I. Summary
In 2006, the Slavic Community Center (SCC) entered a new phase as a service provider to the Russian-speaking community
in the Twin Cities. The organization matured into the “Developer-Program stage”. The SCC began to create programs that
proactively respond to the I. Summary
In 2006, the Slavic Community Center (SCC) entered a new phase as a service provider to the Russian-speaking community
in the Twin Cities. The organization matured into the “Developer-Program stage”. The SCC began to create programs that
proactively respond to the needs of the community. Programs increased the diversity of services that can reach a broader
demographic group for multiple years.
The SCC, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, was initially created (March, 2003) in response to an increasing need for
support services. In the Twin Cities, a rapidly growing elderly Russian-speaking population had never learned to speak
English. They became socially isolated which caused some individuals to demonstrate symptoms of mild depression. This was
identified as the initial main problem within the immigrant community and their families.
Today, there is a need to create a bridge that allows Russian-speaking immigrants to engage and become part of the
broader community. Our agency supports and unites the Minnesota metro area’s Slavic community by reaching out and
working with people within the communities that they live in. From the day that new immigrants arrive to the generations
that follow, we are committed to building bridges between new arrivals from the FSU and existing communities and
resources. Our main goals are to:
• Respond to individual needs to improve independence; especially for elders;
• Provide stimulating educational and cultural opportunities for community members of all ages;
• Promote social interaction and community building amongst Slavs, with other immigrant groups and with mainstream
society; and
• Equip new Slavic people with the information (and skills) necessary to make the transition to American culture.
As immigrants, it takes time and assistance to become familiar with the customs and culture of the USA. Many in the Eastern
European immigrant community (EEIC) have Social and Health Services’ (SHS) needs which are not being addressed for
three primary reasons:
• The EEIC culture does not encourage open response to illness.
• Providers in the metropolitan area may not understand the EEIC
• The EEIC does not understand how to access the SHS service system
Many things that are taken for granted by the people that live in the USA are foreign to the new immigrant. The SCC
provides programs that help to bridge the gap. For instance, in 2006 the following 3 main programs were provided.
• School Navigator
• Health and Safety in the Community (Community POWER)
• Financial Literacy
The bridge to integration is a 2-way path. The people in the broader needed to be educated so the new comers are not seen
as strangers but as people with their own rich culture and history. An oral history program was accomplished by interviewing
21 Russian war veterans of WW II. A book will be published in 2007 based on these interviews.
The SCC is a 21st century community center. The business model is based on a Service Provider Activity Wheel. The SCC
provides services where the recipients of the service are located. Collaboration with institutions and organizations provides
sites for programs. This provides a model that reduces costs and increases participation.
We want to thank foundations, donors, volunteers and employees that helped 346 people get services that were not
provided, available, by anyone else. Our thanks are also extended to everyone that helped the SCC with another successful
year.
II. Current Foundation Funded Programs
School Navigator (continued from 2005)
This year saw a great deal of activity, beginning with a change in personnel. Early in the year, a new coordinator, Lyudmila
Sandell was hired; her dual role as our coordinator and a substitute teacher in the District had very positive outcomes, as she
was able to meet older Russian speaking students in the district in her teaching position.
The coordinator began to explore new ways in which we could engage community members by visiting the Russian Baptist
Church and planning activities that did not conflict with their scheduling and events. A first effort was the “Taste of Russia”
cooking class series offered through community Education, with 13 attending. Shakopee Senior High students showed their
interest to the program and even helped the navigator collecting original recipes for the class, in which mothers and
daughters participated together.
Flyers from the school were translated into Russian and a number were developed related to seasonal greetings and
education about services SCC can provide. 63 families with a total of 209 children participated. Families had an average of
three children, and family size range was from 1-5 children.
“Community POWER”
Environmental Education Program (continued from 2005)
In 2006, we finished work on our environmental education program for the Russian-speaking community. Work completed
included publication of an article in the Russian newspaper, with a circulation of 8000, and discussion on a Russian-language
radio show, available to entire metro area population.
Strategic Planning and Board Development Process (continues from 2005)
The leadership of SCC would like to strengthen the organization to better accomplish its mission. We also want to develop
long-term plans to ensure that the organization’s programs and structure have an impact on the issues facing the Slavic
community.
Oral History Project
We made significant progress on our new WW II oral history project during 2006. We were fortunate to hire a student intern
sponsored by HECUA (Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs), a program of Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities.
This enabled us to rent video equipment and train the student intern to interview 24 elders about their wartime experiences.
She then transcribed the interviews to provide text for publication of a book containing the interviews and additional
material, including photos. Please contact SCC if you are interested in the book.
Future plans include both an English translation of the interviews for publication and editing the videotaped interviews with
addition of English language subtitles to show them on community access cable TV. Either a DVD or a VHS version of the
edited interviews may also be produced.
Financial Literacy
During the summer of 2006, two financial services professionals in the Twin Cities who have extensive contact with
members of our community approached SCC with some concerns and an idea. They have seen that many adult community
members are completely lacking in understanding of the US economic system and how to use banks and other financial
institutions. They also noted that there are no existing financial literacy training programs that address these issues or
provide services in the Russian language, and asked that we work with them to develop such a program. Together with a
consultant, our Executive Director developed a plan to work with them and, using the FDIC’s MoneySmart curriculum in its
Russian translation as a core, develop and pilot an appropriate Financial Literacy program.
Because this program is new, we spent a great deal of effort developing and fine-tuning proposals to obtain funding,
meeting with potential funders and sponsors, and submitting proposals for funding. We plan to kick off the program during
2007, as soon as sufficient funds have been secured.
III. Outreach to other Organizations
NAC – New American Collaborative
The New American Collaborative (NAC) is a collaboration of over fifty organizations that serves new immigrants and refugee
communities in Minnesota. Its primary purpose is to create a united force for the new immigrant and refugee communities to
advance issues of common interest through networking, resource sharing, capacity building, and a variety of other activities.
Gedaly Meerovich is Vice-Chairman of the steering committee
Community Power program was conducted in collaboration with the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota
and the Oromo Community in Minnesota.
School Navigator is part of a collaborative effort, working with the Centre for Asians and Pacific Islanders (CAPI),
Minnesota African Women Association (MAWA), and Oromo Community in Minnesota.
Barbara Schneider Foundation
The Barbara Schneider Foundation was formed after the tragic death of Barbara Schneider on June 12, 2000, during a
confrontation with police in a mental health crisis call.
Since then Barbara Schneider Foundation has been involved in training thousands of police officers, first responders, social
service and health providers and has advocated for a health care response to mental health crisis. The result has been more
appropriate and effective response, improved officer safety, and growing police community partnership.
We are exploring future collaboration with the Foundation to develop culturally specific programming in this area.
IV. Other Activities
Fourth Annual Community Gathering and Soccer Tournament
This year we held our annual Russian Soccer Tournament and picnic, a community event, on August 25 with 3 teams including
35 players with a total of 60 in attendance. The weather was nice and a fine time was had by all.
Annual Report
Our first official Annual Report for the year 2005 was completed this year. 2005 was a very successful and productive year. A
few programs were started or continued and different activities were accomplished. It was very challenging to put together
and create the model for years to come.
Completely redesigned website
This year, we re-designed our website to reflect and be consistent with the structure of the 2005 Annual report. Thanks to
our excellent volunteer Marina Krasnik, Board members and staff spent a lot of time learning about the website’s mechanism.
With this knowledge we are planning to add future reports to our existing website. Additional links to programs and
resources will be provided to help community members.
V. Plans for 2007
Oral History
Future plans include developing both an English translation of the interviews for publication and editing the videotaped
interviews with addition of English language subtitles to show them on community access cable TV. Either a DVD or a VHS
version of the edited interviews may also be produced.
Russian Language Financial Literacy
Understanding of the US financial services industry is critical for success in becoming financially independent. We have
worked through the latter half of 2006 on developing a program and seeking funding, and the program will begin serving
clients in the last quarter of 2007.
English Learning for Career Advancement
Many well-educated Russian-speakers in the workplace have completed basic English Language instruction but still face
language based barriers to career advancement. They don’t understand common idioms, their Russian accents pose a
challenge to coworkers or customers, or they lack professional writing skills. Because this is a challenge that is not commonly
addressed in most ELL programs, there have been few options for them to advance.
SCC, in consultation with a skilled bilingual ELL instructor, has begun to develop a program to meet the needs of this
population and provide them with the skills needed to advance up their specific career ladder. The concept of this program
was initially explored in late 2006, will be further developed in the following year, and we hope to begin offering the program
in 2008.
The harms caused by exposure to tobacco use and secondhand smoke.
At present there is no documentation of the prevalence of smoking in Minnesota’s Russian-speaking population, although
research performed in other locations suggests that it is significant. Research conducted within San Francisco’s Russian
community suggests that approximately 35 percent of Russian immigrants smoke. While this figure is far less than the 60
percent who smoke in Russia, it is much greater that the percentage of smokers in the general United States population
(22%). High smoking rates among Russian-Americans can be attributed to a variety of factors, including habits carried over
from Russia, general beliefs/attitudes about health, and a distrust of prevention initiatives.
In part because there has been no documentation of the problem, smoking education and cessation materials have not been
made available in Russian in Minnesota. Community participants who participate in the survey will become aware, through
their participation, in concerns about smoking and its potential effect on their health. The documentation we believe will
result from this study, and the partnership that will develop, will provide a basis for developing culturally and language
specific educational and smoking cessation support materials, which will benefit the community as a whole through providing
information and assistance.
Miscellaneous
Dating service: find location for permanent meetings, connect to existing organizations, make a link on website to sites
that directly or indirectly helping people with dating.
General and mental health: keep working on connections / partnership with others not-for-profit organizations and health
institutions to provide educational material for Russian-speaking community.
Overview in charts, graphs and tables.
We served 346 unduplicated people in 2006 – see table bellow
Male 144 42%
Female 202 58%
Total 346 100%
Children 26 8%
Teenager 35 10%
Young adult 81 23%
Middle age 177 51%
Senior Citizen 27 8%
Total 346 100%
In 2006, the Slavic Community Center (SCC) entered a new phase as a service provider to the Russian-speaking community
in the Twin Cities. The organization matured into the “Developer-Program stage”. The SCC began to create programs that
proactively respond to the I. Summary
In 2006, the Slavic Community Center (SCC) entered a new phase as a service provider to the Russian-speaking community
in the Twin Cities. The organization matured into the “Developer-Program stage”. The SCC began to create programs that
proactively respond to the needs of the community. Programs increased the diversity of services that can reach a broader
demographic group for multiple years.
The SCC, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, was initially created (March, 2003) in response to an increasing need for
support services. In the Twin Cities, a rapidly growing elderly Russian-speaking population had never learned to speak
English. They became socially isolated which caused some individuals to demonstrate symptoms of mild depression. This was
identified as the initial main problem within the immigrant community and their families.
Today, there is a need to create a bridge that allows Russian-speaking immigrants to engage and become part of the
broader community. Our agency supports and unites the Minnesota metro area’s Slavic community by reaching out and
working with people within the communities that they live in. From the day that new immigrants arrive to the generations
that follow, we are committed to building bridges between new arrivals from the FSU and existing communities and
resources. Our main goals are to:
• Respond to individual needs to improve independence; especially for elders;
• Provide stimulating educational and cultural opportunities for community members of all ages;
• Promote social interaction and community building amongst Slavs, with other immigrant groups and with mainstream
society; and
• Equip new Slavic people with the information (and skills) necessary to make the transition to American culture.
As immigrants, it takes time and assistance to become familiar with the customs and culture of the USA. Many in the Eastern
European immigrant community (EEIC) have Social and Health Services’ (SHS) needs which are not being addressed for
three primary reasons:
• The EEIC culture does not encourage open response to illness.
• Providers in the metropolitan area may not understand the EEIC
• The EEIC does not understand how to access the SHS service system
Many things that are taken for granted by the people that live in the USA are foreign to the new immigrant. The SCC
provides programs that help to bridge the gap. For instance, in 2006 the following 3 main programs were provided.
• School Navigator
• Health and Safety in the Community (Community POWER)
• Financial Literacy
The bridge to integration is a 2-way path. The people in the broader needed to be educated so the new comers are not seen
as strangers but as people with their own rich culture and history. An oral history program was accomplished by interviewing
21 Russian war veterans of WW II. A book will be published in 2007 based on these interviews.
The SCC is a 21st century community center. The business model is based on a Service Provider Activity Wheel. The SCC
provides services where the recipients of the service are located. Collaboration with institutions and organizations provides
sites for programs. This provides a model that reduces costs and increases participation.
We want to thank foundations, donors, volunteers and employees that helped 346 people get services that were not
provided, available, by anyone else. Our thanks are also extended to everyone that helped the SCC with another successful
year.
II. Current Foundation Funded Programs
School Navigator (continued from 2005)
This year saw a great deal of activity, beginning with a change in personnel. Early in the year, a new coordinator, Lyudmila
Sandell was hired; her dual role as our coordinator and a substitute teacher in the District had very positive outcomes, as she
was able to meet older Russian speaking students in the district in her teaching position.
The coordinator began to explore new ways in which we could engage community members by visiting the Russian Baptist
Church and planning activities that did not conflict with their scheduling and events. A first effort was the “Taste of Russia”
cooking class series offered through community Education, with 13 attending. Shakopee Senior High students showed their
interest to the program and even helped the navigator collecting original recipes for the class, in which mothers and
daughters participated together.
Flyers from the school were translated into Russian and a number were developed related to seasonal greetings and
education about services SCC can provide. 63 families with a total of 209 children participated. Families had an average of
three children, and family size range was from 1-5 children.
“Community POWER”
Environmental Education Program (continued from 2005)
In 2006, we finished work on our environmental education program for the Russian-speaking community. Work completed
included publication of an article in the Russian newspaper, with a circulation of 8000, and discussion on a Russian-language
radio show, available to entire metro area population.
Strategic Planning and Board Development Process (continues from 2005)
The leadership of SCC would like to strengthen the organization to better accomplish its mission. We also want to develop
long-term plans to ensure that the organization’s programs and structure have an impact on the issues facing the Slavic
community.
Oral History Project
We made significant progress on our new WW II oral history project during 2006. We were fortunate to hire a student intern
sponsored by HECUA (Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs), a program of Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities.
This enabled us to rent video equipment and train the student intern to interview 24 elders about their wartime experiences.
She then transcribed the interviews to provide text for publication of a book containing the interviews and additional
material, including photos. Please contact SCC if you are interested in the book.
Future plans include both an English translation of the interviews for publication and editing the videotaped interviews with
addition of English language subtitles to show them on community access cable TV. Either a DVD or a VHS version of the
edited interviews may also be produced.
Financial Literacy
During the summer of 2006, two financial services professionals in the Twin Cities who have extensive contact with
members of our community approached SCC with some concerns and an idea. They have seen that many adult community
members are completely lacking in understanding of the US economic system and how to use banks and other financial
institutions. They also noted that there are no existing financial literacy training programs that address these issues or
provide services in the Russian language, and asked that we work with them to develop such a program. Together with a
consultant, our Executive Director developed a plan to work with them and, using the FDIC’s MoneySmart curriculum in its
Russian translation as a core, develop and pilot an appropriate Financial Literacy program.
Because this program is new, we spent a great deal of effort developing and fine-tuning proposals to obtain funding,
meeting with potential funders and sponsors, and submitting proposals for funding. We plan to kick off the program during
2007, as soon as sufficient funds have been secured.
III. Outreach to other Organizations
NAC – New American Collaborative
The New American Collaborative (NAC) is a collaboration of over fifty organizations that serves new immigrants and refugee
communities in Minnesota. Its primary purpose is to create a united force for the new immigrant and refugee communities to
advance issues of common interest through networking, resource sharing, capacity building, and a variety of other activities.
Gedaly Meerovich is Vice-Chairman of the steering committee
Community Power program was conducted in collaboration with the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota
and the Oromo Community in Minnesota.
School Navigator is part of a collaborative effort, working with the Centre for Asians and Pacific Islanders (CAPI),
Minnesota African Women Association (MAWA), and Oromo Community in Minnesota.
Barbara Schneider Foundation
The Barbara Schneider Foundation was formed after the tragic death of Barbara Schneider on June 12, 2000, during a
confrontation with police in a mental health crisis call.
Since then Barbara Schneider Foundation has been involved in training thousands of police officers, first responders, social
service and health providers and has advocated for a health care response to mental health crisis. The result has been more
appropriate and effective response, improved officer safety, and growing police community partnership.
We are exploring future collaboration with the Foundation to develop culturally specific programming in this area.
IV. Other Activities
Fourth Annual Community Gathering and Soccer Tournament
This year we held our annual Russian Soccer Tournament and picnic, a community event, on August 25 with 3 teams including
35 players with a total of 60 in attendance. The weather was nice and a fine time was had by all.
Annual Report
Our first official Annual Report for the year 2005 was completed this year. 2005 was a very successful and productive year. A
few programs were started or continued and different activities were accomplished. It was very challenging to put together
and create the model for years to come.
Completely redesigned website
This year, we re-designed our website to reflect and be consistent with the structure of the 2005 Annual report. Thanks to
our excellent volunteer Marina Krasnik, Board members and staff spent a lot of time learning about the website’s mechanism.
With this knowledge we are planning to add future reports to our existing website. Additional links to programs and
resources will be provided to help community members.
V. Plans for 2007
Oral History
Future plans include developing both an English translation of the interviews for publication and editing the videotaped
interviews with addition of English language subtitles to show them on community access cable TV. Either a DVD or a VHS
version of the edited interviews may also be produced.
Russian Language Financial Literacy
Understanding of the US financial services industry is critical for success in becoming financially independent. We have
worked through the latter half of 2006 on developing a program and seeking funding, and the program will begin serving
clients in the last quarter of 2007.
English Learning for Career Advancement
Many well-educated Russian-speakers in the workplace have completed basic English Language instruction but still face
language based barriers to career advancement. They don’t understand common idioms, their Russian accents pose a
challenge to coworkers or customers, or they lack professional writing skills. Because this is a challenge that is not commonly
addressed in most ELL programs, there have been few options for them to advance.
SCC, in consultation with a skilled bilingual ELL instructor, has begun to develop a program to meet the needs of this
population and provide them with the skills needed to advance up their specific career ladder. The concept of this program
was initially explored in late 2006, will be further developed in the following year, and we hope to begin offering the program
in 2008.
The harms caused by exposure to tobacco use and secondhand smoke.
At present there is no documentation of the prevalence of smoking in Minnesota’s Russian-speaking population, although
research performed in other locations suggests that it is significant. Research conducted within San Francisco’s Russian
community suggests that approximately 35 percent of Russian immigrants smoke. While this figure is far less than the 60
percent who smoke in Russia, it is much greater that the percentage of smokers in the general United States population
(22%). High smoking rates among Russian-Americans can be attributed to a variety of factors, including habits carried over
from Russia, general beliefs/attitudes about health, and a distrust of prevention initiatives.
In part because there has been no documentation of the problem, smoking education and cessation materials have not been
made available in Russian in Minnesota. Community participants who participate in the survey will become aware, through
their participation, in concerns about smoking and its potential effect on their health. The documentation we believe will
result from this study, and the partnership that will develop, will provide a basis for developing culturally and language
specific educational and smoking cessation support materials, which will benefit the community as a whole through providing
information and assistance.
Miscellaneous
Dating service: find location for permanent meetings, connect to existing organizations, make a link on website to sites
that directly or indirectly helping people with dating.
General and mental health: keep working on connections / partnership with others not-for-profit organizations and health
institutions to provide educational material for Russian-speaking community.
Overview in charts, graphs and tables.
We served 346 unduplicated people in 2006 – see table bellow
Male 144 42%
Female 202 58%
Total 346 100%
Children 26 8%
Teenager 35 10%
Young adult 81 23%
Middle age 177 51%
Senior Citizen 27 8%
Total 346 100%
Annual Report - 2007
Slavic Community Center
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