In Catholic Charities’ Migration and Refugee Services office, African artifacts line desks, figurines stand atop cabinets and tapestries hang from the walls, serving as visual reminders of the agency’s international work.
“For the past three years we’ve been the largest resettlement agency in the United States,” said Mary Ann Sullivan, director of family services.
The State Department contracts with the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops, which refers refugees to Catholic Charities agencies around the country to help them resettle or join family already living in the United States.
More than 70,500 refugees currently live in Minnesota, and most recent refugees come from Kenya and Ethiopia. The Twin Cities celebrated the diverse cultural heritages of its immigrant community June 20. In honor of World Refugee Day, cultural performers, vendors and speakers gathered at a free event in Minnehaha Park that included an information fair of resources for refugees.
“As one of the largest and most recognized resettlement agencies in the Twin Cities, it was important that Catholic Charities sponsored and supported an event that recognized and celebrated where refugees come from and the lives they are building here,” said Angela Fox, a Catholic Charities refugee resettlement specialist.
Because of the anxiety surrounding U.S. immigration policy, many Americans have security and economic fears about refugees. Catholic Charities tries to facilitate refugees’ transition into self-sufficient members of society by helping them with everything from finding jobs and apartments to grocery shopping and navigating public transportation.
“Refugees are just as eager when they get here to become self-sufficient. After all they’ve been through, it’s amazing that they still have so much energy and drive to succeed,” Fox said. “They have a lot to offer not just the economy, but our culture.”
One Somali mother and her 10 children stand out as a success story for Catholic Charities’ caseworker Ibrahim Mohamed. They came to Minnesota from Pakistan about four years ago and lived in a one-bedroom apartment in South Minneapolis while waiting to get into Minneapolis Public Housing. They eventually moved into a 5-bedroom house in Brooklyn Center.
“Two children are now at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, one is married and one daughter is going to medical school,” Mohamed said.
A success story himself, Ibrahim was settled by Catholic Charities at age 25 and returned to work for Migration and Refugee Services eight years ago. He and Fox agree that the largest barriers to successful resettlement are language and lack of affordable, available housing in the Twin Cities, especially for large families. Despite these difficulties, Fox said her work with the refugee community has been both informative and inspiring.
“For me the most rewarding part of my job is hearing their stories,” she said. “They feel comfortable coming in here and telling me about their lives.”
