Yearly Archives: 2009

Courage is the fuel that powers our ability to believe that all things are possible in our life. Courage fuels action and advancement; fear fuels passivity and mediocrity.

ATLANTA - Books for Africa, the world’s largest shipper of donated books to the African Continent, has opened a 20,000 square-foot warehouse in Atlanta.  The new facility, located just outside city of Atlanta in Smyrna, will serve as the organization’s primary shipping, receiving and sorting center. 

SAN FRANCISCO - On April 1, 2010, less than a year from now, a snapshot of the whole population of the country will be taken. Whether you are a citizen, an immigrant, legal, illegal, homeless or an international student, if you are in the United States at that time, you will be counted.

The story of Somali youth who vanished from the Twin Cities, possibly to fight alongside jihadists in their home country, is transforming the normally passionate and sometimes pugilistic debates at Minneapolis coffee shops into quieter introspection.

Now a recurring topic of conversation among Somalis is “reconstructing the community’s tainted image,” said Dahir Awaleh, a 47-year-old small-business owner who frequents the popular Starbucks on Minneapolis’ Riverside Avenue.

“In Minnesota, Somalis are increasingly associated with terrorists,” he lamented, sipping his coffee. “Businesses are raided. Friends and family members are being interrogated by law enforcement agencies. Mosques are under surveillance.”

"Conviction" is Defined More Broadly Under Immigration Law

Non-citizens, including lawful permanent residents, may face severe immigration consequences if they are convicted of certain crimes, including offenses that are deemed relatively minor and carry minimal penalties. Moreover, the term "conviction" is defined more broadly under immigration law than under criminal law.  For example, did you know that if you plead guilty to a charge and the judge orders a form of punishment, you are considered "convicted" for immigration purposes, even if adjudication was stayed and the case is later dismissed?

Good news!  There is a special spiritual stimulus package all signed, sealed and ready for delivery to us. This package includes God’s love, blood, forgiveness and acceptance. 

The entire contents of this package are guaranteed for eternity.  His love is so immense that he gave His only son for us. His love endures all things so that we can be put back together again. His blood is the covenant made with us.

Martin Mohamed walks in and out of several stores at Karmel mall, an eight year old mall in South Minneapolis that hosts about 300 Somali stores.

Kenya's Salina Kosgei and Ethiopia's Deriba Merga won today's Boston marathon's women and men's races respectively.

Kosgei's win was the closest in the 113 year history of the marathon, beating defending champion Dire Tune of Ethiopia by one second.

We often go through our daily routines only thinking about ourselves or our own problems. We sometimes get so consumed by our own issues that we never think about what others are going through. 

Now is the time to change this “me-only” mindset to think more about others, including what we can do to help. We are here on earth to make a difference in the lives of others.

^{The U.S. Supreme Court, the highest court in our country, has ruled that an Eritrean prison guard who was forced to persecute inmates can still be considered for asylum in the United States. The high court reversed a lower court decision on the fate of former Eritrean prison guard Daniel Girmai Negusie by overturning a broad interpretation of the statute barring persecutors from eligibility for asylum even if their participation was under threat of death.}

President Barack Obama has given a 12-month extension to thousands of Liberian immigrants who are on a temporary immigration status in the US.