MPR News with Angela Davis

Rural Voice: Building a sense of belonging in Willmar

Willmar Rural Voice
MPR News host and Rural Voice cofounder Kerri Miller leads a town hall discussion at Foxhole Brewhouse in Willmar, Minn. on Sept. 8, 2025. Willmar is one of greater Minnesota's most diverse cities, so Miller traveled there to ask how the community became a welcoming place for immigrants and newcomers.
Kelly Smith | Rural Voice

Willmar, Minn., is one of the most diverse cities in greater Minnesota. More than 25 different languages are spoken in its school system, and immigrants hailing from east Africa, Mexico, Myanmar and central America have revitalized its downtown.

So on Sept. 8, Kerri Miller took the Rural Voice town hall series to Foxhole Brewhouse in Willmar to talk with community members about how they’ve successfully built an inclusive city.

The conversation focused on how the region evolved over the last few decades to include immigrations from Africa, Mexico and other countries and discuss the positive impact that integration has had on the local culture and economy. Participants also discussed ongoing challenges, like political representation for newcomers and institutional discrimination.

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