Salaam Peace Project
Understanding and Prevention of violence,

Cedar Riverside, Somali Youth: for the past several years, when people hear this part of the metro area of Minneapolis and this large group of African immigrants; gangs, violence, alcohol and drugs are the first things that come to mind. There have been mentions of the violence of Somali-on-Somali gang related murders that have taken place within the perimeters of this well-known area. Families have been left devastated, friends shocked and a community divided. In 2008, a diverse group of Somali elders, community leaders, parents, students and volunteers came together to discuss what could be done to stop the violence and abuse of drugs. This team of positive thinking and hard planning group called Somali Youth Network Council (SYNC) have rallied and campaigned to improve this community and to give back to their people.

A year later, SYNC is still working to better change and educate the youth as well as their parents. A series of educational workshops are underway and will begin after the Project Salaam kick-off on the 16th of August, 2009. Because of the increase of violence, there will be four workshops dedicated to violence and substance abuse. The workshops will be targeted to the Somali youth in hopes to better educate them. Our goal is to give better understanding and enough resources for these young men and women to live and strive for a better life.

The mission question: Can we, as SYNC, make a difference in the fight against violence and substance abuse? Will intervening at the first sign of risk, restoring youth going down the wrong path, proposing a culture free of violence and teaching them to trust in adults (parents, teachers and public authority) lead us to the goal that everyone of us envisions.

The vision: Streets free of crime, schools furnished with students, a society comprised of hard working young Somali’s and homes saturated with euphoria.