The following is a statement from Ka Joog’s Executive Director, Mohamed Farah, at the January 20, 2015 press
conference:
“Ka Joog is the
primary and leading Somali nonprofit organization that is tailored towards
enriching the lives of the Somali-American youth by utilizing the positive
elements of education, mentorship, employment and the arts. Ka Joog’s mission is to motivate youth in
attaining higher education, positively realize their most fully potential and
achieve their dreams. Our vision is to create a safe environment for Somali
American youth in our society.
One
of our core program is called the “Takeoff” program. This is an after school
program that includes mentoring, leadership building, and hands-on learning.
Part of this program includes 4-H program. Our 4-H is STEAM focused, so
Science, Technology, Engineering, arts and Math are the focus, and this is in
partnership with the University of Minnesota. We have a Boy Scout Troop Chapter
and with the help of Wilderness Inquiries, and for the first time in the Somali
community, we send a group of girls to Yellowstone Park for a week every year,
and this continues to happen every year. With the blessings of the community,
we hold the “Somali Independence
Day” festival each year.
This particular event brings over 20,000 people together, including Somalis and
non-Somalis. We use the arts, such spoken word, theater, visual arts as a means
of engagement tool, but also use the arts to encourage and empower individuals.
We also use the arts to teach the oral traditions of the Somali culture.
“With many terrorist
attacks recently in Canada, Australia and most recently France, we have seen an
increase in terrorist attacks. We must RE-STRATEGIZE on a local level by
playing a preventive role rather than a reactive role. At Ka Joog, we want to
motivate our youth to take part in the civil aspects of our community in
conjunction with their pursuit for higher education.
“The word “Ka Joog” means to “stay away” or “stay out.” The message behind
this is to get youth away from all negative influences such as drugs, violence
and most importantly recruitment or radicalization by terrorist organizations
such as ISIS, Al-Shabaab and Al-Qaeda.
“Terrorists have
actively recruited Minnesota youth to fight for ISIS and other international
terrorist organizations. Dozens of young people have disappeared and have
successfully been recruited from Minnesota since 2008 and, as of most recently,
just a few months ago in 2014. This has significant and detrimental social and
financial impacts on Minnesota and the Minnesota Somali community in the
short-term and long-term.
“As a community
at-large, we know that radicalization doesn’t happen overnight. It is a process.
There are many underlying issues that cause the vulnerability for a fellow
American to be radicalized such as the lack of education, lack of mentorship
and guidance, lack of employment, and isolation. In order to address this
threat of radicalization, Minnesota must be at the forefront and play a
preventive role, not a reactive one.
“Since 2007, Ka Joog
has successfully engaged Minnesota’s Somali youth (ages 6-24 years) in
the Twin Cities Metro Area through education, mentoring and cultural arts
activities. Expanded outreach, however,
is vital to successfully driving back recruitment by terrorist organizations
here in Minnesota. That is why Ka Joog
has developed a five-year $15 million strategic plan, which involves a private
and public partnership with the private sector, foundations and all levels of
government.
“At the state level,
we are seeking a partnership with the Minnesota Legislature and Governor by
asking for $4.3 million to conduct statewide outreach programs through
education, cultural arts, and youth employment. As a community - as Minnesotans
- we urge our law makers to be on the right side of history; to join us in the
message of Ka Joog.
“This call to action must be received
in the most serious of ways if we are to turn the next generation of Minnesota
Somalis away from radicalization and destruction. This issue is not particular
to any community. This is a Minnesota issue.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Ka
Joog
Phone:
(612) 255-3525
Website: www.kajoog.org
Email: [email protected]