Our History

Somali refugees who fled a brutal civil war in their Northeast African nation, at one time colonized by Italy and Britain, started arriving at shores of the United States at the end of 1991.  The war, which is still going on, through the years, has brought more than 100,000 Somalis (of which 40,000 have resettled in Minnesota) to the United States.

By 1994, these Somalis, of all economic and social backgrounds, in their hundreds, have established the Confederation of Somali Community as a 501©3 non-profit organization.  a 1996 linkage with Pillsbury United Communities and a grant from Bush Foundation solidified CSCM's credentials as a mutual assistance association, since then CSCM has improved delivery of services and expanded relationships with other communities and agencies.