City of Residence: Columbia Heights, MN Occupation: Police officer Excerpt: “As a Muslim we have to face the reality that we are Americans, we are the product of where we live. Luckily, we come to the best country in the world which is the United States, which is like a land of immigrants. When I saw people, …
City of Residence: Columbia Heights, MN Occupation: Chef/Baker Excerpt: “Wow, what makes Minnesota so special? A lot of things; having been around the United States and lived in many different states, and for countries, for that matter, I think the most special thing about Minnesota, for me, is the way that it takes care of its people. I …
City of Residence: Duluth, MN Occupation: Student at the Duluth Medical School Excerpt: “What I’ve really love about Minnesota and Minnesotans is that they are very curious. But I know that hard core Norwegian, you know, kinda like, “We don’t wanna be offensive, we don’t wanna like push on anybody’s toes” that sometimes we miss asking the questions …
City of Residence: Spring Lake Park, MN Occupation: Product Development Engineer and Army National Guard Officer Excerpt: “I joined the Army National Guard in 1992 and since that time I have been committed to the Guard. Right now, I have a family and I’m still committed to the Guard and everything I did before. I served two years …
City of Residence: Woodbury, MN Occupation: Runs In-Home Daycare Preschool Excerpt: “Apartheid. I guess, growing up in apartheid in South Africa was different. We had to live in certain areas, we had to go to certain schools, we had different movie theaters that we would go to, different parks that we were allowed to go to, getting on …
City of Residence: Rochester, MN Occupation: Computer Scientist Excerpt: “My interviewer—I think his name was Jim—he asked me, how about United States? Because I already spoke some English and I said fine, and he asked me which part of the country—and I didn’t know United States that well—I just said I don’t want to go to a big …
City of Residence: St. Cloud, MN Occupation: Professor Emeritus at St. Cloud State University Excerpt: “There are probably two types of struggles for Muslims at this point in time. One is the stigma attached to—to Islam and to anything that has to do with Islam and of course to Muslims in general… because of these unfortunate events that …
City of Residence: Blaine, MN Occupation: Teacher, Principal Excerpt: “The greatest achievement, I believe it is what I mentioned a few times how we have become so active in the community, teaching about Islam. I think that’s very, very important. And it has been a big achievement, I believe. I enjoy seeing what IRG has done in Minnesota, …
City of Residence: Fridley, MN Occupation: Diversity Consultant Excerpt: “And so there is some difference in theology there; so on the one hand, there are going to be things that are really common and similar about what we believe and what we share; and then there are going to be some things that are different. So, IRG has …
City of Residence: Pelican Rapids, MN Occupation: Works at a Turkey Plant Excerpt: “I like Pelican Rapids, I like Minnesota; yeah, my children live in Minneapolis, me I live here; I am working; I am helping my children; it’s okay. I like too much, too much; when I come here, I have a good life; me, my …