Little Mogadishu

Just south of my neighborhood in San Diego lies City Heights, an area known for its ethnic diversity. This area includes neighborhoods of Indian, Middle Eastern, Vietnamese, Hispanic, as well as Eastern African people. Approximately 55,000 Somali refugees have come to San Diego legally since 1991 to escape war, and about 20,000 live in what is called "Little Mogadishu", in City Heights.

All Somali refugees that come to San Diego are put on welfare, and it is very difficult for them to move beyond this state. There are several organizations who work with the state department to help the Somalis assimilate to living in the United States. One of those groups is International Rescue Committee, or IRC, who provide services such as immediate attention upon arrival in the U.S. (food, shelter, clothing), and promote self-reliance through community and cultural orientation, education, English-speaking classes and job placement. As you can imagine, it is a difficult struggle to make a living: http://www.bantubeads.com/.

For high school students, there is a program called Students Plus, where volunteers do after-school tutoring. In addition, they've created other programs like sports teams, and currently there is an exhibit, "A Different Life", at the San Diego History Center that focuses on the transition faced by seven high school-aged Somali girls living in San Diego. It was co-curated with the girls themselves working with museum staff, so they were able to provide their own items for the displays, and also, for example, demonstrate how a dress is worn. It was sad to read their stories, especially about one whose grandmother had been killed and whose father had been targeted simply because he worked for the government.

map from the museum showing the girls' routes

Overall, it was noted that these refugee communities live rather isolated lives, so I think public exhibits such as these are incredibly important for acknowledging the different communities that surround us by creating awareness not only about their culture, but how they connect with our own.