St
Cloud Area Somali Salavation Organization 
Welcome to S A S S 0
October 28, 2010
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St.
Cloud Area Somali Salvation Organization (
SASSO) was co-founded in October 2001 by a Somali man, Mohamoud
Mohamed, and an
American woman, Geneva Cole. The organization had originated
as an informal network of volunteers who began assisting the rapidly
growing Somali refugee population with their everyday needs in early
2001.
SASSO’s first efforts to bridge the misunderstandings between the Somali and greater St. Cloud communities began even before the official incorporation of the organization.
Immediately following September 11th, 2001, rumors spread in St. Cloud that Somali workers at a local factory had been seen cheering the destruction of the World Trade Center. Mohamoud and Geneva organized a rally and march of the Somali community to show support for the United States in late September. SASSO was officially incorporated October 15th, 2001.
Our Mission
October 24, 2010
The
mission
of SASSO is to provide culturally specific advocacy, direct programs
and services, guidance and referral to enable the refugee and immigrant
population to become self-sufficient. Our general goals are
to help refugees and immigrants meet their basic needs and become
secure and participating members of the larger community, and to help
increase the capacity of the city of St. Cloud to welcome and work with
refugees and immigrants.
