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Following the money trail from Washington, D.C. to Akron
By Trista Bowser and London Green Twenty-four thousand refugees have relocated in Ohio over the past decade, more than all but seven other states. Nonprofit organizations use federal and privately donated funds to resettle refugees. State Refugee Coordinator Jennifer Johnson oversees all the different aspects of refugee resettlement, from how many refugees Ohio receives every…
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‘This makes a difference in your life’
By Morgan McGrath Chelsae Poelking has been teaching English as a second language for the past two years, and every Tuesday night, she can be found in an Akron Crossings classroom, laughing with students as they collectively crack some jokes. “God made all people valuable,” she said. “Everyone is valuable in his eyes, no matter…
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Why one volunteer loves teaching English as a Second Language
By Morgan McGrath Jake George, one of the many volunteers at Akron Crossings, has graying hair, and a welcoming smile. George, an Indian-American who has been living in the United States for “many” years, as he puts it, spends every Tuesday and Thursday teaching English as a second language, or ESL, to refugees from around…
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Overcoming barriers at Akron Crossings
By Morgan McGrath Akron Crossings is in North Hill, tucked among a long stretch of residential areas. Bena Paisley is the founder of this non-profit, community-centric organization, and her central goal is to help refugees adjust to the United States through the guidance of Christianity. “I encourage them [refugees] to be patient with themselves, and…
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Home, job, transportation-and mindfulness
By Morgan McGrath “Do yourself a favor and do others a favor by being your best self,” said Edlyn McGarity Edlyn McGarity, a “Mindfulness Coach,” Ted Talk speaker, author, actress, and employee at Akron’s International Welcome Center. Photo courtesy of Edlyn McGarity. A world traveler and Indian immigrant, McGarity is currently employed as the…
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Overcoming obstacles in refugee healthcare
By Alencia Lang Sujata Burgess commutes between the Akron and Cleveland locations of the International Community Health Center (ICHC). When asked what her responsibilities included, she said “everything” with a light laugh. As the director of operations, she is behind all of the administrative work for the ICHC, including overseeing safety procedures, ordering medical supplies,…
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Building communities across cultures
By Anthony Elder Cindy Mathias, member of Grace Church and volunteer for the International Welcome Center, noticed two newcomers –– both a bit nervous, even hesitant –– before a Sunday service in 2018. Those unfamiliar faces belonged to Congolese refugees, Jean and Joseph, both new to the United States, struggling to various degrees to communicate.…
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‘We teach people how to North Hill’: The making and continual re-making of Akron’s international district
By Sean Blevins A light drizzle began to fall and steam was starting to rise through the numerous cracks in the unlevel sidewalks, but business went on as usual in Akron’s North Hill neighborhood. The people roaming the narrow streets of Akron’s “international district” on the afternoon of March 9 cracked open their umbrellas and…
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From jeweler to restaurant owner to head of arts and culture: The Deepak Gajmer story
By Jimmy Oswald Children scream joyfully, their voices filling the large room, an open area with a multi-colored padded floor and a small stage along the back wall inside the Himalayan Arts Language & Cultural Academy. “It’s the last day before spring break,” Deepak Gajmer, the head of arts and culture at the academy, explains.…
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How one organization helps refugees get their citizenship
By Helena Sepulveda “When I moved here, I discovered that Akron was a refugee city, and I didn’t really know what that meant, ” said Pastor Cary Duckett, a California native who is the executive director of the International Welcome Center. The center is a faith-based organization that works to assist refugees in becoming acclimated…