Cherinet said the unity she feels with the congregation at the Ethiopian Evangelical Church in St. Paul is somewhat rare in Minnesota's Ethiopian community. A joint effort between the YMCA of Woodbury and Twin Cities-based Mission Impact Council, the four-piece series aims to identify the needs and prioritize opportunities for Ethiopian youth in Minnesota. Participants broke up into small groups matching both Ethiopian and non-Ethiopian community members with representatives from community organizations for discussion. Another struggle participants discusses is the language barrier some Ethiopian parents face as they raise children who were born in Minnesota and speak fluent English. Despite the struggles participants discussed, Cherinet and Ogeto agreed that Woodbury offers Ethiopian youth ample access to employment and education.

Source: Ethiopian News September 10, 2017 12:56 UTC