Paul Neufeld Weaver, a former fellow with the Center for Rural and Regional Studies at Southwest Minnesota State University, researched immigration in Nobles County. Weaver compared the wave of Europeans who immigrated between 1870-1920 with the current wave of Latinos, Asians, and Africans who have arrived in Nobles County since 1970. Weaver lives in Worthington and recently received his Doctorate in Critical Pedagogy from the University of St. Thomas. He also has a M.A. in Latin American History and teaches history, cultural studies, and languages in Worthington.

A century ago, hundreds of northern Europeans were arriving in Nobles County every year. Today, hundreds of Spanish-speaking and other immigrants arrive each year. Ask residents of Worthington where they were born and the list will include over 20 different countries. Seventeen different languages are spoken by students in the public schools, where over 50% of the children are of non-European ancestry. In what ways have each of these waves of immigration helped to define the community?

Paul has written two news articles entitled "A Community of Immigrants" and "Since 1870, Many Languages Spoken Here" that were featured in the Worthington Daily Globe

Public Presentations:

The World Comes to Worthington: Immigration in Nobles County, Minnesota
Monday, February 17, 2003, 4:00 p.m. in CH 225
View Power Point Presentation
View lecture flyer

The World Comes to Worthington: Immigration in Nobles County
Thursday, May 29, 2003, 7:00 pm at the Nobles County Integration Collaborative (former West Elementary, corner of Clary and Turner). This event is sponsored by CRRS, the Nobles County Historical Society, and the Nobles County Integration Collaborative.