Posts by cbodettlukins
Why is the Path Vital to Resettlement in the Fox Valley?
The Path is one way that community members partner with us in this important work of welcoming refugees through giving a monthly gift.
Read about one of our Pathmakers today and what drew her to this work.
How did you get connected with the work of welcoming refugees?
It started years ago when I was hearing so much in the news about displaced people. It felt
uncomfortable to hear that news and then turn off the TV and return to my regular life. I started to
research online about different organizations who had boots on the ground in helping people. There are lots of good organizations doing good work. I wanted to be a part of their work and decided to offer financial support. I found World Relief, which has a local office and was also located in places around the world where people desperately needed help.
Why did you decide to join the Path?
Looking at it from two different angles I decided to join World Relief because, after researching, I felt good about supporting their work. And I wanted to give monthly because it meant my giving would be consistent and I wouldnât ever forget to give.
What motivates you in welcoming refugees?
Reading through the Old Testament I was surprised by how many times God commands his people to care for the widow, orphan, and the sojourner. By welcoming refugees, I am complying with Godâs teaching. Refugees leave their home country out of necessity, not by choice. I think that as a Christian I am called to respond to that need.
How do you think you have changed since becoming involved in this work?
I have become much more compassionate to people who are different from meâdifferent nationalities, experiences, and religions. Itâs good to be different. I was more judgmental of people who were different or thought differently from me, but now I have more compassion and understanding of people with different backgrounds. I appreciate how people can bring different cultures into my world. People who think differently help a community to stretch and grow.
Do you have any advice for someone who wants to help but doesnât know how?
Take a step in a direction and see where it leads. Itâs hard not to be frozen by indecision and not know what to do. After all, what can one person do in the face of so much global conflict and disaster? After taking the first step you will be able to take another. One person canât create change on their own, but change will happen when we work together.
How can you learn?
I try to keep things local. Try to learn about what is going on in your community that you can be a part of. Do some research online. Be willing to get to know people in your community who are different from you. And as you work with others who may disagree with you, always be kind and be open to other points of view. For people who are readers I recommend the book, âInalienableâ written by Matthew Soerens.
Join the movement and become a Pathmaker today!
A Welcoming Community: Tara’s Volunteer Story
At World Relief we believe in the power of welcoming communities. Read how Tara participates in a welcoming community.
When the Taliban took over Kabul Tara saw many news reports about Afghans fleeing the country. The stories of families needing new homes inspired her to want to make a difference in her own community and an opportunity to serve with World Relief came across her path through her church, Christ the Rock. Tara signed up through her church to lead a Good Neighbor Team. A Good Neighbor Team is a small group of volunteers who welcome, walk alongside, and offer long-term reciprocal friendships with a newly arrived refugee family for six months.
However, Taraâs team had to wait a year before they could be matched with a refugee family. Although the wait was long, Tara says that it was worth the wait to be matched with the family they now partner with. The volunteer team used that time they waited to prepare for their experience as volunteers by watching videos about serving in ways that are empowering and discussing those ideas together as a team.
Building Friendships
Taraâs team was officially matched with their partner family, Joseph and Beatrice* and their children, in the beginning of this year. Joseph and Beatriceâs family is Congolese. Some of the things that the Good Neighbor Team has supported the family in has been transportation to medical appointments, answering questions about life in the U.S., and support through friendship. Tara shared that she was surprised how easily their team has been able to connect with Josephâs family. Several members of the family speak English well and so the language barrier is less significant than Tara had expected.
Congolese Hospitality
After volunteering for several months Tara is grateful that she decided to volunteer. She is grateful for her familyâs opportunity to learn and grow in their friendship with Joseph and Beatrice. Taraâs family loves to visit Joseph and Beatriceâs family and enjoy time together in their home. Hospitality is very important in Congolese culture and Taraâs family feels honored to receive that hospitality. One of the things Tara is learning is to be more flexible. She says sheâs learning that, âitâs about the moment and not the to-do list.â
Embracing Differences
One of the cultural differences that Tara has noticed is differences in how she prays and worships. Although both families share the Christian faith they express their faith very differently. The day after Joseph and Beatrice arrived in the Fox Valley Tara met them in their home with their World Relief case worker. They took some time to pray together. Tara said she was expecting a brief and quiet moment of prayer before moving on to other things. Instead the Joseph and Beatrice took a long time to pray aloud, sing, and kneel.
Reflecting on her volunteer experience Tara has learned more about culture, but it has also made her look at her own community differently. She says she is more aware of the challenges facing newcomers to the Fox Valleyâsuch as access to transportation and healthcare. Taraâs hope is that our community can be a welcoming place for all newcomers.
*Names changed for privacy
If you are interested in volunteering learn about our volunteer opportunities here.
Interview with Office Director: Tami McLaughlin
How did you start working at World Relief?
I was the director of missions at a local church outside of Atlanta and we partnered with World Relief for a short-term mission trip. We went to Clarkston, Georgia, and I think it has the largest number of languages spoken in one square miles in the United States; it was a community that was refugee-based. That was my introduction to World Relief, and when I was looking for a new job I actually applied to World Relief four times. I started out as an employment specialist in Atlanta, and one day my boss walked into my office and said âI think youâre from Wisconsin, and we have a position open in Wisconsin.
How do the teachings of Jesus Christ impact what you do at World Relief?
Jesus loves the vulnerable. I think in the Old Testament the words ârefugeeâ and âsojournerâ are mentioned over 20 times. I think these people and this work is really dear to Godâs heart, and I feel the presence of God has been so evident in so many situations that Iâve been in because of how important this work is to him. Jesus loves, Jesus is involved, Jesus’s presence is present.
What is the biggest cultural difference that youâve experienced when working with refugees?
When I first started working at World Relief, I was working with three sisters. Weâre trying to find a job for them, and two of the sisters got jobs at a chicken factory. The third sister wasnât strong enough to do the work in the factory. A couple of weeks later, I got a call from the human resource department at the chicken factory and they said âYou need to tell your clients that if they canât come to work they canât send their sister to work in their place.â To me, it was common sense that you canât send someone else to work for you, but for them it wasnât. That was a learning experience for me, how we should evaluate some of the things we do in our own culture.
What should the residents of the Fox Cities know about their refugee neighbors or how they can support them?
They should know that their refugee neighbors will deeply enrich their lives by bringing in a different culture. Different cultures are something that we all could learn from and that would enrich our lives if we took the time to learn about them. I think it is sometimes assumed that when people have a different language or different skills, that theyâre not as strong or have as much to contribute to our community. Refugees are people whoâve survived and persevered through really difficult situations, but their circumstances shouldnât define them. They are very resilient people who have survived so much, and when theyâre here they can start thriving beyond any circumstance theyâve had to face.
9 Things You Need to Know About Private Sponsorship
On Thursday, January 19th, the Biden Administration announced a new private sponsorship program for refugees called Welcome Corps. Through Welcome Corps, everyday Americans can directly sponsor refugees who are being resettled in the U.S.
Today, there are an estimated 103 million displaced people globally, including 32.5 million refugees. Forced from their homes and separated from support networks, refugees are among the worldâs most vulnerable populations.
At World Relief, we know you want to live out Jesusâ call to welcome the stranger and care for those experiencing vulnerability. Private sponsorship builds on World Relief and other refugee resettlement agencies’ existing opportunities to welcome newcomers and is one more way you can answer that call. Here are 9 things you should know about private sponsorship.
1. What is Welcome Corps?
Welcome Corps is a new private sponsorship program from the U.S. government that allows groups to sponsor and resettle refugees. Sponsors will play the primary role in welcoming, financially supporting and assisting refugees for the first 90 days as they begin to rebuild their lives in the U.S. and integrate into their new communities.
2. How do I become a sponsor?
Becoming a private sponsor is a multi-step process that includes forming a group of five or more individuals, submitting an application, background checks, demonstration of sufficient financial resources and more. Currently, private sponsors can apply to be matched with someone in need of sponsorship. The U.S. government is also working to roll out an option for people to sponsor specific individuals they already know who are in need of resettlement from another country. To learn more and begin your application process with Welcome Corps, click below!
3. Who is eligible for resettlement through Welcome Corps?
Over the last year, the U.S. government has developed sponsorship programs specifically for Ukrainians and Venezuelans.
This new program expands on the previous sponsorship programs and will be implemented in phases. In Welcome Corpsâ first year, the goal is to mobilize at least 10,000 Americans to help at least 5,000 refugees, and then scale up to make the program an enduring feature of the refugee resettlement system.
The first refugees who will be assisted by private sponsors through Welcome Corps are expected to arrive in April 2023 and will primarily come from countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
For specific information regarding sponsorship for Ukrainians, click here.
For specific information regarding sponsorship for Venezuelans, click here.
4. If I become a sponsor, what will I do?
Sponsors assume responsibility for initial resettlement services, providing financial and other forms of support as required by the refugee resettlement process. Some examples of non-material support include:
- Meeting the refugee(s) upon arrival in the United States and transporting them to initial housing.
- Ensuring that the sponsee has safe and appropriate housing and basic necessities.
- Ensuring that the sponseeâs healthcare and medical needs are met for the duration of the resettlement period.
- As appropriate, helping the sponsee complete the necessary paperwork for employment authorization, a Social Security card and for any other public benefits for which they may be eligible.
- As appropriate, assisting the sponsee with accessing education, learning English and enrolling children in school.
- Supporting employable sponsees in securing employment in the U.S. workforce
- Ensuring appropriate interpretation/translation
- Providing cultural and community orientations
For more information on the sponsorship process through Welcome Corps and whatâs required of sponsors, visit welcomecorps.org.
5. Is private sponsorship good for refugees?
Private sponsorship opens more pathways for more people fleeing persecution to rebuild their lives and thrive. At World Relief, we applaud the expansion of sustainable, lawful opportunities for those fleeing persecution to find safety in the U.S.
Navigating the process of private sponsorship can also come with challenges for both sponsors and refugees. But you donât have to face them alone.
At World Relief, we have decades of experience working with refugees and displaced populations across the globe through our various local community sponsorship and volunteer programs. We utilize this experience to equip churches and passionate people like you to walk alongside those who choose to welcome newcomers and the newcomers they are matched with.
If you are interested in private sponsorship and would like to receive updates on how World Relief can support you in the process, please sign up here. In addition, we will send you a free code for our eLearning course “Navigating Friendships” which will help you learn how to build empowering, long-lasting friendships with those from different cultures. Please see question 8 regarding World Relief’s involvement in private sponsorships. Please see question 9 if you are unable to be a sponsor but want to still make a difference!
6. Has private sponsorship been done elsewhere?
Yes! Private sponsorship has been a successful piece of refugee resettlement efforts in countries like Canada and Australia, and versions of private sponsorship have even been part of U.S. refugee resettlement historically. Most recently, the U.S. has re-engaged private sponsorship models to resettle Afghans, Urkanians and Venezuelans. This new program expands private sponsorship to include refugees from around the world.
7. What about traditional pathways to refugee resettlement? Will refugees continue to be resettled by World Relief and other agencies?
Yes! The U.S. federal refugee resettlement program will continue to operate and World Relief will continue to offer various ways for churches and individuals to engage in welcoming refugees and other immigrants in vulnerable situations. Private sponsorship will complement the work already being done by organizations like World Relief, allowing more people fleeing persecution to find safety in the U.S.
8. Is World Relief assisting with private sponsorship?
Currently, World Relief provides other community sponsorship opportunities â such as our Good Neighbor Team program â through our local office and is not administering the private sponsorship program directly.* However, we do have resources available to serve both sponsors and those being sponsored.
The World Relief Workshop is our e-learning platform designed to equip individuals, groups and churches to best serve their refugee neighbors â from courses on navigating common barriers to ESL tutoring. Many of our U.S. offices are also able to offer services to sponsees such as English classes and immigration legal services.Â
9. Iâm not ready to become a private sponsor. Is there anything else I can do?
Yes! As mentioned, World Relief works with refugees and displaced people in the U.S. and all over the world and offers the opportunity to welcome and walk alongside refugees and other immigrants through local volunteer and sponsorship programs.
You can support this work by volunteering with World Relief Fox Valley or making a donation to World Relief. Your gift will allow World Relief to provide job training, legal support and more for immigrants and refugees in the Memphis area from countries like Ukraine, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Iran, Myanmar and other parts of the world. Together, we can extend welcome and help people rebuild their lives here in the Fox Valley.
Have additional questions?
We will host an information session on Welcome Corps during the week of February 13th. Email wrfvreception@wr.org to learn how to join.
A Look into Casework with Quench
What do you like about your job?
I have a lot of things I like about my job. My job is not just about getting a paycheck but I do it because I like supporting people. I like helping people to get resettled in America and start living a better life. I also like meeting a lot of different people of many different cultures. It is critical for me in my work to get to understand other cultures because I cannot help my clients if I do not know what is important to them. Â
What are some goals you work on with your clients in their first 90 Days?
The government provides direction for us for goals the first 90 days through the R&P service guide. We also work with the client to help them to accomplish their goals for the first 90 days. The most important goals we focus on are employment, permanent housing, applying for benefits and insurance, doctorâs visits, enrolling children in school, ESL classes for adults, learning how to use public transportation or learning how to drive a car, and getting important documents such as social security.
What do you think are important strengths for a caseworker?
Two strengths that are important for caseworkers are being timely with your work and treating everyone fairly. Itâs important to be timely with your work because most tasks must be completed by a certain deadline. Treating people in the way that you would like to be treated is important so that all clients are treated in the same way.
What does an average day look like?
It depends on the day, but most of the days I am busy. A lot of times I call my clients to check in on them about their job or about how their kids are doing in school. Clients call me a lot with many questions at all times of the day. I also do a lot of home visits to take clients to appointments and check in on them. I take clients to the dentist, to get their RCA-refugee cash assistance, and to go to the store. A lot of days my plans change because I have to respond to my clientsâ needs.
What is challenging about your job?
Working with people from different backgrounds is challenging because they have different expectations. People expect that I will do a lot for them when I work with many clients so I cannot always do as much as they would like. The clients I work with come from many different cultures and many have experienced trauma, both of these things influence their expectations for life in the U.S. Itâs also hard when people speak different languages, but that is usually that is not a challenge because I speak 9 different languages.
What is something that encourages you in your work?
I find a lot of encouragement in my coworkers because I am still learning a lot about being a caseworker. My coworker, Marlo, is so helpful. Sheâs always willing to stop what sheâs doing to help me when I have a question. My teammates donât pressure in my job but they are willing to encourage and teach me.
How do you think your story impacts your work?
Because I have lived in a refugee camp I can understand what itâs like to come to the US and live in a country that is so different from oneâs own. There are a lot of surprises when you arrive to the U.S. It takes time understand life here and I can help and encourage my clients from my own experience.
What is one thing you wish people knew about refugees?
To understand how challenging it is for refugees to learn life in the U.S. Often people expect refugees to respond to life here in a certain way, but for refugees life in the US is brand new. For many people life here is so different than what they are used to; itâs like they are starting their lives all over again.