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Dancing to Umoja: The Black Beanz connect Akron to East African culture
By Jala Forest “My name is Yoshua,” he said eagerly. He used his fingers to count as he proceeded to introduce me to his seven friends: “Chomba, Kamana, Martin, Samweli, Mmunga, Malanga, and Justly.” He called the rest of the bunch from their hotel pool to the table to personally introduce themselves. All of the…
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“Royal Palace” origins and the story of entrepreneurs who opened doors for their community
By Mason Jones Within North Hill, there are several grocery stores and restaurants owned and operated by immigrants and refugees, such as the Royal Palace located on East Tallmadge Avenue in Akron. Before it was the Royal Palace, it was called the Italian Center, until the building was bought out by Nepali immigrants Janga Baraily…
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‘Why do you think we are here today?’ Navigating a new life in Akron, Ohio
By Reegan Saunders Rain pours behind stained glass windows past their prime. I sit in a church basement. The lighting is dim, and the room is plain but clean. There are a few round tables and a small screen with a projector. The room is quiet until people begin to file in. Many of them…
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A history of immigration in Akron
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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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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…