When Minnesota was a new state, thousands of settlers arrived, many of them from Europe. But in recent decades, the state has attracted large numbers of Hmong and Somali refugees. There are also thousands of people from India, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Mexico and the People’s Republic of China living in Minnesota.
The state has become more racially diverse in the last 10 years, and demographers said that's especially true among children. About 83 percent of Minnesotans were white, non-Hispanic for the 2010 census, compared to 88 percent in 2000.
May 5, 1999 - A Mainstreet Radio special broadcast from St. Cloud State University as part of MPR's week-long project called "Hidden Rainbow: The Changing Face of Minnesota." In this second hour of program, Rachel Reabe hosts a discussion on refugee resettlement in Minnesota with Minh Tran, area coordinator for Refugee and Immigration Services for Lutheran Social Services in Moorehead; Diane Kimm, a Pelican Rapids volunteer who has worked with refugee families in the community; Bob Hulteen, of Minnesota Council of Churches; and Sue Pirsig, who works with economic development organization in Swift County.
May 26, 1999 - It's almost census time again, when -- theoretically -- every household in America fills out a survey about everyone's favorite subject: themselves. One of the functions of the census is to help the federal government figure out how much money to distribute to cities. In the last census, a lot of people were not counted ... and the money didn't follow. Today (WED), the city of Minneapolis unveiled a new strategy designed to get a more accurate count this time. Minnesota Public Radio's John Rabe reports. At the news conference, Emmett Carson, head of the Minneapolis Foundation, put it plainly:
June 2, 1999 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews a local Hmong artist about his desire to protect and foster Hmong cultural arts as an avenue for next generation in the Hmong community, both abroad and in the United States.
July 8, 1999 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman reports on how Somali immigrants are adjusting and taking on the many challenges in creating a new home in the United States. Nyman speaks with local Somali residents about adapting while keeping culture and tradition intact.
January 7, 2000 - St. Paul school officials are seeking public input on plans to end social promotion in the district. Last night, Superintendent Pat Harvey and school board members outlined the plan during a forum at Central High School. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo reports. NARRATION: During the presentation, Superintendent Harvey made it clear she believes social promotion produces more harm than good. Harvey said students should advance to higher grade levels only after meeting requirements.
April 26, 2000 - MPR’s Bob Potter talks with Lee Pao Xiong, member of the Metropolitan Council, about what has changed in the past 25 years for the Hmong community. Xiong is the first Hmong appointed by the governor to a state policy-making body.
June 28, 2000 -
June 28, 2000 - Striking Twin Cities hotel workers are voting on a tentative contract agreement. The deal would bring the 14 hundred members of the Hotel Employees Local 17 a much lower pay raise than they had hoped for. But it WOULD provide medical benefits for workers' family members. It's likely the rank and file will ratify the proposed contract. It got one vote of confidence from the union's 40-member executive committee earlier today. Workers could be back on the job as soon as tomorrow. That would be a huge relief for Minneapolis city officials, who've feared the strike would disrupt the state's biggest ever convention -- 50 thousands members of Alcoholics Anonymous began arriving in town today. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
June 29, 2000 - Striking hotel workers have voted overwhelmingly to approve the tentative contract agreement reached by union and hotel management negotiators yesterday (Wednesday). The vote ends the almost two-week old strike that disturbed operations at seven twin cities hotels and threatened to disrupt the Twin Cities largest-ever convention. After weeks of sometimes acrimonious negotiations and picketing, both the and the hotels management say they got what they wanted. Minnesota Public Radio's Andrew Haeg reports.
July 6, 2000 - Immigrant arrivals and crowded schoolrooms have Saint Paul officials anticipating the 2000 census will show the city's population increased in the past decade. What's more, Saint Paul expects continued growth in coming years, even though the city limits remain fixed. The hot housing market has city planners earmarking locations for new homes. It also has many renters scrambling to pay rising rents that are the by-product of a one percent vacancy rate. Minnesota Public Radio's William Wilcoxen reports...