MINNEAPOLIS — The Stone Arch Bridge is an iconic spot in Minneapolis that people from all over the metro and all walks of life enjoy visiting.
That includes Somali youth.
"This is a beautiful place that you can be part of, but we don't want to 'interrupt.' We don't want you to go to jail. We don't want anybody to get hurt," said Farhio Khalif, leader of Somali Youth Link.
In May, the Minneapolis City Council approved a $300,000 one-year contract with Somali Youth Link to pay the group for "cultural and youth specific outreach services."
When she says "interrupt," Khalif is referring to disruptions — sometimes dangerous and unlawful — extending from the Stone Arch Bridge to Boom Island and into Dinkytown.
"The fireworks that took place this year and last year hopefully doesn't continue next year," she said.
More than 30 young adults — nearly all Somali — and several teens were arrested on the 4th of July after allegedly shooting fireworks at police and bystanders.
While police this year were prepared to intervene and make arrests, city leaders hope the behavior can be prevented in the future with the help of Khalif's group "Somali Youth Link."
"Our goal is to make sure that our youth are safe and our communities are safe," Khalif said.
Somali Youth Link consists of mothers and community leaders who walk those areas where Somali teens and young adults congregate — and engage with them.
"At first [some of the youth] really didn't want to listen. But after we explained it to them, I said, 'We're just like your mothers, we wanna make sure that you're safe, you're going home tonight,'" Khalif said.
They prefer to be thought of as ambassadors — rather than violence interrupters — working to build relationships with communities from other cultures and with police to make sure Somali kids feel welcome and enjoy Minneapolis, while everyone stays safe and happy.
"But I think at the end of the day, what they want is to just have fun and what that means is, we're trying to figure it out. So how can we all work together and ask them to be safe? It's a long way to go. But we are here," Khalif said.
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