LEWISTON – A report on Somalis in Lewiston urges them to step up and take responsibility for their needs.

The top two recommendations are that Somali immigrants ought to identify community leaders and build Somali-based organizations.

“This is an attempt by the Somali community to become better organized, to see what we need and guide us in the future,” said Abdirizak Mahboub, executive director of Somali Community Services. “It’s just a start.”

The group will host a review of the report at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, in their offices at 157 Main St.

The report was compiled by a team of researchers from Massachusetts’ Clark University who met with local Somalis over three weekends in September and October. Part of the goal was to get information from Somalis about their needs and desires.

Mahboub said he expects a group of eight leaders to emerge from the Clark effort.

“Then it will be up to them what actions happen next,” Mahboub said.

The report also recommends that Somali organizations work together to coordinate their efforts. There are several groups, including Somali Community Services; the Lewiston-Auburn Islamic Center, which manages the mosque on Lisbon Street; and Daryeelka, which offers programs for Somali women and children.

“There are questions about who does what, and where you go if you need help,” Mahboub said. “We need the people in the community to understand what those groups do. But we need them to be accountable to the community as well: Are they doing what we expect them to do?”

Other recommendations are aimed at the rest of Lewiston. It urges better English as a second language classes, better information about government services and more job training and child care.

“These are just a list of what Somalis see, areas where we could be better served,” Mahboub said. “If services change, that will be seen.”

The report also urges Somalis to work to narrow the cultural gap between the rest of the community. It would be up to Somali community leaders to decide how to do that, Mahboub said.

“That is something to be determined by this group of leaders,” he said. “It may be a way to teach about Somali culture and the community. But it could be a way for the rest of the community to teach about their culture as well.”

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