Somali Immigrant Somali Immigrant Settlement in Small Settlement in Small

Midwestern Communities:Midwestern Communities:

The Case of Barron, Wis.The Case of Barron, Wis.

Jessica SchaidJessica Schaid

and Dr. Zoltan Grossmanand Dr. Zoltan Grossman

(Assistant Professor of Geography)(Assistant Professor of Geography)

University of Wisconsin – Eau ClaireUniversity of Wisconsin – Eau Claire

Somali RefugeesSomali RefugeesAfter civil war broke out in After civil war broke out in Somalia in 1991, 800,000 Somalia in 1991, 800,000 refugees fled. 450,000+ refugees fled. 450,000+ were in refugee camps by were in refugee camps by 2000 (mainly in Kenya) 2000 (mainly in Kenya)

At least 29,000 were At least 29,000 were resettled in the U.S. (with the resettled in the U.S. (with the largest group to Minnesota),largest group to Minnesota),

followed by family members. followed by family members.

KENYA

Somalis have been drawn Somalis have been drawn by the Twin Cities’ job by the Twin Cities’ job market, schools, service market, schools, service agencies for refugees agencies for refugees (Half of recent MN immigrants (Half of recent MN immigrants are refugees.)are refugees.)

Minneapolis-St. Paul Minneapolis-St. Paul

has become a has become a de factode facto “capital” of Somalis in “capital” of Somalis in North America, with an North America, with an community estimated at community estimated at tens of thousandstens of thousands

Somali ResettlementSomali Resettlement

Urban-to-Rural MigrationUrban-to-Rural MigrationSomali refugees have Somali refugees have recently settled in recently settled in smaller communities smaller communities around the Twin Cities.around the Twin Cities.

Some move directly Some move directly from elsewhere in U.S.from elsewhere in U.S.

Immigration Hinterland: Immigration Hinterland: Rural ethnic mix Rural ethnic mix

resembling Twin Citiesresembling Twin Cities (Mexicans, Hmong, (Mexicans, Hmong,

Somalis, Somalis, etcetc.).)

SouthernSouthern

MinnesotaMinnesota

RochesterRochester

St. CloudSt. Cloud

OwatonnaOwatonna

WasecaWaseca

MarshallMarshall

FaribaultFaribault

MankatoMankato

Western Western

WisconsinWisconsin

Barron Barron

Hudson (briefly)Hudson (briefly)

Others in the future…?Others in the future…?

Somali soccerSomali soccerteam in Stteam in StCloud, Minn.Cloud, Minn.

“ “Push Factors” from Twin CitiesPush Factors” from Twin CitiesGrowing competition Growing competition for unskilled jobsfor unskilled jobs

Need English, Need English, driver’s licensedriver’s license

Some factory jobs Some factory jobs moving to rural areas moving to rural areas

Crime rateCrime rate

“ “Pull Factors” to smaller townsPull Factors” to smaller townsJob opportunities in Job opportunities in meatpacking industry & meatpacking industry & other plants, due to other plants, due to labor shortagelabor shortage

Jobs do not need high Jobs do not need high level of skills, English level of skills, English proficiencyproficiency

Less crime; quieter;Less crime; quieter; Can walk to work/school Can walk to work/school

Intervening Obstacles:Intervening Obstacles: Visible MinorityVisible Minority

Like other recent Like other recent immigrants in rural immigrants in rural areas (Latinos), areas (Latinos), Somalis have faced Somalis have faced cultural conflicts.cultural conflicts.

Somalis face greater Somalis face greater conflicts due to their conflicts due to their race and Muslim race and Muslim religious identity.religious identity.

Intervening Obstacle:Intervening Obstacle:Negative Media ImagesNegative Media Images

The cultural and religious The cultural and religious gap has been widened by gap has been widened by movies, such as movies, such as Black Black Hawk DownHawk Down, that do not , that do not realistically represent realistically represent Somalis.Somalis.

Minnesota Somalis faced Minnesota Somalis faced intensified government intensified government scrutiny and public scrutiny and public suspicions after 9/11.suspicions after 9/11.

Conflicts over Somali ImmigrationConflicts over Somali Immigration

In 2002, the Mayor of In 2002, the Mayor of Lewiston (Maine) and Lewiston (Maine) and white supremacist groups white supremacist groups asked Somalis to stop asked Somalis to stop settling in the city.settling in the city.

In Jan. 2003, a crowd of In Jan. 2003, a crowd of 4,000 rallied to support 4,000 rallied to support the Somalis.the Somalis.

Lewiston, Maine

Several acts of racist grafitti Several acts of racist grafitti and arson in St. Cloud, and arson in St. Cloud, Minn., were aimed at Minn., were aimed at Somali businesses in 2002.Somali businesses in 2002.

The community has been The community has been working with the St. Cloud working with the St. Cloud Area Somali Salvation Area Somali Salvation Organization (SASSO) to Organization (SASSO) to build understanding.build understanding.

Conflicts over Somali ImmigrationConflicts over Somali Immigration

Somalis in Barron, Wis.Somalis in Barron, Wis.13% of total population 13% of total population of 3,000, working at of 3,000, working at meatpacking plant meatpacking plant

facing labor shortagefacing labor shortage

Immigrant workers Immigrant workers offset loss of offset loss of population, tax basepopulation, tax base

Strengthening of Strengthening of Somali cultural unitySomali cultural unity

Jennie-O TurkeyJennie-O TurkeyStore in Barron, Store in Barron, where about 350where about 350Somalis workSomalis work

“ “Pull Factors” to BarronPull Factors” to Barron““Turkey Capital” of Turkey Capital” of WisconsinWisconsin

Jennie-O Turkey Store Jennie-O Turkey Store employmentemployment

Lower standards than Lower standards than Minnesota for driving & Minnesota for driving & high school graduationhigh school graduation

(incl. older students)(incl. older students)

Intervening Obstacles:Intervening Obstacles: Uncooperative institutionsUncooperative institutions

No mosque building No mosque building availableavailable

No Somali foods in No Somali foods in grocery storesgrocery stores

No invitations to No invitations to weekend community weekend community festivalsfestivals

Invisibility of “Visible Minority”Invisibility of “Visible Minority”Somalis cannot stay in Somalis cannot stay in Barron on weekendsBarron on weekends

Go to Twin Cities to Go to Twin Cities to visit, shop, and worshipvisit, shop, and worship

Lack of social Lack of social interaction with interaction with Americans in BarronAmericans in Barron

Intervening Obstacle: Intervening Obstacle: HousingHousing

Housing shortage in Housing shortage in Barron for SomalisBarron for Somalis

Most Somalis live in Most Somalis live in one apartment blocone apartment bloc

Some commuting from Some commuting from nearby Cameron, Rice nearby Cameron, Rice Lake, Menomonie, Lake, Menomonie, etcetc. . (secondary diffusion)(secondary diffusion)

Intervening Obstacle:Intervening Obstacle: Tensions in high schoolTensions in high school

Students’ lack of Students’ lack of awareness of Somali awareness of Somali cultureculture

Resentment of head Resentment of head covering, “privileges”covering, “privileges”

Fights in Fall 2001Fights in Fall 2001

Somali flag desecrationSomali flag desecration incidentincident

Conflict resolution in high schoolConflict resolution in high schoolSuperintendent Monti Superintendent Monti Hallberg lived in Hallberg lived in Muslim countriesMuslim countries

School records from School records from Kenyan refugee campsKenyan refugee camps

School staff training/ School staff training/ cultural daycultural day

Multiethnic soccer teamMultiethnic soccer team

Responses:Responses:Preparing community agenciesPreparing community agencies

Local governments, Local governments, State/federal agencies, State/federal agencies, Schools, Schools, Businesses,Businesses,Health clinics, Health clinics, Churches, Churches, Legal aid,Legal aid,Law enforcementLaw enforcement

Responses:Responses:Educating SomalisEducating Somalis

Teaching immigrants:Teaching immigrants:

English skillsEnglish skills

Computer skillsComputer skills

Job skillsJob skills

Cultural skillsCultural skills

Driving skillsDriving skills

Enable Somalis to adapt.Enable Somalis to adapt.

International Center International Center (Workforce Resource)(Workforce Resource)

Somali & American staffSomali & American staff

International CenterInternational Centerin Barron in Barron ((Catholic Herald).

Shortcoming:Shortcoming:Outreach to AmericansOutreach to Americans

Barron relying on Barron relying on public forums and public forums and discussionsdiscussionsthat draw mainlythat draw mainlyenlightened residents.enlightened residents.

Does not challengeDoes not challengeAmericans’Americans’preconceptions. preconceptions.

Wisconsin students’ Images of SomaliaWisconsin students’ Images of Somalia

Not images ofNot images of violence & warviolence & war

Poverty andPoverty andFamine imagesFamine images

Violence/Violence/ warwar

FamineFaminePovertyPoverty

Desert/Desert/ heatheat

OtherOther

SurveySurveyat at

UWECUWEC

Wisconsin Students’ Image SourcesWisconsin Students’ Image Sources

BlackBlackHawkHawkDownDown

Children's’Children's’Fund adsFund ads

News/News/MediaMedia

SchoolSchool

OtherOther

SurveySurveyat UWECat UWEC

Recommendations:Recommendations:ProactiveProactive

education of education of AmericansAmericans

Develop programs/ Develop programs/ materials, educational materials, educational curriculumcurriculum

Go into schools, clubsGo into schools, clubsin new communitiesin new communities

Teach Americans on:Teach Americans on:

Somali culture, Somali culture,

Somali history,Somali history,

Islamic values,Islamic values,

Immigration patterns,Immigration patterns,

Easing the transitionEasing the transition

Goals of ResearchGoals of Research

To examine the push-and-pull factors that To examine the push-and-pull factors that influence the migration of Somali refugees influence the migration of Somali refugees to small Midwestern communities.to small Midwestern communities.

To examine how factors such as age, To examine how factors such as age, regional origin, gender, English regional origin, gender, English proficiency, proficiency, etcetc., have influenced Somali ., have influenced Somali migration to and within the Midwest.migration to and within the Midwest.

Goals of Research (cont.)Goals of Research (cont.)

To compare and contrast the experiences To compare and contrast the experiences of Somali refugees in larger cities and of Somali refugees in larger cities and smaller communities.smaller communities.

To issue recommendations to rural To issue recommendations to rural communities and schools anticipating new communities and schools anticipating new Somali residents. Somali residents.

Methods of ResearchMethods of Research

Journal and newspaper articles.Journal and newspaper articles.

Interviews with Somali group leaders, Interviews with Somali group leaders, other Somali immigrants, and local other Somali immigrants, and local American leaders and residents. American leaders and residents.

Nasra XashiNasra Xashi(International Center)(International Center)and Jessica Schaidand Jessica Schaid(UWEC)(UWEC)

Methods of Research (cont.)Methods of Research (cont.)

A bilingual questionnaire for Somali residents,A bilingual questionnaire for Somali residents, asking about their experiences in migratingasking about their experiences in migrating to small Minnesota or Wisconsin communities.to small Minnesota or Wisconsin communities.

Additional materials supplied by localAdditional materials supplied by local communities and agencies, including communities and agencies, including survey of mayors & school superintendentssurvey of mayors & school superintendents

Presentation of ResearchPresentation of Research

The research will be presented in a paper The research will be presented in a paper that will be submitted to academic journals that will be submitted to academic journals for publication.for publication.

The research will also be presented at the The research will also be presented at the Student Research Day at U.W.-Eau Claire Student Research Day at U.W.-Eau Claire and at national and/or international and at national and/or international conferences.conferences.

This project is made possible This project is made possible with funding by the UWEC Center of Excellence with funding by the UWEC Center of Excellence for Faculty/Student Research Collaborationfor Faculty/Student Research CollaborationProposal and bibiliography at Proposal and bibiliography at www.uwec.edu/grossmzc/somali.htmlwww.uwec.edu/grossmzc/somali.htmlThis PowerPoint at This PowerPoint at www.uwec.edu/grossmzc/Somalis.pptwww.uwec.edu/grossmzc/Somalis.ppt

Jessica SchaidJessica Schaid, student researcher, student researcherschaidje@uwec.eduschaidje@uwec.edu 715-838-1237 715-838-1237

Dr. Zoltán GrossmanDr. Zoltán Grossman, , Assistant Professor of GeographyAssistant Professor of Geographygrossmzc@uwec.edugrossmzc@uwec.edu 715-836-4471 715-836-4471www.uwec.edu/grossmzcwww.uwec.edu/grossmzc