There’s no doubt Siouxland has become more diverse in recent years, and one town is looking at it as an opportunity to educate the community.

Fridays meeting was intended to not only make the community aware about the refugees living in South Sioux City, but also to discuss ways to come together and live as one integrated community.

They’ve had to flee their country, some out of fear of being persecuted because of their race or religion, or because their home country is in serious conflicts.

But at a meeting Friday in South Sioux City, Nebraska, refugees in that community got to share their stories in a safe environment.

It was a round table discussion hosted by the Spring Institute out of Denver where local leaders and community members could brainstorm ways to become an integrated city.

“So that we can have the receiving community people in Siouxland and refugees learning to work together and live together it can really build a stronger community, it can enrich the community; you found that with other people over our history and you’re going to find it with the refugees as well,” said Myrna Ann Adkins from the Spring Institute.

According to the Spring Institute, 80,000 refugees, at most, are allowed in to the United States each year.

There is a large Somali population in South Sioux City.

“South Sioux City is not designated as a primary resettlement site, people are choosing to come here on their own, but you know that’s the American way you want to live in a community that you think is peaceful, where you can find employment and people see South Sioux City that way it’s a welcoming community,” explained Adkins

People like Abukar Ibrahim, who says he was forced to flee from Somalia during their Civil War.

“Someone who is more powerful than you can come to your house and sometimes rape your children, or kill your father or mother or something like that and gives you a hard time that when you fled from your country and came to second or third country that called a refugee.” said Ibrahim

Ibrahim now has a Somali Interpreting service in South Sioux City and helps people like him all over the area.

He says not a day that goes by that he doesn’t remember the pain he and other encountered before coming to this country.

“They make sure you don’t have food, you don’t have water, you don’t have enough money to survive, the situation is between you and god, and anybody who was god sent to help you,” reflected Ibrahim

Some of the ideas discussed at the meeting included starting a community garden and celebrating different cultures with a festival.

But most said all they really want is to be a part of the community they love.

According to the Spring Institute, out of the 80,000 refugees that come to the U.S. every year, 16,000 are from Africa.

Source: kcautv

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