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Lutheran Social Services outlines Multicultural Center programs, emphasizes interpreter training and community events
Summary
Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota updated commissioners on programming at the Multicultural Center, including interpreter training (22 trained in the last year), youth outreach, Coliseum event programming and partnerships with local organizations.
Rebecca Keeso Knutson, president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of South Dakota, and Valeria Wicker, program supervisor at the Multicultural Center (MCC), briefed Minnehaha County commissioners April 1 on the MCC’s activities since LSS assumed management in 2022.
Knutson described the MCC as a three-way partnership among the city, county and LSS and said LSS shifted the Coliseum’s use away from private events to programming that is culturally focused, educational and open to the public. Programming highlights include youth arts camps, swimming-lesson outreach, soccer programming that provides evening practice space, and the Festival of Cultures in partnership with the Levitt organization. Knutson said the MCC averages about 52 scheduled events per month and estimated the Coliseum is vacant about one-and-a-half days per year when considering evening and weekend activity.
Valeria Wicker outlined operational details: last year MCC soccer groups logged more than 220 hours of practice and a Burundian drumming group logged 38 hours and stores large drums at the Coliseum. LSS has worked to improve community interpreter services, and Knutson said 22 interpreters received training in the past year. LSS also provides driver’s education interpretation, Strengthening Families parenting classes in appropriate languages, and workforce-development connections.
Commissioners asked whether private rentals are allowed; Knutson said LSS stopped private personal-event rentals (weddings, baptisms) but continues rentals for cultural and educational organizations when events are open to the public. Commissioners and speakers discussed parking constraints around the Coliseum and how evening/weekend scheduling reduces conflicts.
Commissioners and two public commenters praised LSS’s partnership and noted the facility’s role hosting events such as a Siouxland library book talk. Knutson said the organization aims to expand interpreter rosters and to continue education and integration services provided through the Center for New Americans.
