# Cultural Diversity Resources (full reference)

Cultural Diversity Resources (CDR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1994 and incorporated in 1998, serving the Fargo-Moorhead metro area, Cass County in North Dakota, and Clay County in Minnesota. Motto: "Changing Faces, Changing Futures, Enriching Lives".

## Offices
- Fargo Office: 112 University Dr N, Suite 230F, Fargo, ND 58102
- Moorhead Office: 3505 8th St S, Suite 7, Moorhead, MN 56560
- Phone: (701) 318-0555

## Programs
### Small Business and Entrepreneurship Training

An 11-week entrepreneurship training program that teaches new entrepreneurs in the Fargo-Moorhead area how to turn ideas into thriving businesses, with one-on-one coaching and access to capital. Details: https://www.cdrfm.org/programs/small-business

### Financial Education Program

Free financial education workshops that help Fargo-Moorhead community members learn to budget, save, manage credit, and build long-term financial security. Details: https://www.cdrfm.org/programs/financial-education

### Self-Sufficiency Program

Free one-on-one referral assistance connecting individuals and families in Fargo-Moorhead with food, clothing, transportation, job readiness, health, and social service resources. Details: https://www.cdrfm.org/programs/self-sufficiency

### SEED: Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity

Monthly professional development seminars where Fargo-Moorhead peers hold structured conversations on equity and diversity, guided by leaders trained through the National SEED Project. Details: https://www.cdrfm.org/programs/seed

### Cultural Events

Pangea: Cultivate Our Cultures, the Native American Festival and Educational Series, and other celebrations that bring the cultures of Fargo-Moorhead together through performance, food, art, and story. Details: https://www.cdrfm.org/programs/cultural-events

### Youth and Family Engagement

Tutoring, reading help, after-school activities, and family referrals that close civic engagement and achievement gaps for low-income students and their parents in Fargo-Moorhead. Details: https://www.cdrfm.org/programs/youth-and-family

### Multi-Ethnic Community Leadership and Development

Leadership and capacity building for ethnic nonprofits and emerging community leaders, plus customized diversity and cultural awareness training for Fargo-Moorhead businesses, schools, and agencies. Details: https://www.cdrfm.org/programs/multi-ethnic-leadership

### Senior Support

Culturally responsive help for older adults from immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC communities in Fargo-Moorhead: referrals, language access, and connection to services for daily stability. Details: https://www.cdrfm.org/programs/senior-support

### Community Health

Health and wellness navigation for Fargo-Moorhead families: mental health and crisis resources, health coverage help, nutrition and physical activity, and referrals in your language. Details: https://www.cdrfm.org/programs/community-health

## Key program facts
- Small Business Training: 11 weekly 2-hour classes at M State Moorhead campus; sliding-scale fees $150 to $650 with payment plans.
- Financial Education: free; 1 to 2 sessions of 90 minutes; starts when 10 to 15 participants join the interest list.
- Self-Sufficiency: free; Moorhead office, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM; appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome.
- SEED: monthly seminars September through May; CEUs available; scholarships offered; CDR is the fiscal agent.
- Cultural Events: Pangea: Cultivate Our Cultures every November at the Heritage Hjemkomst Center, Moorhead (free); Native American Festival and Educational Series every November with the Fargo Public Library, Fargo Native American Commission, and Plains Art Museum.
- Youth and Family Engagement, Multi-Ethnic Community Leadership and Development, Senior Support, and Community Health are newer program areas; each page has an interest form and interpreting is available.
- AmeriCorps VISTA: CDR sponsors AmeriCorps VISTA members who dedicate a year of full-time service to anti-poverty projects in the Fargo-Moorhead area, focused on economic opportunity and education. Details: https://www.cdrfm.org/programs/americorps-vista

## Language access
- Free interpreting for every CDR program; call (701) 318-0555. Priority languages: Spanish, Arabic, Somali, Kurdish, Nepali, Swahili, Vietnamese.
- Metro Interpreters Resource Center (MIRC), since 1996: certified interpreters for schools, clinics, courts, agencies, and businesses. Languages include Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian, Dinka, Farsi, French, German, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Krahn, Kurdish, Liberian English, Mandarin, Nepali, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Vietnamese, West African languages. Details: https://www.cdrfm.org/language-access

## Community Resource Center
Searchable directory of Fargo-Moorhead help compiled by CDR: https://www.cdrfm.org/resources
- Jobs and Employment (11 listings): Job openings, resume help, career training, and employers hiring in the Fargo-Moorhead area. https://www.cdrfm.org/resources/jobs
- Food and Basic Needs (12 listings): Food pantries, free and low-cost clothing, and help with everyday necessities. https://www.cdrfm.org/resources/food
- Housing (4 listings): Housing assistance and referrals for individuals and families in Cass and Clay counties. https://www.cdrfm.org/resources/housing
- Healthcare (6 listings): Crisis lines, mental health support, and help applying for health coverage. https://www.cdrfm.org/resources/healthcare
- Education (13 listings): English classes, GED and citizenship preparation, colleges, and free online learning. https://www.cdrfm.org/resources/education
- Family and Youth (8 listings): Programs for children, teens, parents, and single-parent households. https://www.cdrfm.org/resources/family-youth
- Transportation (2 listings): Bus passes, vouchers, and help getting around the metro. https://www.cdrfm.org/resources/transportation
- Financial Resources (3 listings): Budgeting, credit, savings, and small business capital. https://www.cdrfm.org/resources/financial
- Newcomer and Immigrant Resources (10 listings): Interpreters, language classes, citizenship help, and multilingual guides for new Americans. https://www.cdrfm.org/resources/newcomer
- Cultural Resources (11 listings): Festivals, Indigenous cultural programs, language classes, and ways to learn about the cultures of Fargo-Moorhead. https://www.cdrfm.org/resources/cultural
- Food Markets and Restaurants (121 listings): International grocery stores and restaurants serving cuisines from around the world. https://www.cdrfm.org/resources/food-markets
- Community Services (11 listings): Social services, legal aid, and partner nonprofits serving Cass and Clay counties. https://www.cdrfm.org/resources/community-services

## Annual events
- Pangea: Cultivate Our Cultures: Every November, Heritage Hjemkomst Center, Moorhead, MN. A free, indoor, one-day family celebration of the rich cultural diversity of the Fargo-Moorhead community. Community members share and learn about the crafts, skills, and talents of the area's cultural groups through performances, ethnic food, cultural exhibits, and children's activities.
- Native American Festival and Educational Series: Every November, Native American Heritage Month, Fargo Public Library and partner venues, Fargo, ND. Speakers, storytellers, musicians, artists, cultural activities, and documentaries that increase awareness of Indigenous history, values, and the diversity of cultures.
- SEED seminar season: Monthly, September through May, Virtual, with hybrid options under consideration. Nine structured conversations on equity and diversity for educators, parents, and community members, guided by facilitators trained through the National SEED Project. CEUs available.
- Virtual SEED Summit: Annually, for current SEED participants, Online. A gathering that brings the year's SEED groups together for shared learning and connection.
- Giving Hearts Day: Every February, Online. A 24-hour online fundraiser created by the Dakota Medical Foundation and Impact Foundation. Gifts to CDR on Giving Hearts Day have been matched in past years.
- Entrepreneurship training cohorts: Twice a year, Fargo, ND. Twelve weekly classroom sessions, plus one-on-one coaching, for Fargo-Moorhead entrepreneurs starting or growing a business.
Details and upcoming dates: https://www.cdrfm.org/events

## Awards
- 2024: Virginia McKnight Binger Heart of Community Honor (Yoke-Sim Gunaratne, Executive Director)
- 2023: DEI ChamberChoice Award (Cultural Diversity Resources)

## Team
- Yoke-Sim Gunaratne: Executive Director (https://www.cdrfm.org/about/team/yoke-sim-gunaratne)
- Amanda Williams: Programs Coordinator and VISTA Member (https://www.cdrfm.org/about/team/amanda-williams)
- Kristen Liebl: Fund Development Coordinator and VISTA Member (https://www.cdrfm.org/about/team/kristen-liebl)
- Sifa Ntivu: Community Activities Coordinator and VISTA Member (https://www.cdrfm.org/about/team/sifa-ntivu)
- Leena Po: Entrepreneurship Program Manager (https://www.cdrfm.org/about/team/leena-po)

## Board of Directors
- Joe Parise: Attorney and District Public Defender, retired
- Kavitha Gundala: Tax Credit Property Manager
- Dianne Briggs: Librarian, retired
- Jennie Thoreson: Executive Director, Daughters of the Earth nonprofit
- Lynn Fundingsland: Past Executive Director, Fargo Housing and Urban Development, retired
- Samina Zaidi: Community Volunteer

## Partners
### Multicultural Alliance members
- New American Development Agency (NADA): Housing help, after-school programs, youth crime prevention, education development, employment search, and community advocacy, with help available in English, Arabic, Somali, and Kiswahili.
- Women Initiative Network of Liberia (WIN-Liberia): Activities and support services for single moms, youth, children, and vulnerable adults, including career mentoring, after-school programs, empowerment programs, and financial literacy.
- Ps and Qs Etiquette: Empowers young girls and boys with knowledge and leadership skills through the Leaderlicious Girls and Leaderboard Boys programs.
- Indigenous Legacy: Indigenous cultural preservation and education in Dilworth, MN: language preservation, traditional food and craft classes, storytelling, and clothing and food referrals.

### Program partners
- National SEED Project: Trains the local SEED leaders who facilitate CDR's Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity seminars. CDR is the fiscal agent for F-M Area SEED.
- Neighborhood Development Center (NDC): CDR's partner for entrepreneur training, small business lending, and technical assistance, using NDC's Plan It curriculum and its Build From Within Alliance.
- AmeriCorps VISTA: CDR sponsors AmeriCorps VISTA members serving anti-poverty projects in economic opportunity and education across Fargo-Moorhead.
- Minnesota Humanities Center, Absent Narratives Initiative: Partnered with the local SEED cohort since 2015 to strengthen relationships among educators, community members, and local organizations.
- Moorhead Community Education: Hosts Indigenous cooking and craft classes and other community learning that CDR promotes.
- Motivation Education and Training, Inc. (MET): Provides free career training and job placement support that CDR refers community members to.

### Cultural event collaborators
- Fargo Public Library: Co-presents the Native American Festival and Educational Series every November.
- Fargo Native American Commission: Co-presents the Native American Festival and Educational Series.
- Plains Art Museum: Co-presents the Native American Festival and Educational Series.
- Heritage Hjemkomst Center: Home of Pangea: Cultivate Our Cultures, CDR's annual November celebration in Moorhead.

### Community and volunteer partners
- Bridgepointe Community: Volunteer opportunities alongside CDR in the Fargo-Moorhead community.
- Job Service North Dakota: Refers trainees for on-site office training experiences through CDR's job development work.
- Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota: Free civil legal aid that CDR's Self-Sufficiency Program refers clients to.
- NAMI Minnesota: Developed the crisis and mental health resource list CDR shares with the community.

## Ways to engage
- Donate (one-time or monthly, tax-deductible): https://www.cdrfm.org/donate
- Volunteer or partner: https://www.cdrfm.org/get-involved
- Community stories and testimonials: https://www.cdrfm.org/impact
- Newsletter: https://www.cdrfm.org/newsletter
- Contact: https://www.cdrfm.org/contact