From classroom to community

A public affairs class is organizing a cultural event for recent immigrants. "We're helping out people in our community," one senior said.

By EMILY JOHNS, Star Tribune

Last update: January 9, 2008 - 10:24 PM

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CULTURAL FESTIVAL AND RESOURCE FAIR

The Cultural Festival and Resource Fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Saturday at Mary Mother of the Church, 3333 Cliff Road, Burnsville. Run by the Community Action Council's New American Services Collaborative, the event will offer free flu shots, games for kids, folk dancing, and information on the health system, buying a home, taxes and banking in the United States.

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Burnsville High School seniors Christina McGuire and Luke Abrahamson have attended school in the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage school district for most of their lives, and have watched it transform before their eyes.

When they graduate this spring, almost one-third of the district will be made up of students of color, which is about triple the number that attended the district when they started. More than 10 percent of the district's students are still learning English.

That's why the students and their classmates took it to heart this fall when their public affairs teacher told them they would help plan a Cultural Festival and Resource Fair for recent immigrants to their community, to welcome the immigrants and help them learn how to live in the United States.

"We're helping out people in our community," said 18-year-old Chris Brunner. "These are people that actually go to this school."

The 20 members of David McDevitt's public affairs class have worked with Community Action Council to plan the event, which is scheduled for Saturday. They expect anywhere from 800 to 1,000 people to attend.

It will offer cultural festivities, such as folk dancing, as well as advice for immigrants from more than 30 vendors on subjects such as taxes, education, the health system and how to buy a house.

For every student in the class, 50 percent of their grade is based on their work at the fair.

"Public affairs is different than your usual class at school," McGuire said. "It gives us a chance to get out in the community."

The class has also raised more than $4,000, with the help of the school's Student Council and some area businesses, and plans on buying winter coats to distribute as prizes at some of the games.

It's the second semester that the class has been offered: Last spring, McDevitt's class of seniors helped organize the "Sparky Sprint," half-mile and 1-mile races for kids that coincided with Burnsville's Heart of the City Half Marathon and 5K. They also traveled to different elementary schools in the district to encourage students to start running and participate in the event.

According to the high school's registration guide, the public affairs class gives students "the opportunity to work with their local, county and state community on an actual public concern."

And that "through an examination of the impact of active citizens solving community problems, students will recognize the contributions they can make to their community."

For the students, the fair provides a chance to meet some of the newest members of their community.

"We want them to feel welcomed into the neighborhood and in our school," McGuire said.

Emily Johns • 952-882-9056

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