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.

‎We must cultivate our souls and minds‎

I sit here today asking myself what is the purpose of life? We as young people wake up every day not fully aware of our true purpose in life. The real reason why we've been placed on this land. Yes, indeed we say by tongue that we are created to worship none other than Allah (swt) and to follow the Sunnah of the prophet (pbuh) but it seems to me that none of us have really comprehended the true meaning of believing in the oneness of Allah. Were so caught up in the web of lies that we don't realize that were leading ourselves in the path of jahanam. Dear brothers and sisters I am not trying to lecture anyone for I am full of mistakes but I just wanted to remind my fellow brothers and sisters in Islam a issue that we tend to overlook. One that concerns us all whether young or old.

We live in a society that only wants to consume things never wanting to give anything in return. We as Muslim individuals need to be setting an example for other individuals to follow. One that all people from all walks of life would be compelled to apply in their daily lives. Our beloved prophet (pbuh) used to give his neighbors and fellow companions whatever they needed. He was all about giving. But us in the other hand seem to be doing the exact opposite. Doing our best to get the most money its OK it doesn't matter if we have to fall on haram while were at it, it seems. Have we forgotten the Sunnah of Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (phub) ? We are supposed to be the example. Those, which others would want to, embrace their way of life and learn about. But it seems to me that we are making people see Islam and Muslims as uneducated worthless people. Who cheat, deceives, disfigure and deform what America stands for.

Our beloved Prophet (pbuh) has said in numerous narrations’ to seek knowledge even if it means going to China. We on the other hand have been blessed with the opportunity of receiving a free education and having nothing to lose while were at it. But what do we do with that golden opportunity we simply throw it in the trash. Indeed we have couple of hundreds of Somali Students going to Colleges and Universities but the numbers of high School dropouts are increasing. It seems the longer we stay in America the more we seem to put our customs, religion and traditions in the trash.

Another good example of a golden opportunity that we don't take advantage of is voting. Most of us don't vote because as I have said earlier were either too busy feeding ourselves the web of lies that we will return back home and govern our own countries. Yes alhamdulilah that’s a great plan but its time that we must wake up and smell the coffee and wake up to reality. Should we just sit there waiting to hear the news that we can all go back to Somalia and in the meantime just wait? Or should we be making something of ourselves and learning new things that, we will be able to take with us when were going back home? You see we also have to let our voice be heard about issues that matter to us and to chose those who we believe can get the job done into office? Because if we don't vote somebody else controls our communities. They write the law and it is put into law and our money pays for it. So we might as well vote and make sure that the needs of our community are met. If all Muslims over the age of 18 go out to vote and give their power to the leader (meaning the imams of the masjid) and then the leader could go out to the representatives and that way he can share with them the concerns of the Muslim Community. That way the person running for office will most probably would take the leader seriously when he sees the power and all of the people who have placed their power in him. That way the imam could ask for the person running for office to give the Masjid or the Community Center a specific amount of money from that which has been collected from the Muslim Citizens that which reside in that Community who have paid federal taxes.

It seems as if the enemy can always find a way to keep the Muslims separated even if it’s over the smallest things. Now they’re separating us into different camps the Shii, Salafii, Theyii, Heii, Sheii, and Whatiii whatever they can to keep us a part. Because they know that as soon as we come together its over. They know that Islam is not isolated to only Africans but to all people regardless of where they’re from. They know that we have something stronger that bonds us all together which is the belief in the oneness of Allah (towhid).

Dear brothers and sisters who must know that the only responsibilities that we have is not that of which is to provide for ourselves but also those to ones society. We must be law-abiding citizens. If we work together to better our community we would be able to attract more people to Islam. This is our opportunity to spread the message of Allah. Some of our other responsibilities to our society are to give back in community service. Meaning we should be the ones attracting homeless people, organizing food drives in which we give the homeless people free food. We show the people within our communities the beauty of our deen. Then only can we say we have reached true success. Dear Muslim readers none of us is guaranteed to live to see tomorrow but what we can do is make good use of our time. We must not let a single minute to waste. We need to take charge and take part in our communities.

We must cultivate our souls and minds and fulfill these social responsibilities that we have upon ourselves. We must deliver the message and be as one. Keep in mind that when you’re out in the public your not caring your name and image but rather the names of all Muslims all over the world and their image. So think twice before you do something and when you’re doing anything do it to enhance the Ummah in whatever form, way or capability. For it is only you who has the power to empower other individuals to see the beauty of this beautiful deen.



This article was inspired by a Khalid Yassin lecture that I went to.

Africa is where I call home

I fled from my homeland,
From blood thirst warlords in 1993,
Who killed without reason

Who killed the innocent bystanders
Tribal conflict they called it,
But “murder she wrote”

They killed for all the wrong reasons
depriving future generations the chance to grow
and inflicting the young minds with “this infected
Concept know as tribalism, an eye for an eye,
a tooth for a tooth, a nail for a nail.
Killing, rapping and butchering thy own nephew”

I grew not knowing what my country was like
Only hearing stories of how it used to be

As I grew older I questioned myself as to why
People would do such hideous act of violence

Breaking up families and causing mothers endless cries
watching their sons being shot
Witnessing their daughters being raped
Not being able to do anything
helpless, powerless, and in agony....

Centuries go by and they declare
“WE ARE INDEPENT” and I ask “WHAT IS INDEPENCE”?


I could not have written this note without the help of my dear brother abdullahi bashir..... Thannk u i don't know what i'd do without ur support and willingness to help....Ur the best....

ISN'T IT ENOUGH?

Isn't enough????

Isn't it enough that our youngesters r lost in the game
A game that has no end and promises glory and fame

Isn't it enough that our sisters are losing their self respect
Forgetting their true identity i believe its time for a reality check

Wheres the community when we need them the most
At times like this the communities should have had their doors open and not be closed

Why must the world be so cruel
Why r we ignoring the quran when its our own tool

The tool to success
A tool that can lower ur stress

Life is too short to waste
And death is a event in everyones lives that all will have to taste

Isn't it enough that our boys r locked up in prison?
And our girls are killing their unborn children without a reason

Isn't it enough that we had to leave our home due to tribalism affairs
We say we want peace but its us who r fueling the fire with more flames and then say we care

My country has been raped of its basic rights
With our countrymen killing each other in endless fights

I miss the land that was so clean n pure
But now it has been diagnosed with a disease that has no cure

Isn’t it enough that our kids r forgetting their mother tongue
Isn’t it enough that the only thing they remember is the noise of the loud guns

Who is to blame?
For getting us into this game

A game that has no beginning or ending
A game that has us believing in a distorted image

Wake up brothers n sisters Somalia waits us
N we surely wont’ succeed by taking the American way of life

Can anybody hear?

Can anybody hear me?
By: Salma Hussein

Can anybody hear me?
Does anybody hear my cry?
What happened to my sons and daughters?
Did they forget about me already?

I have no one to turn to
No one to ask for help
My siblings fight amongst themselves
Blinded by tribalism

I’m so alone
It’s so cold, I dream of having a stable place to call home
Without the fear of bloodshed

What has gone wrong with my people?
Do they not see what is taking place?
Do they not see the path that we are headed towards?
Why isn’t anybody doing anything about this?

Why is the world cold?
Doesn’t anybody care?
The suffrage continues
Starvation increases
Bloodshed continues
While the educated turn the corner

Who is out there for us?
Who am I to turn to for help?
Who am I to seek protection from?
When my own people call war on themselves?

Our children are left their to suffer
Their forced to watch their countrymen kill each other
What kind of image and lesson are we passing on to our youngsters?

We fled to America and other western countries
Believing that life would get better
Little did we know what awaited us?

Our youth fail prey to the American way of life
Leaving behind their religion and culture
Our sons turned to drugs and gang activities
While our daughters abandoned their hijabs and came up with new ways to flaunt their beauties

Who is to blame?
Every person who has every used qabil to divide people
Every individual who cares for their own tribes success while caring little about the others.

I ask is qabil really worth it all?
Having no government for nearly 16 years.
Having our men kill each other for land and power

Somalia belongs to all of us
Regardless of your tribe you’re Muslim first
We need to put our differences aside and celebrate our similarities

Why have we allowed this to go on for this long?
How long can we wait for our country men to finally realize that its not worth it.

Walahi if we continue on in this path
It won’t be long before our language and culture disappears
Is that our goal?
If it is then lets continue on with this division and chaos that has raped us of our beautiful land.
But if we want to have a country to call our own we have to realize that regardless of what part of Somalia you are from were all aiming for the same goal.


A country is nothing without its people
Somalia needs us more than ever
United we stand and divided we fa

Charity begins at home

“What can I do for you?” These words have become very natural to me. I see myself, more than most people, genuinely interested in the well-being of others. Whether I’m at school, hospital or local community center I go out of my way to be helpful. Just last week, I remember going up to a young man who is a regular at the community center I tutor at walking around the university campus. I simply approached him wanting to know why he wasn’t in school during school hours. My curiosity and good heartedness were received not to well. The young man responded, “Why is it any of your business?”

At the moment, I didn’t really know how to respond to the question, but after much thought I guess the simply answer is that my HEART as well as my Eye tirelessly work towards the improvement of my immediate community. I feel a sense of responsibility to extend a hand, help carry groceries, translate a letter or simply asking a young man why he wasn’t where he should have been as a RESPONSIBILITY I have towards my community.

I want others to act and start putting the needs of others in front of their own, without expecting some reward or recognition. I call to the Somali readers of this blog, to take it upon themselves to lead by example and become the light of the community. Our elders have sacrificed so much, to give us the opportunities we have come to know living in the Diaspora and we owe it to them to GIVE time.

For all of those who are wondering where to start? A good friend of mine reminded me of the most important place where many forget, the HOME. He texted, “charity begins at home. First establish yourself. Help fam. Then help others. Don’t try to take on all the problems. Do just enough.” I must admit this caught me off guard, because all this time most of my attention was towards the greater community, but a simple text helped put things in perspective.

A call to action

Salam,


A young brother was shot and killed. According to the MPD his death is justifiable because he was using his car as a weapon against the police.

If what they are saying is true, would it not make sense for them to shoot at the tires of the car to reduce the threat, rather than shooting at him multiple times resulting in his death?

Its time we speak out against these incidents. Yeah the car might have been stolen, but that's somebody's life they just took away. As the witness said, " why couldn't they shoot at his tires?" Its time we demand answers from these very law enforcements who were put there to protect us, rather than killing our sons.


My fellow Somali family, let us join hands and make sure that our voice is heard. We cannot let this be another shooting, and as the headline of the story tells you, the media is quick to twist things.

Together we can seek our rights as a community, who won't take this as yet another young boy who wanted to inflict harm.


Here's the link to the story and please tell me there's no bias in the reporting?

http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/39137222.html

Salma