SOMFAM's vision is to build a strong Somali community. With this grant, we will facilitate new avenues for deepening Somali women's cultural identity. SOMFAM will launch a Somali language YouTube channel and Somali Cooking Classes to educate the Somali diaspora, particularly Somali women living in Minnesota, about culture and critical resources, and to empower them to engage with and share their cultural heritage.
Golden Lake does not meet state water quality standards due to high phosphorus levels. The proposed iron enhanced sand filter basin was identified in the Golden Lake Subwatershed Stormwater Retrofit Analysis to be one of the most cost effective remaining practices for reducing external phosphorus loads to Golden Lake. This project, paired with two previously installed upstream Best Management Practices, will achieve on average, 84% of the phosphorus reduction goal for the watershed.
The City of Wyoming has proudly commenced construction of Railroad Park, a new and exciting addition to our community that will kick off the redevelopment of our downtown development plan. This vibrant community space is being developed in three phases as we work towards celebrating our City's rich heritage, honoring our veterans, and providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike. The first phase of Railroad Park, which construction began on in Fall of 2023, is the Veterans Memorial portion of the project.
This project is a documentary film about the intercultural experiences of immigrants living in Minnesota. It features footage of live performances at the Southern Theater, followed by talkbacks with cultural leaders and scholars; and the voices of audience and community members, recorded in post-performance conversations and interviews.
Renovate Rice Creek Maintenance Shop and campground support facility to improve maintenance and operations efficiencies and improve visitor experience in park.
We will characterize environmental drivers contributing to the decline of wild rice using lake sediment cores to reconstruct historical wild rice abundance in relation to lake and watershed stressors.
With a population of 162,000 that expands by approximately 300,000 annually through tourism, the Brainerd Lakes area is truly a beloved “up north” destination in Minnesota. Brainerd’s emerging Region 5 Children’s Museum (working title) envisions a more connected Minnesota and will actively bring together people from diverse backgrounds in shared experiences through the exploration of northern Minnesota’s rich art, culture, and heritage.
This project will fund a Youth Executive Board (YEB) to create an anthology of youth stories and experiences that describe their identities, stories, and experiences. This anthology will include a variety of interdisciplinary art such as personal essays, poems, visual art, etc., and be a reflective and engaging multimedia project that highlights, preserves, and celebrates the cultural heritage and identities of YEB members and empowers communities to build and preserve their identities.