ft distance between 2 worshippers?   Congregational Prayer with the gaps mandated by health authorities is valid because of the necessity.  It is not allowed under the normal circumstances where one can afford to stand shoulder to shoulder. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The Iman is appointed for the people to follow (in Salah). So, do not separate yourself from him in observing the different postures; instead, when he bows down, you should also bow down, when he says, "Allah hears the one who praises Him," you should say: Our Lord, to You belongs all praise." When the Imam prostrates, you should also prostrate after him. If he prays sitting, you also should pray sitting. And form lines correctly in salah, for setting up proper lines is part of the excellence of Prayer." (Reported by Bukhari) On closer reflection of the Prophet's statement, we learn two important points: First, it makes it explicitly clear that the Imam is to be followed in Salah. Therefore, the validity of the congregational Prayer depends on one's ability to follow the Imam.  That is…


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Vaccine article

MUHIMADA TALAALKA OO DADKA WA WEYNE     Dad badan waxay qabaan xaalad caafimaadeedka muddada-dheer (sidoo kale loo yaqaan cudur joogto ah ama cudur daba-dheer) sida sokorowga, neefta, ama cudurka wadnaha. Hasa ahaatee, dad badan ma oga in xaaladahaas caafimaadeed ay u sababi karaan inay aad ugu bukoodaan hargabka. Badanaa dadka isbitaalka loo dhigo hargabka daraadii waxay qabaan xaalad caafimaadeedka  muddada-dheer.   Qabitaanka xaalad caafimaadeedka muddada-dheer micnaheedu waa nidaamka difaaca jirkaga horey buuba si adag u shaqeynayey. Marka ay noqoto inuu la dagaallamo cudur kale sida hargabka, waxay noqon kartaa wax aad u adag ama uga sii dari karaa xaaladaada caafimaadeed ee kale. Tani waxay dhici kartaa xitaa haddii aad qaadaneyso dhammaan daawooyinka saxda ah iyo haddii xaaladdaada caafimaadeed ee muddada-dheerna gacanta lagu hayo.   Qaadashada tallaalka hargabka waa habka ugu wanaagsan ee looga hortago hargabka. Qof walba oo jira 6 bilood iyo wixii ka weyn waxaa lagula taliyaa inuu qaato tallaalka hargabka sannad walba, laakiin wuxuu si gaar ah muhiim ugu yahay dadka qaba xaaladaha caafimaadeed ee muddada-dheer. Tallaalka hargabka wuxuu muujiyay in uu hoos u dhigayo khatarta in hargab loo bukoodo sidoo kale wuxuu hoos u dhigaa khatarta yeelashada wax ka imaashaha hargabka ee halista ah sida tagista…


SOMALI STORY DEC 2019

SHEEKO RUN AH   Soomaalidu tan iyo markii eebe ku abuuray Geeska Afrika, waxay kala qaadi jireen (kala dhici jireen) geela. Sababtuna waxay ahayd geela oo ahaa hantida ugu qiimaha badan ee la haysytey. Kumanaan iyo kumanaan rag ah ay  ku dhitay geel la dhacayo ama geel cadaw la celinayo. Qabiilka geel soo dhaca wuu qaybsan jiray geela. Sida loo kala raganimo badan yahay ama loo kala geesinimo badan yahay ayaa geela loo qaybsan jiray. Waxa kale oo loo qaybsan jiray nin walbla doorka uu ka qaatay geela la dhacayo ama inta nin ee uu ku dilay markii diriirtu socotay.   Hase yeeshee waa Ilaah mahadii. Intii uu bilowdey qarnigan 21labaatanaad, waxad moodaa in xoolihii la kala dhici jiray ay yaraadeen. Waxa kale oo yaraadey dagaaladii iyo duulaankii qabiilooyinku isku duuli jireen si ay xoolo u soo dhacaan. Waxaa kale oo yaraadey dagaaladii hablaha la isku dili jiray. Laba arimood ayaad moodaa in ay ugu wacan yihiin dagaalada yaraaday.  Soomaalidii oo reer magaal noqotay oo ilbaxnimadu taabatay. Waxa kale oo dagaalada yareeyey dawladnimada oo la soo fahmayo. Maantana waxay gaartay in qabiilooyinka qaar ay isu ceshaan geel ay kala dheceeen wakhti hore.   Sheekadan runta ah waxay ka dhacday tuulada…


SANChildhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity: One third of children in the U. S. is overweight or obese, and this number is continuing to rise. Preventing kids from becoming overweight means making choices in the way your family eats and exercises, and how you spend time together. Helping kids lead healthy lifestyles begins with parents who lead by example. What Causes Obesity in Children? The most common causes are genetic factors, lack of physical activity,  unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of these factors. Only in rare cases there may be a medical condition such as a hormonal problem. Today, the average child spends approximately four hours each day watching television. As computers and video games become increasingly popular, the number of hours of inactivity may increase. What Health Problems Can Obesity Cause?   Obesity puts kids at risk for medical problems that can affect their health now and in the future. These include serious conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol — conditions all once considered adult diseases. They are also at risk for: Bone and joint problems Shortness of breath that makes any physical activity more difficult. Breathing problems at night such as obstructive sleep apnea. A tendency to mature…


Refugee resettlement debate dec 2019

THE DEBATE ON REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT IN COUNTIES ACROSS MN Counties across Minnesota are scrambling to decide on whether to welcome refugees after President Donald Trump issued an executive order that requires local approval of any resettlement in their ­communities. The measure is sparking tense discussion, confusion and some frustration among many local officials who find themselves thrust into a national issue — and needing to make a decision by the end of January. “This is a position, from my perspective, that local governments should never be placed in,” Kandiyohi County Board Member Harlan Madsen said. Commissioners in that western Minnesota county voted 3-2 on Tuesday to accept refugees after heated debate. Madsen said he felt he could not vote “no” because it would send a negative message and would not represent the commitment of county citizens to accepting and embracing the changes taking place. Willmar, the largest city in Kandiyohi County, has close to 3,100 foreign-born citizens out of an overall population of 19,673; it’s in a congressional district that backed Trump by more than 30 percentage points. Trump issued the executive order in September. Supporters cheered when he mentioned the policy requiring written consent at an October rally in…


Mental Health issues in the Somali community

he challenges facing Somali immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities are complex and their needs are great. Besides facing enormous cultural and language differences, African immigrants and refugees contend with racism, often have limited literacy skills, and hold jobs where they barely earn minimum wage and have difficulty providing for their families. Clinical studies show that rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among immigrant and refugee populations range from 39 percent and 100 percent (compared with 1 percent in the general population) while rates of depression range between 47 and 72 percent.1 The impact of war trauma, social isolation and change in social status make acculturation difficult. These have a significant impact on psychosocial adjustment. In order to best respond to the needs of Somali clients, it is important to understand their unique experiences and circumstances. Impact of War Trauma The U.S. Surgeon General’s report Mental Health: Culture, Race, Ethnicity – Supplement highlighted the overwhelming burden of mental illness that racial and ethnic minorities face compared to their white counterparts.2 Immigrants and refugees often have encountered additional stressful events that contribute to mental illness or adjustment problems. Immigrants and refugees experience multiple losses including loss of homeland loss of loved ones. Immigrants, and…