Lighting the Path Forward: RefugeeOne's 2019 Annual Benefit
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On Saturday, April 27, RefugeeOne hosted an evening dedicated to helping refugees flourish. More than 500 people gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of refugees in becoming U.S. citizens.
For all the paperwork, studying, legal fees, interviews, and waiting—lots of waiting—becoming a U.S. citizen is no easy feat! We were privileged to hear from 5 courageous and inspiring refugees about what becoming U.S. citizens means to them. Watch the video to hear their stories. |
Chicago Tribune: U.S. Refugee Cap Puts Hiring Practice At Risk
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Eli's Cheesecake one of many emphasizing diverse employees, but future uncertain.
After fleeing the war in her native Bosnia, Zemira Bajrektarevic arrived in Chicago to face a new set of fears. A stay-at-home mom of two children, Bajrektarevic didn’t know English. She didn’t know how she’d earn money. When RefugeeOne, a resettlement agency, placed her in a job at Eli’s Cheesecake, removing baked cakes from their pans, she didn’t know she possessed leadership qualities that would eventually make her an invaluable employee at the quintessential Chicago company. |
Chicago Tribune: Refugees Agencies Under Siege
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So far this year, a little more than 15,000 refugees have been admitted to the U.S., according to the State Department — the lowest in the country’s history amid the largest crisis of displaced people worldwide.
“You're losing institutional knowledge, talent, the people who really developed the skill sets to carry out this work. And that will take years to build back up,” RefugeeOne’s Porter said. |
