General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsServing an Immigrant Community - A Brief Case Study
My neighborhood is very diverse, but in the 14 years I've owned a home here, it is changing. St. Paul and the Twin Cities of MN at large is home to the largest population of Hmong people in the United States. Most came here originally as refugees, brought to the United States through a program to help Hmong people come to the US in thanks for their service during the Vietnam War. My neighborhood is now about 1/3 Hmong.
Something someone said to my wife one day made me look into how the community is serving these immigrants. A new family purchased the house across the street, and my wife was talking to a Hmong checker at a local market. She mentioned our new neighbors. The woman at the market asked her: "Do they drive Toyotas?" My wife said yes. "They're Hmong," the checker said. When my wife told me that, I started to wonder why this immigrant community preferred that auto brand. I'm a marketing type these days, and questions like that interest me. So, I did some research.
It turns out that a Toyota dealer in a neighboring suburb did something novel several years ago. Recognizing that growing segment of the population, its owner started hiring Hmong salespeople, auto repair technicians and others to work at the dealership. Soon, word of mouth spread that people at that dealership spoke Hmong. Before long, it became the auto dealer of choice for this growing community of immigrants. Now, someone can ask, "Do they drive Toyotas?" If the answer is yes, it's likely that they're Hmong.
The many thousands of Hmong people who now live in this area have integrated themselves in the community. We have Hmong judges, Hmong state legislators, and Hmong city officials. Hmong business owners are everywhere. There is still prejudice against them, of course, but that community has become successful and is growing.
Part of the reason for that is that Minnesota welcomed them, more or less officially. A Toyota dealer in a nearby suburb led the way in that, and has been rewarded by becoming the largest Toyota dealer in the region. It recognized a new market and responded by opening its employment doors to members of that community. The owners recognized a new market that needed to be served and took the steps necessary to serve its members.
We need to welcome our immigrants, not greet them with tear gas. We need to look at them as potential assets, not enemies.
SWBTATTReg
(22,124 posts)work w/ many of them in our jobs etc. here in St. Louis City and the metro area.
The example you cite is a great example of all of us coming together and working together to solve problems of the community, celebrate things such as the annual 'Festival of Nations' where over 100 different organizations participate, and showcase ethic food, native dances, etc. Over 100,000 people come to this event and it seems to get better and better every year.
MineralMan
(146,309 posts)That always works out better than yelling at them or shunning them, I think. The same would be true for those Central Americans coming to this country to escape poverty and violence. Just let them in, help them get oriented and let them find their place here.
What's a few thousand new residents? They're fresh faces, eager to make a new home. Let's help them do that.
SWBTATTReg
(22,124 posts)they rec'd from Uncle Sam in full! They (Bosnian in this particular example) are very proud of this fact. This is far from the truth that immigrants sponge off the system.
MineralMan
(146,309 posts)in some ways. It uses crowd-sourcing to help young families purchase homes. Hmong candidates win elections because the entire community goes to the polls and votes. There is massive help with the naturalization process, too, and help with start-up funding for new small businesses.
I have learned enough Hmong to be polite and have simple conversations. That has helped me get to know my new neighbors. There's always a really surprised look and a big smile when I greet someone in Hmong. My wife and I walk our two, very friendly dogs around the neighborhood every day, so I get to meet many of my neighbors that way.