Refugee Resettlement Programs in NE Indiana | March 30 

Northeast Indiana has a strong tradition of welcoming newcomers and refugees, most recently from Burma, Bosnia, Congo, and Somalia. In the past two years, our community and nation have received our Afghan allies, Ukrainians fleeing war, and people seeking safety including Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans, and Nicaraguans.

Resettling into a new culture and building a new life is not easy for our new residents. Our community is fortunate to have various private, not-for-profit organizations reaching out to welcome these refugees and assist them. However, increasing numbers of refugees due to global conflicts and new federal policies are stretching these agencies. There are also new opportunities for businesses, churches, organizations, families, and individuals to help.

The community is invited to a special free presentation to learn more on resettling those refugee immigrants already identified by the US State Department as unable to return home and already approved for resettlement here. The program will feature:

• So Min Oo’s Story: Oo, arrived in Fort Wayne in Catholic Charities Resettlement Program as a 20 year-old in 2008 after spending a decade in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border. Today, he is earning his MBA and employed as an Operations Manager for Kroger. He will share the story of refugee resettlement.

• Desiree Koger-Gustafson, Immigration Attorney: A Senior Immigration Attorney with Immigration for Couples, she will explain the different legal classifications of refugee immigrants with their unique government supports and pathways for citizenship.

• Elizabeth Frank, Director, The Welcome Corps: The U.S. State Department’s newest public-private immigration program launched in January, hopes to resettle 5,000 refugees already identified from selected countries. Frank will explain how this new program will play a leading role in welcoming refugees arriving through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

• Panel of Local Refugee Resettlement Programs: Three of northeast Indiana’s resettlement agencies will present their current services for refugees and immigrants and detail opportunities to support refugees seeking to join our community.
  • Natalie Borjas, Community Development Coordinator, Amani Family Services
  • Nyein Chan, Director of Refugee Services, Catholic Charities
  • Heather Morris, Director of Operations & Outreach, International House