A Worrisome Trend in Somali Youth in Columbus, Ohio

[gegiroor]

A distant relative of mine and his family of 2 (wife and a daughter) was recently (about 4 months ago) brought into the US through the US Refugee Resettlement program. I go and help that family on the weekends since he doesn't have a car yet. They live in an apartment complex called Wedgewood Apartments in Columbus, Ohio.

Today, I went there earlier and we were chatting with the guy outside his apartment complex when fighting started in a nearby playground. He asked me let us go inside. I asked him why do we need to go inside from those young males who were fighting while we had nothing to do with them? He has stated let us hurry up into our unit and I will explain you later.

We went to his unit and he has explained to me that there are several Somali gangs in this apartment complex. They are constantly fighting, shooting between them has become very common, and all young males between the age of 15 - 18 are in big trouble. Even if a young guy does not join them, they will force him to join them by constantly attacking him. He related the story of several families who had to move out of this apartment complex after their sons - who refused to join them - were attacked by these gangs - remember these gangs are Somalis.

Apparently, the Columbus Police department is well aware of this situation and dispatches several police cars to this apartment complex every day. If a young man who is the culprit in one of these crimes is underage and the police captures him, they don't arrest him but contact his family and release him after short detention. However, a file is created for that guy, and as soon as he hits 18, he is going to jail for a long-time to come.

Just like that distant relative of mine, the majority of the people who took residence in these Wedgewood Apartments are new refugees. They were brought in from the refugee camps, and many of them have large kids - average 8 children. Majority of these families are Somali Bantu. The schools in the area are not good. Due to their family size, they will have difficulty of moving out these housing units since rent would be skyrocketing for bigger families, and it is even hard for families like them to obtain apartment or homes that can accommodate all of the family members.

Long story short, the US Refugee Resettlement Program is taking Somalis from the refugee camps and dumping them in the ghettos when they arrive in the US. While in no doubt many of these new comers will do well in the US, others will have their children populating in the prison system - particularly the young males.

To try to have a positive impact on this trend, I have these questions for Somalis in the US since this issue does not seem to be going away:

1. My understanding is the US Refugee Resettlement Program comes under the US Department of State. Since our local community agencies are powerless or too divided to have a local impact, what can we do to influence at the top level? Here is my take: In my view, informing the Department of State on how the subcontracting agencies - that should have settled these new comers in good areas - are dumping them in failing areas and don't care about the effect that it will have on them is a good start. These subcontracting agencies are milking the system, making millions, but really once they bring them here (US), the refugees are placed in the ghettos, and that is it, they are done with them and don't care about the outcome. Once properly informed, I am hoping the Department of State can place pressure on the US Refugee Resettlement agencies to ensure the refugees are not placed in inner cities (another word for ghettos).

My problem is I am not sure where we can apply pressure points on the Department of State, but do you think starting with senators and local congressmen and congresswomen is the best place to start? I am contemplating these ideas, but would like to hear from you.

3. Local Somali communities are useless or perhaps powerless. The retarded and useless clan division has paralyzed it, and many of the so-called leaders seem to be out of ideas. After more than 20 years in the diaspora, can we remain voiceless in the US and allow this trend to continue?

Please discuss and bring your thoughts.

[Prlnce]

I think you should focus on your family and not worry so much about what you can do for others. I never understood saving the world concept save yourself and relatives than worry about others. The question you should be asking is what is the best way to help out my relatives. Since they are already there and changing the system won't help them now.

[gegiroor]

I think you should focus on your family and not worry so much about what you can do for others. I never understood saving the world concept save yourself and relatives than worry about others. The question you should be asking is what is the best way to help out my relatives. Since they are already there and changing the system won't help them now.

I think you're dead wrong here bro or sister. This is our community, and the new comers are having it difficulty. how we can influence the system, so it can benefit them is what we should we be asking. Did you see Jesse Jackson, unions, women's movement, and others' work and shouldn't you be asking what are these people advocating for? All to have an impact on their communities and groups.

Shouldn't you be asking yourself why does CAIR (Council for American Relations) exist? To inform and advocate on Muslim American behalf, correct?

Other refugees, such as Nepalese and Iraqis, have strong communities that ensure their new arrivals as refugees into the US are not placed in the ghettos.

Somalis don't have it, so they are dumped into the ghettos.

But to ask you a final question: Are you saying you don't care what is happening to these new young males who are or will be populating the prison system?

Don't forget there are more Somali refugees who are daily brought here.

[jalaaludin5]

Just want to say...

Gegiroor Allaw Dhawr.

Keep up the work bro.

[gegiroor]

Just want to say...

Gegiroor Allaw Dhawr.

Keep up the work bro.

Thanks bro Jalaaludiin. This trend worries us all. I've seen the cries of Somali moms whose sons are in the prison system or are heading there.

[Kaafiye]

I think you should focus on your family and not worry so much about what you can do for others. I never understood saving the world concept save yourself and relatives than worry about others. The question you should be asking is what is the best way to help out my relatives. Since they are already there and changing the system won't help them now.

I think you're dead wrong here bro or sister. This is our community, and the new comers are having it difficulty. how we can influence the system, so it can benefit them is what we should we be asking. Did you see Jesse Jackson, unions, women's movement, and others' work and shouldn't you be asking what are these people advocating for? All to have an impact on their communities and groups.

Shouldn't you be asking yourself why does CAIR (Council for American Relations) exist? To inform and advocate on Muslim American behalf, correct?

Other refugees, such as Nepalese and Iraqis, have strong communities that ensure their new arrivals as refugees into the US are not placed in the ghettos.

Somalis don't have it, so they are dumped into the ghettos.

But to ask you a final question: Are you saying you don't care what is happening to these new young males who are or will be populating the prison system?

Don't forget there are more Somali refugees who are daily brought here.

We need to have strong community and advocacy groups in the Somali-American and Somali-Canadian communities. Too many Somali boys are falling through the cracks.

[jalaaludin5]

Just want to say...

Gegiroor Allaw Dhawr.

Keep up the work bro.

Thanks bro Jalaaludiin. This trend worries us all. I've seen the cries of Somali moms whose sons are in the prison system or are heading there.

The story is no different here in the UK. In terms of Somali's in prison. After white people Somalis make up the largest ethnic minority (and the largest Muslim community) in prisons.

Despite the million Somali organisations in the UK maybe few are involved with prisons and its most likely some are only by name.

Imagine a man who was wrongly convicted of a crime and he doesn't have a family in the UK. He doesn't speak English. He finished his prison sentence but is still inside eight months later. Then he hears about a Somali organisation and calls them from prison. He explain his situation and after listening at the other end his told...sxb anaku dadka xaafadan dagan uun baanu caawina (click and his got the dialing tone).

I attended couple of those community meetings about crimes in the communities and what to do about it. More often there is great attendance but what an opportunity to get picture with the local MP. Free food? Wale I know a dozen guys who will be interested in this very import issue

Four hours of talk by different speakers. PowerPoint presentations. The seriousness of the issue at hand and the promises made to stay on top of this and coordinate with other organisations involved in similar work is heart warming. But only while you can still taste that sweet chicken scallop and able to burp from all that fizzy drink.

Bloody Somalis. One needs the patience of a zen Buddhist to work with them.
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-
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Sorry for the rant.

[Machiavelli2]

gerigoor

Ina Adeer, humans will prefer to congregate areas where their fellow country men reside. Secondly, you will see second Somali generation hosting expensive weddings only to settle in places like Cedar-Riverside. Having said that, people need to adjust to how they raise their kids in the Western diaspora, but as long as our kids attend the malcamad, school, have a roof over their head, three meals a day and decent clothes, that is where our parenting ends, other influences, such as school friends, TV and father Social Media become their mentors. We always find out very late when they are in trouble, even then, if a family has the means to ship them out, we will export them to the institution of Dhaqan Cellis as if it could correct the flaws of their characters. As someone mentioned above, everyone should educate their relatives about this issue and the need to invest and sacrifice for the future of their children by abandoning cheap housing in the ghetto and actively be involved in the lives of their children.

We are fighting over which tribe should manage our mosques that most donated to build wonderful Islamic Centres, do you think there will have the mindset of building an honest "community" that speaks, lobbies, advocates for Somali issues?

Even if these new arrivals are settled far away from the ghetto areas, most will seek the company of their relatives and move to the ghetto areas. I see it as a cultural shortcoming from our side than a procedural deficit by the refugee resettlement program.

[Machiavelli2]

A sad news break coming out of Minnesota is Sangub the poet and playwright's son was gunned down in Cedar-Riverside by other young Somalis. Illaah SWT ha u naxxariisto, ehelkiisana Samir iyo Iimaan ha siiyo. Police claim it is not a random homocide. The whole neighbourhood are Somalis and yet, we are murdering one another. Where are all these Federal and State funded Community organisations? If these families became dysfunctional, there is little could be done.

[Basra-]

A distant relative of mine and his family of 2 (wife and a daughter) was recently (about 4 months ago) brought into the US through the US Refugee Resettlement program. I go and help that family on the weekends since he doesn't have a car yet. They live in an apartment complex called Wedgewood Apartments in Columbus, Ohio.

Today, I went there earlier and we were chatting with the guy outside his apartment complex when fighting started in a nearby playground. He asked me let us go inside. I asked him why do we need to go inside from those young males who were fighting while we had nothing to do with them? He has stated let us hurry up into our unit and I will explain you later.

We went to his unit and he has explained to me that there are several Somali gangs in this apartment complex. They are constantly fighting, shooting between them has become very common, and all young males between the age of 15 - 18 are in big trouble. Even if a young guy does not join them, they will force him to join them by constantly attacking him. He related the story of several families who had to move out of this apartment complex after their sons - who refused to join them - were attacked by these gangs - remember these gangs are Somalis.

Apparently, the Columbus Police department is well aware of this situation and dispatches several police cars to this apartment complex every day. If a young man who is the culprit in one of these crimes is underage and the police captures him, they don't arrest him but contact his family and release him after short detention. However, a file is created for that guy, and as soon as he hits 18, he is going to jail for a long-time to come.

Just like that distant relative of mine, the majority of the people who took residence in these Wedgewood Apartments are new refugees. They were brought in from the refugee camps, and many of them have large kids - average 8 children. Majority of these families are Somali Bantu. The schools in the area are not good. Due to their family size, they will have difficulty of moving out these housing units since rent would be skyrocketing for bigger families, and it is even hard for families like them to obtain apartment or homes that can accommodate all of the family members.

Long story short, the US Refugee Resettlement Program is taking Somalis from the refugee camps and dumping them in the ghettos when they arrive in the US. While in no doubt many of these new comers will do well in the US, others will have their children populating in the prison system - particularly the young males.

To try to have a positive impact on this trend, I have these questions for Somalis in the US since this issue does not seem to be going away:

1. My understanding is the US Refugee Resettlement Program comes under the US Department of State. Since our local community agencies are powerless or too divided to have a local impact, what can we do to influence at the top level? Here is my take: In my view, informing the Department of State on how the subcontracting agencies - that should have settled these new comers in good areas - are dumping them in failing areas and don't care about the effect that it will have on them is a good start. These subcontracting agencies are milking the system, making millions, but really once they bring them here (US), the refugees are placed in the ghettos, and that is it, they are done with them and don't care about the outcome. Once properly informed, I am hoping the Department of State can place pressure on the US Refugee Resettlement agencies to ensure the refugees are not placed in inner cities (another word for ghettos).

My problem is I am not sure where we can apply pressure points on the Department of State, but do you think starting with senators and local congressmen and congresswomen is the best place to start? I am contemplating these ideas, but would like to hear from you.

3. Local Somali communities are useless or perhaps powerless. The retarded and useless clan division has paralyzed it, and many of the so-called leaders seem to be out of ideas. After more than 20 years in the diaspora, can we remain voiceless in the US and allow this trend to continue?

Please discuss and bring your thoughts.

gegigor


U r unbelievable. I mean, talk about a person who loves welfare. U r accusing of the agencies for milking the system but u r WORST. Not only do u want your family to be brought here in the west as refugees, now u want them placed in suburbs without working for it??? R u fcuking serious??? The ghetto serves a good purpose. These refuges are place amongst their fellow refugees, they get to come here and join their fellow country men. It is upto the family unit to work hard to get out of the ghetto. Remember they were plucked from a place worst than the ghetto in the west. The ghetto in the west looks like paradise compared to where they came from. Gegi u r what they call parasite socialist. U think u r entitled to everything good and luxury, without paying a cent. Maybe u need to study yourself, why are u so preoccupied with others milking the system when u want the same thing, albeit in a small scale. Fcuking unbelievable.

[jalaaludin5]

A sad news break coming out of Minnesota is Sangub the poet and playwright's son was gunned down in Cedar-Riverside by other young Somalis. Illaah SWT ha u naxxariisto, ehelkiisana Samir iyo Iimaan ha siiyo. Police claim it is not a random homocide. The whole neighbourhood are Somalis and yet, we are murdering one another. Where are all these Federal and State funded Community organisations? If these families became dysfunctional, there is little could be done.

Ameen.

Ameen.

Ameen.
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[Basra-]

Jala

I have seen all Sanguub sons and daughters, they are ALL gays and lesbians walking in the malls all flamboyant. The girls are butchy lesbians with boy hair cut and butch . lol

[Cherine]

Just want to say...

Gegiroor Allaw Dhawr.

Keep up the work bro.

Thanks bro Jalaaludiin. This trend worries us all. I've seen the cries of Somali moms whose sons are in the prison system or are heading there.

The story is no different here in the UK. In terms of Somali's in prison. After white people Somalis make up the largest ethnic minority (and the largest Muslim community) in prisons.

Despite the million Somali organisations in the UK maybe few are involved with prisons and its most likely some are only by name.

Imagine a man who was wrongly convicted of a crime and he doesn't have a family in the UK. He doesn't speak English. He finished his prison sentence but is still inside eight months later. Then he hears about a Somali organisation and calls them from prison. He explain his situation and after listening at the other end his told...sxb anaku dadka xaafadan dagan uun baanu caawina (click and his got the dialing tone).

I attended couple of those community meetings about crimes in the communities and what to do about it. More often there is great attendance but what an opportunity to get picture with the local MP. Free food? Wale I know a dozen guys who will be interested in this very import issue

Four hours of talk by different speakers. PowerPoint presentations. The seriousness of the issue at hand and the promises made to stay on top of this and coordinate with other organisations involved in similar work is heart warming. But only while you can still taste that sweet chicken scallop and able to burp from all that fizzy drink.

Bloody Somalis. One needs the patience of a zen Buddhist to work with them.
-
-
-

Sorry for the rant.

Stop talking shite mate.

[Prlnce]

I think you should focus on your family and not worry so much about what you can do for others. I never understood saving the world concept save yourself and relatives than worry about others. The question you should be asking is what is the best way to help out my relatives. Since they are already there and changing the system won't help them now.

I think you're dead wrong here bro or sister. This is our community, and the new comers are having it difficulty. how we can influence the system, so it can benefit them is what we should we be asking. Did you see Jesse Jackson, unions, women's movement, and others' work and shouldn't you be asking what are these people advocating for? All to have an impact on their communities and groups.

Shouldn't you be asking yourself why does CAIR (Council for American Relations) exist? To inform and advocate on Muslim American behalf, correct?

Other refugees, such as Nepalese and Iraqis, have strong communities that ensure their new arrivals as refugees into the US are not placed in the ghettos.

Somalis don't have it, so they are dumped into the ghettos.

But to ask you a final question: Are you saying you don't care what is happening to these new young males who are or will be populating the prison system?

Don't forget there are more Somali refugees who are daily brought here.

It's a noble goal my friend but the majority of kids getting in trouble across North America are not recent arrivals. Those kids are second generations Somali kids the ones that are dying or running away to join al shabab, isis, selling drugs, selling our Somali girls into prostitution or in prison are kids who came here at a young age or second generation kids who barely speak Somali. New arrivals are afraid of their own shadows.

Now if you want to start something like a big brother incentive I am all for it is a great idea that's what they need a mentor a male role model. A majority of us were settled in low income housing or the ghetto but we did not end up behind prison. Now why do two families who both settled in low income households have two different outcomes?

To answer your last question I do care what happens to them. But the biggest threat to new young Somali males and the ones facing second generation Somalis are completely different.

[Kaafiye]

gerigoor

Ina Adeer, humans will prefer to congregate areas where their fellow country men reside. Secondly, you will see second Somali generation hosting expensive weddings only to settle in places like Cedar-Riverside. Having said that, people need to adjust to how they raise their kids in the Western diaspora, but as long as our kids attend the malcamad, school, have a roof over their head, three meals a day and decent clothes, that is where our parenting ends, other influences, such as school friends, TV and father Social Media become their mentors. We always find out very late when they are in trouble, even then, if a family has the means to ship them out, we will export them to the institution of Dhaqan Cellis as if it could correct the flaws of their characters. As someone mentioned above, everyone should educate their relatives about this issue and the need to invest and sacrifice for the future of their children by abandoning cheap housing in the ghetto and actively be involved in the lives of their children.

We are fighting over which tribe should manage our mosques that most donated to build wonderful Islamic Centres, do you think there will have the mindset of building an honest "community" that speaks, lobbies, advocates for Somali issues?

Even if these new arrivals are settled far away from the ghetto areas, most will seek the company of their relatives and move to the ghetto areas. I see it as a cultural shortcoming from our side than a procedural deficit by the refugee resettlement program.

I totally agree

It is a cultural shortcoming on our side, and the cultural shortcoming arises as a result of a LACK of culture on the part of these Somali boys. The Somali boys who go down the wrong path usually choose 2 separate routes:

1. Either they join ISIS or some other terrorist group in a foreign country.
2. Or they get involved in drugs, crime, and "gangsta culture"

Most of the time when Somali boys go down the wrong route, it's one of these scenarios. And these scenarios arise as a result of Somali boys imitating Arabs, or as a result of Somali boys imitating AA's and Jamaicans.

Again, there are exceptions to this rule, but by and large this is what happens.