This is a story mostly about how the schools in Green Bay are coping with an increasing influx of Somali refugees. It sounds like the increase in numbers is due mostly to secondary migrations and some family reunifications. I wonder if there is a meatpacking plant nearby.
From the Green Bay Press Gazette:
The number of Somali students enrolled in the Green Bay School District has more than quadrupled since the end of last school year.
The district now enrolls 90 Somalis, compared with 49 in September and just 18 in June. The district’s overall student population tops 21,000.
The growing number of Somali students — many of whom need help to improve their English skills — prompted the Green Bay district to hire someone full time to support and instruct students, to work as a parent contact for schools and to interpret. Abdul Nur’s first day is Monday.
New Mosque is a draw
Green Bay doesn’t have neighborhoods like Chicago,” she said. “They’re coming here because they feel safe, and now they have a community.”
They also are attracted to the newly located Green Bay mosque of the Islamic Society of Wisconsin, she said.
“We have had an influx of Somalis in the past year and a half or so,” said Mohamed Ibrahim, a mosque leader. “They come to worship and be part of a community.”
Family reunifications are also responsible
Catholic Charities this year assisted two Somali families who had refugee status to move to the U.S. to reunite with family members, according to the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay.
The main reason the Green Bay area has seen an increase in the Somali population is reunification* of extended families, said Judy Roemer, family strengthening manager for Catholic Charities.
* I wonder if they had their DNA test?