Transcriber: Megan Steffer Reviewer: Eunice Tan
Full house.
(Laughter)
So I was born in Somalia.
My family moved to the United States
back in 1995.
We first moved to New York City, where I went to middle school.
Then we moved to Minnesota during my high school years.
We moved here for many reasons.
One of the main reasons was our relatives lived in Minnesota.
I'm the oldest of five in my family.
I graduated from the University of Minnesota.
I also was the first to graduate from college in my family.
(Applause)
As I have been growing up in Minnesota,
particularly within the Somali community,
I've come to realize that the community that I came from
has been portrayed in so many negative ways.
Imagine, for a minute,
coming from a community that has been stigmatized
by gang violence,
famine,
piracy,
poverty,
and terrorism.
Imagine coming from a community
that faced all odds but yet has been resilient.
Did you know that Minnesota has the largest Somali population
outside of East Africa?
You see,
Somalis started moving to the United States and to Minnesota
in the early '90s.
They moved here for many reasons.
Unfortunately, the snow is not one of them.
(Laughter)
The 20-inch snow does not attract Somalis to Minnesota -
(Laughter)
I must tell you that.
But they moved here for -
the main reason that they moved here
was to get away from the civil war back home,
for better education,
to sustain and provide for families back home,
but most importantly - last but not least -
to pursue the American Dream.
Question -
What is the American Dream?
And how does such a dream relate to the Somali community?
See, according to the Library of Congress,
in a book called "The Epic of America,"
written by James Truslow Adams,
he states that the American Dream
is that dream of a land in which life should be richer,
with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.
And because of this dream,
the Somali community has been flourishing and thriving in so many ways.
They say that if you're a Somali,
you're either in business or going to be in business.
All Somalis - most Somalis - are business-minded individuals.
The Somali community is faith and family oriented.
Even though we are a productive
and thriving community,
we have our own issues.
What are those issues?
And how can we as a community within the Somali community
and also how can we as Minnesotans
overcome these issues?
Health disparities is an issue that we continue to face.
Lack of education is another one.
Generational gaps between the youth and the old.
Identity issues -
Are we Somalis?
Are we Somali-Americans?
Who are we?
Radicalization - which we've seen play out in the media many times.
The recruitment of young Somali men -
being recruited to terrorist organizations
in Somalia, in East Africa, or most recently, in Syria.
Gang violence is another issue that we've been facing for many years,
especially since 2007.
Because of these issues
and because of many other issues,
about a dozen youth, young adults,
from high school level to college level,
came together, in which I was part of.
You see, we had a few things in common:
education,
positive influences,
the willingness to empower
and to encourage other young individuals,
and a nation with limitless opportunities for those who are willing to work hard.
See, we had two things in our minds:
building the value of this community
and also integration.
We wanted to get the young people to lead,
to take ownership of their community.
But in order to do this,
the youth must refrain from all negative influences.
We wanted to create a foundation, a platform, that relates to everyone -
didn't matter if you're old or if you're young,
didn't matter what tribe or clan you came from.
This was the moment when the idea of Ka Joog was born.
See, the word "ka joog" is a Somali term,
and it means to "stay away" or "stay out."
And the message behind that is to get the youth or all the individuals
to get away from all or stay away from all negative influences
and put them on the right path.
Which is what?
Education, education, education.
We started using the arts
as a means of engagement
because the arts is part of our culture,
the arts is part of the Somali culture.
It's an easy tool for us to use.
We use the arts to encourage and empower individuals.
You see, what started as a grassroots effort,
what started as a way to make changes, positive changes,
in the Somali community
turned into conferences all of a sudden
and events that engage 100, 200, 300
at a time.
And then within the group, we asked ourselves,
"Where do we want this idea to go?
Where do we want these individuals that we're engaging to go?
Where do we see the future of the community?"
And that turned into programming.
And right after that is when that idea became an entity,
an entity that remains to be a leader in the Somali community,
an entity that is the leader
when it comes to the youth aspect and the youth development
within the Somali community,
an entity that brings fresh new ideas,
new innovative ways to serve the community,
such as starting the first-ever Somali Boy Scouts of America
in the United States
(Applause)
and, perhaps, the world.
Also taking a group of young girls to Yellowstone Park
for the first time,
from the Somali community,
and this continues to happen every year.
Starting 4-H clubs within the Somali community,
along with the University of Minnesota.
You see, we push the limits
of kids and all individuals
to think hard and critically
so that they're ready to tackle any issues before them.
At a very young age,
we teach kids how to mentor one another,
how to lead one another,
how to help one another succeed
so no kid is left behind
to be recruited to any gangs or any negative activity.
[The Future]
So where is this idea going?
Where do we see this idea going that started here in Minneapolis in 2007,
that was founded in 2007?
Well,
our vision is to implement this idea
across the world where Somalis live,
and we've actually begun to do this.
This idea has been used by other nations as a tool of engagement,
such as Canada and, most recently, Kenya.
This idea will be taken and will be implemented in Somalia,
and it's already on its way to being implemented in Somalia,
where it is needed the most.
Why?
Because 70% of that population are under the age of 30.
Those are the individuals that we need to empower,
to take ownership of their nation
so that one day,
Somalia can be the republic that it once was.
This idea has been endorsed and received many awards
from the highest level of our government here in the United States.
And in terms of the community here -
well, I can tell you
that if Somalia becomes a safe nation, a better nation than it is today,
some of our elders may go back to live there.
But for the individuals that grew up here all their lives,
such as myself and the Somali-Americans that are born here every day before us,
this is their home.
This is my home.
We're not going anywhere any time soon.
These individuals will help shape not only this community
but this great city of ours,
this great state of ours,
and this great nation of ours.
Thank you so much.
(Applause)