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She continues, “When I came to the US 10 years ago, I thought life was really hard. Ten of us were living in one apartment and we were really poor. But we had family who came before us and prepared for us. We may have been |
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Women learn English in a multi-level ESL class that teaches language skills at the same time as it provides information about topics that mothers need to know to successfully integrate their families into American life. See ESL/Language Learning |
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In
“5th Day”/Living
in America, women learn about American foods and healthy eating.
Vendors from the Mill City Farmer’s Market provide produce
and women cook together, creating new food options and new friends. |
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| sleeping on the floor but we weren’t in a homeless shelter. My family knew what steps we had to go through and took us to appointments. But probably best of all, there were people who were happy to see us!” |
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| In January 2011, the Women’s Center--in partnership with the Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC)— began a program designed specifically for refugee mothers who have come to the US in the past year. These women came to Minnesota without “anchor” families to support them and about 1/3 are single mothers. These women will be entirely on their own after the initial three months of support from a resettlement agency. With the Women’s Center’s 6 - 8 month language learning and orientation/Living in America program, refugee women’s integration process gets a “jumpstart.” Each week, the program includes four 3-hour English classes and a 3-hour Living in America applied learning class. While mothers attend classes, their children are learning in a quality, culturally sensitive childcare, preparing them to enter school in their new homeland. (See Child Development) |
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| Women have had the opportunity to meet political leaders to share their stories. Guests included Senator Al Franken who came to learn about the challenges “free cases” were confronting in Minnesota. Another guest was Ambassador Donald Yamamoto of the Bureau of African Affairs who met with about 20 women at the Center. |
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Women and children have the opportunity to learn
about all the larger community has to offer. They also learn about
transportation. Sometimes we take our van but sometimes we practice
riding a city bus or the LRT. |
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