“We all want community, Chris. Stop spreading hatred,” Hunkun Abdullahi said. On Dec. 4, 2015, Chris Berg, host of KVLY’s “Point of View” had an intense discussion with two guests. Abdullahi is the Executive Director of the Afro American Development Association of Moorhead, Minn. Berg’s second guest was AADA’s program director Hamida Dakune. Dakune and…
Empathy helps providers guide others through healthcare system
In one day, Chandra Acharya saw 75 people die and be cremated by the riverside at Beldangi II refugee camp, in Maidhar, Nepal, “Kids, older folks, all because of dysentery and diarrhea from the dirty river,” Acharya said. Several years later, Acharya is now living in Fargo, where he works at Family HealthCare Center part…
A complicated issue
Identifying angst about refugee resettlement Walking into LSS these days isn’t as simple as stepping into the lobby, strolling down the hall and knocking on doors. Resembling the visitation process of public schools, walkins must check into the front desk, stating their business or appointment. For the remainder of their time there, they must also…
Natural born citizens: Not-so-natural test scores
Each month in Fargo-Moorhead and around the country, New Americans gather at naturalization ceremonies to be sworn in as new citizens of the United States. The process of becoming a citizen takes a minimum of one year’s time to complete from the time it takes to apply, go through background checks, study, and take the test itself. Citizens-in-training are given…
Community Gardens
Growing more than veggies It’s early February, the ground is covered in sticky-wet snow and the streets are sloppy from a week of 40-degree temperatures. This weather is unseasonably warm for the majority of the Fargo-Moorhead population. But for New Americans Zainab Alsudani and Alyaa Luaibi, Fargo is still chilly and they long for the…
Student archer, Chris Wiger competes against the pros
It takes a very steady hand to succeed at Milton Bradley’s Operation board game. It takes an even more steady hand to be an actual surgeon, and only the steadiest of hands get to hold national archery trophies. By day, Chris Wiger is a college student in his junior year at Concordia College double-majoring in…
On the greatest country in the world
Patriotism, nationalism, loyalty, allegiance: all words with positive connotations. To support one’s country is to be a good citizen, and to do otherwise is to be unthankful and petulant. Americans either believe America is the greatest country on Earth, or they don’t—but which group is correct? Until recently it was less common for people to…
A new balancing act
Cell phone usage in Concordia classrooms In one classroom, a student is told to put her phone away and pay attention. Next door, students use their cell phones to take an in-class quiz. Down the hall, a professor asks a student to look up a fact on his phone. The use for Smartphones in our…
Job training creates stronger workforce
The website of Cardinal Glass Industries states their mission is to provide the highest quality glass products for residential windows. With over 6,000 employees nationwide, they are able to create guaranteed products and ship them around the world. While Cardinal is shipping their products to different countries, the hands that work on the product back…
Building Trusting Relationships
LSS helps refugees secure jobs Kawa Hawari goes to work every day and meets with people from all over the world. He listens to these peoples’ stories about their families, friends, future aspirations, the journey to the United States, and past work experience. He works with people just like him, refugees, people who have packed…









