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Laura Yuen and Tom Weber

What happens to the tradition of Somali storytelling when it moves to Minn.?

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Many Somalis can recite poetry going back hundreds of years. This tradition of sharing stories requires not only speaking, but listening.

So what is the power of Somali storytelling in Minnesota, home to the nation's largest Somali-American population? How can it forge a common identity and bridge a generational gap within the community?

Several community members explored these issues in-depth at a panel discussion last month. The discussion was hosted by the University of Minnesota's Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and it was part of WGBH and The GroundTruth Project's cross-country reporting road trip called "Crossing the Divide." GroundTruth is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to training the next generation of journalists.

Listen to the audio above to hear some of the highlights.