Refugee Kids Go Back to School

By Aimee Zangandou, Refugee and Immigration Services Case Manager

When I asked Jeanne about her new school, she smiled brightly and answered that it was "Fantastic!". Jeanne and her ten siblings are from the Democratic Republic of Congo. They arrived in the United States on May 7, 2015 after spending three years in a refugee camp in Kenya. The kids  have been waiting all summer to start their new school - in America!

In early August, Jeanne and her siblings all received brand new backpacks filled with school supplies, thanks to Backpack in the Park. Backpack in the Park is an annual event organized by For the Kid in All of Us. Volunteers fill donated backpacks with school supplies, which are given to organizations serving children throughout the Atlanta area. This year, Lutheran Services of Georgia received 200 backpacks for kids in our programs.

When I dropped their backpacks off a couple days before school started, I could see their excitement. The day they had been anticipating for three months was almost here! I asked them if they were ready and they all replied "Yes" and told me how they were both excited and nervous. They were worried about not speaking English.

After two weeks of the school year, I asked them what stood out so far about American schools. Here's what they had to say:

1) It is nice to have a ride to school. They like that the school bus picks them up and drops them off right in front of their apartment. In Kenya, they had to walk quite a long ways to get to school.

2) The teachers are extremely nice and helpful. They were surprised that the teachers met them at their level, engaged them in conversation, and took time to get to know them. They got to choose their own seats. Back in Kenya, they were assigned seats and the teacher was unapproachable and feared.

3) They eat at school! They are fed breakfast and lunch at school, a totally new concept for them. Back in Kenya, schools are not associated with eating. Having enough food to eat was a daily struggle in the refugee camp. Being able to eat both breakfast and lunch at school is quite "awesome".

4) Changing classrooms through the day. For the two siblings in high school, they are now able to get to their classes without getting lost. In Kenya, teachers are the ones that change classrooms, not the students. The students in each particular classroom/grade have the same schedule and teachers are the ones who figure out what classroom is expecting them next.

LSG thanks Backpack in the Park for providing backpacks and school supplies so children can start the new school year in style.

LSG Receives COA Accreditation

Lutheran Services of Georgia is pleased to announce the successful completion of the agency's peer review process with the Council on Accreditation (COA). LSG's accreditation by COA results from a detailed assessment of all service programs and administrative departments.  LSG's statewide services include foster care, host homes for individuals with developmental disabilities, family intervention services, adoption, refugee and immigration services, and disaster relief. COA assesses the policies and procedures on which service programs are built, along with how programs favorably impact the lives of clients. COA status demonstrates LSG's commitment to utilizing best practices to provide quality services for individuals and families throughout Georgia.

Interim Chief Executive Officer Gary Johnstone said, "COA was the ultimate challenge for LSG; it challenged us to examine our beliefs, our practices, our sense of community, and our commitment to excellence. In addition, the actual work and time required was a tremendous challenge. It was like building an airplane while already flying at 30,000 feet. COA accreditation is the highest honor we've received as an agency. We are justifiably proud of the outcomes and proud that we are now part of a community of like-minded organizations."

LSG thanks all those who made this success possible.

Amir the Tailor

Amir is a tailor and a refugee from Iran recently resettled through LSG in Savannah. Refugee Services Case Manager Amelia Iaderosa interviewed him about his work as a tailor, his refugee experience, and his hopes for life in the United States.

Amelia: Tell me about the work you did before you moved to America.

Amir: In Iran, my parents owned their own tailoring shop. I was born into the tailoring profession, and from the age of 10, I started learning the technical skills needed to become a tailor. When I had to flee Iran, I went to Turkey. In Turkey, I was able to use my knowledge of tailoring to find employment and support myself. I lived there for 4 years before I came to America. For the first two and a half years, I would go to different tailor shops and fill in as needed. During this time, I did not feel satisfied; I was working for employers that did not want my input or to use my skills and I was working 12 to 16 hours a day just to survive. I eventually moved to a new city and found a job working with a larger company that allowed me to utilize my skills more. Being able to use my skills and work with a company that saw my potential made me feel satisfied, but I was still looking for more in my life.

Amelia: Tell me about your job now that you are in America.

Amir: I feel alive here in America with my new job; my job is a part of who I am as a human being and I love that. I am working for a local designer who has started her own fashion line and it is growing daily. I create dress samples for the designer and I can see that she is satisfied with my work and that makes me very happy. I feel like I am being helpful and doing a good job.

Sometimes the designer will give me a garment and ask me how to make the garment look the best, how it should be adjusted to make it the best it can be for the company. I knew from my work in Turkey that I had talent working in bulk production, but I never was able to do the intricate work I am able to do at my new job. At my new job I have the opportunity to give my input and recommendations. I feel like I am a part of a team now, and that my position is very important to the future of the company. This is why I feel so alive in America; I see that I am really a very skilled tailor and I have a chance to improve my ability and get better and better at my trade.

Amelia: What are your hopes for the future?

Amir: I want to excel in all things dressmaking and fashion design. I want to go to the top of the industry! To do this, I wish to study fashion design and learn all there is to create my own fashion line and my own business. I know I can do this because I am in America now and I have the opportunity to improve myself. Someday, you will see me with my own brand and new designs.

Amelia: What is a message that you want to send to others in America about your experience as a refugee?

Amir: I just want to say to American people, be grateful for what you have here in America. As a refugee who came to the US at the age of 24, I had to start a new life at level zero; all I had was my tailoring experience. Please use the opportunities you have to be successful in America.

Amelia: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Amir: I want to tell LSG, I am very appreciative of what you have done for me. I cannot say in words, or find a real way to thank you for everything you have done. I am just very thankful for everything you do. During this job I have found my talent and I am hopeful for my future and to make all of my dreams for the future come true.

I also want to say, I have learned something new in America, and I have found the value of time. When I was in Iran, I would work a few days of week and the other days I would just waste my time. Now here, I know how important it is to use my time wisely in order to be successful. I know now how important my time is because I have been born again in America. I have many difficult experiences in my past and I feel like I have lived more than 24 years because of this. But now that these experiences are behind me, I know that I can start new in America and fight through the bad and live my life the way I have always dreamed!

Announcing the 2015 Heroes of Hope

Lutheran Services of Georgia is pleased to announce our 2015 Heroes of Hope! Each year, LSG honors community heroes at the annual Heroes of Hope, Healing, and Strength Gala.

John W. Blend, III

John W. Blend, III serves as Chairman and Chief Executive of Goshen Valley Foundation, the parent of Goshen Valley Boys Ranch, Goshen New Beginnings, and Goshen Homes. Established in 1998, the Cherokee County-based organization provides residential care, independent living programs for young men and young women entering adulthood, and foster homes for reunited siblings. John serves as a Lifetime Council member at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta, Georgia. He and his wife Connie have 2 children and 4 granddaughters. John also serves as President and Chairman of Together Georgia, Georgia's Child Welfare Private Provider Associate.

John Timpe

John Timpe is a life-long Lutheran and a charter member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, founded in 1981 in Alpharetta, Georgia. He served in the U.S. Navy before working as a salesman and executive in the food industry. Since moving to Georgia 38 years ago, John has been actively involved in the local community. He has been instrumental in raising awareness and funding for LSG over the past 14 years. John has one daughter.

R. James Properties, Inc:

R. James Properties, Inc. was formed in December 1993 by Richard James to provide management for apartment properties. The company presently manages approximately thirty properties totaling more than 4,000 units. In 2006, R. James Properties acquired Clarkston Townhomes, a 91-unit apartment community in Clarkston, Georgia. Since then, the management company has developed strong relationships with several refugee social service organizations and is committed to providing clean, affordable housing for refugees.

This year's Heroes of Hope, Healing, and Strength Gala will be held September 17 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Historic DeKalb Courthouse. Click here for more information, sponsorship opportunities, and to register.

LSG Kids Club Celebrates Successful First Season

This summer, Lutheran Services of Georgia launched LSG Kids Club! LSG Kids Club provides fun, therapeutic day camp experiences for newly arrived refugee children. The program aims to promote healing, adjustment, and confidence-building for recently resettled refugee kids who have experienced trauma.

Beginning on July 13, LSG Kids Club held four weeks of summer camp for refugee kids. 47 children attended camp who were recently resettled from Somalia, Burma, Bhutan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Together, the children spoke eight different languages: Somali, Nepali, Burmese, Rohingya, Malay, Swahili, Arabic, and Farsi. Kids participated in yoga, ballet, music and voice lessons, pet therapy, art projects, gardening, team and trust building activities, athletic activities, and fieldtrips to Piedmont Park and Zoo Atlanta.

Camp Coordinator Jessie Burnette reflected on the first season of LSG Kids Club:  "We have already received so many gracious thanks from parents who say their children benefited from their experiences with Kids Club. In our short pilot season, we saw children make great strides in processing fears, building friendships across language barriers, and leading other youth. I cannot wait to see what a full season combined with an ongoing mentor program can do for our children and the Clarkston community. It is our goal to serve each and every child that is resettled through our agency."

LSG thanks the following organizations and volunteers for making this first season a success:

• Living Grace Lutheran Church (Camp Venue)
• Atlanta Pet Partners (Pet Therapy Group)
• Funda Yilmaz, LPC (Yoga instructor and licensed therapist)
• Kathryn Farmer (Ballet instructor)
• Whitney Burnette (Voice/Music instructor)
• Matthew Johnson (Volunteer/Camp Counselor)
• Pam Amy-Cupp (Volunteer/Camp Counselor)
• Annie Goodman (Intern/Camp Counselor)
• Alix Janke (Driver/Fieldtrip Chaperone)
• Natalie Yasson (LSG Staff: Driver/Field Chaperone)
• Melanie Johnson (LSG Staff: Camp Assistant/Volunteer/Supporter)
• Padam Rai (Nepali Interpeter)
• Abdul Rahman (Somali Interpreter)
• Safa Shamsuddin (Burmese/Rohingya Interpreter)
• Christine Nzamuranga (Swahili Interpreter)
• Jessie Burnette (Camp Coordinator)
• VSA Arts (for providing Zoo Atlanta tickets)

LSG Kids Club will continue to serve newly arrived refugee children by hosting therapeutic camps throughout the year. LSG also plans to implement a mentoring program serving the same population of children. LSG Kids Club welcomes volunteers who would like to be a part of making a positive impact in the lives of refugee children by teaching a skillset, such as art, yoga, dance, music, theater, athletics, teaching, counseling, and more.

LSG Kids Club is supported, in part, through a grant from the Lutheran Services for Children Endowment at the ELCA Foundation. To see photos from the camp, click here. For more information or to inquire about volunteering, contact Jessie Burnette at jburnette@lsga.org.

Part of the Family

By Nortecia Morrow, Regional Adoption Supervisor in Savannah

When the Anderson family saw 16-year-old Jessie on a Wednesday's Child segment, she only had two years left before aging out of Georgia's foster care system. The Andersons were part of a foster/adoptive ministry at their church and Jessie's story inspired them to adopt from foster care through Lutheran Services of Georgia.

Throughout their approval process, the Andersons continually returned to the Wednesday's Child segment, but they never dreamed that Jessie would still be available for adoption when they had finished. Then, earlier this year, they attended a State Adoption Match meeting and discovered that Jessie was still searching for her forever family. They decided to learn more about her in hopes she would be a good match for them. On June 4, 2015, the now 17-year-old Jessie was placed in the Anderson home for the purpose of adoption.

As her 18th birthday approached, Jessie was beginning to lose hope that she would be adopted. Yet as soon as she met her new parents, she immediately felt like part of the family. Today, Jessie has two younger siblings in the home. The family members adore each other and are happy to have found one another. Jessie is enjoying her new life, and recently had her first-ever manicure and pedicure. The adoption will finalize at the end of this summer.

Lutheran Services of Georgia is seeking individuals and couples to provide permanent, adoptive homes for children in Georgia's foster care system. Click here to learn more.

Welcome Home, Danielle and Darien!

After moving from foster home to foster home, Danielle and Darien finally settled in with a stable foster home. Two years later, now 5-year-old Danielle and brother 3-year-old Darien finally found a permanent home.

On Saturday, July 3, 2015, the two children were welcomed home with a party. Their foster mother and foster sister drove them almost fours hours to start their lives. Their DFCS case manager also traveled several hours to celebrate.

As soon as the children arrived, their new mom, dad, big brother, and pet bird greeted them warmly. The house was decorated with banners, streamers, and life-sized balloons of Spiderman and Elsa, from Disney's Frozen. Danielle and Darien couldn't stop smiling as they showed off their bedrooms and their playroom, which already had their names on the walls in giant glitter letters.

Everyone ate a huge brunch and listened as the foster mom and foster sister told funny stories about the kids. Even though the foster family was sad to see the children go, they were thrilled that Danielle and Darien had found the perfect forever family.

After brunch, the adoptive family met with LSG and DFCS case managers to complete the necessary paperwork while the children played with their new brother and their foster sister. The foster mother took photos of the new parents as they signed all of the forms to officially start their family. Once that was finished, everyone ate again and watched the kids laugh and play and make themselves at home. Standing there, it was hard to believe that this hadn't always been home to Danielle and Darien.

LSG thanks the foster family and adoptive family for helping welcome Danielle and Darien into their permanent home.

Meet the RIS Summer Interns - Part 2

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: Kory Baggarley, Jalisa Davis, Kate Faulk, and Jenny Rose. Click here to read part 1.

Kory Baggarley

About Kory: Kory is from Savannah, Georgia and is interning at the LSG Savannah office. He's a senior studying Political Science at Armstrong Atlantic State University. Two years ago, he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Kory loves to travel, explore nature, and study global current events. He worked as a music teacher in Dubai for a year and was able to explore many of the Gulf countries while he was there.

Kory's Hopes for the Summer: "I chose to intern with LSG because they are a unique organization in our state that provides resettlement aid for refugees who needed to flee their own countries. I felt this would be a tremendous opportunity for me to learn hands-on about many of the conflicts happening in the world along with their impact on human lives. At the same time, I hope to be able to help individuals and families settle in Georgia and start a healthy and happy life here in the U.S."

Jalisa Davis

About Jalisa: Jalisa is originally from Slidell, Louisiana. She currently attends Georgia State University. Jalisa is in her junior year and studying Public Policy with a concentration in Non-profit Leadership and a minor in Spanish. Jalisa's hobbies include arts and crafts, exploring, learning new things, and watching movies.

Jalisa's Hopes for the Summer: "I decided to intern with LSG because I had a great experience volunteering. I wanted to become more involved in the resettlement process and the various ways LSG serves their clients. This summer, I hope to learn about the various cultures of our clients. I look forward to seeing our clients flourish in their new lives in America."

Katherine "Kate" Faulk

About Kate: Kate is from St. Simons Island, Georgia. She's a rising senior at Emory University pursuing a Linguistics major and a minor in German. Kate enjoys theater, music, travel, reading, and learning languages.

Kate's Hopes for the Summer: "I worked with Atlanta's refugee community last summer through Tapestri and enjoyed the experience. I am hoping at LSG to gain more experience in the resettlement process and to help facilitate the adjustment of refugees to their life here, as well as to learn about their cultures. I also hope to continue to gain a more global perspective."

Jenny Rose

About Jenny: Jenny is from Lilburn, Georgia and currently lives in Decatur. Jenny is working on her Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management at Georgia State University. She plans to graduate in the fall of 2016. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Joseph, and four-year-old twin boys, Cohen and Ephraim.

Jenny's Hopes for the Summer: "I really want to gain experience working in refugee services. It's something I have wanted to do for a long time but just never had an opportunity. I also hope to gain knowledge about the unique challenges facing LSG, along with what types of skills I need to have to effectively serve clients and be a successful manager in a nonprofit setting."

 Thank you, Kory, Jalisa, Kate, and Jenny for joining us in welcome this summer. To learn more about interning with Refugee and Immigration Services, contact Melanie Johnson at mjohnson@lsga.org. 

LSG Launches First-Ever LSG Kids Club

On July 13, 2015, Lutheran Services of Georgia launched its first-ever season of LSG Kids Club! LSG Kids Club is a summer program that aims to promote healing, adjustment, and confidence-building for recently resettled refugee kids who have experienced trauma. The program provides a fun and therapeutic introduction to life in Georgia, along with giving kids an opportunity to make new friends.

Eleven children and teens participated in the first week of the four-week LSG Kids Club. They came from four different countries--Somalia, Burma, Bhutan, and Nepal--and spoke three different languages--Somali, Nepalese, and Burmese. The kids enjoyed activities and field trips including yoga, pet therapy, skills-focused games and physical activities, and more.

LSG is partnering with an growing list of community members and organizations to make this program possible. Current partners include:

• Raksha, Inc, a Georgia-based nonprofit organization for the South Asian community. Special thanks goes to Niekachi Nwogo for conducting therapy sessions throughout the program.
• Funda Yilmaz, LPC and yoga instructor who specializes in trauma therapy and healing through Grounded Yoga
• Atlanta Pet Partners, an organization that provided pet therapy
• Living Grace Lutheran Church for hosting the program

LSG also thanks our volunteers and interpreters.

• Padam Rai, Nepali Interpreter
• Abdulrahman, Somali Interpeter
• Kathryn Farmer, Dance Instructor
• Pam Amy-Cupp, Camp Counselor
• Annie Goodman, Camp Counselor
• Matthew Johnson, Camp Counselor
• Jessie Burnette, Camp Coordinator and LSG staff member
• Melanie Johnson, LSG staff member and volunteer

LSG Kids Club is supported, in part, through a grant from the Lutheran Services for Children Endowment at the ELCA Foundation. For more photos from the Club, visit our Facebook page. To learn more about LSG Kids Club, contact Coordinator Jessie Burnette at jburnette@lsga.org or (706) 889-3348.

Refugee and Immigration Services Hosts Breakfast for Interpreters

Lutheran Services of Georgia's Refugee and Immigration Services department recently hosted a breakfast to show appreciation for our interpreters. LSG could not provide quality services to clients from all over the world without our skilled and knowledgeable interpreters.

Case managers, interns, and five of LSG's interpreters came together to enjoy breakfast and share tips on how to work better together. The interpreters included speakers of Burmese, Amharic, Tigrinya, Arabic, and Somali. RIS plans to host several interpreter breakfasts throughout the year.

LSG thanks all our interpreters for their hard work and commitment to welcoming refugees and immigrants.

Interview with Noor & Nurul

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.

Noor and Nurul are refugees from Burma who arrived in the U.S. in March 2015 and were resettled through LSG's Savannah office. LSG staff member Amelia interviewed them about their experiences as refugees in the United States.

Amelia: Why did you leave Burma?

Noor & Nurul: There was a lot of fighting between the Rakhine (Buddhists) and Rohingya (Muslims). Because Burma is a Buddhist country, the government would not provide the Rohingya Muslims with any support or help, and this was bad because the Rakhine were not good to our people. In our town, the Rohingya were being killed and our villages were being burned. As Rohingya, we feared for our lives. If we were caught by the Rakhine people, we could be put in jail or killed for no reason. It was not safe for the Rohingya because the Burmese government does not want Muslims in their country. Also, the government would not allow us to practice our religion. The government was even saying that the Rohingya are not true citizens of Burma, which is not true. Many generations of Rohingya were born in Burma, but the government says we are from Bangladesh.

There is no future for Rohingya people in Burma. We are not recognized as citizens, so there is no hope for a better education or a better future.

*****

Amelia: How has LSG helped you with moving to the United States?

Noor & Nurul: LSG has helped us with everything! They have helped us find a new home and find a job. We have learned so much from LSG, and they have helped us in so many ways, to get food and to go to a doctor. We thank LSG a lot for everything they have done for us.

*****

Amelia: Where do you work?

Noor & Nurul: A local concrete company

*****

Amelia: What problems have you faced since moving here?

Noor & Nurul: No problems at all! We are very happy living in the U.S. We are not afraid of living in America. We are afraid of the Burmese government, but not the U.S. Government. Everything in America is freedom. When we first moved here, LSG helped us with food and rent and we did not have to worry. And we quickly found a job and were able to make money, so we are now able to take care of ourselves.

*****

Amelia: What is your favorite thing about living in Savannah?

Noor & Nurul: We like all of America! We like the old city feeling about Savannah. The people are very nice and everyone has been so good to us. We have not found any bad people. It is also not too cold in Savannah and we like the heat.

*****

Amelia: What are your favorite things to do for fun?

Noor & Nurul: Speak with friends, study English, ride our bikes, and homework

*****

Amelia: What are your dreams for the future?

Noor & Nurul: Our main dreams for the future are to be good people. We want to go to school, we want to study English and improve our English. Right now we do not have any specific ideas on what our dreams for the future are. Maybe to own our own business and start a family.

*****

Amelia: What would you like people in Savannah to know about being a refugee?

Noor & Nurul: People should know that our past lives were full of fear and problems; we could not live in freedom. But now that we are in the U.S., we have freedom, and we do not have fear like we did in Burma. When refugees come to America, they have much more hope for a better future.

Noor: I do have one thing to ask. I appreciate the U.S. government helping me and my friends get to America from Sri Lanka. But I would like to appeal to the U.S. government and UNHCR to please help the other Rohingya who have no place to sleep and live. Please help them, they have nothing. The U.S. government is the leader, and they can help.

*****

Amelia: We are happy that your friend is coming to Savannah. What reasons did you tell him to move here for?

Nurul: I wanted our friend to move to Savannah because we like it so much, and we just knew that he would also like it. He can get help with finding a job, and even work with us. We know that we can help him learn about life in Savannah so that he will be happy!

LSG thanks Noor & Nurul for sharing their story. To learn more about refugees in Burma/Myanmar, click here. Contact support Lauren Cruickshank (Savannah) at lcruickshank@lsga.org or Melanie Johnson (Atlanta) at mjohnson@lsga.org to learn how you can support refugees in the U.S.

Nur Abdi Attends Migrant & Refugee Leadership Academy in D.C.

From June 16-18, LSG staff member and former refugee Nur Abdi traveled to Washington, D.C. to participant in the 2015 Migrant & Refugee Leadership Academy with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). The Migrant & Refugee Leadership Academy is a three-day leadership training and advocacy event for current and former refugees. Participants come from all over the country to build their advocacy skills and to visit legislators on Capitol Hill.  Below, Nur reflects on his experience........

Describe your experience at the Migrant & Refugee Leadership Academy. Which parts were most powerful for you and why?

Nur: My trip to Baltimore and DC to participate in this year's Migrant and Leadership Academy reminded me of the passion that was always within me to fight for refugee and immigrant rights. It built my confidence in telling my story and it showed me how much impact and difference I can make by sharing my experience. I started building a network of people that share those experiences and had the opportunity to speak to government representatives who have the power to make the changes for which we are fighting. The Academy also provided me with tools to take back to my community and to apply my advocacy efforts on the local level.

What did you learn about advocacy and refugees during the Academy?

Nur: During my advocacy, I simply told my story. I told how I was resettled in Clarkston, Georgia, through Lutheran Services of Georgia. How I immediately began using my language skills to interpret for other refugees and LSG staff during cultural orientation and the Match Grant program. How with the help of LSG staff I found my first job at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport within my first two months in the U.S. I told them how I was on food stamps and other benefits within a short period of time and how I have never been on food stamps since. I told my experience as a refugee and how it inspired me to seek out opportunities to continue serving refugee populations and how I recently became a Reception and Placement Case Manager at LSG. I shared with them that 80% of refugees resettled in Georgia are able to find work and become financially self-sufficient within 180 days after their arrival. I told them that refugees are an asset to this beautiful country.

How do you hope to use what you learned in D.C. to support your work with refugees in Georgia?

Nur: Clarkston, a small city northeast of Atlanta, Georgia, is the home of many refugees. Approximately 2,ooo refugees are resettled in Clarkston each year. As a member of the community and also R&P Case Manager I have a great connection with community leaders and we all have one common goal: to build welcoming communities by serving, empowering, and advocating for refugees and migrants. Being part of the Migrant and Refugee Leadership Academy, I have learned to expand my scope by advocating for refugees and migrants at a higher level.

LSG is excited to welcome Nur back and to see how he uses his advocacy skills to support refugees throughout Georgia. 

LSG Celebrates World Refugee Day with Breaking Bread and Building Bridges Potluck

 

On Sunday, June 14, Lutheran Services of Georgia celebrated World Refugee Day with the 2nd Annual Breaking Bread and Building Bridges Potluck Dinner at Rock of Ages Lutheran Church. Participants engaged in guided conversations around the table, listened to clips of refugee stories recorded by StoryCorps, and enjoyed a delicious meal.

This year, LSG introduced the Bridge Awards, intended to honor those who work to build bridges between people from many cultures. LSG congratulates the recipients of this year's Bridge Awards.

Refugee Storytellers: Refugees received Bridge Awards for sharing their stories with LSG through StoryCorps.

• Jules Gakuru (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Gashore Nizeyimana (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Nebi Germay (Eritrea)
• Muhyadin Kalib (Somalia)
• Bal Dahal (Bhutan)

Volunteers: LSG also gave out Bridge Awards to exceptional volunteers.

• Jenelle Holmes: Jenelle is a Emory/Candler School of Theology volunteer who served as a refugee family mentor and assistant in the Extended Cultural Orientation class. She lives with her family in Azealia Village, her church's transitional housing for refugee families.
• Ed Aebischer: Ed  is the co-leader (with Mark Olson) of the Refugee Resettlement team at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marietta which partnered with LSG to resettle two families in 2014. He is a regular Friends in Hope Visitor to immigrants in detention in Georgia and a Careers & Connections mentor.
• Mark Olson: Mark is the co-leader (with Ed Aebischer) of the Refugee Resettlement team at Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marietta which partnered with LSG for the resettlement of two refugee families in 2014. He's exploring a new partnership between LSG and Rock of Ages Lutheran Church. He serves as an Employment Coach with refugee employment and a Careers & Connections mentor.
• Carmelle Nitereka: Carmelle was LSG's Episcopal Service Corps volunteer in 2014-2015 working with the Match Grant early self-sufficiency program. She's a Friends in Hope visitor to immigrants in detention.
• Pastor Randy Palm: Pr. Randy is the Pastor of Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, LSG's "home away from home" near Clarkston. Pr. Randy is a strong friend and ROA is a strong church partner for LSG--opening their doors to LSG and our refugee friends in so many ways. ROA houses the Refugee Clothing closet and allows LSG to host events large and small, including Breaking Bread and Building Bridges.

Melanie Johnson, LSG's Program Manager for Volunteers, Congregation, and Community Engagement commented, "The best thing about Breaking Bread and Building Bridges are the smiling faces of refugees and community friends as they share conversation around the table while new friendships are forged and an appreciation for cultural diversity is cultivated."

LSG thanks all our supporters, attendees, and clients who made this event a success. To see photos from the event, visit our Facebook page.

World Refugee Day

By Emily Laney, Atlanta Program Manager for Refugee Services

Saturday, June 20th, is World Refugee Day

All around the world, there will be events, festivals, awareness campaigns, celebrations, and times of contemplation. World Refugee Day is a time to celebrate refugees and to reflect on the difficulties they face. It's a day to advocate for peace to end the violence and persecution that so many people experience.

Working with refugees is one of the most rewarding and challenging things I've done in my human services career. It is challenging to work with and serve people who have been through so many trials. The fabric of our clients' life stories are woven with tragedy and loss. The sheer magnitude of fully understanding the experiences of refugees can feel overwhelming.

But it is so worth it.

A couple months ago, I was reminded why I enjoy working with refugees. LSG hosted a StoryCorps listening session. Five of our clients recorded short segments of their migration stories and experiences in their home countries. A few weeks after the recordings concluded, Atlanta staff came together to hear some of their stories. Many of us found our eyes brimming with tears listened to the stories of clients from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Burma. The hope and determination of these incredible people was humbling and inspiring. As I sat there in a room of LSG staff, I was reminded once again why we in Refugee and Immigration Services do what we do. We do it for new beginnings and the promise of a bright future. We do it for refugees.

Refugees matter. They comprise a small percentage of our immigrant population in the U.S. but it would benefit all of us to seek them out and form friendships with them. They work long hours at incredibly difficult jobs just to make ends meet. They are patriotic and proud to live in the U.S. They pay taxes and save money to open businesses in their community. They remind me of my own ancestors in many ways. My family is an eclectic mix of many different nationalities, most of whom immigrated to the U.S. to build a better life for their families. Some fled persecution, famine, or other difficulties. They worked hard to start fresh and to create their own 'American Dream.

We are a nation of immigrants, and refugees are a beautiful picture of what makes our country great. Amidst the busyness of life, the stacks of paperwork and the struggles that come from walking the journey with refugees during their first days in America, I am reminded of this picture. Refugees matter. They are an important part of our country, and I am so proud, humbled, and honored to know many of them.

If you'd like to get to know a refugee family, please contact me at elaney@lsga.org. LSG has multiple opportunities to support and learn from refugees. We'd love to have you join us in welcome.

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.

Knitted with Love

Ginny Wold hates to sit with her hands idle. Whenever Ginny has a spare moment, she knits. As her knitting needles clatter away, she makes beautiful blankets, hats, mittens, and scarves that will help keep others warm.

Ginny's love of knitting started while she was in grade school. Her grandmother would knit socks for World War II soldiers on needles that her father made out of metal rods. Ginny learned how to knit then, but didn't start knitting seriously until the early 70s when she decided to make afghans for her entire family. Her knitted winter hats, mittens, and scarves warmed her children and grandchildren through the winter months.

About 15 years ago, Ginny decided to participate in the Mitten Tree at her daughter's church. That was her first foray into knitting for people beyond her family and close circle of friends. Since then, Ginny has knitted baby caps for the hospital, lap robes for nursing homes and homeless shelters, shawls for a police department's elder abuse unit, hats, mittens, and scarves for school kids and adults who walk to work, chemotherapy caps for cancer clinics in Arizona and Georgia, baby blankets for LSG refugee clients and adopted children, and fancy scarves and stoles for Lutheran Services of Georgia fundraisers.

Ginny has no intentions to stop knitting. She said, "I don't like to sit with my hands idle. I receive yarn from family and friends and friends-of-family and family-of-friends. Right now, my craft room is pretty full, but eventually it will all get used and sent off to help keep someone warm."

LSG thanks Ginny Wold for helping keep so many of our clients and supporters warm.

Announcing the 2015 LSG Hunger Walk/Run Champion

Lutheran Services of Georgia is excited to announce the 2015 Champion of LSG's Hunger Walk/Run Church Competition: Trinity Lutheran Church! Trinity raised $11,902 to fight hunger.

Thanks to all who joined LSG in fighting hunger at the 2015 Hunger Walk/Run. LSG had 34 teams participate with 289 walkers and runners. Together, LSG supporters raised over $77,000 for hunger-fighting programs throughout Georgia. LSG appreciates all those who walked, ran, volunteer, or otherwise supported us.

LSG also congratulates the other top finishers in the 2015 LSG Hunger Walk/Run Church Competition. Here are the results:

1) Trinity Lutheran Church (Lilburn) - $11,902 2) Cross of Life Lutheran Church (Roswell) - $8,533 3) St. John's Lutheran Church (Atlanta) - $7,155 4) Price of Peace Lutheran Church (Alpharetta) - $6,260 5) Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Marietta) - $4,009 6) Grace Lutheran Church (Carrolton) - $3,683.55 7) Epiphany Lutheran Church (Conyers) - $3,306 8) Rivercliff Lutheran Church - $2,735 9) St. Luke's Lutheran Church (Atlanta) - $2,324.90 10) Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Woodstock) - $1,885

For more photos from the day, including team photos, please visit our Facebook page. Contact Abi Koning, LSG's Communications and Public Relations Manager, at akoning@lsga.org if you would like a photo emailed to you.

LSG is honored to be a beneficiary of the Hunger Walk/Run, a project of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. We appreciate the opportunity to work with them each year on this event. LSG has been a benefiting partner for almost 30 years and we look forward to another great Hunger Walk/Run on March 13, 2016!

Behavioral Health Services Closing in Atlanta

A note from Gary Johnstone, Interim CEO of Lutheran Services of Georgia

It is with sadness and regret that I must inform the Lutheran Services of Georgia family that the Behavioral Health Services program will close on June 30, 2015. Since opening its doors, BHS has served individuals- and their families - who struggled with mental health and substance abuse issues.

The dedicated BHS staff members have faced numerous challenges in their efforts to become accredited and licensed, but through it all, Dr. Lucy Cannon, Dr. Gibson, Alice Camp, and Samantha Eberhardt have worked very hard to make this program a success. Due to unforeseen and insurmountable barriers, the decision has been made to close the program.

BHS has had many successes: they received a three-year CARF Accreditation and were approved to provide services by several third party insurance providers, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, Tri Care, Medicare, FEI Behavioral Health, EAP, and Amerigroup. In addition, they established a sliding-scale fee plan based on income so that they could serve all clients in need.

Dr. Cannon, Director of BHS, and her staff have expressed their pride in being able to serve people from numerous programs within LSG and have felt supported in their efforts. Vice President of Programs Dr. Alie Redd has provided guidance and support during this time and is continuing to support Dr. Cannon during this resolution process.

Thank you, Behavioral Health Services staff, for your dedication to bringing restored hope, transformed lives, and healthy tomorrows to individuals and families throughout Georgia.

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.