Excerpt:
Abdimalik Mohamed shows young Somalis that government jobs are not far-fetched. Yasmin Muridi explains to teachers what school in a refugee camp looks like. Abdi Mohamed sifts through piles of documents that require Somali translation.
The three are among a growing number of Somali-Americans recruited as bridge-builders to overcome mistrust and misunderstanding between Minnesota's Somali community and government agencies. While some community members welcome Somali professionals as outreach workers, others worry that they will be used as a cover to snoop.
Love for community service has these three bouncing between two cultures at a time when suspicions run high over the convictions of several young Somali men on terror-related charges.