Fargo-Moorhead today is more diverse than any time in its history.

Consider:
- An estimated 2,000 Bosnians, 1,000 Vietnamese, 800 Sudanese, 700 Somalians and 500 Kurds are living in F-M. They fled oppression – some saved their lives – by escaping to the Red River Valley.

- Overall, refugees from about 30 foreign countries live in F-M.

- Today, 47 different foreign dialects are spoken in the Fargo School District, presenting an enormous challenge to teachers who are trying to mainstream the children of refugees into the American culture. There are more than 1,200 children in F-M whose primary language is something other than English.

- Now, refugees comprise about 6 percent of Fargo’s population.

- In all likelihood F-M’s refugee population and – its diversity – will continue to grow once President Bush lifts the moratorium on refugees coming into this country. When that happens up to 70,000 refugees will enter the United States.

For the past six months The Forum has been examining the impact refugees are having on F-M, and how they have adjusted to life in the United States.

The result is the “Valley to the World” project, which appears Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in eight-page special sections that are being inserted into the newspaper.