VWND Sits Down with Rural Diaspora Community

image of Rural Diaspora Community Project Website Page with an overlay header that reads "Vision West ND Sits Down with Rural Diaspora Community

At Vision West ND (VWND), we are committed to supporting the diverse communities that contribute to the vibrancy and growth of Western North Dakota. Recently, we had the privilege of sitting down with Dave and Jana Jenkins, the founders of the Rural Diaspora Community, a nonprofit that works to bridge the gap for African immigrants and refugees in North Dakota. Their work highlights the power of cultural inclusion and community building, and we are excited to share how they are making a lasting impact in our region.

The Rural Diaspora Community (RDC), founded in 2023, focuses on helping new Americans, especially those from African countries, integrate into North Dakota communities. After spending 19 years in Africa, first in Uganda and later in Rwanda, Dave and Jana returned to the United States and, recognizing the growing African community in Dickinson, set up their nonprofit to continue their cultural exchange and community empowerment mission. Drawing from their extensive experience in Africa, where they initiated church programs, educational initiatives, and support for orphans, they saw the opportunity to offer similar resources to African immigrants here in North Dakota.

Their work is unique because they focus on fostering deep, meaningful relationships rather than just providing short-term solutions. The Jenkins' approach, emphasizing cultural inclusion and long-term integration, offers a powerful model for how communities can grow stronger when people from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to share their experiences and build new connections. Through their organization, they have facilitated community cookouts and commemorative events, bringing African immigrants and local North Dakotans together to learn from each other’s cultures and histories.

Their goal is to support immigrants’ survival and help them thrive. As Jana shared, “We want to encourage people to see that they have valuable things to offer their new community, and that’s what we try to help them realize.”

Their story is a testament to the transformative power of cultural inclusion and mutual learning. By supporting the growth and empowerment of immigrant communities, the Rural Diaspora Community is helping enrich the fabric of North Dakota’s rural areas, making them stronger and more interconnected.

Priority Area: #7 Planning & Zoning, #3 Workforce Retention & Recruitment, #6 Housing

NewsLydia DeJesusCultural Inclusion, immigrant integration, rural communities, African Immigrants in North Dakota, Community Empowerement, Cultural Exchange, Immigrant Support, Diversity in North Dakota, Workforce Retention and Recruitent, Community Building, Rural Diaspora Community, New Americans, Housing and Community Development, North Dakota Nonprofits, Refugee Support Programs, Cross-Cultural CollaborationComment