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Doualy Xaykaothao

Survey finds growing racial trust in St. Cloud

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A new report on social connections in St. Cloud shows more trust of different racial groups in the central Minnesota city, especially the Somali population.

The report measures so-called "social capital," and the data show significant progress in key measures, said St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis.

"No community can survive by people being isolated from each other," he said. "The survey shows we have those connections. We're moving in the right directions. And we have to continue with the action piece of that."

The social capital survey created by Harvard University was first conducted in St. Cloud in 2004. It asks more than 500 community members questions on trust, health and happiness. The latest report was conducted by the St. Cloud State University Survey and analyzed by Upfront Consulting of St. Joseph, Minn.

Respondents who trust Somali people grew by 17 percent compared to six years ago, said Ann Finan, an associate professor of sociology at St. Cloud State who analyzed the data.

"We believe that that offers an opportunity to intentionally invest in activities and organizations and structures that will bring groups together," Finan said, "to really capitalize on that growing trust, and continue that growth."