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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 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Are we allowed to eat animals that have been machine-slaughtered? I hear some people insisting that only hand-slaughtered meat is halal. Is this correct? There is no basis in Islam for making a distinction between hand-slaughtered meat and machine slaughtered meat. It is not warranted by the principles of Shari’ah nor by the rules of Fiqh. The only valid question to ask is whether the slaughter fulfills the prescribed standards of slaughter. The rules of the Islamic slaughter are quite precise and straightforward. Let us list them here: Invoking the name of Allah, cutting the throat/arteries with a sharp knife/instrument, thus administering a quick death and sparing the animal unnecessary torture and suffering. In reply to a question about lawful slaughter, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: ” As long as one invokes God’s name, and the animal is slaughtered with a sharp instrument letting the blood flow, you may eat it.” (Reported by Bukhari and others). In other words, the instrument used should be sharp enough to cut the arteries letting the blood flow efficiently thus sparing the animal of torture or inflicting unnecessary pain. In another hadith, he states: “Allah enjoins benevolence in all things we do:…