International Profile
Twin Cities and Minnesota
Secondary and Elementary Schools
The support of international education is not limited to higher education. Local elementary and secondary schools are also active in preparing students to be globally aware.
- The Minneapolis Public Schools enroll more than 10,000 students who speak a language other than English at home.
- English language learners in Minneapolis schools represent more than 90 home languages.
- Minnesota ranks fifth in the nation in the number of students studying Chinese at the K-12 level.
- Minneapolis and St. Paul schools teach more than 20 languages.
Local Non-Profits
The Twin Cities area benefits from the work of many non-profit organizations that work in international and intercultural awareness. Two key examples are:
The Minnesota International Center increases and strengthens international exchange and understanding between Minnesotans and the world through world affairs forums, professional exchange, discussion groups, classroom visits, and other services and events.
The Center for Victims of Torture works locally, nationally, and internationally to heal the wounds of torture on individuals, their families, and their communities and to stop torture worldwide.
| Minnesota Immigrant Population | |
| (2000 Census) | |
| Hispanics | 125,000 |
| Hmong | 60,000 |
| Southeast Asians (not Hmong) | 20,000 |
| Somalis | 11,151 |
| Russians | 6,000 |
| West Africans | 2,500 |
| East Africans (not Somali) | 2,000 |
| Yugoslovians | 1,600 |
| Tibetans | 500 |