Careers and Connections - Grace & Ifrah

Grace Hawkins and Ifrah Jimale sit across from each other, sharing a home-cooked meal. The food is simple, but delicious, and includes vegetables grown in Grace’s sprawling front-yard garden. The two women chat happily, swapping stories and gardening tips. They met only a few months ago, yet they are already completely at ease in each other’s presence.

Grace and Ifrah both participated in Careers and Connections, Lutheran Services of Georgia’s employment mentoring program that pairs professionals with refugees looking to pursue careers in the United States. Launched in 2014 in partnership with Higher, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services’ national employment initiative, Careers and Connections has already provided support for 30 refugees. Careers and Connections aims to accomplish two goals: to support long-term career advancement for refugees and to deepen social connections between refugees and their communities.

Originally from Somalia, Ifrah arrived in Minnesota as a teenager in 1998. She was immediately placed in jail because she didn’t have all of her immigration documents in order. After her release, she spent the next 15 years navigating U.S. immigration courts before she finally received her citizenship status. Ifrah completed high school and studied journalism in college. She worked as a reporter and ran her own blog.

In 2013, Ifrah moved to Georgia where “I felt like a brand new refugee. I came here and I was just lost.” She struggled to find a job in her field and missed the support of the Somalian community she had left behind in Minnesota. After discovering Lutheran Services of Georgia through an online search, she began volunteering with LSG’s Extended Cultural Orientation program. There, she met Melanie Johnson, LSG’s Program Manager for Volunteer, Congregation, and Community Engagement. Melanie asked Ifrah about her dreams for the future, beyond simply working to survive. Ifrah realized that she wanted to write and publish a book about her refugee experience.

Melanie reached out to Grace Hawkins, the former Executive Director of the Global Village Project, to serve as Ifrah’s mentor. Before moving to Atlanta, Grace and her husband operated their own writing business in Seattle and published 17 books. Grace has also travel extensively outside of the U.S. During her travels, she witnessed the poverty, political repression, and conflict that drives refugees to flee their countries of origin. Through the Global Village Project, she met several refugees and survivors of traumatic situations. Intrigued by Ifrah’s experience, she agreed to serve as Ifrah’s mentor.

Over the past several months, Grace has assisted Ifrah in editing manuscripts and introduced her to writers and editors throughout Atlanta. However, the two women agree that their friendship goes beyond than the roles of mentor and mentee. Although the three-month-long program is over, they continue to meet regularly, sharing food, knowledge, experiences, stories, and laughter.

Ifrah appreciates her friendship with Grace and credits her Careers and Connections experience with helping her envision her book and build connections in Atlanta. She said, “Careers and Connections is a really good program. It helps with assimilation, because otherwise as an immigrant you’re really cut off. You have walls around you. Careers and Connections was the best decision I’ve made so far in this state. It’s my new anchor in Georgia. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t met Grace—she’s literally my 4-1-1.”

Careers and Connections is preparing to launch a new cohort of 30 refugee mentees and mentors. For more information or to participate in the program, contact Melanie Johnson at mjohnson@lsga.org or (678) 696-9619.

Meet the RIS Summer Interns - Part 1

Each summer, Lutheran Services of Georgia's Refugee and Immigration Services department takes on several interns. We're excited to introduce five of our summer interns: Annie Goodman, Kayla Crowell, Onah Melenu, Victoria Shelegina, and Allie Alexander.

Annie Goodman

 

About Annie: Annie Goodman was born in Richmond, Virginia, but spent most of her life in Alpharetta, Georgia. Currently, she lives in Kennesaw with her boyfriend Clint and her two cats, Penny and Olive. Annie is double majoring in Anthropology and Early Childhood Education at Kennesaw State University. Annie loves to play video games, read comics, and is currently working with her boyfriend to renovate their 1960s home. She is also trying her hand at gardening and watercolors.

Annie's Hopes for the Summer: "I have heard nothing but great things about LSG from past interns and I am very excited to be part of it. As a future educator, I want to gain experience in a multicultural environment. In all of the classrooms I have worked in, there are students from all over the world. Not only will I be working to create a welcoming and effective learning environment for all of my students, I will also be establishing positive relationships with my students' parents. I know this experience will help me become a better teacher for my future students."

Kayla Crowell

About Kayla: Kayla is from Powder Springs, Georgia. She's a fourth year student studying French and Spanish at the University of Georgia. In her spare time, Kayla loves to read, travel, and spend time with her friends.

Kayla's Hopes for the Summer: "I decided to intern with LSG because I wanted to gain professional experience and learn more about immigration law while making a positive difference in people's lives. LSG's wide range of services and commitment to welcoming people made it a perfect fit. I hope to improve my language skills and gain a meaningful understanding of how law impacts people, what services are available to them, and how I can pursue a career in this field."

Onah Melanu

About Onah: Onah is from Georgia. She is a graduating senior studying Anthropology at Kennesaw State University. Onah's hobbies include reading, swimming, and cultural community activities.

Onah's Hopes for the Summer: "I enjoy helping others with job placement and acculturation activities. I assist friends and family typically from Africa with understanding American culture and with work. At LSG, I hope to gain more knowledge from other cultures as well as the background activity that goes along with job placement. Upon graduation I plan to obtain an MBA with a concentration in human resource management."

Victoria Shelegina

About Victoria: Originally from Russia, Victoria arrived in the U.S. in September, 2011. Victoria holds a law degree from the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and is currently a Juris Doctor candidate at Emory University School of Law. Victoria likes to read and to travel.

Victoria's Hopes for the Summer: : "Upon graduation, I look forward to practicing immigration law in the U.S., so I hope to gain professional experience with LSG."

Allie Alexander

About Allie: Allie is a rising junior at Georgia State University studying Public Policy. Her hobbies including horseback riding (particularly barrel racing), reading, traveling, and exploring the city and different cultures.

Allie's Hopes for the Summer: "I've had internships in the past and my experiences have consisted largely of paperwork, faxing, and very little hands-on experience. I wanted to be given responsibility and interact directly with the people that a non-profit serves. I knew that LSG would give me the opportunity to accomplish this. I would like to understand in-depth the challenges and processes that refugees go through as they adjust to life in the U.S. I find it incredible that refugees are able to overcome the extremely adverse circumstances they have faced."

Thank you, Victoria, Annie, Onah, Kayla, and Allie for joining us in welcome this summer! Watch our blog next week to meet the rest of the RIS interns. To learn more about interning with Refugee and Immigration Services, contact Melanie Johnson at mjohnson@lsga.org.

Support Newly Arrived Refugees in Atlanta and Savannah

When Mr. T. arrived in Savannah with his wife, teenage son, and baby on the way, he wanted start working immediately. He wanted to build a future for his family that would be better than the life they left behind in Myanmar. However, shortly after his journey to the United States, Mr. T. received devastating news. He was diagnosed with two separate medial conditions, one requiring surgery. Mr T. will not be able to work until he has fully recovered from surgery.

Most refugee families have a little more than a month to secure employment, which helps smooth their transition to economic self-sufficiency. Mr. T.'s medical conditions will delay his ability to work by two months, leaving the family without enough money to pay their rent. To add to their financial stress, Mr. T's wife gave birth one month early, and the family is using most of their financial resources to help support their newborn.

LSG connected the family to community resources that provide medical case management, free medicine, and baby supplies. Our staff has worked tirelessly to ensure that the family is safe and healthy, taking them to and from many doctor's appointments each week. Both parents are eager to work, and their 14-year-old son has asked many times when he can start working to support the family.

Like so many of our clients, Mr T. and his family have a bright future ahead of them, but will need some help along the way. By donating to LSG, you join LSG in giving individuals, children, and families throughout Georgia the support they need to reach happy, healthy futures. Please give today.

Nur Abdi Selected for 2015 Migrant and Refugee Leadership Academy

Nur Abdi, LSG staff member and former refugee, was recently selected to participate in Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service’s 2015 Migrant and Refugee Leadership Academy! Each year, this Academy brings together migrant and refugee leaders to share experiences, connect with each other, and hone skills to co-advocate on issues of importance to both communities.

In 2008, Nur and his sister fled violence and instability in their home country of Somalia. Together, they traveled to India where they lived as refugees. To support himself and his sister, Nur accepted a job with an international organization that operated income generation programs for refugees. Refugees received training in producing items like plates, teacups, and paper that could then be sold for an income. Nur assumed a leadership role with the organization in quality control and program monitoring.

In 2013, after five years in India, Nur was resettled in Atlanta through Lutheran Services of Georgia. He immediately began using his language skills to interpret for other refugees and LSG staff during cultural orientation and the Match Grant program. Within two months, Nur found a job at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Yet Nur’s journey with LSG wasn’t finished. His experiences as a refugee inspired him to seek out opportunities to continue serving refugee populations. In July of 2014, Nur accepted a part-time position as an Administrative Assistant for LSG’s Refugee and Immigration Services department. Three months later, he was promoted to his current position as a full-time Reception and Placement Case Manager.

Nur is excited to attend this year’s Refugee Leadership Academy. “I am very passionate to help refugees and other migrants and I want to be a good role model for others,” he said. “Participating in the 2015 Migrant and Refugee Leadership Academy will be an honor. It will teach me the tools I need in order to continue to advocate for migrants and refugees. I will share my story and the story of other refugees, both those that are here in the United States and those are overseas.”

The 2015 Migrant and Refugee Leadership Academy will be held in Baltimore and Washington D.C. on June 16 through 18. Watch our blog and Crossing Oceans to read Nur’s reflections on his experience after he returns.

Hawraa's First Word

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Since the Al Obaidi family arrived in the United States last year, LSG has been working to help them adjust to life in their new community.  The Al Obaidi knew that their 8-year-old daughter Hawraa was experiencing some medical problems, but they weren't sure of the cause. When the family spoke to Hawraa, she didn't respond. As a result, she was not enrolled in school in her home country of Iraq.

When Hawraa came to Clarkston, she was immediately enrolled in school, but she struggled to keep up with her peers. LSG helped her mother coordinate with pediatricians and specialists. The doctors discovered that Hawraa could hear almost nothing and therefore was unable to communicate with her family and classmates verbally. With the help of LSG and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Hawraa was able to get hearing aids and began to speak the names of her siblings.

However, without specialized school services, her progress at home and in school was slow. LSG worked with the family to enroll Hawraa in a special program for hearing-impaired students at an elementary school that would focus on literacy while also teaching sign language.

On Hawraa's first day in her new school, her mother visited her daughter in the new specialized classroom. Hawraa was wearing large, very loud headphones and watching flashcards on a tablet, when she said her first word in English: "Elephant!" Her new teacher quickly praised a beaming Hawraa while her mother cried with happiness. Hawraa is loving her new school and new friends, and she proudly wears her hearing aids every day as she continues to catch up with others at home and in the classroom.

LSG Recruits Mentors and Mentees for Careers and Connections

Lutheran Services of Georgia  is piloting Careers and Connections, a refugee career mentoring program with Higher, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service’s national employment initiative.

Careers and Connections aims to accomplish two goals: to support long-term career advancement for refugees and to deepen social connections between refugees and their communities. LSG is recruiting 30 mentors to match with 30 refugees. The mentor will act as a job coach, equipping the refugee to develop skills, identify long-term career goals, and create a plan to reach those goals.

Through mentoring relationships, refugees receive the opportunity to expand their social networks. Upon arrival in Georgia, refugees often face significant barriers to community integration. Language skills and difficulties navigating the institutions and customs of a new culture can leave refugees vulnerable to marginalization. This program connects refugees and long-term local residents who can work together to build a more cohesive and vibrant community.

LSG is currently recruiting professional mentors from various fields and refugee mentees for a new cohort to begin mid-May, 2015. For more information on Careers and Connections or to volunteer to become a mentor for a newly arrived refugee, contact Melanie Johnson at mjohnson@lsga.org or at 678-686-9619.

LSG and Sopo Partner to Provide Bikes for Refugees

 

By Taryn Arbeiter, Matching Grant Coordinator for Refugee and Immigration Services

During the first months after arriving in the United States, refugees often express a need for reliable transportation in order to attend English and employment classes, shop for groceries, visit friends, and commute to school and medical appointments. Even clients with a good grasp of the English language need a few months to prepare for and complete Georgia's driving test. It can take several months or even years for refugees to save enough money to buy a car.

In response to the call for better transportation, Lutheran Services of Georgia partnered with Sopo Bicycle Cooperative volunteer Patrick Davis to connect newly arrived refugees with refurbished bicycles. Sopo and LSG held two Saturday workshops at Sopo in Atlanta's Grant Park neighborhood. We opened the opportunity to 8 current clients, with a special focus on women and children.

Several LSG staff and volunteers volunteered their time for the workshops. Workshops included a short service project to help organize the Sopo bike shop and repair tire tubes. Volunteers assisted clients in cleaning and making adjustments to their refurbished bikes. Several volunteers and family members used a cul-de-sac nearby to teach two clients how to ride a bike. The workshops ended with a safety presentation, teaching clients about traffic laws and equipping them with helmets and bike lights. Clients were advised to purchase locks on their own as soon as possible.

At the end of the workshops, every participant found a bike to take home. Equally important, every client, volunteer, and staff person had the opportunity to practice English, share stories and laughter, and forge new, supportive relationships.

LSG hopes to offer this opportunity again by continuing this partnership quarterly. Our capacity to offer this program is limited in part due to a shortage of helmets and locks. LSG is seeking donations of bikes, helmets, and locks for refugees. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Taryn Arbeiter at tarbeiter@lsga.org.

LSG Receives Wheat Ridge Ministries Grant to Support Enhanced Cultural Orientation for Refugees

Lutheran Services of Georgia recently received a generous, three-year grant from Wheat Ridge Ministries to support the Enhanced Cultural Orientation (ECO) program for newly arrived refugees.

After refugees arrive in the United States, they need support to learn how to navigate U.S. culture and adjust to life in their new communities. Federally-contracted refugee resettlement agencies like LSG are required to cover a checklist of orientation topics. While most agencies cover these topics in a one-day or less "crash course", LSG recognized that this was not enough. In March 2013, LSG launched the Enhanced Cultural Orientation program to better serve refugees.

ECO provides new arrivals with nine intensive cultural orientation workshops over the course of three weeks. Workshops cover essential topics such as US law, housing and personal safety, public transportation, domestic violence laws, US Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements, budgeting and banking in the US, and coping with stress. Childcare is provided, along with interpreters in multiple language, ensuring that participants are able to focus on and understand the lessons.

Along with providing cultural orientation, ECO offers direct food relief in a compassionate, convenient, and culturally-sensitive way. Although refugees are eligible for the temporary Georgia Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) while they seek employment, it can take several weeks before these benefits are approved and can be accessed. With funding from Wheat Ridge Ministries, LSG will give refugees breakfast and a snack during each workshop session. Refugees will also sometimes receive lunch. LSG will either provide grocery store gift certificates or one bag of culturally appropriate staple food items, such as rice, beans, oil, salt, and juice, per week for the first two weeks for each family represented at the workshops.

Unlike many cultural orientation programs, ECO does not separate refugees according to their country of origin. Instead, refugees from various ethnic groups are encouraged to build relationships and learn together, which helps deepen community ties in Clarkston.

Wheat Ridge Ministries is a nonprofit organization that helps health and human care initiatives get off the ground by providing the initial funding and support they need to thrive. LSG thanks Wheat Ridge Ministries for providing funds to support refugees during their earliest days in the United States.

LSG Celebrates New Americans at the Capitol!

By Emily Laney, Atlanta Program Manager for Refugee and Immigration Services

On February 11, 2015, Lutheran Services of Georgia's Refugee and Immigration Services team participated in the New Americans Celebration at the Capitol, organized by the Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies (CRSA). Fifteen LSG staff, interns, and clients attended this exciting annual event, joining representatives from other resettlement agencies throughout Georgia.

Our group visited the offices of elected officials to distribute information about refugees in Georgia and the many ways refugees contribute to making Georgia a great state. We used the page system to invite our elected officials to speak with us. Several came out to meet with us, and we were able to introduce them to many of our clients and staff members who have incredible stories to share.

In the afternoon, our group participated in a moving Naturalization Ceremony at the Capitol. Students in Clarkston High School's culinary program served appetizers to celebration participants and legislators. Twelve former refugees, including two former LSG clients, took the oath to become American citizens. Both clients were resettled by LSG five years ago, and finally received their U.S. citizenship. The Naturalization Ceremony was a powerful moment for the staff, clients, and elected officials who attended the event. Our clients have been through so much, and it was wonderful to see them take this huge step towards discovering their own American Dream.

Volunteers Serve Refugees and Immigrants at the 2015 Lutheran MLK Day of Service!

On January 19, 2015, volunteers from all over metro Atlanta honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by serving immigrants and refugees! The Lutheran MLK Day of Service was a huge success. Here's the breakdown:

VOLUNTEERS

218 individual volunteers came out to serve from 14 volunteer groups and congregations, including:

• Generation On/Mark It Up Leadership Team
• St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Decatur
• Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta
• St. John's Lutheran Church, Atlanta
• Blessed Assurance Church of God in Christ (COGIC)
• CD Owens District (COGIC) Youth Department
• Cross of Life Lutheran Church, Roswell
• Christ the King Lutheran Church, Peachtree Corners
• Atlanta University Center Lutheran Campus Ministry
• Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Atlanta
• Candler School of Theology/Emory University
• Girl Scout Troup 13491
• Rock of Ages Lutheran Church
• Helping Mamas

DONATIONS

The Lutheran MLK Day of Service received many generous donations, including:

• Over 3600 pounds of rice packaged as "welcome food" for refugee families
• 10 boxes of gently used children's books donated to children in the Clarkston refugee community
• Clothing, diapers, strollers, and Pack 'n Plays for 30 refugee families with babies and young children, donated by Helping Mamas.

SERVICE

Volunteers participated in several service projects:

• Volunteers packaged rice into family-sized bags of "welcome food" for newly arrived refugee families.
• Volunteers read books to children in daycare in Clarkston's refuge community.
• Volunteers sorted children's books to be distributed to children in Clarkston's daycare centers and schools.
• Volunteers wrote letters of compassionate support to 13 immigrants in detention centers across Georgia.

THANK YOU!

LSG would like to thank all 218 of our generous volunteers for coming out and serving with us. A special thanks goes out to:

• Gene Lewis--Lutheran MLK Day of Service event organizer
• Our Event Co-Sponsors: Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Lutheran Theological Center in Atlanta; and the Women of the ELCA
• Rock of Ages Lutheran Church for donating their space and 1000 pounds of rice
• Helping Mamas, for collecting, sorting, and donating clothing, diapers, strollers, and Pack 'n Plays for refugee children
• LSG staff who helped organize and lead the event

For more photos from the Day of Service, visit our Facebook page. Volunteers also shared their motives for serving immigrants and refugees. Click here to see what they had to say.

Help LSG Feed Refugees at the Lutheran MLK Day of Service

Each year, at the Lutheran MLK Day of Service, individuals, congregations, and community groups come together to serve refugees through service projects, including Rice for Refugees. Have you ever wondered why Lutheran Services of Georgia collects rice? The Rice for Refugees project is one crucial way that LSG welcomes refugee families to the United States. After fleeing persecution, conflict, and other dangerous situations in their home countries, most refugees arrive in the U.S. with little more than the clothes on their backs. LSG provides refugees with food, shelter, clothing, cultural information, and other support during their early days in the United States. Rice is considered a staple food in many countries throughout the world, and is a central part of the diets of many refugees. When you donate rice to LSG, you are quite literally feeding those who might otherwise go hungry.

On January 19, 2015, volunteers at the Lutheran MLK Day of Service will donate and pack rice into 5-pound bags to be given to newly arrived refugees. LSG needs lots of rice to ensure that all of our refugees are fed, so please bring as much rice as you are able.

Other Lutheran MLK Day of Service volunteer opportunities include sorting new or gently used children's books, reading to refugee children, and writing letters of compassion to immigrant detainees at non-citizen detention centers. LSG will also be accepting donations of new and gently used children's books. Click here to RSVP for any of our service projects.

If you are unable to attend the Day of Service, but would still like to donate rice or children's books, donations will be accepted at Rock of Ages Lutheran Church (5135 Memorial Dr., Stone Mountain, GA 30083) from 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. on Friday, January 16 and Sunday, January 18. For more information on donations, or to arrange a drop-off, please contact Melanie Johnson at mjohnson@lsga.org or 678-686-9619.

To see photos from last year's Lutheran Day of Service, click here.

La Iglesia Delivers Gifts to Refugees!

By Aubrey Murillo, Safe Release Program Assistant at LSG and member of La Iglesia en Johnson Ferry

Members of La Iglesia en Johnson Ferry had the privilege of participating in Hope Tree for the first time this year. Our goals for participating were twofold. We wanted to tangibly show God's love to families who were truly in need. Also, we wanted our congregation that is comprised of immigrants to learn more about the refugee community that is in our very own backyard!

In preparation for delivering the coat, we turned to the internet to find basic greetings and phrases in Nepali in order to try and communicated with the families from Bhutan. We were all nervous to deliver the coats, but excited about the opportunity to bless each family member and learn more about our new friends from Bhutan. "Namaste," which means both hello and goodbye, was the extent of our Nepali, yet with that simple word, doors were opened as cultural and language barriers toppled.

Through our broken English, attempts at Nepali, and the adult daughter of the family's efforts to translate the conversation, we were able to welcome a family of six to the United States. The members of our congregation started to realize the plight of this refugee family and really identified with this family, as they too are immigrants to the United States. It was incredible to hear them share their own stories: "Welcome to the U.S. We arrived here 12 years ago...4 years ago...", etc. They remember their own feelings of hope, fear, and the unknown as we wished this family peace and hope in their new life in the United States.

Our members were so interested in the different cultures in Clarkston that we stayed in the area to try different kinds of foods and learn more about the people who live there. It was a great day of learning for our members. They discovered that their own experiences are much like that of a refugee. They experienced Clarkston and some of its many cultures and people. They learned that a smile is multi-lingual. Many are asking when we can return to Clarkston! Thank you, LSG, for the opportunity to bless and to be a blessing.

For information on how you or your congregation can get involved with Refugee and Immigration Services, contact Melanie Johnson at mjohnson@lsga.org.

Bikes for Savannah Refugees

Earlier this November, the Savannah Bicycle Campaign generously donated bicycles to Lutheran Services of Georgia's Savannah refugee clients. Formed in March 2008, the Savannah Bicycle Campaign is a nonprofit, membership-based organization working to build a better Savannah through advocacy, education, and encouraging biking.

LSG worked closely with the SBC to ensure that all bikes were the right size for the refugees. The bikes came equipped with all necessary safety equipment--lights, reflectors, and helmets. Before receiving their bicycles, the refugees participated in a brief safety orientation and took their bikes on some trial runs at the SBC office. After everyone was feeling comfortable, those that lived nearby rode their bikes home.

The refugees are using their bicycles to get around Savannah, traveling to the library to apply for jobs, running errands, and getting to and from work. LSG thanks the Savannah Bicycle Campaign for supporting refugees in Savannah.

For more photos of the refugees and their bikes, check out our Facebook page.

LSG Hosts Orientation for Fostering Unaccompanied Children

On Thursday, October 30, 2014, Lutheran Services of Georgia hosted an orientation for individuals interested in opening their homes to unaccompanied migrant children. In response to outreach efforts in LaGrange, several families came out to LaGrange Memorial Library to learn more about becoming short-term, transitional foster homes for this vulnerable population.

The evening began with snacks and introductions. Gayle Cruz, LSG’s Specialized Foster Care Recruiter, and Anton Flores, co-founder of LaGrange’s Alterna, presented on short-term foster care. Attendees watched a video explaining the conditions that cause unaccompanied children to flee their countries of origin and the treacherous journeys they make to the United States. Afterwards, LSG gave out packets of information including applications to begin the foster care training process. Five families expressed interest in becoming short-term foster homes, and two families have already taken the first steps to begin training.

LSG is collaborating with other LaGrange area organizations and ministries to create safe, welcoming foster homes and a supportive community for unaccompanied children. A local recreational center has offered to provide space for the trainings and for family gatherings once the children have arrived. LSG is grateful to community partners, including the LaGrange Memorial Library, for their support.

LSG is currently determining the next location in metro Atlanta and the surrounding areas where foster homes for unaccompanied children will be developed. Prospective foster families must undergo a three-stage approval process involving orientation, training, and a thorough family assessment. The approval process takes three to four months to complete. LSG expects to begin receiving children from the Office of Refugee Resettlement in February 2015. Families with one bilingual adult are preferred, but those without will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster home, contact Gayle Cruz at gcruz@lsga.org or 404-207-0131.

You're Invited to the LSG Careers and Connections Launch!

Careers and Connections Saturday, October 18, 2014 Clarkston Community Center 3701 College Ave Clarkston, GA 30021 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Click to RSVP.

Lutheran Services of Georgia was recently selected to pilot Careers and Connections, a refugee career mentoring program with Higher, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service's national employment initiative. Please join us for the Launch Event to learn more about becoming a professional mentor or refugee mentee in LSG's newest program. Careers and Connections aims to support long-term career advancement for refugees and deepen social connections between refugees and their communities. LSG will recruit 30 mentors and 30 refugees to commit to weekly meetings for at least three months. Mentors will act as a job coach, equipping the refugee to develop skills, identify career goals, and create a plan to reach those goals.

Upon arrival in Georgia, refugees often face significant barriers to community integration. Language skills and difficulties navigating the institutions and customs of a new culture can leave refugees vulnerable to marginalization. Through mentoring relationships, this program connects refugees and long-term local residents who can work together to build a more cohesive and vibrant community.

You can RSVP online to attend at bit.ly/CareersConnectionsLaunch. If you're not able to attend but would like more information on serving as a Careers and Connections mentor or mentee, please contact Melanie Johnson at mjohnson@lsga.org or 678-686-9619.

Click to download our Launch Invitation.

"Laws Aren't Perfect" - A Call to Mercy, Pt. 4

For two weeks, Honduran-born U.S. immigration attorney Killa M. will share her reflections on life in Honduras and on showing mercy to unaccompanied children in "A Call to Mercy", a four-part LSG blog series. Click to read parts one, two, and three.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Lutheran Services of Georgia

When people tell me that unaccompanied children broke the law and, as such, should not be shown mercy, I tell them that laws aren’t perfect and they don’t always reflect current societal realities. There are very few forms of immigration relief available for these minors. One of them is asylum. To succeed in an asylum claim, a person must show a well-founded fear of persecution based on a protected ground such as race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group (an ever-changing concept that is applied differently depending on the justice circuit where the case is being heard). The person must demonstrate that they are unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin, or that they are unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country. This seems like a straightforward concept, but that could not be further from the truth. I could write a dissertation on the complexity of American asylum law, but suffice it to say, our current asylum policy was not drafted to deal with the kind of generalized violence that now reigns in Honduras. To quote the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Delgado Ortiz v. Holder, “Asylum is not available to victims of indiscriminate violence, unless they are singled out on account of a protected ground.” So what can you do when your life is constantly in danger for any reason, or no reason at all?

The limited availability of asylum is reflected in the fact that in 2013, only 3.9 percent of the Honduran asylum claims that came before U.S. Immigration Courts were granted. Seems like an awfully small percentage given that it is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

Even when you present a prima facie case in the U.S. legal system, it is not guaranteed that the law will be applied properly. For example, my brother, an attorney working closely with my mother, sought asylum in the U.S. after our mother was murdered. He presented evidence of the murder and of the fact that, since our mother’s death, he had been followed and harassed on multiple occasions. He also presented documentation from the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights requesting that the Honduran government investigate the murder and provide protection to my brother. He presented the Honduran government’s response that it was unwilling and unable to provide that protection. He presented affidavits from prosecutors, judges, security experts, and fellow attorneys testifying that he would surely suffer harm if he remained in Honduras. He asked the U.S. Military Attaché assigned to Honduras to testify to the violent living conditions in Honduras. Finally, he presented evidence that, in 2013 alone, 53 attorneys had been murdered in Honduras. His case was denied because, among other reasons, “[he] had failed to show that any future harm [he] feared is on account of one of the protected characteristics.” If an educated adult, with an objective fear of death, hundreds of pages of evidence, and adequate legal counsel was unable to receive this form of relief, how do you think an unaccompanied child will fare in the U.S. legal system?

For these reasons, I beg you not to turn a blind eye to what is happening at the border with these children. I don’t know exactly how to solve the crisis in Honduras or how to reform immigration laws to ensure protection of these children while slowing the influx of arrivals. I have some ideas, but that is a conversation for another day. For now, I know that we, as Christians, are responsible for showing mercy to these young kids who have already seen more tragedy than most people ever will in their entire lives. There are many ways to help, from volunteering to foster an unaccompanied child to writing a letter to your Senator about the issue. Whatever you do, don’t remain silent.

If you have questions about this blog series or for Killa, please contact Abi Koning, Communications Coordinator, at akoning@lsga.org.

"Why You Should Care" - A Call to Mercy, Pt. 3

For two weeks, U.S. immigration attorney and Honduran native Killa M. will share her reflections on life in Honduras and on showing mercy to unaccompanied children in "A Call to Mercy", a four-part LSG blog series. Click to read part one and part two.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Lutheran Services of Georgia.

I’m not a sociologist, nor have I studied the development of violent crime as an academic subject. If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re already aware that Honduras is known as the “Murder Capital of the World”. According to the most recent UN study, the murder rate in Honduras is 90 out of 100,000 people. In second place by a large margin is Venezuela with 43 per 100,000 people. By comparison, the rate in the U.S. is currently close to 5 per 100,000 people.

Nevertheless, I’m not writing this article to give you an in-depth analysis of all the factors contributing to the violence that might cause a child to migrate. All I am offering is my personal experience: what I’ve lived through, what I’ve seen, and the stories of my friends, family, and those I serve. I wrote this article to help you understand why children arriving at our doorsteps need mercy, and why you should care. Should people in the United States share responsibility for the fact that the Honduran government is corrupt and the country overrun by drug lords? Should Americans take some responsibility for the fact that people’s lives are at risk in Honduras? It is noteworthy that the United States is the world’s largest consumer of cocaine and a major consumer of many other drugs. Every ounce snorted by Americans is tainted with the blood of innocent people that die because that garbage is trafficked through our land. However, that is just one factor, albeit a significant one, that drives violence in Honduras. Yet I believe that, if you are a follower of Christ, your reaction should not hinge on whether or not you had “anything to do with” causing the violence. Instead, if you are a follower of Christ, you should desire to be merciful like our Father is merciful.

God is not impressed with our lofty acts of sacrifice, or how often we go to church, or how many hours we spend in prayer. In Hosea 6:6, God tells us that he desires mercy, not sacrifice. Near and dear to God’s heart especially are the widow, the orphan, and the alien. James 6:27 explains that “pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Moreover, Deuteronomy 10:18 says of God: “He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.”

It is appalling to me that people in the church would remain silent in the face of such injustice and distress. It’s shocking to see people who claim to be followers of Christ traveling to the border to yell unwelcoming and insulting words at children. Many people come to me and say, “But they broke the law! Doesn’t God command us to obey our local authorities?” To answer that question, I look at the Bible and the U.S. legal system. While Romans 13 does command Christians to abide by the law, this commandment cannot be taken out of context. In all of history there have been laws all over the world that fall short or are contrary to God’s law. Let’s remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—three law breakers who refused to bow down to an egotistical king because it went against God’s command to worship no one aside from him. You cannot ignore God’s law simply to honor human-made laws.

Check back on Thursday, September 25, for part four of "A Call to Mercy". Click to read part one and part two. If you have questions about this blog series or for Killa, please contact Abi Koning, Communications Coordinator, at akoning@lsga.org.

"Even a Child Knows it's Better to Leave" - A Call to Mercy, Pt. 2

For two weeks,Honduran-born U.S. immigration attorney Killa M. will share her reflections on life in Honduras and on showing mercy to unaccompanied children in "A Call to Mercy", a four-part LSG blog series. To read part one, click here.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Lutheran Services of Georgia.

As a grieving daughter, I know the horror that children coming to the U.S. from Central America are escaping. Through my work within the immigration field, I have heard stories from children who have come to the U.S. after seeing their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends raped, beaten, and murdered.

I’ve listened to a young lady tell me how she heard her neighbors being hacked to death. The next morning, she found the pieces of their bodies stuffed into their old television set. Another young man recounted the story of his brother being beaten in the streets and ultimately killed in front of him because he refused to join a gang. One of my closest friends suffered the loss of her cousin, a bright young woman who was just starting med school. She was murdered after resisting a kidnapping attempt. Last year, while visiting my family members in Honduras, my sister received a death threat which forced us to go into hiding. We left the country the very next day. My brother, also an attorney, was constantly followed and harassed to the point where he feared for his life and came to the U.S. seeking asylum. One of my Honduran friends put his hopelessness into words: “I would rather have been born a dog in any other place than a man in this forsaken country.” In our country, no one knows, no one hears, no one investigates, and no one is held responsible.

Currently, people in Honduras endure levels of violence that people in the U.S. would not tolerate for even a single day. In 2008, three years prior to the attack that led to her death, my mother was shot, but she survived. After that attack, she hired a bodyguard, which served no purpose other than to add to the death toll that horrible November afternoon. Like her, many in Honduras who can afford to do so will hire bodyguards and buy bullet-proof vehicles, just like in a war zone, and hope for the best. It’s a sad sight to see a 12-year-old walking through the mall with her friends, followed by armed men in bullet-proof vests. What kind of life is that? And what about those who live in poverty, who can’t afford to keep their children safe? The violence doesn’t discriminate. It’s obvious; even a child know it’s better to leave.

Check back on Tuesday, September 23, for part three of "A Call to Mercy". To read part one, click here. If you have questions about this blog series or for Killa, please contact Abi Koning, Communications Coordinator, at akoning@lsga.org.

"I Am One of the Lucky Ones" - A Call to Mercy, Pt. 1

For the next two weeks, Honduran-born U.S. immigration attorney Killa M. will share her reflections on life in Honduras and on showing mercy to unaccompanied children in "A Call to Mercy", a four-part LSG blog series.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Lutheran Services of Georgia.

I came to the United States from Honduras on a student visa when I was 17 years old, just a month shy of my 18^th birthday. I wanted to get the best college education so I could return home and work in the Honduran tourism industry or perhaps at the “Cancillería” (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). I wanted a job that would allow me to share my country’s beauty and potential with the world.

My mother always reminded me that, after graduation, I was to return to Honduras and use my foreign-acquired skills to benefit my home country. However, a few weeks before she was murdered, while I was in my second year of law school, she told me something she had never said before: “Stay where you are. Don’t come back to this country. There is nothing left here for you.”

My mother, Judith Aleman Banegas, was a well-respected attorney. During her 30-year-long career as an attorney she successfully took on all kinds of cases, from child custody disputes to complex international business transactions. Anyone who knew my mother recognized that she possessed a brilliant legal mind. As a woman in a very chauvinist society, my mother was nevertheless able to excel and surpass most men in her field. Her intelligence was overshadowed only by her humility and kindness.

My mother loved nothing more than to help individuals with no access to the limited Honduran legal system. Consequently, she fought for the rights of low-income women and their children. She was the kind of person who would watch the evening news and be so moved by someone’s plight that she would call the news station and offer her services pro bono. She was a fierce advocate for transparency in the courts and was openly critical in the media about corrupt government officials who manipulated and abused the legal system.

To this day, I don’t know who killed my mother. I have no idea who ordered or paid to have her killed. All I know is that, on the afternoon of November 7, 2011, five heavily armed men intercepted her car. They killed my mother, her bodyguard and her secretary. My mother left me and my two siblings behind. Her bodyguard had two kids. Her secretary was a single mother of a 9-month-old baby girl.

If you feel bad for me, don’t. I am one of the lucky ones. I didn’t see my mother die. I didn’t hear her scream. I was never harassed or beaten. I didn’t have to walk the streets of my neighborhood wondering when my turn to die would come. Many of the children fleeing to the U.S. from Honduras are not as lucky as I am.

Check back on Thursday, September 18, for part two of "A Call to Mercy". If you have questions about this blog series or for Killa, please contact Abi Koning, Communications Coordinator, at akoning@lsga.org.

LSG's 2014 Heroes: R.N.C. Industries

 

Each year, Lutheran Services of Georgia honors community heroes at the annual Heroes of Hope, Healing, and Strength Gala! On Thursday, September 25, 2014, LSG will honor Lutheran leaders Rev. Darrel and Mary Peterson, community leader Erroll B. Davis, and business leader R.N.C. Industries. For more information about the Gala, click here.

R.N.C. Industries has been in business since 1990. It was founded by Larry Clark. In 1995 Charlotta Clark joined Larry at R.N.C. and the business was incorporated. They have moved from being a very small business, to a company that employs almost 70 people.

R.N.C. produces one of the highest quality shipping containers on the market. Control Temp Packaging is used to ship all types of temperature sensitive products from blood and vaccines, to chocolates and cheesecakes. We strive for customized, high quality service and products for each of our customers.

Beyond providing excellent products to our customers, R.N.C. is committed to giving back to the community.

R.N.C. is named for the son of Larry and Charlotta Clark, Ralph Noye Clark, who passed away at age 5 from pediatric cancer. With the growth over the past 24 years, R.N.C. is now thrilled to be able to give to Camp Sunshine, an organization that organizes programs for children with cancer and their families. Taylor Clark, the Vice President of Marketing, and Maria Cornejo, the Human Resources Manager, are also volunteers for Camp Sunshine.

R.N.C. plans to continue the tradition of excellence in all realms of business, making a wonderful work environment for employees, providing only the best for our customers, and giving back to the community.