The Oromo Community Inc. - Minneapolis, St. Paul (OCM) was established in 1985
as a nonprofit community organization in Minnesota. Its activities have increased
dramatically in the past few years with the Oromo constituting the second largest
refugee group from East Africa in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. There are an
estimated 12,000 to 15,000 Oromo in the Twin cities, of which more than 90% are
refugee asylees. OCM principally serves this group of the community.
The organization has become more active with a highly committed Board of Directors,
dedicated staff and a large number of community members. OCM has a well-functioning
administrative structure with a Management Team comprised of board members and the
Executive Director working with the staff.
OCM Addresses Oromo Cultural Needs
The majority of Oromo people have come to Minnesota as refugees and asylees. Today,
the largest population of Oromo outside of Oromia live in the Twin Cities. More information...
The OCM is providing a space at the Oromo Center, where Oromo in the Twin cities
are organized as a community, elders, youth, and women work together to preserve
and develop their language, culture and tradition. Through its board members, staff
and other community leaders, the OCM has been educating various communities and
organizations about the Oromo.
The OCM has launched a project to build or buy a multipurpose, new Oromo Center,
in which the above services and programs will be provided and enhanced. The new
Oromo Center will have adequate offices for service provision, an Oromo Resource
Center, a Cultural Center, and an adequate multipurpose hall for educational and
public events and programs of the OCM.
The Oromo Center Project committee of the Board is planning to implement this project
as soon as possible to quickly provide quality services and advocacy to Oromo refugees,
asylees and immigrants.
OCM provides services in areas of social, employment, health education and related services.