Winds in Our Sails: Celebrating Refugees in Our Communities

Winds in Our Sails: Celebrating Refugees in Our Communities Presentation by:

Minnesota welcomes refugees because: Minnesotans believe in treating all people with respect and dignity, wherever they are from Resettled people bring new talents, skills, and ideas that help sustain Minnesota’s economic and cultural vitality With a population representing 100 countries around the globe, Minnesota’s refugees help connect our state to the rest of the world

Refugee Resettlement Programs Strengthen Our Communities When refugees arrive in Minnesota, they are building new lives from the ground up. By helping them to construct good ones, we: Lay a foundation for the future. Today’s young refugees are tomorrow’s workforce, civic leaders, and business owners Build our state’s resources. Healthy, productive residents add to our state’s economy through their labor productivity and by spending money in our communities. Restore refugees’ health and wellbeing. Refugees often arrive in Minnesota after deep hardships. Resettlement programs help them to start over and connect to their new communities, giving them the sturdy frame they need to create a healthy and prosperous future for themselves and their children.

The MN Refugee Resettlement Office Helps Refugees Build on Solid Ground Just as a well-built house needs a sturdy foundation poured by experts, resettling in Minnesota requires some professional help, quality materials, and a blueprint. The MN Refugee Resettlement Office: Scaffolds refugees’ economic wellbeing with job training and placement services Builds refugees’ understanding of our culture Supports young refugees’ academic success Connects families to the community’s grid of resources Assists with the naturalization process, so refugees can fully integrate into our communities

Celebrate Refugees in Your Community Refugees help our communities move farther, faster. Their contributions add wind to our state’s social, economic, and cultural sails. You can celebrate refugees’ contributions in many ways: Learn a greeting in another language Visit a cultural museum or marketplace Learn different ways to work with other cultures Learn about the refuge admission program Volunteer!