the u.s. refugee resettlement system is a vast network of private public
a vast network of private public
a vast network of private public organizations working together across
organizations working together across
organizations working together across the globe the office of refugee
the globe the office of refugee
the globe the office of refugee resettlement also known as the Orr is
resettlement also known as the Orr is
resettlement also known as the Orr is the federal agency responsible to serve
the federal agency responsible to serve
the federal agency responsible to serve resettled refugees within the United
resettled refugees within the United
resettled refugees within the United States the all our partners with
States the all our partners with
States the all our partners with nonprofits and cities of America to
nonprofits and cities of America to
nonprofits and cities of America to deliver services to resettled refugees
deliver services to resettled refugees
deliver services to resettled refugees in the early 1980s the Orr started
in the early 1980s the Orr started
in the early 1980s the Orr started shifting its approach and strategy of
shifting its approach and strategy of
shifting its approach and strategy of integration to a more short-term focused
integration to a more short-term focused
integration to a more short-term focused approach many things happen many
approach many things happen many
approach many things happen many programs change but the most profound
programs change but the most profound
programs change but the most profound change that was set in motion in the
change that was set in motion in the
change that was set in motion in the 1980s was the reduction of the period of
1980s was the reduction of the period of
1980s was the reduction of the period of financial assistance at its peak
financial assistance at its peak
financial assistance at its peak resettled refugees would get assistance
resettled refugees would get assistance
resettled refugees would get assistance for up to 36 months today the average is
for up to 36 months today the average is
for up to 36 months today the average is 3 to 6 months the average assistance has
3 to 6 months the average assistance has
3 to 6 months the average assistance has gone from three years to one quarter of
gone from three years to one quarter of
gone from three years to one quarter of one year the focus and funding formulas
one year the focus and funding formulas
one year the focus and funding formulas have also evolved a lot of the
have also evolved a lot of the
have also evolved a lot of the programmatic funding today for the
programmatic funding today for the
programmatic funding today for the resettlement program is based on the
resettlement program is based on the
resettlement program is based on the number of individuals in the family
number of individuals in the family
number of individuals in the family which doesn’t take into account special
which doesn’t take into account special
which doesn’t take into account special situations so it is very missed
situations so it is very missed
situations so it is very missed to see a single mother with three young
to see a single mother with three young
to see a single mother with three young kids getting the same amount of
kids getting the same amount of
kids getting the same amount of assistance as a mother and father with
assistance as a mother and father with
assistance as a mother and father with two teenagers the focus that entire
two teenagers the focus that entire
two teenagers the focus that entire focus of the u.s. refugee resettlement
focus of the u.s. refugee resettlement
focus of the u.s. refugee resettlement program operated by the Orr is rapid
program operated by the Orr is rapid
program operated by the Orr is rapid employment there is emphasis on get them
employment there is emphasis on get them
employment there is emphasis on get them to work right away and the claim is that
to work right away and the claim is that
to work right away and the claim is that when these individuals arrive they’ve
when these individuals arrive they’ve
when these individuals arrive they’ve been through a lot
been through a lot
been through a lot the idea is when they get to work the
the idea is when they get to work the
the idea is when they get to work the world up their self-esteem their
world up their self-esteem their
world up their self-esteem their self-worth and it will assist with the
self-worth and it will assist with the
self-worth and it will assist with the integration process this sounds
integration process this sounds
integration process this sounds wonderful on paper but it’s come with
wonderful on paper but it’s come with
wonderful on paper but it’s come with many costs and many challenges the first
many costs and many challenges the first
many costs and many challenges the first cost of a rapid employment program that
cost of a rapid employment program that
cost of a rapid employment program that encourages immediate employment is there
encourages immediate employment is there
encourages immediate employment is there is no opportunity and no incentive to
is no opportunity and no incentive to
is no opportunity and no incentive to further one’s education so assumed to be
further one’s education so assumed to be
further one’s education so assumed to be released report by the kinder Institute
released report by the kinder Institute
released report by the kinder Institute at Rice University which was actually
at Rice University which was actually
at Rice University which was actually authored by Yann de la in Yiddish RM
authored by Yann de la in Yiddish RM
authored by Yann de la in Yiddish RM documents this issue nominee in
documents this issue nominee in
documents this issue nominee in testimony and data resettled refugees
testimony and data resettled refugees
testimony and data resettled refugees have very low rates of furthering their
have very low rates of furthering their
have very low rates of furthering their education because of this focus on
education because of this focus on
education because of this focus on employment there is no funding for this
employment there is no funding for this
employment there is no funding for this there are no resources the goal is you
there are no resources the goal is you
there are no resources the goal is you get a job right away through debt
get a job right away through debt
get a job right away through debt investing in your future
investing in your future
investing in your future the second challenge of the program is
the second challenge of the program is
the second challenge of the program is Pooler English acquisition rates the or
Pooler English acquisition rates the or
Pooler English acquisition rates the or does provide funding so resettlement
does provide funding so resettlement
does provide funding so resettlement agencies across the country to provide
agencies across the country to provide
agencies across the country to provide ESL programs though these programs are
ESL programs though these programs are
ESL programs though these programs are usually
usually
usually [Music]
[Music]
[Music] led and poorly attended many men and
led and poorly attended many men and
led and poorly attended many men and women that arrived here to the
women that arrived here to the
women that arrived here to the resettlement program never complete or
resettlement program never complete or
resettlement program never complete or attended such a program because of the
attended such a program because of the
attended such a program because of the focus unemployment and language
focus unemployment and language
focus unemployment and language acquisition also takes a backseat in
acquisition also takes a backseat in
acquisition also takes a backseat in addition to the furthering one’s
addition to the furthering one’s
addition to the furthering one’s education and the third unintended
education and the third unintended
education and the third unintended consequence or challenge of this program
consequence or challenge of this program
consequence or challenge of this program is the concentration of power in a few
is the concentration of power in a few
is the concentration of power in a few large employers and let me explain in
large employers and let me explain in
large employers and let me explain in large city like Houston resentment
large city like Houston resentment
large city like Houston resentment agencies work with a few large employers
agencies work with a few large employers
agencies work with a few large employers such as factories because they’re the
such as factories because they’re the
such as factories because they’re the ones capable of employee on such a mass
ones capable of employee on such a mass
ones capable of employee on such a mass level almost eighty to ninety percent of
level almost eighty to ninety percent of
level almost eighty to ninety percent of all the employment is among these few
all the employment is among these few
all the employment is among these few companies and like I said mostly
companies and like I said mostly
companies and like I said mostly factories now when you think about it it
factories now when you think about it it
factories now when you think about it it makes sense
makes sense
makes sense the factory needs cheap unskilled labor
the factory needs cheap unskilled labor
the factory needs cheap unskilled labor to employ on a mass level we supplement
to employ on a mass level we supplement
to employ on a mass level we supplement agency of how cheap unskilled labor that
agency of how cheap unskilled labor that
agency of how cheap unskilled labor that they need to employ on a mass level it
they need to employ on a mass level it
they need to employ on a mass level it works out wonderfully
works out wonderfully
works out wonderfully alright in theory but it’s a revolving
alright in theory but it’s a revolving
alright in theory but it’s a revolving door and the power is with the employer
door and the power is with the employer
door and the power is with the employer resentment agencies have to report back
resentment agencies have to report back
resentment agencies have to report back employment rates and the funding depends
employment rates and the funding depends
employment rates and the funding depends on those so the employers happily send
on those so the employers happily send
on those so the employers happily send resettle refugees to the factories so
resettle refugees to the factories so
resettle refugees to the factories so the in check the box I got them a job
the in check the box I got them a job
the in check the box I got them a job and the factory gets employees it’s
and the factory gets employees it’s
and the factory gets employees it’s wonderful but many times these factories
wonderful but many times these factories
wonderful but many times these factories are long distances away from where
are long distances away from where
are long distances away from where refugees live themselves they’re low
refugees live themselves they’re low
refugees live themselves they’re low wages harsh working conditions and they
wages harsh working conditions and they
wages harsh working conditions and they don’t last very long so it’s like a
don’t last very long so it’s like a
don’t last very long so it’s like a revolving door the employer knows that
revolving door the employer knows that
revolving door the employer knows that when the net when the refugee employed
when the net when the refugee employed
when the net when the refugee employed here leaves tomorrow there’s another one
here leaves tomorrow there’s another one
here leaves tomorrow there’s another one waiting to come back so they have no
waiting to come back so they have no
waiting to come back so they have no incentive to increase their wages
incentive to increase their wages
incentive to increase their wages because they know there’s a whole supply
because they know there’s a whole supply
because they know there’s a whole supply waiting for them and we saw that
waiting for them and we saw that
waiting for them and we saw that agencies don’t want to disturb the
agencies don’t want to disturb the
agencies don’t want to disturb the status quo not because they’re magnets
status quo not because they’re magnets
status quo not because they’re magnets because if their funding is tied to
because if their funding is tied to
because if their funding is tied to these to these issues the bottom line is
these to these issues the bottom line is
these to these issues the bottom line is that the this focus on short-term quick
that the this focus on short-term quick
that the this focus on short-term quick employment is actually undermining the
employment is actually undermining the
employment is actually undermining the long term indicators of success such as
long term indicators of success such as
long term indicators of success such as language acquisition and education now I
language acquisition and education now I
language acquisition and education now I was doing some research in other public
was doing some research in other public
was doing some research in other public reports and I found some staggering
reports and I found some staggering
reports and I found some staggering statistics the report said that 70 80
statistics the report said that 70 80
statistics the report said that 70 80 sometimes even 90% of resettle refugees
sometimes even 90% of resettle refugees
sometimes even 90% of resettle refugees were being classified as substitution in
were being classified as substitution in
were being classified as substitution in the first six months as a service
the first six months as a service
the first six months as a service provider on the ground I wasn’t right
provider on the ground I wasn’t right
provider on the ground I wasn’t right like something was not right when I
like something was not right when I
like something was not right when I looked into it this seems to be released
looked into it this seems to be released
looked into it this seems to be released report of the from the killer Institute
report of the from the killer Institute
report of the from the killer Institute also touches upon this and it explains
also touches upon this and it explains
also touches upon this and it explains in with a great example a family of five
in with a great example a family of five
in with a great example a family of five that is earning $1,200 a month which is
that is earning $1,200 a month which is
that is earning $1,200 a month which is not enough to cover their bills they’re
not enough to cover their bills they’re
not enough to cover their bills they’re receiving public assistance they have
receiving public assistance they have
receiving public assistance they have transportation challenges they have
transportation challenges they have
transportation challenges they have language challenges on paper they’re
language challenges on paper they’re
language challenges on paper they’re classified as self-sufficient
classified as self-sufficient
classified as self-sufficient why because self-sufficiency according
why because self-sufficiency according
why because self-sufficiency according to the aura are means you have a job it
to the aura are means you have a job it
to the aura are means you have a job it could be a seasonal job it could be a
could be a seasonal job it could be a
could be a seasonal job it could be a minimum-wage job that doesn’t
minimum-wage job that doesn’t
minimum-wage job that doesn’t success is defined that we got you a job
success is defined that we got you a job
success is defined that we got you a job we can check the box why am I telling
we can check the box why am I telling
we can check the box why am I telling you this
you this
you this why am i bringing out the dirty laundry
why am i bringing out the dirty laundry
why am i bringing out the dirty laundry of the refugee resettlement system it is
of the refugee resettlement system it is
of the refugee resettlement system it is because I believe in it I’ve been
because I believe in it I’ve been
because I believe in it I’ve been involved in this work for over a decade
involved in this work for over a decade
involved in this work for over a decade and I wholeheartedly feel a bit on the
and I wholeheartedly feel a bit on the
and I wholeheartedly feel a bit on the financial benefits it’s a moral and
financial benefits it’s a moral and
financial benefits it’s a moral and societal responsibility but if we the
societal responsibility but if we the
societal responsibility but if we the people the advocates of this program
people the advocates of this program
people the advocates of this program will be driving them to the major flaws
will be driving them to the major flaws
will be driving them to the major flaws of this program those who oppose it will
of this program those who oppose it will
of this program those who oppose it will use it against us the system hasn’t
use it against us the system hasn’t
use it against us the system hasn’t changed much in in 60 years but they’re
changed much in in 60 years but they’re
changed much in in 60 years but they’re well documented programs that work that
well documented programs that work that
well documented programs that work that were actually try it out with lost
were actually try it out with lost
were actually try it out with lost funding a great example was in 2005 the
funding a great example was in 2005 the
funding a great example was in 2005 the horror this is a public document funded
horror this is a public document funded
horror this is a public document funded a program called the employment subsidy
a program called the employment subsidy
a program called the employment subsidy program the federal government paid
program the federal government paid
program the federal government paid private businesses from nine months to
private businesses from nine months to
private businesses from nine months to fully employ someone with skill
fully employ someone with skill
fully employ someone with skill these are categorized as hard to employ
these are categorized as hard to employ
these are categorized as hard to employ people people with skills they may not
people people with skills they may not
people people with skills they may not necessarily have the language but the
necessarily have the language but the
necessarily have the language but the government paid these private businesses
government paid these private businesses
government paid these private businesses that hire these individuals with the
that hire these individuals with the
that hire these individuals with the Commission that they provide employment
Commission that they provide employment
Commission that they provide employment continuity or help them find another job
continuity or help them find another job
continuity or help them find another job if this doesn’t work out over 900
if this doesn’t work out over 900
if this doesn’t work out over 900 individuals that were categorized as
individuals that were categorized as
individuals that were categorized as difficult to employ skilled or employed
difficult to employ skilled or employed
difficult to employ skilled or employed in the program it had one of the best
in the program it had one of the best
in the program it had one of the best outcomes for any employment program and
outcomes for any employment program and
outcomes for any employment program and one of the lowest costs of any
one of the lowest costs of any
one of the lowest costs of any employment program but it lost funding
employment program but it lost funding
employment program but it lost funding what next we cannot depend on the
what next we cannot depend on the
what next we cannot depend on the government we operate
government we operate
government we operate change that what happened – he would not
change that what happened – he would not
change that what happened – he would not trickle-down for years even though I
trickle-down for years even though I
trickle-down for years even though I believe that citizens like you and me
believe that citizens like you and me
believe that citizens like you and me can reach out to resettlement agencies
can reach out to resettlement agencies
can reach out to resettlement agencies and provide help and invest in
and provide help and invest in
and provide help and invest in organizations that are providing long
organizations that are providing long
organizations that are providing long term support that’s not the solution I
term support that’s not the solution I
term support that’s not the solution I believe the solution is in front of us
believe the solution is in front of us
believe the solution is in front of us in the form of carbon employers with
in the form of carbon employers with
in the form of carbon employers with goodwill and the best example is the
goodwill and the best example is the
goodwill and the best example is the founder of Shivani the other companies
founder of Shivani the other companies
founder of Shivani the other companies founded by a Turkish refugee mr. Hamdi
founded by a Turkish refugee mr. Hamdi
founded by a Turkish refugee mr. Hamdi founded a he started a Nordic company in
founded a he started a Nordic company in
founded a he started a Nordic company in New York and he had a factory and after
New York and he had a factory and after
New York and he had a factory and after his company was gone he reached out to
his company was gone he reached out to
his company was gone he reached out to the resulting agencies and since I will
the resulting agencies and since I will
the resulting agencies and since I will hire some some individuals but they were
hire some some individuals but they were
hire some some individuals but they were having a difficult time so he went and
having a difficult time so he went and
having a difficult time so he went and said what’s the problem and they said
said what’s the problem and they said
said what’s the problem and they said they don’t have many they don’t have the
they don’t have many they don’t have the
they don’t have many they don’t have the language skills they don’t have
language skills they don’t have
language skills they don’t have transportation there’s a go problem he
transportation there’s a go problem he
transportation there’s a go problem he provided them transportation at his
provided them transportation at his
provided them transportation at his company he set up training for these
company he set up training for these
company he set up training for these individuals so he came they not trained
individuals so he came they not trained
individuals so he came they not trained and it became part of the workforce and
and it became part of the workforce and
and it became part of the workforce and his in his own words he says these are
his in his own words he says these are
his in his own words he says these are the most loyal employees that I have and
the most loyal employees that I have and
the most loyal employees that I have and today 30% of his workforce is made up of
today 30% of his workforce is made up of
today 30% of his workforce is made up of resettled refugees who who initially
resettled refugees who who initially
resettled refugees who who initially arrived as refugees and the model was so
arrived as refugees and the model was so
arrived as refugees and the model was so successful that he transplanted this
successful that he transplanted this
successful that he transplanted this across the country a small town in Idaho
across the country a small town in Idaho
across the country a small town in Idaho our hosts a largest rubber company in
our hosts a largest rubber company in
our hosts a largest rubber company in the world
the world
the world – gotcha Bonnie it employs thousands of
– gotcha Bonnie it employs thousands of
– gotcha Bonnie it employs thousands of people they used the same model here in
people they used the same model here in
people they used the same model here in work for the resettled refugees they
work for the resettled refugees they
work for the resettled refugees they invested in their training they invested
invested in their training they invested
invested in their training they invested in transportation they invested in these
in transportation they invested in these
in transportation they invested in these people to bring them up and you can
people to bring them up and you can
people to bring them up and you can imagine I’m a very conservative town
imagine I’m a very conservative town
imagine I’m a very conservative town initially wasn’t pleased with this but –
initially wasn’t pleased with this but –
initially wasn’t pleased with this but – find the impact that this company was
find the impact that this company was
find the impact that this company was making two billion dollars annually in
making two billion dollars annually in
making two billion dollars annually in the local economy even the mayor comes
the local economy even the mayor comes
the local economy even the mayor comes and speaks in support of Jelani now and
and speaks in support of Jelani now and
and speaks in support of Jelani now and mr. Hamdi says that I didn’t do this to
mr. Hamdi says that I didn’t do this to
mr. Hamdi says that I didn’t do this to financially benefit my company I didn’t
financially benefit my company I didn’t
financially benefit my company I didn’t do this to get Fame I did this because
do this to get Fame I did this because
do this to get Fame I did this because it’s the right thing to do and today
it’s the right thing to do and today
it’s the right thing to do and today employers have the same opportunity we
employers have the same opportunity we
employers have the same opportunity we have an opportunity to invest and train
have an opportunity to invest and train
have an opportunity to invest and train a workforce that will say they’ll invest
a workforce that will say they’ll invest
a workforce that will say they’ll invest in our local economies invest in our
in our local economies invest in our
in our local economies invest in our companies while doing the right thing I
companies while doing the right thing I
companies while doing the right thing I believe that the solution for a
believe that the solution for a
believe that the solution for a sustainable employment 3:7 refugees in
sustainable employment 3:7 refugees in
sustainable employment 3:7 refugees in this companies lies we’re businessmen
this companies lies we’re businessmen
this companies lies we’re businessmen who have art thank you
”
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