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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…

Cadyohow ku cunay ama ku ciideeyey. Hawraar murti leh iyo hilib midindi leh midna laguma mergado. Meel hal lagau qaday, ma hilib la’a, mana hugun la’a, mana hadal la’a. Nin aan kuu furidoonin yaanu rarin. Gari Ilaahay bay taqaan. Far keliya fool ma dhaqdo. Hal xaraan ah nirig xalaala ma dhasho. Nin weyn waa yaqaan wadkii dilaya. Runtu rag kama nixiso. Wax nin la toosan nin la tuurle. Nin waliba ceesantgii ceel keen. Biyo kaa badan iyo dad kaa badanba way ku hafiyaan. Nin kuu digay kuma dilin. Geel rag iyo Rabi ayaa dhaqa. Shir looma wada uunsiyo. Ragow barasho geelow rarasho Cimri tegey ceeb laguma sagootiyo. Biyo sacabadaada ayaa lagaga dhergaa Haddii lagu sheego waa la is-sheelaa, haddii lagu sheelana waa la is-sheegaa. Ninkii seexdaa sicii dibi dhalay. Nin habaarani ma har galo. Nin qoyani biyo is-kama dhawro. Af jooga looma adeego. Run iyo ilkaba waa la caddeeyaa. Ninkan waran kaagu gelin weedhaadu ma gasho. Libax nin ganayna og, nin galadayna og. Nin daad qaaday xumbo cuskay. Sir naagood lagama sal gaaro. Reer waa dumar. Tol xeer lihi cayr ma aha. Dad iyo duurba wax aanad fileyn baa kaaga soo baxa. Run iyo roob midna lagama raysto. War la…

The city of Minneapolis has hired longtime immigration attorney Michelle Rivero as the director of the newly created Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA). Rivero, who operated her own law firm for 16 years, took the helm of the one-person office — which is dedicated to serving immigrant and refugee residents in Minneapolis — last week. Minneapolis’ decision to establish OIRA comes after dozens of other cities — including Seattle, Denver, Los Angeles and New York City — created specific offices and full-time advocates to provide social and legal services to immigrant and refugee communities. Rivero’s responsibilities as the director of the office will include working with elected officials and city departments to develop support programs tailored for foreign-born residents, promoting awareness about immigration policies and connecting immigrants and refugees to existing services. Since city staffers in Minneapolis announced the creation of OIRA earlier this year, people who work with immigrant communities in the Twin Cities have been closely watching who the city would pick to lead the office. Rivero recently spoke with MinnPost about her past work, her family’s immigration history, and her priorities for the office. MinnPost: Before becoming a director of the new office, you operated…