Students at Bruce M. Whittier Middle School frequent the city of Lewiston to visit family, shop and recreate, and during these visits the students have noticed the increase in Somali population. Based on those observations, eighth grade teachers Alice Shea and Erica Swenson created a study project to analyze media coverage of the Somali migration, […]

You’re being forced to leave and you can only take two things with you. You must choose immediately. The longer you take, the closer you could be to rape, torture or even death. Imagine living in fear in your country, trying to spend as much time away from war as possible before fleeing for your […]

You’ve probably seen them walking down the street. They’re different, you think. They don’t look like you. Many don’t talk like you. But are they really different? Or are we just reacting to what we think we know? The rumors we’ve heard? The biases we’ve grown up with? Perhaps they’re the same as you and […]

Are the New Mainers helping or hurting the city of Lewiston? Lewiston has had a large influx of Somalis coming into the city and the community wants to know — is that a positive or negative thing? Somalis are helping the community of Lewiston. They are using old, abandoned buildings and opening stores and living […]

In the words of Pope Paul John ll, “Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly, knowing I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you.” Do you believe Somalis had an impact on Lewiston? Do you know their background, what they have gone through, where they are coming from? […]