March 11, 1999 - MPR’s Lynette Nyman presents a series titled “This Is Home: The Hmong in Minnesota.” In this part, Nyman reports on an increasing number of Hmong Americans returning to visit their homeland of Laos…or Thailand, where refugee camps became home for thousands after the war ended in 1975 and Laos became a communist country.
March 12, 1999 -
March 12, 1999 - Midday presents a MPR documentary special by MPR’s Lynette Nyman about the Hmong people in Minnesota, called “This Is Home: The Hmong in Minnesota.” Program explores the ways members of St. Paul's Hmong community wrestle with issues of culture and identity, with maintaining ties to the past, and seeking to thrive in modern urban America.
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 5, 1999 - This week, our Mainstreet reporting team looks at Minnesota's 'hidden' population -- rural minorities. In some cities and towns, the minority population has just begun to grow. It's a change that enriches life for some, and threatens others. It's been nearly three years since the start of a series of racially motivated conflicts in Rochester. The violent clashes mainly between white teenagers and immigrant Somalis marked the city's awakening to deep racial divisions some say had been kept hidden below the surface. Since then, youth groups promoting cultural understanding have grown, minority groups have found a stronger voice, and city leaders launched an on-going education campaign. Still, Rochester residents of color say it's been a challenge to establish even a basic understanding with their white counterparts.
June 4, 1999 - The first refugee family from Kosovo to resettle in Minnesota arrived last night in the Twin Cities. Refugee workers from the World Relief organization and a "host family" were there to greet them. Although there's talk of peace for Kosovo, there's no telling when, or even if, this family will go home.
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.
September 20, 1999 - The state's largest school district is coping with another large wave of new immigrants. Minneapolis school officials say the fastest growing segment of their enrollment remains recent arrivals, who speak little if any English. Nearly three weeks after the start of classes, immigrant students are still showing up to register.
September 23, 1999 - An immigration court judge today ruled Rene Hurtado can stay in the US. Hurtado --who now goes by the name Rene Larin-- fled El Salvador in the 1980's claiming he feared persecution. However US Immigration officials said it was Hurtado who had committed attrocities.
November 3, 1999 - People from countries along Africa's north east coast make up one of Minnesota's fastest growing populations. Most are from Somalia, but a small percentage is from Ethiopia. The newcomers depend on Ethiopians who've been here for a while for traditional goods and services. One place they often go first is a grocery store on Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis.