Mankato Free Press
By Dan Nienaber
Sunday, April 29, 2012
MANKATO — With the smell of sambusa and other tasty food filling every room, local Muslim leaders made it clear Saturday their new Mankato Islamic Center is going to be a place where barriers are brought down, not built.
City leaders, educators, bankers, a few police officers and even an FBI agent were among those invited to an open house at the Broad Street building, which is both a mosque and a community center. They removed their shoes at the door, took tours of the building, then gathered in a large room usually used as a prayer room for women.
“Our main focus is this is our culture and this is who we are,” said Akram Osman. “Come join us for our open house.”
Osman is a member of the center. He’s also a Minnesota State University student, East High School girls head soccer coach and a home-school liaison for Mankato Area Public Schools. School Superintendent Sheri Allen, East Principal Shane Baier and East Junior High School Principal Rich Dahman were among the invited guests. Many of the center’s members are families with students at the east side schools.
Both the schools and Mankato’s Muslim community, which has a large population of Somali immigrants, are trying to find ways to make it easier for Somali students to be successful in school. That isn’t always easy when there are language and cultural barriers that can be a challenge for both students and their parents. Having some of the city’s top educators take the time to visit with parents and students on their own turf builds confidence, Osman said.
Even if they can’t always verbally communicate, Somali parents know school employees are looking out for the best interests of their children.
“Education is a big thing in every family,” Osman said. “That’s the biggest thing every parent wants: The feeling that when your kids are going to school they have people who care about them there.”
Abdi Sabrie, one of the center’s leaders, said there will be a variety of uses for the new building. It’s open to anyone who wants to enter, no matter what their religious background. There are rooms in the basement that include a computer lab and education room, which can also be used to serve senior lunches and host other events.
There also are plans to invite more people to future open houses, Sabrie said.