Somali Community Highlighted

The PAO's Ongoing  Series on Diversity

In an effort to help foster a greater office understanding of King County's wonderfully diverse population, the PAO's Diversity Committee is offering a series of monthly presentations that focus on distinct communities within King County.

May's presentation was about the Somali community.  Somalia is a country located in Eastern Africa, in what is frequently referred to as the "Horn of Africa."   While Somalia is one of the most homogeneous of the African countries, with few ethnic minorities, it lacks a central government.  Instead, Somalia's capitol, Mogadishu, houses a transitional, parliamentary government.

This month's presenter, Mohamed Roble, spoke about some of the complex issues facing many Somalis here in King County.  Some of our County's Somali residents immigrated to the United States after spending as many as 10 years in refugee camps after the Somali government collapsed in 1991 and civil war broke out.  While in the camps, many refugees were not permitted to attend school or go to work.

According to Roble, who works as a Family and Community Engagement Liaison with Seattle Public Schools, many Somali residents are working hard to adjust to the huge differences between life in the United States and life in Somalia.  In Somalia, the vast majority of the population lives a nomadic agricultural lifestyle without modern luxuries, such as electricity and running water.  And, many Somali residents struggle to find balance in raising children who want to adopt Western customs and attitudes, while the parents wish to hold on to more traditional Somali customs and beliefs.

Washington State has the United States' third largest Somali population, with an estimated 25,000-30,000 living in King County.

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