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The Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota

420 15th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN  55454
Phone: 612-338-5282
Fax: 612-338-8421
Website: www.cscmn.org

CSCM is a non-profit mutual assistance association located in the Brian Coyle Community Center in the Cedar-Riverside area of Minneapolis. 

Services/Programs

Youth Services: This includes tutorial, leadership, cultural enrichment and recreational (soccer) activities based at the Coyle Center, and off-site enrichment services provided on a contractual basis at such places as Loring Nicollet Bethlehem Community Center.

Refugee Social Services: This includes a myriad of walk-in settlement services (document translation; writing applications/letters; employment verifications; referrals for housing, ESL classes, medical, legal, housing and many other social services).

Employment Services:     This includes three programs: Refugee Employment Program, which places refugees who have been in the country less than 5 years with local companies; Somali Employment Initiative that serves unemployed Somalis regardless of the number of years in the country; and Somali Employment Solutions, which provides employment services to Somalis with mental health issues.

Education & Outreach Services: This includes outreach services to Somali seniors to connect them to services; breast and cervical cancer awareness and screening, assessment of medical insurance status and referrals to culturally sensitive medical providers (with special outreach to older women and mothers); Family Wellness classes for families and singles; Mental Health Services; Employment Services for people with mental health issues; and sponsoring numerous community forums and cultural events; providing radio and public TV access (aired 4 times weekly). Staff and board have made hundreds of presentations to health care providers, government representatives, social service agencies, educators, foundations and employers, and have responded to many informal requests for information about Somali people.

Tobacco Cessation Services: This includes classes and activities that give Somali smokers opportunities to quit using tobacco products.

Capacity Building: This includes activities related to the development of CSCM as a credible and efficiently run community organization; the realization of a Somali Cultural/Community Center through collaboration with other communities and agencies (notably Hope Community Inc.); and the development of an East African Business Development Collaborative that assists East Africans who are interested in owning businesses to unleash their entrepreneurial skills and to access appropriate resources.

Facilities

CSCM has full access to the facilities in the Brian Coyle Community Center in Minneapolis. 

History

In 1994 leaders from the 35,000 Somali civil war refugees who came to Minnesota established the Confederation of Somali Community as a non-profit organization. In 1996 the Confederation aligned with Pillsbury United Communities and a grant from Bush Foundation solidified CSCM's credentials as a mutual assistance association. 

Mission

Our mission is to strengthen the capacity of Somalis in Minnesota to become contributing members of society, while keeping their culture.