Immigrant and Diasporic Communities in Minnesota

Minnesota is home to a rich tapestry of immigrant and diasporic communities, whose contributions shape the cultural, social, and economic fabric of the state. For example, Minnesota’s Somali, Hmong, and Karen populations are some of the largest in the nation. They have established dynamic and thriving communities each contributing to Minnesota’s educational, artistic, and business landscapes. They also exemplify the strength of immigrant leadership through various civic and activist organizations in the community. Collectively, these and other diasporic groups reflect the evolving migration stories and pathways that are integral to Minnesota’s identity.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do immigrant college students navigate and negotiate their sense of belonging in predominantly white institutions? What does this look like at your respective institution?
  2. What types of systemic barriers do immigrant students face in accessing leadership opportunities within and outside of their ethnic communities? How can we tailor and adapt current leadership experiences and opportunities to this population?
  3. How do community-centered spaces contribute to immigrant students’ leadership development and academic aspirations within higher education?

Resources

Abdi, C. M. (2019). The newest African-Americans?: Somali struggles for belonging. In P. Armilla, M. Kananen, & Y. Kontkanen (Eds.,), The contexts of diaspora citizenship. (pp. 19-32). Springer.

Bigelow, M. H. (2010). Mogadishu on the Mississippi: Language, racialized identity, and education in a new land. Wiley-Blackwell.

Gale Family Library. (n.d.). Hmong Oral History Project. [Digital archive]. Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN. https://collections.mnhs.org/search/collections/record/957d1892-e465-40b2-aa75-5a7bfdfdbec3

Hirsi, I. (2019, August 13). Lured by jobs and housing, Karen refugees spread across Minnesota. Sahan Journal. https://sahanjournal.com/changing-minnesota/lured-by-jobs-and-housing-karen-refugees-spread-across-minnesota/

Immigrant Legal Resource Center and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (2003). Inspiring leadership in immigrant communities. Retrieved from: https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/resources/inspiring_leadership_in_immigrant_communities.pdf

Johnson, A. (2018). Somali student achievement in Minnesota report. Minnesota Education Equity Partnership. https://www.mneep.org/research/somali-student-achievement-in-minnesota-2018/

Liu, Y. (2023, September 8). How did Minnesota become a hub for Hmong people? Sahan Journal. https://sahanjournal.com/news-partners/minnesota-how-did-hmong-people-become-largest-asian-group-in-minnesota-curious-minnesota/

Minnesota Compass. (n.d.). Somali population. [Data set]. Minnesota Compass. https://www.mncompass.org/topics/demographics/cultural-communities/somali

Mohajeri, O., Snyder, S., C., & Rodriguez, F. (2020). Navigating college choice through female peer-to-peer capital: The case of Somali American college-seeking women. Journal of Access, Retention & Inclusion in Higher Education, 3, 48-59. Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=jarihe

Nguyen, J. (2024, March 19). Empowering education: The Hub Residency Program at the Hmong Cultural Center Museum. College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota. https://cla.umn.edu/news-events/story/empowering-education-hub-residency-program-hmong-cultural-center-museum

PBS. (2023, July 27). The nation’s first Somali-American art center | Silsilad | PBS. [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/PuHf3I93VyY?si=VSIduz031Gs1uyTL

Pioneer PBS. (2021, April 29). Stories of migration from Karen refugees | Postcards | FULL EPISODE. [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/PpZl7ouWkzM?si=xyAPNluJ3bFjdy6V

Twin Cities PBS. (2024, September 19). My Minnesota Culture Shock | Four Strangers. [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/HANyZRBecrA?si=Vpbz44Rfi_DoIp8c

Twin Cities PBS. (2020, September 4). The Hispanic and Latinx Roots Of West St. Paul. [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/LTxsVBQNU8I?si=aMElQBVK_oyum80N

Twin Cities PBS. (2020, September 1). When migrant workers moved to Minnesota. [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/jmRAtjuUF7w?si=TeEWldRFrjYR76pu

University of Minnesota. (n.d.). Immigration History Research Center. College of Liberal Arts.  https://cla.umn.edu/ihrc

WCCO-CBS Minnesota. (2019, July 23). What is the history behind our Somali-American community? [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/vwoYL0YDBNU?si=k9g_MEf6qNlmsrt3

WCCO-CBS Minnesota. (2023, July 1). Somali Independence Day celebration underway in Minneapolis. [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/8ew-eFBnBag?si=r0wTioVKWMrF4GCA


Organizations & Professional Development Opportunities