Cultural Diversity Resources
Cultural Diversity Resources
810 S. Fourth Ave. Suite 147
Moorhead, MN 56560
Telephone: (218) 236-7277
Fax.: (218) 236-7475
Executive Director: Yoke-Sim Gunaratne
Employment & Housing Coordinator: Tatyana Thweatt
Administrative Assistant: Barbara J. Chromy
Description
The Cultural Diversity Project is a communitywide collaboration among fourcities
in two states -- Fargoand
WestFargo
in North Dakota;and Moorhead
and Dilworth
in Minnesota -- to address immediate communitydiversity issues while working
toward systemic community changes.
The Pew Partnership for Civic Change, which is funded by the Pew CharitableTrust,
awarded a $400,000 grant to the four cities for a three-year culturaldiversity
project. One-quarter of local matching funds came from the fourcities,
the Cass
and Clay
counties, the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation, the United Way andthe American
Crystal Sugar Co. The project addresses the challenges andopportunities
of diversity brought about by the increase in localpopulation from diverse
ethnic backgrounds.
History
The Fargo-Moorhead communities came together for this partnership as partof
a long tradition of identifying issues and concerns, inviting keyleaders
to focus on solutions and develop plans. The original direction ofthe funding
proposal for a cultural diversity project to Pew CharitableTrust was set
by 29 community leaders after a four-hour structuredbrainstorming session
identifying current issues and needs as outlined bythe Pew Charitable Trust.
The United Way and the Fargo-Moorhead AreaFoundation facilitated this initial
session to identify thecritical needs.
A project development team wrote the proposal for funding. The initialplanning
session established the overall mission to "build a communitythat values
diversity." The project development team developed a broadset of long-term
goals. A second half-day meeting was held to broaden thebase of involvement
in establishing the overall program direction, toensure the involvement
of all key stakeholders within the community and toseek matching funds
for the program.
The programming meeting, held on Aug. 25, 1993, attracted 50 participantsfrom
a pool of more than 300 invited individuals. This group identified avariety
of related efforts, particularly a need for a structured approachfocusing
on the mainstream community institutions such as schools,churches, employers,
government and media. In 1994, the Pew Foundationawarded a $400,000 grant
to the Fargo-Moorhead cultural diversity projectfor a three-year period..
The project hired a full-time projectcoordinator in March 1994. She became
the director of the project inNovember 1995. The project also contracted
a consultant with expertiseon diversity issues to facilitate with planning
and training.
Problem/Issue Statement
Increasing evidence of racism and intolerance in a metro area, which isexperiencing
a growing influx of diverse populations and which lacks acomprehensive,
integrated communitywide framework to confront racial andethnic divisions
and discrimination.
The goal for the project is to build a community that values diversiy,
toassist diverse populations in overcoming barriers to communityparticipation,
to ameliorate intolerance of all kinds and to develop apermanent systemwide
framework aimed at celebrating the community'sgrowing diversity.
Structure
The primary structure for the project is the Steering Committee, comprising
15 members. Seven are nominated from the committee atlarge and eight elected
from within eight action teams oneducation, employment, housing, government,
human & health services,religion, media and the arts. Members of the
Steering Committee arerepresentative of the major ethnic groups and key
stakeholders. A trainingteam provides intensive training through diversity
workshops andpresentations to the community.
Vision Statement
To build a community that values diversity.
Mission Statement
To acknowledge, understand, appreciate and celebrate the diverse heritageand
cultures of people in the Cass-Clay counties.
Goals
To increase the understanding of community leaders, adults and children
ofthe value of diversity in the community.
To create an appreciation and awareness of cultural differences asreflected
in the behaviors of employers, educational insitutions and thegeneral public.
To assist diverse population in overcoming barriers to communityparticipation.
To support current and new community efforts that encourage diversity
bydeveloping and enhancing a "framework" of materials, events and structuresthat
celebrate our community's growing diversity.
Services
(a) Public information and education
Provides speakers and training on cultural diversity issues to businessand
nonprofit organizations and the general public.Serves to assist organizations
and the community in their efforts toidentify, recruit, train and place
ethnic leaders and volunteers oncommittees and board of trustees.
(b) Information and referral
Develops and maintains a directory of mulicultural human resources andethnic
businesses.
Acts as a coordinating body to refer and excahange information ondiversity
issues.
Maximizes resources and avoids duplication through supprot andcollaboration
with the community on issues of multiculturalism.
(c) Library Resources
Serves as one of the community's resources for journals, books,videotapes,
publications and materials on cultural diversity issues.
Asian-American Resources LIST
Multicultural
Sites and Resources
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