Project FINE

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Building Communities

Building Communities programs and services provide opportunities for meaningful interaction between diverse groups of refugees, immigrants and established residents.  These interactions promote cultural sharing and increased understanding.  As a result, refugees and immigrants gain important connections and the entire community becomes more welcoming and inclusive.

Current Building Communities Offerings Include:

Welcoming Table

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Welcoming Table provides opportunities for the community to come together to share a meal and build cross-cultural relationships.  Beginning in March 2018, Welcoming Table gatherings will be held each month (see Calendar of Events for details).  These gatherings will provide food for our bodies and food for thought, as we share a meal and get to know our neighbors.  Each month will have a short presentation and conversation starters to spark table conversation.  
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Click here for more Welcoming Table info, including online registration links.

Healthy Connections​

The goal of the Healthy Connections project is to create a community that is more safe, inclusive and welcoming for refugees, immigrants and all residents.  Project activities include informational sessions, community conversations, an expansion of Welcoming Table gatherings into rural areas and engaging with community partners to pursue equity in policies and practices.  

Healthy Connections is a two-year project beginning in July 2021 and is funded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation.  

Community Health Plan

Project FINE and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota are collaborating to develop and implement a community health plan with actions based on barriers to health for refugees and immigrants.  This project has three main components: a community guide which will help refugees and immigrants access available resources; a resource guide for service providers and partners with tips for building equity through practice and policy; and a series of workshop/dialogues to build understanding between refugees and immigrants and various community systems.  

This project is funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

Connecting Cultures

Through Connecting Cultures, community members have an opportunity to learn about different cultures and traditions from around the world.  Sessions are held monthly are taught by local refugees and immigrants.  Each session includes an educational presentation and fun activities that incorporate language, art, storytelling, music and food. 

This project is funded by a grant from the Laura Jane Musser fund.

Kuv Caaj Ceg Hmoob (My Hmong Roots)

This program provides an opportunity for Hmong community members to improve their Hmong language skills and deepen their cultural knowledge.  The course will cover spoken and written language skills and will be taught by Project FINE staff members who have extensive experience interpreting and writing in Hmong.  Individuals of all ages and language abilities are welcome.  

Storytelling

The goal of this project is to engage refugees, immigrants, and native born residents to share their cultures, traditions and experiences through storytelling.  Workshops on storytelling will be held in early summer 2021, and beginning in summer 2021 Project FINE will work with area residents to document their stories in written or video format.  For more information, or to learn about how you can share your story, please contact Katie - katie@projectfine.org

This project is funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board.

Diversity Training

Employers and service providers in Winona County and the surrounding area are experiencing an increasingly diverse workforce and client base.  Hosting diversity training for staff and leadership is a positive to build understanding and increase effectiveness.   Topics include best practices for working with refugees and immigrants, specific cultural information, and how to build an inclusive environment.  Diversity training sessions are flexible and designed to meet the specific needs of each requesting agency. 
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For further information or to request Diversity Training, please click here

Project FINE's Building a Cultural Competency Video: An introduction to building understanding and providing culturally-appropriate services.

Intercultural Development Inventory® 

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Beginning in 2021, Project FINE is able to administer the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®).  The IDI® assesses intercultural competence—the capability to shift cultural perspective and appropriately adapt behavior to cultural differences and commonalities. 

The Intercultural Development Inventory is a 50-item questionnaire available online that can be completed in 15–20 minutes.  It is a wonderful tool for businesses, organizations and groups to assess their intercultural competence and gain practical tips to advance their awareness. 

​For more information, contact Project FINE or visit the IDI® website at idiinventory.com

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​​202 West Third Street Winona, MN 55987
​(507) 452-4100