Michael Styles, director of the Utah Office of Black Affairs, strolled around the grounds Saturday at the South Park Town Homes, forging new relationships with any African refugees he could find.
The "meet and greet" event was a precursor to a meeting Styles has planned for April 27 to bring together representatives of the transplanted African community from the town homes and the agencies that help them.
About 15 units out of the 88 townhomes located along 500 East at about 2200 South are currently occupied by what Styles called "continental" Africans. A few met with Styles to discuss issues like living conditions, communicating with police and cultural differences.
Sharif Kaharaba, originally from Somalia, said his people move to the United States for a better life, but they need to understand the "system" here in order to adjust.
Kaharaba and two members of management at the complex said Saturday that conflicts among residents at the town homes are often resolved with violence. Kaharaba added that refugees need to learn more about using mediation to solve problems.
Police reportedly responded to fights last Thursday and Friday at the townhomes.