In a busy office in the heart of Minneapolis’ largest Somali neighborhood, about a dozen young men and women lined up at computers to work on resumes or apply for jobs. A few feet away stood a photo station, ready to create employee badges for those lucky enough to get hired on the spot.
The employment center, which has helped roughly 1,000 people find jobs since it opened in May, is one of several initiatives formed in Minnesota as part of a federal pilot project designed to combat terror recruiting.
Those at the forefront of these efforts say they plan to keep them going.
“Our work will continue no matter what,” said Mohamud Noor, executive director of the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota. “We want to send a strong message: If you get people engaged, focus on their needs and are able to connect with them, you end up raising the whole community up.”
The Barack Obama administration launched pilot projects in Minneapolis, Boston and Los Angeles in late 2014 as part of its broader strategy to counter violent extremism.