Twin Cities Somali Community Leaders, Government Officials And Private Partners Present Plan To Build Community Resilience

United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger today was joined by public and private partners in the Building Community Resilience pilot project to announce the project’s first-year accomplishments.  Building Community Resilience was designed in close coordination with Minnesota’s Somali community, government stakeholders and private partners to address the root causes of radicalization.

Since Al Shabaab began recruiting Minnesota’s youth in 2006, the Twin Cities have been a focus of overseas terror recruiting by organizations like the Islamic State for Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). This cycle of terror recruiting has exclusively targeted Minnesota’s Somali community, which is why Building Community Resilience is delivering resources to the Somali community.

The highlights of the Building Community Resilience plan include: a mentorship program for Somali youth operated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities, with initial funding from the Carlson Family Foundation; the Opportunity Hub, which is a public, private and community partnership to provide a one-stop shop for education and workforce resources located in the cedar riverside neighborhood; nearly $500,000 of private and government grant funding to be administered by Youthprise.

Youthprise is a non-profit organization that strategically combines funding, capacity building, policy advocacy, research, and youth engagement under one roof. As an intermediary, Youthprise acts as an incubator, connector and relationship broker, forging connections between community-based organizations, schools, funders, public agencies, youth and adults. Youthprise convenes stakeholders; provides training, coaching and technical assistance; and links organizations doing similar work.

“Today, at the end of the first year of work, we are announcing some of the accomplishments of the Building Community Resilience pilot program,” said U.S. Attorney Luger. “We have developed strong friendships, working relationships and important partnerships to build this plan. This is just the beginning of what we hope to accomplish, and we’re very excited about where we are today.”

“Minneapolis’ Somali community is a tremendous asset to our city,” said Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges. “We must all support this community and their ability to contribute to our prosperity, or we will not be the city we need to be. The extent to which some people in the community are turning to violence as a perceived solution to problems is the extent to which we must provide actual solutions to real problems that people are facing like poverty, unemployment, and homelessness. The steps we are taking today build on our work to strengthen the Somali community. These efforts are critical to ensuring that harming others is never a solution to any problem.”

“The recruitment of a single resident from our city is unacceptable,” said Minneapolis Council Member Abdi Warsame. “My office has been working with federal, state, county and city officials to connect existing opportunities to the East African community in order to tackle the underlining conditions that make our young people vulnerable.”

“This has been one of the greatest opportunities to voice community issues that have traditionally been ignored,” said Hodan Hassan, co-chair of the Somali American Task Force. “If we save even one young person through this collaboration between community, government, and private-sector partners, our mission is accomplished.”

“We are proud to support the ‘Building Community Resilience’ initiative,” said Rich Hoge, Executive Vice President, Mall of America. “Today is about opportunity, solutions and hope. It is a first step in working together to address the challenges we face collectively. We are honored to be a partner in this exciting new program.”

“We are thrilled to be a part of this groundbreaking public/private partnership,” said Wokie Weah, President of Youthprise. “Since our inception, Youthprise has been a huge supporter of Somali-led organizations serving youth and families. Our role in this partnership will build on this work by strengthening the capacity of Somali-led organizations and providing critical funding for youth empowerment. Youthprise will conduct an open competitive process in the distribution of grant funds to community based organizations.”

“We're pleased that Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities will be part of this important initiative,” said Gloria Lewis, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities. “Mentoring helps to foster success in school, improve social and emotional learning, and raise educational expectations. We’re eager to work with the Somali-American community in the Twin Cities bring the positive effects of mentoring to youth who can benefit from the presence of an additional, caring adult, and to help nurture the next generation of our community's citizens and leaders.”

“That I (as a minority member) was able to get this into a major Appropriations bill late in the process indicates the legislatures understanding of the importance of this issue and the need for new approaches,” said State Representative Phyllis Kahn. “I am pleased to be here at this next step.”

Building Community Resilience partners include:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities

Carlson Family Foundation

City of Minneapolis

City of St. Paul

Hennepin County

Mall of America

Somali-American Task Force

State of Minnesota

Youthprise

United States Transportation Security Administration

United States Customs and Border Protection

United States Department of Justice

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600