North Dakota
Ukrainians fleeing war settle with family, friends in North Dakota
BISMARCK — When Nataliia Ostapchuk left her hometown in northwestern Ukraine greater than a decade in the past, it was to seek out financial alternative and non secular tolerance in a nation identified for each.
As Baptists within the Jap Orthodox-dominated Ukraine, Ostapchuk and her household skilled discrimination in on a regular basis life.
Youngsters laughed at her in class, and lecturers relegated her to the again of the classroom, Ostapchuk stated. Discovering work and buying authorities advantages was a continuing battle for followers of her Christian sect, the Lutsk native stated.
After an intensive utility course of, Ostapchuk and her husband immigrated to Bismarck as refugees in 2011.
Ostapchuk, an artwork faculty graduate, labored as a cake decorator at Walmart till earlier this 12 months. However after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, she determined to volunteer as a translator for
World Neighbors, a Bismarck-based immigrant help group.
A number of months later, the nonprofit introduced her on full time as dozens of Ukrainians fleeing violence again dwelling relocated to western North Dakota. Ostapchuk, now 36, stated it’s rewarding to assist new Ukrainian arrivals who’re entering into the identical battle she endured.
“I understand how it’s laborious to return to a brand new nation and never know English… it’s a little bit bit scary,” Ostapchuk stated. “I wish to assist them be snug right here.”
No less than 96 Ukrainians have settled in North Dakota for the reason that outbreak of warfare. Most have come via a federal program that enables Ukrainian refugees to hitch American family and friends members of their dwelling communities.
About half of North Dakota’s current Ukrainian arrivals stay within the Bismarck space, however the refugees are represented in additional than a dozen cities and cities within the state, together with Fargo, Grand Forks and Jamestown.
Thousands and thousands of Ukrainians — largely ladies and youngsters — have fled the war-torn nation since February, although the overwhelming majority stay in Europe, in response to the
United Nations’ refugee company.
The U.S. has
reportedly taken in
greater than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees this 12 months.
Ostapchuk now serves as a caseworker for about 75 refugees, most of them Ukrainian. Her busy work days include submitting functions for work authorization and authorities advantages, registering youngsters and English learners for varsity and facilitating donations of meals and garments.
“I’m pleased if I may also help with their transformation,” Ostapchuk stated.
For greater than a century, 1000’s of Ukrainian-People have referred to as North Dakota dwelling.
An area historian estimated in 1984
that about 10,000 Ukrainians settled within the western a part of the state within the Nineties. Their descendants nonetheless rejoice Ukrainian traditions at Orthodox church buildings and
Dickinson’s Ukrainian Cultural Institute.
The state even has a Kyiv of its personal, although the small city southeast of Minot is spelled “Kief.”
The longstanding ties to Ukraine have formed how and the place refugees fleeing the warfare settled in North Dakota.
The
Uniting for Ukraine
(U4U) program introduced in April by President Joe Biden’s administration provides People a possibility to sponsor Ukrainian family and friends members who wish to come to the U.S.
Traditionally, most refugee resettlement in North Dakota
runs via the Fargo space,
however the distinctive framework of U4U means Ukrainian refugees usually tend to settle in western North Dakota with individuals they already know, stated World Neighbors Govt Director Julie Ramos Lagos.
It got here as a shock to Ramos Lagos that Ukrainian resettlement over the summer season was so closely concentrated round Bismarck. However as phrase unfold that World Neighbors may assist Ukrainian arrivals, the group tailored and employed Ostapchuk to fulfill the elevated demand for refugee help companies, Ramos Lagos stated.
The variety of Ukrainian refugees settling in North Dakota via U4U is more likely to develop within the coming months, stated State Refugee Coordinator Holly Triska-Dally. As of early December, 215 North Dakotans are authorized to sponsor Ukrainian refugees for resettlement within the state, she stated.
‘We’d like them as a lot as they want us’
On a snowy December morning, Bismarck Library employees led about two dozen lately arrived refugees via rows of books, youngsters’s playrooms and clusters of public computer systems.
Ostapchuk interpreted for the Ukrainians within the crowd, whereas others from South America, Africa and Asia used cellphone apps to translate the librarians’ tour into their native tongues.
Providing refugees entry to public assets, just like the library and the YMCA, is a crucial step in serving to them adapt to Bismarck, Triska-Dally stated.
“We don’t need individuals to turn out to be a segmented group — we would like them to turn out to be part of the group,” Triska-Dally stated. “It’s very centered on bringing individuals collectively, introducing them to new cultural traditions and simply ensuring they’re constructing the forms of bridges and bonds that they should succeed.”
Jeremy Turley / Discussion board Information Companies
Studying English is the primary main job for many Ukrainians who arrive in North Dakota, Triska-Dally stated. A lot of these residing round Bismarck attend the identical English lessons and have fashioned friendships, Ramos Lagos famous.
Regardless of a widespread want amongst refugees to enter the job market, the vast majority of Ukrainian arrivals within the state haven’t but been granted permission to work by the federal authorities, Triska-Dally stated.
As soon as they’re allowed to work, some will probably begin out within the manufacturing and repair sectors, however others have skilled backgrounds and can look to achieve recertification within the U.S., Triska-Dally stated.
Jeremy Turley / Discussion board Information Service
Bismarck has been “extremely welcoming” to Ukrainian refugees, and lots of residents have donated cash and home goods to assist current arrivals, Triska-Dally stated.
World Neighbors has accepted a great deal of bodily donations for refugees, however Ramos Lagos stated
money is the most important want.
Triska-Dally famous that the enterprise sector has been keen to rent Ukrainians amid a extreme labor scarcity. The state has an estimated 35,000 open jobs however only a few job seekers,
in response to Gov. Doug Burgum.
“We’d like them as a lot as they want us,” Triska-Dally stated.
For Triska-Dally, aiding Ukrainian refugees in her dwelling state holds particular which means. Her Ukrainian grandfather settled many years in the past in Wilton, North Dakota, and helped discovered an Jap Orthodox church that also stands within the metropolis north of Bismarck.
The refugee coordinator remembers a narrative her grandfather used to inform a couple of Scandinavian household that gifted him a radio shortly after his arrival in North Dakota.
“He by no means forgot that. Regardless that they have been totally different — they have been the newcomers and the strangers — individuals handled them with such kindness and such generosity,” Triska-Dally stated. “I watched him his entire life welcome the newcomer, and it has actually impressed me to do the type of work I do.”
Jeremy Turley / Discussion board Information Service
Mactrunk / Depositphotos.com
BISMARCK (North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota public education groups said Wednesday they recognize the need for a policy on student use of cellphones but mostly resisted a call for a state-mandated ban.
Rep. Jim Jonas, R-West Fargo, introduced House Bill 1160 that would ban students from using cellphones during class time.
A proposed amendment to the bill would add some exemptions, like using a smartphone to monitor health conditions, such as diabetes, and in some cases where students are on a learning plan crafted for the student.
The House Education Committee did not act on the bill or the amendment but indicated that there would be more discussion next week.
KrisAnn Norby-Jahner, legal counsel for the North Dakota School Boards Association, testified that the cellphone use issue should be handled at the local level, but added she would not be opposed to a bill requiring that school districts have a cellphone policy.
Mike Heilman, executive director of the North Dakota Small Organized Schools, testified that the group’s board members did not support the bill.
He said some teachers have students use their phone during class and designate a spot on the desk where the phone should be when not being used.
He also said some schools may want to make exceptions for juniors and seniors to have more access to their phones
But he also said schools might like the state’s support on the need for a cellphone policy.
Cellphone use among students was described during testimony as a mental health issue in addition to being a distraction.
Rachel Bachmeier, principal at West Fargo High School, said there has been “less drama” since the school restricted phone use to breaks between classes.
She said parents generally support that policy, with little support for an overall ban during the school day.
Steve Madler, principal at Bismarck Century High School, said his experience with a ban during the school day turned out to be unworkable for many students and parents.
The U.S. Department of Education in December called on every state and school district to adopt a policy on phone use in schools.
Jonas, a former West Fargo teacher, said the goal of the bill is improved test scores and mental health. He said he received some calls from principals for an all-out ban during the school day.
When asked what the penalty would be for a school that did not enforce the state policy, he did not give specifics.
“The hope is that they would abide by the law,” he said.
GRAND FORKS — Two Grand Forks residents are among six finalists to fill two seats on the state Board of Higher Education, State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced this week.
A nominating committee selected the six finalists, and the names will next go before Gov. Kelly Armstrong to make the final two appointments, which then must be confirmed by the North Dakota Senate.
The selected nominees will fill the board seats currently held by Casey Ryan, a Grand Forks physician who is finishing his second four-year term on the board and is not eligible for reappointment, and Jeffry Volk, a retired Fargo consulting engineer, who is eligible for a second term.
The finalists for Ryan’s seat are:
- Levi Bachmeier, business manager of the West Fargo school district and education adviser to former Gov. Doug Burgum,
- Russel Crary, a Grand Forks real estate developer, and
- Rich Wardner, of Dickinson, a former North Dakota Senate majority leader and retired K-12 teacher and coach.
The finalists for Volk’s seat are:
- Beverly Johnson, of Grand Forks, a retired physical therapy professor and clinical education director at the UND medical school,
- Warren Sogard, owner and chairman of American State Bank and Trust Co., of Williston, and
- Volk, the incumbent.
The nominating committee met Tuesday to review a dozen applicants for the two openings, according to a release. Baesler is chairwoman of the nominating committee, and other members are Jon Jensen, chief justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court; Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, which represents teachers and state employees; House Speaker Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield; and Senate President Pro Tempore Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston, the release said.
The Board of Higher Education has eight voting members and two nonvoting members who represent the system’s faculty and staff. It oversees the North Dakota University System’s 11 colleges and universities.
Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.
Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
FARGO — Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in North Dakota aged 10 to 24, a sobering statistic The 463 Foundation is determined to change.
The foundation, created by Todd and Elizabeth Medd after losing their son Liam to suicide in 2021, hosted a suicide prevention night at Discovery Middle School on Tuesday, Jan. 14. The event emphasized the importance of mental health awareness and reducing stigma.
“Our goal is to make sure that one person hears the right message or the message at the right time,” said Todd Medd, co-founder of the foundation. “With that message, they can either use it for themselves or share it with others as well.”
The Medd family spoke to students and parents about warning signs such as self-segregation or sudden behavioral changes and highlighted studies showing teen suicides can often be impulsive, with 25% of cases occurring within five minutes of the first thought.
Todd Medd emphasized the power of open dialogue. “Vulnerability breeds vulnerability,” he said. “When you share your challenges, it opens the door for deeper conversations with your kids.”
The 463 Foundation will continue its efforts to spread hope and awareness, including its fourth annual baseball tournament in June to support Fargo youth baseball and promote its mission.
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