East Africa Health Project Microgrant
For this project, eahpro is interested in focusing efforts in obesity prevention and chronic diseases through amplification and celebration of Somali arts, culture and heritage in Minnesota, because different Somali dances are exercise which help to prevent obesity and chronic disease. If we get help from Minnesota humanities center (MHC) we will create multicultural event and dinners to show different communities how Somali culture and heritage and dance are important and can be part of prevention of chronic diseases.
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Leyla Suleiman (Minneapolis, MN) Leyla is a first year educator, author in the Crossroads: Somali Youth Anthology, and was a panelist for the Community Partner Fund and is also serving in the immigrant cultural heritage panel. She is Somali. |
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Hibaq Mohamed (Minneapolis, MN) – Hibaq is an MHC Increase Engagement facilitator, author in the Crossroads: Somali Youth Anthology, and is also serving in the immigrant cultural heritage panel. She is Somali. |
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Nasra Farah (St. Cloud, MN) – Nasrah is a board member and featured speaker through the activist/advocacy organization #unitecloud. She is Somali. |
Laura Benson
Minnesota Humanities Center
laura@mnhum.org
651-772-4244
$850,000 the first year and $850,000 the second year are for a competitive grants program to provide grants to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Minnesota.
(2) Of this amount, $250,000 the first year is for a grant to one or more community organizations that provide arts and cultural heritage programming celebrating Somali heritage.
The goal of the project is to amplify and connect all Minnesotans to Somali art and cultural heritage in state of MN. The project will honor and preserve Somali culture and heritage because we are Somalis who know the worth of the art and culture of Somali people. For this project, EAHP is interested in focusing efforts in obesity prevention and chronic diseases through amplification and celebration of Somali arts, culture and heritage in Minnesota, because different Somali dances are exercise which help to prevent obesity and chronic disease. If we get help from Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) we will create multicultural event and dinners to show different communities how Somali culture and heritage and dance are important and can be part of prevention of chronic diseases. We want to increase the depth and breadth of Minnesotans who will connect with Somali art culture and heritage and show them how Somali dance can prevent obesity and chronic disease.
East Africa Health Project held seminars before the COVID19 outbreak began to introduce to the Somali Community their most popular Somali dances as a substitute for the GYM life style especially during this difficult time while people are quarantined at home. The seminar participants were very receptive to our program and it was well received by them. East Africa Health Project developed and produced a 10-minute video to mobilize Somali Community on the essence of cultural health through art and performance. This will enable us to promote and educate the community about healthy living while preserving their religion and cultural heritage.