[Music] it was close to midnight and a loving
it was close to midnight and a loving
it was close to midnight and a loving Iraqi mother was preparing her two young
Iraqi mother was preparing her two young
Iraqi mother was preparing her two young children for a late-night departure to
children for a late-night departure to
children for a late-night departure to the airport this was going to be a
the airport this was going to be a
the airport this was going to be a one-way trip they were gonna catch a
one-way trip they were gonna catch a
one-way trip they were gonna catch a flight to Istanbul Turkey to be reunited
flight to Istanbul Turkey to be reunited
flight to Istanbul Turkey to be reunited with this woman’s husband and the
with this woman’s husband and the
with this woman’s husband and the children’s father he had left weeks
children’s father he had left weeks
children’s father he had left weeks prior after being marked for
prior after being marked for
prior after being marked for assassination he had been a contractor
assassination he had been a contractor
assassination he had been a contractor for the US military and someone wanted
for the US military and someone wanted
for the US military and someone wanted him and the entire family dead the
him and the entire family dead the
him and the entire family dead the mother anticipated that this trip was
mother anticipated that this trip was
mother anticipated that this trip was going to be a dangerous one so she told
going to be a dangerous one so she told
going to be a dangerous one so she told her children that if she gave the
her children that if she gave the
her children that if she gave the command they should get down in the
command they should get down in the
command they should get down in the floor and take cover as they were
floor and take cover as they were
floor and take cover as they were approaching the airport just outside the
approaching the airport just outside the
approaching the airport just outside the gates sure enough she started to hear
gates sure enough she started to hear
gates sure enough she started to hear bullets fire she told them to get down
bullets fire she told them to get down
bullets fire she told them to get down and she covered their bodies with hers
and she covered their bodies with hers
and she covered their bodies with hers and it was life or death fortunately
and it was life or death fortunately
and it was life or death fortunately their cab driver turned around got them
their cab driver turned around got them
their cab driver turned around got them to safety quickly but during their
to safety quickly but during their
to safety quickly but during their second attempt to get to the airport
second attempt to get to the airport
second attempt to get to the airport they again were deterred by gunfire
they again were deterred by gunfire
they again were deterred by gunfire fortunately on their third attempt they
fortunately on their third attempt they
fortunately on their third attempt they were successful they made it to Istanbul
were successful they made it to Istanbul
were successful they made it to Istanbul and their family was reunited they would
and their family was reunited they would
and their family was reunited they would then live there for the next three years
then live there for the next three years
then live there for the next three years in a refugee camp they began applying
in a refugee camp they began applying
in a refugee camp they began applying for refugee status and resettlement and
for refugee status and resettlement and
for refugee status and resettlement and they were ultimately granted that
they were ultimately granted that
they were ultimately granted that resettlement in Houston Texas this woman
resettlement in Houston Texas this woman
resettlement in Houston Texas this woman I heard her speak two years ago at World
I heard her speak two years ago at World
I heard her speak two years ago at World Refugee day
Refugee day
Refugee day her name’s of sinja and when she came to
her name’s of sinja and when she came to
her name’s of sinja and when she came to the United States she did not know
the United States she did not know
the United States she did not know English but she studied very hard and
English but she studied very hard and
English but she studied very hard and eventually she was able to become a case
eventually she was able to become a case
eventually she was able to become a case manager helping other refugees who
manager helping other refugees who
manager helping other refugees who followed in her footsteps when she was
followed in her footsteps when she was
followed in her footsteps when she was giving her presentation on world refugee
giving her presentation on world refugee
giving her presentation on world refugee day she was also just a few semesters
day she was also just a few semesters
day she was also just a few semesters away from becoming a petroleum engineer
away from becoming a petroleum engineer
away from becoming a petroleum engineer during her presentation she said I am a
during her presentation she said I am a
during her presentation she said I am a strong and passionate woman I will
strong and passionate woman I will
strong and passionate woman I will always be determined have faith and help
always be determined have faith and help
always be determined have faith and help others I was inspired by her
others I was inspired by her
others I was inspired by her presentation but it was also a reminder
presentation but it was also a reminder
presentation but it was also a reminder that her story is representative of the
that her story is representative of the
that her story is representative of the many thousands of refugees who come to
many thousands of refugees who come to
many thousands of refugees who come to our country every year collectively
our country every year collectively
our country every year collectively their experiences their cultures form a
their experiences their cultures form a
their experiences their cultures form a mosaic that enriches all of our lives in
mosaic that enriches all of our lives in
mosaic that enriches all of our lives in 2012 I was in a time of transition I was
2012 I was in a time of transition I was
2012 I was in a time of transition I was going from the third year of medical
going from the third year of medical
going from the third year of medical school to graduate school and I also had
school to graduate school and I also had
school to graduate school and I also had started volunteering with refugees as an
started volunteering with refugees as an
started volunteering with refugees as an Albert Schweitzer fellow this fellowship
Albert Schweitzer fellow this fellowship
Albert Schweitzer fellow this fellowship in Houston supports students like me
in Houston supports students like me
in Houston supports students like me wanting to do a Big Idea project in the
wanting to do a Big Idea project in the
wanting to do a Big Idea project in the community I was going to work with
community I was going to work with
community I was going to work with refugees for a year to try to improve
refugees for a year to try to improve
refugees for a year to try to improve their health and well-being many people
their health and well-being many people
their health and well-being many people are surprised to learn that Houston is a
are surprised to learn that Houston is a
are surprised to learn that Houston is a major refugee resettlement city last
major refugee resettlement city last
major refugee resettlement city last year Texas whelped welcomed nearly 9,000
year Texas whelped welcomed nearly 9,000
year Texas whelped welcomed nearly 9,000 new refugees and 2,300 of those came to
new refugees and 2,300 of those came to
new refugees and 2,300 of those came to Houston
Houston
Houston this makes Houston the us’s largest
this makes Houston the us’s largest
this makes Houston the us’s largest refugee resettlement city we to date
refugee resettlement city we to date
refugee resettlement city we to date have over 70,000 refugees from nearly 80
have over 70,000 refugees from nearly 80
have over 70,000 refugees from nearly 80 different countries but a majority of
different countries but a majority of
different countries but a majority of our refugees come from Burma Syria Iraq
our refugees come from Burma Syria Iraq
our refugees come from Burma Syria Iraq and the Congo I had no idea before
and the Congo I had no idea before
and the Congo I had no idea before starting my project that I lived in such
starting my project that I lived in such
starting my project that I lived in such a rich diverse multinational city well
a rich diverse multinational city well
a rich diverse multinational city well what is a refugee the United Nations
what is a refugee the United Nations
what is a refugee the United Nations High Commission for Refugees defines
High Commission for Refugees defines
High Commission for Refugees defines them as a person who has been forced to
them as a person who has been forced to
them as a person who has been forced to flee his or her country because of war
flee his or her country because of war
flee his or her country because of war persecution or violence in June of this
persecution or violence in June of this
persecution or violence in June of this year the UNHCR announced that there are
year the UNHCR announced that there are
year the UNHCR announced that there are today over 65 million forcibly displaced
today over 65 million forcibly displaced
today over 65 million forcibly displaced people in our world and over 16 million
people in our world and over 16 million
people in our world and over 16 million of those are refugees well where do they
of those are refugees well where do they
of those are refugees well where do they go when they leave their homes forever
go when they leave their homes forever
go when they leave their homes forever they end up at places like
they end up at places like
they end up at places like a refugee camp in Nepal a refuge for
a refugee camp in Nepal a refuge for
a refugee camp in Nepal a refuge for people from Bhutan or they end up in
people from Bhutan or they end up in
people from Bhutan or they end up in places like this attempt city in Iraq
places like this attempt city in Iraq
places like this attempt city in Iraq that is a refuge for people leaving
that is a refuge for people leaving
that is a refuge for people leaving Syria this is the largest Syrian refugee
Syria this is the largest Syrian refugee
Syria this is the largest Syrian refugee camp originally built to house 2,000
camp originally built to house 2,000
camp originally built to house 2,000 people but as you are aware there’s a
people but as you are aware there’s a
people but as you are aware there’s a crisis in Syria this tent city now
crisis in Syria this tent city now
crisis in Syria this tent city now houses over 20,000 people just imagine
houses over 20,000 people just imagine
houses over 20,000 people just imagine for a moment look at that picture think
for a moment look at that picture think
for a moment look at that picture think of you or your family living there for
of you or your family living there for
of you or your family living there for years feeding on rations not being able
years feeding on rations not being able
years feeding on rations not being able to work seeing your children’s education
to work seeing your children’s education
to work seeing your children’s education put on hold and it’s not too hard to
put on hold and it’s not too hard to
put on hold and it’s not too hard to imagine then while people in these kind
imagine then while people in these kind
imagine then while people in these kind of camps would make even further risks
of camps would make even further risks
of camps would make even further risks to try to get to Europe or places where
to try to get to Europe or places where
to try to get to Europe or places where they can resume their lives to make it
they can resume their lives to make it
they can resume their lives to make it even more complicated less than 1% of
even more complicated less than 1% of
even more complicated less than 1% of people in camps like these will
people in camps like these will
people in camps like these will ultimately be granted a legal
ultimately be granted a legal
ultimately be granted a legal resettlement somewhere else in the world
resettlement somewhere else in the world
resettlement somewhere else in the world less than 1% the United States admitted
less than 1% the United States admitted
less than 1% the United States admitted 85,000 refugees last year that
85,000 refugees last year that
85,000 refugees last year that represents less than point 1 percent of
represents less than point 1 percent of
represents less than point 1 percent of the world’s refugee population so if
the world’s refugee population so if
the world’s refugee population so if anyone tells you we’re letting in way
anyone tells you we’re letting in way
anyone tells you we’re letting in way too many keep that in mind less than
too many keep that in mind less than
too many keep that in mind less than 0.1% of the world’s refugees legally
0.1% of the world’s refugees legally
0.1% of the world’s refugees legally resettle to the United States once a
resettle to the United States once a
resettle to the United States once a family has been granted resettlement in
family has been granted resettlement in
family has been granted resettlement in the United States the State Department
the United States the State Department
the United States the State Department then looks for a city that already has
then looks for a city that already has
then looks for a city that already has many refugees from that person’s country
many refugees from that person’s country
many refugees from that person’s country then they look for a resettlement agency
then they look for a resettlement agency
then they look for a resettlement agency within that city that can handle the
within that city that can handle the
within that city that can handle the case this is where my agency the
case this is where my agency the
case this is where my agency the Alliance fits in the Alliance works with
Alliance fits in the Alliance works with
Alliance fits in the Alliance works with newly arrived refugee clients and they
newly arrived refugee clients and they
newly arrived refugee clients and they handle everything they find their first
handle everything they find their first
handle everything they find their first apartment they situate it with furniture
apartment they situate it with furniture
apartment they situate it with furniture and food and they picked them up from
and food and they picked them up from
and food and they picked them up from the airport to restart their life in the
the airport to restart their life in the
the airport to restart their life in the United States my observation was that
United States my observation was that
United States my observation was that many refugees see resettlement here as a
many refugees see resettlement here as a
many refugees see resettlement here as a panacea they’ve lived in refugee camps
panacea they’ve lived in refugee camps
panacea they’ve lived in refugee camps for years they’ve heard about us in the
for years they’ve heard about us in the
for years they’ve heard about us in the land of opportunity
land of opportunity
land of opportunity and they think everything is going to
and they think everything is going to
and they think everything is going to drastically get better the minute they
drastically get better the minute they
drastically get better the minute they step off that plane the reality though
step off that plane the reality though
step off that plane the reality though is that resettlement is complicated and
is that resettlement is complicated and
is that resettlement is complicated and it’s hard
it’s hard
it’s hard besides language and culture the support
besides language and culture the support
besides language and culture the support that refugees receive when they get here
that refugees receive when they get here
that refugees receive when they get here is pretty limited and Texas refugees
is pretty limited and Texas refugees
is pretty limited and Texas refugees only get three months of financial
only get three months of financial
only get three months of financial assistance that’s nine hundred and
assistance that’s nine hundred and
assistance that’s nine hundred and twenty five dollars per person per month
twenty five dollars per person per month
twenty five dollars per person per month and they only get eight months of
and they only get eight months of
and they only get eight months of coverage under the refugee Medicaid
coverage under the refugee Medicaid
coverage under the refugee Medicaid program there are other grants and cash
program there are other grants and cash
program there are other grants and cash assistance programs that refugees can
assistance programs that refugees can
assistance programs that refugees can apply for but they’re contingent on that
apply for but they’re contingent on that
apply for but they’re contingent on that person being in English classes and
person being in English classes and
person being in English classes and actively looking for a job the urgency
actively looking for a job the urgency
actively looking for a job the urgency to get a job is immense and a lot of
to get a job is immense and a lot of
to get a job is immense and a lot of times refugees have to take maybe the
times refugees have to take maybe the
times refugees have to take maybe the first offer they get which means that
first offer they get which means that
first offer they get which means that people who were formerly doctors and
people who were formerly doctors and
people who were formerly doctors and lawyers and engineers in their home
lawyers and engineers in their home
lawyers and engineers in their home countries work in very hard labor
countries work in very hard labor
countries work in very hard labor low-wage jobs in the United States at
low-wage jobs in the United States at
low-wage jobs in the United States at least for a time refugee families are
least for a time refugee families are
least for a time refugee families are eligible for food stamps in Texas but
eligible for food stamps in Texas but
eligible for food stamps in Texas but even that benefit is limited six hundred
even that benefit is limited six hundred
even that benefit is limited six hundred and fifty dollars for a family of four
and fifty dollars for a family of four
and fifty dollars for a family of four per month so as you can imagine applying
per month so as you can imagine applying
per month so as you can imagine applying for these things the social services and
for these things the social services and
for these things the social services and the health benefits requires a lot of
the health benefits requires a lot of
the health benefits requires a lot of forms and because those are all printed
forms and because those are all printed
forms and because those are all printed in English the refugee or family is very
in English the refugee or family is very
in English the refugee or family is very dependent on their case manager to help
dependent on their case manager to help
dependent on their case manager to help fill those things out it slows the
fill those things out it slows the
fill those things out it slows the process down and it’s a big challenge
process down and it’s a big challenge
process down and it’s a big challenge for someone learning English for the
for someone learning English for the
for someone learning English for the first time about eight to ten months
first time about eight to ten months
first time about eight to ten months after arriving refugees are essentially
after arriving refugees are essentially
after arriving refugees are essentially expected to be financially independent
expected to be financially independent
expected to be financially independent and self-sustaining a lot of newly
and self-sustaining a lot of newly
and self-sustaining a lot of newly arrived people find this high bar a
arrived people find this high bar a
arrived people find this high bar a really difficult task
really difficult task
really difficult task they came here expecting everything to
they came here expecting everything to
they came here expecting everything to be better and then they kind of get down
be better and then they kind of get down
be better and then they kind of get down into a slump some of them fall into
into a slump some of them fall into
into a slump some of them fall into depression and many fall through the
depression and many fall through the
depression and many fall through the cracks of our healthcare system my goal
cracks of our healthcare system my goal
cracks of our healthcare system my goal of my project was to help improve the
of my project was to help improve the
of my project was to help improve the health awareness in some way of refugees
health awareness in some way of refugees
health awareness in some way of refugees in Houston but I realized to do that
in Houston but I realized to do that
in Houston but I realized to do that well I first need
well I first need
well I first need to see the situation from their eyes so
to see the situation from their eyes so
to see the situation from their eyes so I sat in on a newly arrived refugee
I sat in on a newly arrived refugee
I sat in on a newly arrived refugee orientation at my agency I remember
orientation at my agency I remember
orientation at my agency I remember there was a family from the Congo and
there was a family from the Congo and
there was a family from the Congo and another from Iraq the teacher had so
another from Iraq the teacher had so
another from Iraq the teacher had so much material to cover and the slides
much material to cover and the slides
much material to cover and the slides were just a hodgepodge of topics one
were just a hodgepodge of topics one
were just a hodgepodge of topics one slide was about public transportation
slide was about public transportation
slide was about public transportation another one was about voting and then
another one was about voting and then
another one was about voting and then there was just one slide on health care
there was just one slide on health care
there was just one slide on health care and I thought how could you possibly
and I thought how could you possibly
and I thought how could you possibly expect someone new to this country new
expect someone new to this country new
expect someone new to this country new to this system to grasp the complexity
to this system to grasp the complexity
to this system to grasp the complexity of that system and use it effectively
of that system and use it effectively
of that system and use it effectively from one slide and I was looking at
from one slide and I was looking at
from one slide and I was looking at these family’s faces and seeing how
these family’s faces and seeing how
these family’s faces and seeing how overwhelmed they were and I thought that
overwhelmed they were and I thought that
overwhelmed they were and I thought that tells me a lot the other thing that I
tells me a lot the other thing that I
tells me a lot the other thing that I did was I held focus groups with people
did was I held focus groups with people
did was I held focus groups with people from five different countries and in our
from five different countries and in our
from five different countries and in our conversations I sought to learn more
conversations I sought to learn more
conversations I sought to learn more about the challenges they face and the
about the challenges they face and the
about the challenges they face and the things they wanted to learn more about
things they wanted to learn more about
things they wanted to learn more about they told me that for the people who had
they told me that for the people who had
they told me that for the people who had been here longer than eight months many
been here longer than eight months many
been here longer than eight months many no longer had health coverage despite
no longer had health coverage despite
no longer had health coverage despite the fact that Houston has a really great
the fact that Houston has a really great
the fact that Houston has a really great County medical system they simply didn’t
County medical system they simply didn’t
County medical system they simply didn’t know how to apply for him men and women
know how to apply for him men and women
know how to apply for him men and women wanted to learn about health screenings
wanted to learn about health screenings
wanted to learn about health screenings that were appropriate for their age
that were appropriate for their age
that were appropriate for their age women wanted to learn about family
women wanted to learn about family
women wanted to learn about family planning and all groups were very
planning and all groups were very
planning and all groups were very interested in learning more about mental
interested in learning more about mental
interested in learning more about mental health especially depression this became
health especially depression this became
health especially depression this became the starting point for my work over the
the starting point for my work over the
the starting point for my work over the ensuing nine months I worked really hard
ensuing nine months I worked really hard
ensuing nine months I worked really hard to host Saturday classes these were
to host Saturday classes these were
to host Saturday classes these were hosted at the apartments where the
hosted at the apartments where the
hosted at the apartments where the refugees lived and we covered the topics
refugees lived and we covered the topics
refugees lived and we covered the topics that they had indicated wanting to know
that they had indicated wanting to know
that they had indicated wanting to know more about but I learned to be flexible
more about but I learned to be flexible
more about but I learned to be flexible because you never knew what kind of
because you never knew what kind of
because you never knew what kind of questions people would ask and case in
questions people would ask and case in
questions people would ask and case in point it was not uncommon for a refugee
point it was not uncommon for a refugee
point it was not uncommon for a refugee to bring in a medical bill that they
to bring in a medical bill that they
to bring in a medical bill that they wanted some help understanding I
wanted some help understanding I
wanted some help understanding I remember looking at a bill with one lady
remember looking at a bill with one lady
remember looking at a bill with one lady for thousands of dollars and I was
for thousands of dollars and I was
for thousands of dollars and I was scratching my head why did this happen
scratching my head why did this happen
scratching my head why did this happen and what what really happens is that
and what what really happens is that
and what what really happens is that when someone gets sick and they don’t
when someone gets sick and they don’t
when someone gets sick and they don’t have a car
have a car
have a car just go to the nearest urgent care or
just go to the nearest urgent care or
just go to the nearest urgent care or free-standing emergency center that’s
free-standing emergency center that’s
free-standing emergency center that’s across the street because that’s
across the street because that’s
across the street because that’s convenient
convenient
convenient they go there and it ends up being out
they go there and it ends up being out
they go there and it ends up being out of network and they end up with a bill
of network and they end up with a bill
of network and they end up with a bill for thousands of dollars that they can
for thousands of dollars that they can
for thousands of dollars that they can never possibly pay and I saw in the
never possibly pay and I saw in the
never possibly pay and I saw in the faces of my clients how confusing that
faces of my clients how confusing that
faces of my clients how confusing that was because they had been told that they
was because they had been told that they
was because they had been told that they had eight months of health coverage and
had eight months of health coverage and
had eight months of health coverage and not understanding our system they didn’t
not understanding our system they didn’t
not understanding our system they didn’t know why those benefits didn’t apply
know why those benefits didn’t apply
know why those benefits didn’t apply everywhere just think how complicated it
everywhere just think how complicated it
everywhere just think how complicated it is for a lot of you in the audience who
is for a lot of you in the audience who
is for a lot of you in the audience who have health insurance to find a
have health insurance to find a
have health insurance to find a physician who meets your needs who’s in
physician who meets your needs who’s in
physician who meets your needs who’s in network and then throw in barriers of
network and then throw in barriers of
network and then throw in barriers of transportation language and culture it
transportation language and culture it
transportation language and culture it is a huge barrier another observation I
is a huge barrier another observation I
is a huge barrier another observation I had was that many of my clients couldn’t
had was that many of my clients couldn’t
had was that many of my clients couldn’t interact with the health system because
interact with the health system because
interact with the health system because they couldn’t read the documents they
they couldn’t read the documents they
they couldn’t read the documents they were receiving I recall a home visit
were receiving I recall a home visit
were receiving I recall a home visit with a Congolese mother she was the sole
with a Congolese mother she was the sole
with a Congolese mother she was the sole caretaker for two young children and she
caretaker for two young children and she
caretaker for two young children and she had chronically uncontrolled high blood
had chronically uncontrolled high blood
had chronically uncontrolled high blood pressure she said sometimes she would
pressure she said sometimes she would
pressure she said sometimes she would get so faint and dizzy she’d pass out
get so faint and dizzy she’d pass out
get so faint and dizzy she’d pass out but she was just waiting on health
but she was just waiting on health
but she was just waiting on health coverage to be approved from the county
coverage to be approved from the county
coverage to be approved from the county and then she would see a physician I
and then she would see a physician I
and then she would see a physician I asked her to show me the form she had
asked her to show me the form she had
asked her to show me the form she had been receiving and within a carefully
been receiving and within a carefully
been receiving and within a carefully organized stack of letters there was a
organized stack of letters there was a
organized stack of letters there was a letter right there that said you’ve been
letter right there that said you’ve been
letter right there that said you’ve been approved for health benefits she didn’t
approved for health benefits she didn’t
approved for health benefits she didn’t know what that letter said because she
know what that letter said because she
know what that letter said because she couldn’t read it she also didn’t know
couldn’t read it she also didn’t know
couldn’t read it she also didn’t know she had been approved because people in
she had been approved because people in
she had been approved because people in our County refer to coverage as having a
our County refer to coverage as having a
our County refer to coverage as having a gold
gold
gold Cardon turns out that the county used to
Cardon turns out that the county used to
Cardon turns out that the county used to send people a gold colored card and that
send people a gold colored card and that
send people a gold colored card and that indicated coverage but years ago they
indicated coverage but years ago they
indicated coverage but years ago they phased out that terminology and that
phased out that terminology and that
phased out that terminology and that card in the place of a form letter to
card in the place of a form letter to
card in the place of a form letter to explain fee reductions that is super
explain fee reductions that is super
explain fee reductions that is super confusing for someone expecting a gold
confusing for someone expecting a gold
confusing for someone expecting a gold card to arrive in the mail but as I saw
card to arrive in the mail but as I saw
card to arrive in the mail but as I saw that case over and over again I began to
that case over and over again I began to
that case over and over again I began to wonder sometimes skeptically if that was
wonder sometimes skeptically if that was
wonder sometimes skeptically if that was by design
Abraham was one of the friends that I
Abraham was one of the friends that I met during my fellowship year he’s the
met during my fellowship year he’s the
met during my fellowship year he’s the man on the far left side of this slide
man on the far left side of this slide
man on the far left side of this slide he himself is a Bhutanese refugee
he himself is a Bhutanese refugee
he himself is a Bhutanese refugee he’s been here for over 10 years and he
he’s been here for over 10 years and he
he’s been here for over 10 years and he was my go-to guy for teaching my
was my go-to guy for teaching my
was my go-to guy for teaching my Bhutanese classes on Saturdays as we
Bhutanese classes on Saturdays as we
Bhutanese classes on Saturdays as we were doing those classes is sometimes
were doing those classes is sometimes
were doing those classes is sometimes felt like we were spinning our wheels we
felt like we were spinning our wheels we
felt like we were spinning our wheels we could only help a small number of people
could only help a small number of people
could only help a small number of people like some of the people you see in this
like some of the people you see in this
like some of the people you see in this picture because everything that was said
picture because everything that was said
picture because everything that was said had to be interpreted and translated
had to be interpreted and translated
had to be interpreted and translated twice from us to them and back so I
twice from us to them and back so I
twice from us to them and back so I thought is there a way to get more
thought is there a way to get more
thought is there a way to get more mileage out of this and then it clicked
mileage out of this and then it clicked
mileage out of this and then it clicked one day what if we made videos that
one day what if we made videos that
one day what if we made videos that explain the class concepts and then
explain the class concepts and then
explain the class concepts and then translated them to other languages put
translated them to other languages put
translated them to other languages put them on the internet and then people
them on the internet and then people
them on the internet and then people could help themselves or case workers
could help themselves or case workers
could help themselves or case workers could help them abraham thought this was
could help them abraham thought this was
could help them abraham thought this was a great idea and he was happy to help so
a great idea and he was happy to help so
a great idea and he was happy to help so he invited me over to his home for
he invited me over to his home for
he invited me over to his home for dinner and it was so special to get to
dinner and it was so special to get to
dinner and it was so special to get to step into someone else’s culture through
step into someone else’s culture through
step into someone else’s culture through food and fellowship of spicy peppers
food and fellowship of spicy peppers
food and fellowship of spicy peppers chicken and rice and then we did the
chicken and rice and then we did the
chicken and rice and then we did the work of sitting down to translate my
work of sitting down to translate my
work of sitting down to translate my video I thought it would probably take a
video I thought it would probably take a
video I thought it would probably take a couple of hours it ended up taking
couple of hours it ended up taking
couple of hours it ended up taking double that but that’s because Abraham
double that but that’s because Abraham
double that but that’s because Abraham was insistent we record and rerecord
was insistent we record and rerecord
was insistent we record and rerecord every line until it was absolutely
every line until it was absolutely
every line until it was absolutely perfect like me he knew that people from
perfect like me he knew that people from
perfect like me he knew that people from his country could use every leg up we
his country could use every leg up we
his country could use every leg up we could offer and he was determined to
could offer and he was determined to
could offer and he was determined to make this tool perfect so it would help
make this tool perfect so it would help
make this tool perfect so it would help your people for years to come in that
your people for years to come in that
your people for years to come in that moment and seeing his determination I
moment and seeing his determination I
moment and seeing his determination I realized just how bright of a future
realized just how bright of a future
realized just how bright of a future there was ahead for many of the people
there was ahead for many of the people
there was ahead for many of the people that I had been helping that year
that I had been helping that year
that I had been helping that year working on this project taught me many
working on this project taught me many
working on this project taught me many important lessons and I’d like to leave
important lessons and I’d like to leave
important lessons and I’d like to leave you with three of them the first is
you with three of them the first is
you with three of them the first is refugees are some of the most courageous
refugees are some of the most courageous
refugees are some of the most courageous and resilient people I have ever met in
and resilient people I have ever met in
and resilient people I have ever met in my life
my life
my life it is very disingenuous to say that they
it is very disingenuous to say that they
it is very disingenuous to say that they have malice toward our country or that
have malice toward our country or that
have malice toward our country or that they have it easy because they certainly
they have it easy because they certainly
they have it easy because they certainly don’t refugees in my experience leave
don’t refugees in my experience leave
don’t refugees in my experience leave their country under threat of death
their country under threat of death
their country under threat of death sometimes they live in squalid refugee
sometimes they live in squalid refugee
sometimes they live in squalid refugee camps for years and the ones that get to
camps for years and the ones that get to
camps for years and the ones that get to come to the United States are incredibly
come to the United States are incredibly
come to the United States are incredibly grateful to be here the second
grateful to be here the second
grateful to be here the second observation I had is that when you find
observation I had is that when you find
observation I had is that when you find a
a
a like this one you should really throw
like this one you should really throw
like this one you should really throw yourself into it and be open to the
yourself into it and be open to the
yourself into it and be open to the unexpected twists and turns that it
unexpected twists and turns that it
unexpected twists and turns that it might take I would encourage all of you
might take I would encourage all of you
might take I would encourage all of you if you can to volunteer in some way with
if you can to volunteer in some way with
if you can to volunteer in some way with refugees because no matter where you
refugees because no matter where you
refugees because no matter where you live there’s a good chance there are
live there’s a good chance there are
live there’s a good chance there are some refugees in your neighborhood and
some refugees in your neighborhood and
some refugees in your neighborhood and if all you do is advocate for their
if all you do is advocate for their
if all you do is advocate for their cause from hearing this speech that in
cause from hearing this speech that in
cause from hearing this speech that in itself will be a huge help because I
itself will be a huge help because I
itself will be a huge help because I think there’s a lot of misinformation
think there’s a lot of misinformation
think there’s a lot of misinformation out there about them I was open to the
out there about them I was open to the
out there about them I was open to the twists and turns that my project took I
twists and turns that my project took I
twists and turns that my project took I was underprepared at first but with time
was underprepared at first but with time
was underprepared at first but with time I learned to lead
I learned to lead
I learned to lead I learned to fundraise and inspire
I learned to fundraise and inspire
I learned to fundraise and inspire others around a common cause and then in
others around a common cause and then in
others around a common cause and then in a really special twist toward the end I
a really special twist toward the end I
a really special twist toward the end I met my life partner a woman who was just
met my life partner a woman who was just
met my life partner a woman who was just as passionate about this cause as me
as passionate about this cause as me
as passionate about this cause as me when I think about my very first focus
when I think about my very first focus
when I think about my very first focus group with people from Burma it was a
group with people from Burma it was a
group with people from Burma it was a sunny Saturday in the fall and we were
sunny Saturday in the fall and we were
sunny Saturday in the fall and we were sitting in this classroom
sitting in this classroom
sitting in this classroom it was mostly empty with 15 men and
it was mostly empty with 15 men and
it was mostly empty with 15 men and women who had come hoping I could help
women who had come hoping I could help
women who had come hoping I could help them as they learned about the barriers
them as they learned about the barriers
them as they learned about the barriers facing them I wondered if I was biting
facing them I wondered if I was biting
facing them I wondered if I was biting off more than I could chew but just nine
off more than I could chew but just nine
off more than I could chew but just nine months later we were in that very same
months later we were in that very same
months later we were in that very same classroom and the room was packed we
classroom and the room was packed we
classroom and the room was packed we were all sitting underneath the American
were all sitting underneath the American
were all sitting underneath the American flag there were lots of refugee clients
flag there were lots of refugee clients
flag there were lots of refugee clients we had medical students physicians
we had medical students physicians
we had medical students physicians interpreters our collective volunteer
interpreters our collective volunteer
interpreters our collective volunteer force had grown immensely over the
force had grown immensely over the
force had grown immensely over the course of the year and I saw how this
course of the year and I saw how this
course of the year and I saw how this project had literally taken on a life of
project had literally taken on a life of
project had literally taken on a life of its own and grown organically and I’m
its own and grown organically and I’m
its own and grown organically and I’m happy to report the elements of it
happy to report the elements of it
happy to report the elements of it continue even to this day so that taught
continue even to this day so that taught
continue even to this day so that taught me the third take-home lesson from this
me the third take-home lesson from this
me the third take-home lesson from this which is that it is a really great idea
which is that it is a really great idea
which is that it is a really great idea to find some outlet for service in your
to find some outlet for service in your
to find some outlet for service in your life as a student or a working
life as a student or a working
life as a student or a working professional and to make it part of who
professional and to make it part of who
professional and to make it part of who you are I would encourage all of you to
you are I would encourage all of you to
you are I would encourage all of you to throw yourself in to those pursuits with
throw yourself in to those pursuits with
throw yourself in to those pursuits with a passion and be open to the change that
a passion and be open to the change that
a passion and be open to the change that it might inevitably bring to your life
it might inevitably bring to your life
it might inevitably bring to your life because it most certainly will thank you
because it most certainly will thank you
because it most certainly will thank you you
”
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