Bonnie Sem
19613 130 th Avenue S.
Barnesville, MN 56514

I grew up on a small farm in Minnesota. Though my family was poor, we never felt that poverty because all of our basic needs were met. As an adult, I have experienced abuse, single parenthood, and poverty. This time, my family felt the effects because there were many times when our needs were not met. The most painful experience of that time was hearing my daughter say to my son one night before bed: “Don’t eat that now, because we can go to sleep now and you won’t feel the hunger. Wouldn’t you rather eat it in the morning when your awake and know that you’re hungry?” I was working several jobs at the time, but the money did not stretch to cover our necessities.

Those years of poverty also provided me with an opportunity to learn from other people living in those same vulnerable circumstances. I found a great deal of support from my fellow co-founders of People Escaping Poverty Project (PEPP). From them I learned to recognize the leadership skills that I already possessed, as well as how to strengthen the areas in which I was weaker. I learned to assert myself and began looking at all of the possibilities in my life. I went on to complete four-year degrees in Criminal Justice and Scandinavian Studies, and this achievement has led to a rewarding career. In the past few months, though, I have found that this is not enough. I want to work even more actively and utilize all of the things that I have learned to ensure there are more opportunities for all people in our community to grow.

Sandra Berlin
PO Box 10802
Fargo, ND 58106

I am a voice from the Native American community bringing my experiences as one individual. I have had the opportunity to serve as Co-Convener for the Justice Circle of Moorhead, MN, participated in study circles, and participated in community organizing around the Civil Rights report release in 2001. I have led Talking Circles and study circles within the Native American community, and as a result of the Talking Circles, I have founded the All Nations Youth group in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Additionally, I have been working with Native American leaders and developing support networks.

Habiba Ali
1034 44 th Street SW Apt. 105
Fargo, ND

My name is Habiba and I am from a large city in Ethiopia. I’ve been living in America since 1993, though I do not yet have my citizenship as I have a language barrier. I am from a big family; my father has two boys and four girls, and another father has 3 boys and one girl. I was married when I was 15 and got divorced 10 years ago. I am still unmarried.

Hatidza Asovic
4701 17 th Avenue SW #103
Fargo, ND 58103

I emigrated from Montenegro in Eastern Europe fifteen years ago; I was only 15 years old. I was raised by a conservative family, and I only chose to accept the good things in this democratic country. Taking care of myself and my kids is my number one priority. I have learned that taking action is necessary and very crucial in the life that we live.

Rashid Mohamoud
401 4 th Avenue south Apt. 3
Moorhead, MN 56560

I was born and educated in Somalia. I left my country after civil war and human rights abuse in 1991. I arrived in Kenya and worked as a volunteer with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society, and U.S. Immigration and Refugee Services. I arrived in the Fargo-Moorhead area in 1995.

Tai Leathers
1210 19 ½ St. N Apt. 1
Fargo, ND 58102

I was born and raised in Southern California. My family moved around often to stay one step ahead of the law; my parents resorted to manufacturing and distributing illegal substances to keep a roof over our head and food on our table. Unfortunately, my parents were also drug users. I was socialized into “a culture of poverty,” if you believe in the notion.

I was a junior in high school when my mom became ill due to her bad choices. My dad wasn’t in the home at the time, so I had to drop out of school to take care of my brother and pay the bills. Life was rougher than normal, and I was relieved when she declared that we were moving to Fargo, North Dakota. In West Fargo, with a 4.0 GPA, I was kicked out of school for being “unfit”. I returned to California to continue with the life I knew. I eventually made it back to North Dakota and graduated summa cum laude from Minnesota State University Moorhead just this last fall with a degree in Social Work. I interned with Cultural Diversity Resources and stayed the summer by means of a Human Rights Fellowship from the University of Minnesota Human Rights Center. I believe in social justice, especially now that I know I have inalienable human rights. I am a board leader at the People Escaping Poverty Project (PEPP) and a member of the steering committee and housing sub-group of the Uniting for Equality collaborative. I plan to take a year off, and then pursue a dual degree to obtain a Masters of Social Work (MSW) and a Jurist Doctorate (JD).

Fawzia Adde
5132 Amber Valley Pkwy #204
Fargo, ND 58104

I was born in Mogadishu, Somalia and I have five beautiful children and one husband. I left Somalia after I graduated from high school in 1990 and I went to Kenya and worked with the United Nations as a nurse in a hospital. I tried to nurse people back to health from the war and malaria, etc. I came to Washington D.C. on June 16, 1997, where I stayed for 6 months and met a man from Fargo. Love brought me to Fargo and we married. Since living in Fargo, I have been involved in the People Escaping Poverty Project (PEPP) as a Community Leader as well as being on the PEPP board. I’m also on the boards of the Somali Community of the Valley and Red River Valley Dental Access. Additionally, I am involved in the Giving & Learning Program, as well as being active in the community.

Phyllis Emmel
1121 3 rd Street South
Moorhead, MN 56560

I grew up in Southern California. I guess you could call my family “working poor.” At the age of 18, I married and moved to South Dakota. There I was active in church work as well as a foster parent. I also had four children of my own. I divorced in 1975 and spent 7 years as a single parent on welfare. During this time, I also attended college in Mankato. I came to Moorhead in the spring of 1980 to work for Job Service Minnesota where I was the placement counselor at Northwest Tech. College and handled all counseling cases in the local job service office. I lost my job at the end of 1981 due to statewide budget cuts. Since that time, I have remarried and been active in the church and community. I spent the past 15 years raising my grandson, who is bipolar. I have also home schooled him for two years.

Thomas Riek
1624 18 th Street South #202
Fargo, ND 58103

Rachel A. Broten
1 South 2 nd Street #1-206
Fargo, ND 58103

I was born and raised in Moorhead, Minnesota, and have been an active musician, playing various string instruments since I was 12 years old. I began performing in the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony at the age of 17 in the violin section. From 1998-2002, I attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, and was able to tour the country with the St. Olaf Orchestra. In the spring of 2002, I completed my student teaching in the Edina Public School District. Since College, I have been teaching 5 th grade orchestra for Fargo Public Schools, playing violin in various quartets, the Symphony, and the Opera, as well as conducting private violin lessons in my home. During the summer, I enjoy learning Arabic, practicing my electric guitar, painting, and organizing vegetarian dinners with my friends.

Sabanaya Moses Kergi
1721 25 th Avenue South
Fargo, ND 58103

I was a teacher in Sudan, and I work in elementary school with children ages 7 to 13 years with Samal Ega. This workshop will help me better understand how best to treat them.

Mohamed Hussein
1204 27 th Avenue South #105

I grew up in a beautiful country that was quiet and peaceful until later in my life, when the peace was shattered and everyone was dying in the war. I lived during 14 years of the war in Somalia, and then I immigrated to Kenya.

Safiyo Ali
1204 27 th Avenue South #105

I’m a mother of 15 children, four of whom have passed away. I feel that because of my hip and leg disabilities I can do very little physically, but my mind still works fine and I can speak with my community either by phone or in person. I’ve been married almost 32 years. My mom had nine children and my father had five children with another woman. He had a total of six wives. The other five women have seven children total. I lived in a small town for most of my life and have been living in America for 2 years and nine months.

Rachel Mertz
1 South 2 nd Street #1-206
Fargo, ND 58103

I was born and raised in Moorhead, Minnesota, graduated from Edina High, and briefly studied playwriting at Hamline University. For five years, I was an active member of the Playwrights Center in Minneapolis, as well as writing for and acting in historical plays for the River Rendezvous Festival in Bloomington, MN. I also worked at PlayLabs at the University of Minnesota for several years. I participated in trainings through the Literacy Coalition of Minnesota to teach English as a foreign language. For one year, I went into grade schools in Edina and helped students in 3 rd and 4 th grade write their own books. I am currently employed at Cultural Diversity Resources in Fargo, ND, and spend my free time walking, biking, gardening, reading, writing, swing dancing, and hosting themes vegetarian dinners.

Jeff Offutt
3814 4 th Street South
Moorhead, MN 56560

I was born in California in 1965. The first few years I can remember were spent in southern California, where I started school. I also attended school in Jamestown and Fargo, North Dakota. I graduated from the University of North Dakota with an education degree and have substituted, taught, and worked as a paraprofessional in Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota. My wife, Faye, and I have been married 14 years. I have been involved with the Seek Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) program for about 7 years.

Jim MacFarlane
500 35 th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN 56560

I spent my early years in Langdon, ND. My family moved to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, when I was in fourth grade, and I lived there until after I graduated from college. My family consists of my parents, John and Eunice, and my brothers, Chuck and Bill. I spent most of my youth outside doing things I enjoyed. I played a great deal of baseball, golf, and hockey. These three things took up a big part of my life. I also spent a great deal of time fishing and hunting. As a result of these activities, I developed a core group of friends. My parents were hard working, motivated, and conservative people. They instilled in me the importance of giving your best, being truthful, and developing relationships. They have both retired in the past year and spend most of their time working on community projects and volunteering for charitable organizations and their local church.

I graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1986 and proceeded to attend Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. I graduated from Concordia in 1990 with a B.A. in English Education and a coaching certificate. Three years ago I started my Masters program in Instruction and Curriculum at Minnesota State University Moorhead, and I will finish my degree in the spring of 2005. Over the past 14 years, I have worked in four different locations. After graduation, I spent two years teaching high school English in the small Iowa town of Bedford. I moved to Fargo after that to tie the knot with my wife, Jennie, and was fortunate to land a job with West Fargo Public Schools. I taught and coached a number of different sports in West Fargo for five years. At that time, I also took on the challenge of starting a new radio station in Fargo. I was responsible for sales, programming, and on-air shows. It was an enjoyable and rewarding experience, but one I only did for one year due to my strong desire to get back into the classroom to work with kids. I was hired by Moorhead Public Schools after my stint with the radio station and have been there for the past 6 years. Most importantly, I have three wonderful children with my best friend, Jennie: Peter (9), Megan (6), and Cameron (9 months). Family time is my best time, and I consider myself very lucky.

Facilitators

Tammie Yak
Cultural Diversity Resources
303 Roberts Street
Fargo, ND
Ph: (701) 526-3000
Email: vanwinta@yahoo.com

Tammie obtained her Bachelor of Social Work from Minnesota State University in Moorhead. She is active in Social Justice Issues including housing and immigrant/refugee issues. She is a graduate of the Human Rights Training of the Trainers (2002 and 2003) at the University of Minnesota. She serves as the Co-Chair of People Escaping Poverty Project (PEPP) Board. Additionally, Tammie has received an internship with the Moorhead Human Rights Commission and serves as Cultural Diversity Resources’ Human Rights Educator. She has recently applied for and received a $250,000 Bremer grant for Human Rights work in the FM community. She is also chair of the Adult Education Committee at Peace Lutheran Church and serves on the Church Council. She is married to Toby who is a microbiology student at NDSU. She has 4 children: Brett-12, Noah-5, Nia-2, and Ethan, 11 months. Her passions are Human Rights Education, crafts, children/mothering, gardening, cooking, and baking.

Duke Schempp
116 12 th Street South
Moorhead, MN 56560
Ph: (218) 236-5434
Email: duke@pepp.org

Duke Schempp is the Executive Director of People Escaping Poverty Project (PEPP) in Moorhead, and he has worked for PEPP for the past 14 years first as a Community Organizer and then as Executive Director. Duke is originally from Minot, North Dakota, attended Minnesota State University Moorhead, and received a B.A. in Anthropology in 1983. Duke has been extensively trained in Community Organizing and dismantling racism education. He has lived in the Fargo-Moorhead community since 1977.

Lysa Ringquist
116 12 th Street South
Moorhead, MN 56560
Ph: (218) 236-5434
Email: lysa@pepp.org

Lysa Ringquist is employed as a Community Organizer for People Escaping Poverty Project (PEPP). She has dedicated the past 18 years to a public life carrying out her values and vision in the Moorhead-Fargo community, organizing for an inclusive and just community. Lysa grew up in a rural Minnesota and graduated from Fergus Falls High School. She earned an Associate of Arts from Minnesota State University Moorhead and is also a graduate of the Florida School of Massage and Organizing Apprenticeship Project. She raised two boys as a single parent.

Lysa has worked in a wide variety of jobs. She has worked with people with disabilities and as an advocate at a Battered Women’s Shelter. She supports reproductive rights and has been employed for the past 16 years at local Women’s Health Clinics that provides access to legal and safe abortions. Lysa also developed a Massage Therapy business in Moorhead, MN and has been a licensed Massage Therapist since 1987.

Lysa is a Community Organizer with People Escaping Poverty Project (PEPP) an organization founded by women on welfare in 1986. Lysa was one of the women who organized to successfully stop the legislative cuts that would have abruptly put an end to their education plans. She served on the Board of Directors as a Co-Chair, participating at all levels of the organization, and taking the lead in moving PEPP towards an explicitly anti-racist identity. Lysa is the recipient of the YWCA Women of the Year Award-Advocate for Equality.

Currently, Lysa is organizing a collaborative of 21 community non-profit organizations in Moorhead-Fargo called Uniting for Equality. Their mission is to develop a unified voice to create a shift in power, by developing mutual relationships of power with policy makers and holding them accountable to the community. In her private life, Lysa likes to sing and listen to folk music, play guitar, volunteer to sing at a local senior independent living facility, camp, hang out by water, ride bike, sew and is learning how to do beadwork. Her partner’s name is Duke Schempp, and they have been together for 20 years. Her boys names are Joshua and Justin and she has two cats named Dot and Willow.

Walter N. Duffy
2408 South 18 th Street
Moorhead, MN 56560

Walter is an ordained Baptist clergyman. He was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and has a master’s degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. He served in the United States Air Force (USAF) as a chaplain and has worked as a counselor at Western Illinois State University and Concordia College. Walter is married to the former Regina Smith and they have two adult daughters. He has facilitated many workshops on bias and Human Rights for over thirty years in both academic and community settings.

Dr. Andrew Conteh
1104 7 th Avenue South
Moorhead, MN56560
conteh@mnstate.edu

A native of Sierra Leone, Professor Conteh attended Christ the King College West Africa in Sierra Leone, Oxford University in Great Britain, and received his Ph.D. from Kiev State University in the Soviet Union from 1976 to1981. He has served as a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, as Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and as Senior Assistant Secretary in Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A specialist in international relations, his interests focus on international law. In addition to teaching, Professor Conteh advises the Model U.N. team.

Nancy Flowers
124 Jane Drive
Woodside, Ca 95602
nflowers@sbglobal.net

After twenty-five years as a teacher, administrator, and human rights activist, Nancy Flowers now combines these interests as a consultant for human rights education. She has worked to develop Amnesty International’s education program and is a co-founder of Human Rights USA, a national human rights education coalition. As a consultant to governments, nongovernmental organizations, and UN agencies, she has helped establish national and international networks of educators, develop materials, and train activists, professionals, and military and police personnel in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans.

Kristi Rudelius-Palmer
Human Rights Center
Mondale Hall
229 19 th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55445
krp@umn.edu

Kristi Rudelius-Palmer is a human rights educator, activist, and idealist. Kristi has been involved in the field of Human Rights Education (HRE) since 1986 in various capacities. She founded a campus Amnesty International USA group in 1987 and served on Amnesty’s Human Rights Educators Steering Committee from 1993-97. Kristi has facilitated prejudice reduction workshops for teachers, taught decision groups and parenting classes for fathers in prison and for mothers on the outside, and developed a self-esteem class for young children with parents in prison. Kristi edited the first report for Article 19, a freedom of expression organization based in London, and assisted economically disadvantaged individuals to obtain legal assistance with the Minnesota Justice Foundation for two years.

In 1989, Kristi became a founding Co-Director of the Human Rights Center at the University of Minnesota. In 1992, Kristi worked with community members to found Partners in Human Rights Education, a joint program of the Human Rights Center and the Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights. The program has trained more than 1,500 lawyers, community representatives, and educators to facilitate HRE in pre-K through high school classrooms in Minnesota. In 1997, Kristi was a founding member of Human Rights USA and creator of the national Human Rights Resource Center and Web Site. She has presented at numerous international, national, regional, and local conferences and has designed and taught university, high school, and community courses on human rights education.