These African immigrants living in Minnesota now, met and explained the struggles they are having in the U.S. Language problems, skills, work history, all are problems they have to solve. DP
By Carolyn Lange, West Central Tribune
wctrib.com: WILLMAR — The African men who sat around tables Sunday afternoon in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church talked about the challenges of finding enough work in Willmar.
Many don’t speak English, don’t have computer skills and don’t have a work history to serve as credentials to get high-paying jobs, they lamented.
Without those tools, they said, it’s difficult to do what they so desperately want to do — work.
Hosted by the African Development Center of Minnesota, the immigrants came to the meeting by to discuss community concerns, answer a needs assessment and hear about options for home ownership.
“This is the future of your community,” said Hussein Samatar, executive director of the African Development Center, who invited the participants to talk openly about their goals and the barriers that are in the way.
Speaking in their native language and translated for the benefit of the three English speakers in the room, the men asked Mayor Les Heitke how they could find homes big enough for their large families, yet affordable on their low wages.
One former U.S.-sponsored refugee from East Africa got a laugh from the crowd when he said the U.S. government should’ve told him ahead of time that low-income homes and rental properties here were only built for families with two kids. He and his wife have eight children.
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