Pelican
Rapids: Small Town, Global
Village
If you
drive into Pelican Rapids for the first time, you might be surprised by
what you see in this small northwest Minnesota town, population 2500.
Women in hijabs, or head
scarves, men in colorful African dress, and people from many nationalities
walk the town's streets. Long populated by Norwegians and Germans, the
community now includes Somalis, Kurds, Bosnians, Vietnamese, Cambodian,
Laotians, Sudanese and others from around the world. Stand in the produce
aisle at the grocery store and you might hear Vietnamese, Somali and
Spanish all at the same time.
While many rural towns are
declining, this small tourist community is growing! Over the past decade,
Pelican Rapids grew by 700 people - most of them refugees and new
immigrants attracted by job opportunities and a safe community. Some
marvel at how this small town with so many immigrant groups can function
so well.
"The immigrants today are not
much different from my great-grandmother from Poland who wanted to start
over," said Dennis Kostuck, Human Resources manager for West Central
Turkeys, the largest employer in town. "They see opportunity here. And you
won't find someone who works harder than a person who needs a job."
Kostuck says that two-thirds
of the 600 workers at West Central Turkeys consist of people for whom
English is not their native language. Newcomers have helped fill jobs and
bring economic vitality to the community, with increased funding for
schools and more money spent in town.
Longtime residents are quick
to add that the many diverse cultures bring new life and zest to the town.
"There's a story in every person," says Jim Christianson, who owns the bus
service in Pelican Rapids. "They give salt and pepper to life."
Jim and his wife, Johanna, are
among many who have not only welcomed newcomers to the community, but
rolled up their sleeves to pitch in and help them start over. It's not
always easy.
"When we had a large wave of
people arriving through secondary migration, (they had been resettled
elsewhere), we had a crisis on our hands," explained Jim. He visited one
family at their home and found a mother curled up on the floor needing
emergency medical attention but not knowing where to get help. He and
Johanna worried about people from warmer climates freezing to death in the
winter, and getting basic needs met. "You can't just walk away. They are
here. They have kids and they need help getting started."
Jim delights in visiting
families on their own turf and is adept at making friends, building trust,
and connecting parents and kids to jobs and schools. He also travels the
world to work on humanitarian causes, much like the one at home in Pelican
Rapids, and appreciates his town's global village. "In a way, the world
has come here," he says.
Dianne Kimm, who served as a
volunteer for many years before becoming a full-time staff member in LSS
Refugee Services three years ago, says that small towns like Pelican
Rapids are the best places for new Americans to assimilate.
"It's like a neighborhood,"
she said. "Here, people are accepting and willing to give others a chance.
For those who have fled their homes because of war, Pelican Rapids offers
a safe place to raise their families, with jobs that pay a livable wage.
And we need them here to remain economically viable."
Here are just a few examples
of the many successes to celebrate:
-
Six years ago, Moises Urbano,
a young boy from Mexico, spoke very little English when he arrived in
Pelican Rapids with his family. Last spring, he finished his freshman year
at St. John's University with tuition paid by scholarships.
-
Izudin Becic, an accountant
and wood-carver in Bosnia, arrived just two years ago and was introduced,
through LSS, to area wood carvers here who "adopted" him, helped him get
tools and wood and make connections. Izudin has commissioned wood carvings
in a Moorhead restaurant and private homes, and has exhibited his work at
museums, regional art centers and ethnic festivals. He and his two sons
are truckers who own their own trucks.
-
Abdi Abdi is working with the
West Central Initiative Fund to open the first Somali business venture in
Pelican Rapids, a Somali market which will carry African food and clothing
items.
-
Chanh (Katie) Kim is a
registered nurse and now helps others. She arrived in 1990 with her
mother, father and siblings, the first Vietnamese family to settle in
Pelican Rapids.
Today, only a handful of
newcomers to Pelican Rapids are refugees (176 refugees statewide were
approved by the U.S. government to come through LSS last year). Most
arrivals first resettled elsewhere in the U.S. and then moved to Pelican
Rapids for jobs. Dianne helps them connect all the dots, to include
housing, interpreter services, medical appointments, and required school
and government forms. She is the "go-to" person in the community for
banks, medical clinics and schools when an interpreter or other support
for families is needed. Dianne also offers in-service workshops to
facilitate understanding on important cultural differences.
But the future is shaky for
her office of two staff. With funding competition from other communities,
LSS Refugee Services in Pelican Rapids was not re-funded by the Minnesota
Dept. of Human Services last fall. Since then, the office has been seeking
other funding and has secured a grant from the Bremer Foundation and a few
other small grants and donations, but not yet half of the $73,000 needed
annually to keep its doors open.
"When I don't know what to do
as a volunteer, I ask Dianne," explains Johanna. "I wouldn't have the
courage to do what I do without the support of this office behind me.
"I was once a stranger who
came to this town," added Johanna, who is from The Netherlands. "People
welcomed me. I really feel like it is my turn, now, to welcome others.
Being in a small town has made it easier. It changes things once you get
to know their names."
"There is a saying: 'Lord, let
me be alive for as long as I live.' This work really brings you to life."
