The Tribune
Chris Casey, (Bio)
Sunday, May 11, 2008
That's one of many adjustments the east African refugees face in their new city far from home.
Mostly, they struggle with the language barrier, but many are taking English classes at Aims Community College, guided there by the local representative of Lutheran Family Services.
Ibraham Mohamed, the Lutheran group's local caseworker, has worked with the Greeley Police Department to spread the word about outreach sessions. The Somalis learn the rules of U.S. roads and other local laws. Meanwhile, the police get a lesson in Somali customs.
"We don't want to unintentionally insult them," said Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner.
Police are learning just how chaotic it is in Somalia, a country rife with civil war and led since 1991 by a series of warlords.
"In their country, when you're contacted by someone in uniform that's very bad," Garner said. "You get raped or killed. ... They're very nervous about the police, and we want to ease that as much as we can."
Most of the Somalis in Greeley are single, young adults, Mohamed said. Some are families, though, and east African students are entering Greeley-Evans School District 6.
Anne Ramirez, the district's English language acquisition director, doesn't have specific numbers of Somalis but said "numerous families" are enrolled.
Somali students often come in before and after school to work on their English, she said. They're being put in classes that match their skill levels.
"I've heard so many teachers talk about how motivated they are," Ramirez said. "They work very hard."
She said students who are bilingual in Spanish and English are helping the Somalis, since English is the one language the students have in common. So, it effectively helps everyone polish their English.
"Our kids are learning a lot more about different cultures they haven't been exposed to," Ramirez said.
Realizing Our Community, a local immigration integration group, is working to help the Somalis and other east Africans get settled in town.
Meanwhile, a couple of dozen refugees are getting behind the wheel at Conahan's Driving School in Greeley.
"A lot of them have questions about rules of the road, and we talk to them about that a lot before we get into the car with them," said Molly Conahan, office manager.
Alan Hendrickson, international programs director at Aims Community College, helps the refugees sign up for English and other classes on the Greeley campus. He's also met with the Lutheran group's caseworker to bone up on Somali culture.
"In order to help people, you have to learn about their culture," he said.
Hendrickson also has been talking finances with the Somalis, helping them squeeze college into their budgets. He said he doesn't believe they should get a free ride in the United States, but at the same time, he doesn't want to see them get squeezed.
He said he's seen the rent amounts -- often well above $500 a month -- and hopes the Somalis aren't being taken advantage of by unscrupulous landlords.
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Source: The Tribune, May 11, 2008