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.

In the past 20 years, almost 53,000 refugees have resettled in Minnesota. The majority live in the Twin Cities, but about 15 percent of the refugees were placed in rural Minnesota. The Norwegian community of Pelican Rapids in west-central Minnesota now has a lively ethnic mix of Somalians, Mexicans, Vietnamese, and Bosnians. English classes for adults are held three nights a week. In 1998, the community organized International Friendship Day to celebrate the new diversity in town. Not all communities have been so welcoming. A textile business in Benson in Swift County was hoping to bring Hmong workers to town to boost the local labor force. Plans were scrapped after some community members expressed opposition.

Program includes audience commentary and listener call-in.

[NOTE: Audio includes news segment]