Help Us Continue Welcoming Refugees and Immigrants

Help Us Continue Welcoming Refugees and Immigrants image

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Only 18,000 refugees will be allowed to come to the United States this year. Despite this, we will continue welcoming new refugees and immigrants and helping those who are already here in our care.

In these turbulent times, it is easy to give up hope. That is why US Together is fighting to keep hope alive.

Help us to continue welcoming refugees and immigrants who are fleeing persecution and provide them with the support they need to restart their lives in Cleveland.

Each week we will share a story that highlights how the community is welcoming refugees to share the impact we are having together.

We hope these stories will inspire you to join our cause and support our work.


Week 1: The Story of Michel


Michel arrived in the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The trauma, cultural barriers, and lack of English proficiency have created serious barriers to employment. Overall distrust of government officials and NGOs stemming from witnessing graft and malfeasance in his native country made him skeptical in the ability of US Together to help him. However, step by step, we won his trust and he emerged as a motivated candidate for our refugee employment services program. He was insistent on rapid employment. UST-Cleveland staff began to develop opportunities that would help him overcome the barriers he faced and provide stability and confidence in us

In conversations with UST-Cleveland staff, Michel indicated he was an active member of a Congolese church in Cleveland, where he quickly became deeply engaged with the diaspora. The employment coordinator, Evan Chwalek, recommended that he begin asking his fellow community members about employment opportunities. Soon enough, Michel learned that a member of his congregation worked at an industrial kitchen located in the same building as the UST-Cleveland offices. We built a partnership with the owner, who immediately employed Michel. He was so happy with his new hire that he later reached out to us sharing he would like to hire more refugees. A new business partnership was born that created employment pathways for other refugees. Michel paved the way to new opportunities for his fellow refugees. He is now employed, rapidly improving his English, and occasionally visits the office to catch up during his breaks.

Every day, our staff, local businesses, faith communities, and individuals are helping refugees find a new home in Cleveland. This holiday season highlights very uncertain times for families and entire refugee and immigrant communities. Your gift will empower us to maintain and expand assistance to refugees like Michel. The opportunity to help these families will give all of us a sense of purpose. Let’s empower refugees, educate and guide the youth, heal the wounded and traumatized, and help families become self-sufficient!


Week 2: US Together staff member is now a citizen!

Our very own Mohamed Abdirahman became a US citizen on November 15, 2019! US Together staff attended his naturalization ceremony as Mohamed took his Oath of Allegiance and received his Certificate of Naturalization. What an exciting day for everyone! Mohamed is now a citizen in the country that welcomed him and gave him a fresh start 6 years ago.

Mr. Abdirahman came to Cleveland as a refugee in 2013 and was resettled by our agency. A couple of years later US Together offered him employment as a caser worker, and he gladly accepted. As a refugee from Africa, he speaks several languages, and understands the needs and challenges that newly arrived refugees face. Mohamed is always ready to help and has provided support to many fellow refuges. Many of his former clients, whom he welcomed with a smile when they arrived to the Cleveland Hopkins Airport, are now thriving. From the airport, he takes them to their new home. In the months following, Mohamed and other case managers work tirelessly to fast-track refugees’ integration into Cleveland communities. They help find employment, provide access to food, housing, healthcare, enroll clients in school or Adult English classes, and teach families to navigate life in their new home. Mohamed is a compassionate and trusted liaison to African refugee communities. His success would have been impossible without the help provided by local businesses, faith communities, volunteers and supporters. They are playing an integral role in helping refugees find a new home in Cleveland.