It is clear that as more and more immigrants move into cities and small towns, racism and Islamaphobia holds divisive presence within communities. As part of building a more welcoming community, One Voice Minnesota and Somali Action Alliance held the first film screening of Hawo's Dinner Party: The New Face of Southern Hospitality in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, where one of the largest Somali population resides.

Following a screening of Hawo's Dinner Party at the African Development Center with food by Afro Deli & Coffee, community members from the neighborhood, business owners, police officers, city officials, students and interfaith leaders discussed anti-immigrant issues in their community, the challenges that immigrants and long-term residents face, representation in the media, and ways to take action together against racism. 

 Hawo's Dinner Party is a 30-minute video module adapted from the full documentary, Welcome to Shelbyville, which showcases the story of Hawo Siyad, a former nurse and now poultry processing plant worker in the small town of Shelbyville, Tennessee and how she deals with racism in her community.

Read full article on the event by Mogadishu Times online at Somali Action Alliance. For more information on a free copy of the video module, visit www.shelbyvillemultimedia.org. To partner for a screening event in your community with OVM, contact Chanida at cphaengdara@advrights.org.