LEWISTON – Phil Nadeau knows some people want to forget the recent tension, when white supremacists rallied and anger seemed to dominate talk about the city’s growing Somali community.

In response, there were candlelight vigils and peace marches. Enough’s enough, said some.

Not Nadeau.

Lewiston’s assistant city administrator believes the public discussion needs to continue. Too little is known about the city’s minority groups, the Somalis in particular.

Growing diversity and the Lewiston’s response was the subject of Nadeau’s remarks Thursday at the Great Falls Forum, an occasional lecture series sponsored by St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, the Lewiston Public Library, Bates College and the Sun Journal.

Nadeau told the forum’s attendees that the city needs to continue academic study of the Somali community.

“What has happened here in Lewiston is as unique as anything that has happened in the United States,” Nadeau said. In part, that’s because the reason for the settlement here was so simple.

“They were looking for a nicer place to live,” he said.

Yet, people often don’t understand their new neighbors, Nadeau said. There are still hints of racism and other arrogance that will only go away as people learn more about each other.

After all, that’s what finally ended tension between the Francos, the Irish and the Mainers who were already here, said Nadeau.

“We’re not burning down churches anymore, but change is hard,” he said.

Nadeau worked with the U.S. Department of Justice to create Lewiston Leads, a series of discussions with local people. The work was combined in a report released last month.

The report urged average residents and community groups to act on their own. It suggested building more affordable housing, providing cultural sensitivity training for city employees and encouraging people to get involved in the city.

It also called for a committee to advise the City Council about community relations, including diversity issues.

“We don’t know how the City Council will respond to the report,” Nadeau said. If created, the committee could be a tool for keeping healthy discussion alive, he said.

Besides working with the Justice Department, Nadeau worked with Clark University on a needs analysis of the Somali community and serves on the Governor’s Immigrant/Refugee Task Force.

Nadeau’s appearance at the forum replaced Joyce Williams, president of the New England Area Conference of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People. Williams canceled her appearance due to a work conflict.

dhartill@sunjournal.com

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