|
‘VILLAINS OF THIS STORY’— Amid the past 20 years of immigration twists and turns, "the term ‘Dreamer’ became omnipresent, helping proponents of these measures garner bipartisan support for what they described as sensible, narrow protections." For Politico Magazine, Jesús A. Rodríguez takes us through the history of Dreamers — and how the term can be used as a tool of both advocacy and exclusion. "When we say that kids and people like me who came when we were younger deserve special treatment, what it says is that the blame is on my parents," said Jonathan Jayes-Green, co-founder of the UndocuBlack Network. "That because they brought me to this country, through no fault of my own, they are the criminals — they are the villains of this story." Definitely worth the read. MEATPACKING WORKERS — Meatpacking workers in Garden City, Kansas, have fueled an economic boom — but many still rely on food pantries to make ends meet, David Condos reports for High Plains Public Radio. Almost half of the people who get food from Emmaus House twice a week are from families employed at the largest employer in the area, a Tyson’s meatpacking plant. "In the decades since Tyson’s plant opened, the number of jobs in Garden City has skyrocketed, but the per capita incomes in town have lost pace with the rest of Kansas," Condos notes. "A lot of people think, ‘Well, you’re working at Tyson, so you’re making really good money,’ said Emmaus House’s executive director Robin Marsh. "By the time you pay your rent, by the time you pay your utilities … they don’t have enough for food."
MENTAL HEALTH — Access to mental health resources is critical for newly arriving Afghans grappling with post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression, Mona Dougani reports for North Carolina Health News. "For decades, there’s been very little access for them to mental health services. The current Afghan evacuees will face the same barriers that all refugees face in the U.S. primarily around language access, but also having sufficient health insurance," said World Relief Durham director Adam Clarke. "In general, they’re just a marginalized population that does not receive as much access as others to mental health support." To fill the gap, World Relief Durham has been partnering with UNC School of Social Work since 2015 on their refugee and mental health wellness initiative. Here is today’s collection of local stories:
SCHOOL SERVICES — A new scholarship from the Quad Cities Community Foundation "aims to help local immigrant and refugee students bridge the gap to higher education," reports Jonathan Turner of QuadCities.com. "I have taught so many first- and second-generation immigrant students who are brilliant, brave people, but who face massive barriers to going to college," said Julie Eisenband, one of the teachers who created the scholarship. "Our hope is that this scholarship will provide one less thing these students have to worry about." Over in North Carolina, EdNC’s Mebane Rash tells the story of Guatemalan American Ted Pedro, who serves as both a translator and guide for parents navigating the American education system at Mountain View Elementary. "Especially at the beginning of the year, we had a lot of kids seeking for asylum, moving here to this country, and it was beautiful because I can put myself in their shoes," said Pedro. Thanks for reading, |
