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ABrightFutureLiesPasttheMarkofaNewLife

ByAdelineLinzauandMarvinRuiz

TheUnitedStatesisanationofmigrants,saysSusanKyledescribingwhyshewantedtowork
withrefugees.

ThoughKylehashadaninterestinrefugeessinceshewasachildinNewYork,growingupina
placewheresomanyofthecitysresidentshavetiesoutsideoftheUnitedStates,itwasonly
untilshewasanadultthatsherealizedherdreamofhelpingrefugeesinneedofanewhome.

HertravelstoChinaandTaiwanalsomadeherdecidetofocusonworkwithrefugeesin
graduateschool.AftergraduateschoolshemovedtoD.C.togetaworkinInternational
relations.Shebegananinternshipwhichgraduallybecameajobinasylumpolicy,shethen
decidedtofocusonrefugeeresettlement.

KylehaslivedinD.C.for11years.For10ofthoseyearsshehasworkedonrefugeeissues.She
nowdirectlyworkswithrefugeesinSouthAsiaattheU.S.StateDepartment.Shehelpsthem
resettleinasafercountrythantheonetheyfled.

HerfirstjobwastolookattheU.S.governmentspolicyonasylumseekerswhowanttocome
totheU.S.SheparticipatedinastudybytheU.S.CommissionforInternationalReligious
Freedom(USCIRF).ThisstudylookedatwhethertheU.S.governmentwasfollowingitsown
policyonasylumseekers.Fromthisstudyshebelievedthatshewantedtoworkmoredirectly
withtherefugeesinneed.

IrecallKylesaying,Ialsobelievethatpartoflifeweshouldbehelpingpeopleandserving
others.Thisisanintriguingthingtosaybecauseitissurprisingtohearfromsomeonewho
beganfrominspiration,movethisfeelingintoasenseofduty.

Thisiswhensheleanstowardsrefugeeresettlementbecauseshefeelsitismoredirecttowards
helpingrefugeesthanreviewingpolicies.Fromtheresheworkedwithhealthandhumanservices
toprovidefundingforthegovernmenttohelprefugeesineachstate.Afterfouryearsoffunding
theAmericanstates,sheworkedwiththeStateDepartmentonrefugeeresettlementand
assistance.

WhenIworkedinrefugeeresettlementitwasrewardingbecauseIcouldseethefinaldurable
solutionforspecificrefugeefamiliesintheU.S.,Kylesaysaboutherjobinrefugee
resettlement.

Regardinghercurrentjob,Kylestates,insteadofhelpingrefugeeshereinthestateswiththeir
resettlementandintegrationInowprovidefundingtoassistrefugeeswheretheyareoverseas.

Kylecurrentlymanagesover$16millioninU.S.governmentassistancemoneytorefugeesin
Nepal,India,andSriLanka.Ofthisfunding,about70percentgoestointergovernmental
organizationssuchastheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR).Theother
30percentsupportsnongovernmentalorganizationsthatprovidedirecthelptorefugeesinthe
populationsofconcern.

Kylesaysalongwithallthehelpshegivesrefugeesalready,shealsotriestohelpoutinher
community.Forexample,shevolunteeredinMarylandtohelpstartacommunitygardenfor
resettledrefugeesandalsohelpsrefugeesapplyforcommunitygardensnearthem.

KylementionsthatTherearealwaysmorewaysthatIcanhelpandIfeelitismyresponsibility
todoso,notjustinmywork,butinmylife.

AccordingtotheUNHCRdata,therewere205,007refugeeswhofledfromChinain2014.Kyle
saysthatthisisbecausethegovernmentdoesnotgiveitspeoplemostoftheirhumanrights.
SinceKyleworkswithrefugeesinAsia,herinteractionswiththeChinesehasincreasedforthe
better.

ShesharesthestoryofaChineserefugeewhocametoIndiaformorereligiousfreedom.He
wasveryhappytobeoutofChinabuthewasalsoveryscared.Kyleremembershowhewas
beforeshehelpedhimgetresettledinIndia.

Partofherjobistogiverefugeesshelterandfulfilltheirbasicneedswhentheyareresettled.

AccordingtoKyle,HisphysicalpresencewasvastlydifferentbetweenNepalandIndiabecause
hejustfeltsafer.Kyledescribedthemonkastwodifferentpeopleintwodifferentplaces.When
themonkwasmovedtoIndia,hewasamoreofafreespiritwhoshowedkindness,freedomand
awilltocommunicatewithothers,asopposedtowhenhewasinNepal.

ManywhoattempttochangeChinaarepersecutedandapplyforasyluminotherplacessuchas
America.EventhoughsomeoftherefugeesthatKyleworkswithdonotcometoAmerica,she
stilltravelstoChinabecauseshesaysthatitisstillimportanttohelppeoplewholiveinother
countriesanddontreceivethehelptheyneedorstrivefor.

AccordingtotheUNHCR,lessthan1percentofrefugeesaroundtheworldareresettledina
thirdcountryliketheU.S.Thethirdcountry,orthecountrywhererefugeesandasylumafter

beingtakeninbyacamp,isnotadesiredcountrytogotobecauseitisaforeignplacetothat
personanditispreferredtogobacktoonesowncomfortzone,knownashome.HalfofKyles
jobisisgoingtoplaceslikeIndiaandSriLankatohelpwithrefugeeswhocomethere.Infact,
accordingtotheUNHCRswebsitethereare198,665refugeeslivinginIndiaand4,718asylum
seekers.

AlthoughsometimestherearerefugeeswhoareinplaceslikeNepalwaitingtoberesettledby
theStateDepartment,thereareotherpartsofherjobwhichrequirethoroughexperiencein
diplomaticpolicy.

TherewasafamilyoffourinNepalwhohadtopayfivedollarsperdayandperpersontolive
thereasrefugees.ThisfamilywasjustwaitingtogotoAmerica,thereforetheStateDepartment
decidedtohelpthemwaivethefees.ThesefeeswerelegitimatefortheNepalesebecausethey
didnotaccepttheprotectionandrightstherefugeesreceivedfromtheUNconvention.Thiswas
thereasonwhynothingwasdoneagainstthisinjusticefromthebeginning.

Butshestilldidmore.KylehelpedtherefugeesinChinawhiletheywerewaitingforaresponse
correspondingtheasylumapplications,Weprovidedassistancefortheirchildtogotoschool,
forthemtogethealthcare,andalsotogetEnglishandjobtraining,shesays.

KylesayssheisjustoneofthemanypeoplewhohelprefugeescometotheU.S.safely.Inthe
pastyear,thenumberofrefugeesresettledinsideoftheirowncountryoforiginhasincreasedby
4%,accordingtotheglobalreportoftheUNHCR.

Andbecausethosenumbershaverisen,itmeansthatmoreorganizationsandgovernmentsare
tryingtohelprefugeesastheU.S.hasdone.Refugeesarenotonlybeinghelpedbeingresettled,
therearealsothosewhoareyettoberecognizedasrefugees.Thistragicideawasbroughtto
mindasKylereminiscesthroughhermemoriesofthethatfamilyinNepal.

InsteadofhelpingrefugeeshereinthestateswiththeirresettlementandintegrationInow
providefundingtoassistrefugeeswheretheyareoverseas,saysKyle.

Hergoalisnotonlytohelprefugeesgetresettledintheirhomes,whetherneworold,buther
goalistoalsogiverefugeesanotherchanceatabetter,moresecurelifewhethertheyareabroad
intheirhomecountriesorhereintheU.S..

TheStoryofJeanLouisPetaIkambana
ByTyraLockett,AnaNguyen,andJuanitaGreen

JeanLouisPetaIkambanawasonhiswaytoAmericatoescapetheinjusticesinhis
homeandfindabetterlifeinAmerica.IwassohappytocometoAmericabettereducation
betterlivingjustbetter
Americaisfine.Itisanicecountrywithlittleproblemsinit.Itistheideal,perfectplace
toimmigrateforIkambana.
WhenIcameheretotheU.S.IthoughtitwasaperfectworldbutIsawhomelesspeople
andbadthingshappencomparedtomycountrywhichtherewerenone,soIdecidedtohelp
immigrantsandthosewithouthome.
SoonhisideasofAmericaweretheoppositeofwhathethoughtbeforehesteppedfoot
ontoU.S.soil.hethoughtAmericawas.AsanimmigrantfromtheDemocraticRepublicof
Congo,Ikambanahasmadeithismissiontohelpotherimmigrants..Hewasastudentinlaw
schoolwhenPresident
MobutuSeseSeko
orthe
dictatoroftheDemocraticRepublicofCongo
madeanedictthatstudentscannotattendlawschool.
WhenIwasincollegetheyshutmyschooldownbecausetheydidnotwantanyoneto
learn.IthenbecameanimmigrantbecauseIwantedtofinishcollegeandbecomesomeone.
IkambanalefttheDemocraticRepublicofCongoandwenttoEurope,SouthAmerica
andUnitedStatestoearntheeducationhecouldnotreceiveathome.Abroad,heattendedvarious
schoolsonastudentvisa.Adaptingtotheculture,language,foodandmorewasverydifficultas
animmigrant.
Ididnottalkthesameitwashardformetoblendinwithanaccent.Peoplewouldstop
meandsayyouarenotfromhereareyou?
IkambanaeventuallycametoworkattheAmericanFriendsServiceCommittee(AFSC),
wherehehasworkedforthepasttenyears.ComingtotheU.S.,hethoughtthateverythinghere
waspeacefulandperfect.Noonewouldfaceanyinjusticeandlivecomfortably.Whenhe
arrived,hesawthatitwasntthecase.ThatledhimtoworkwithAFSCbecauseofhisbeliefthat
adifferencecouldbemadeifpeoplehelportakeaction.
Isawhowpeopledidnotcare.Theydidnotwanttohelptheirown.Whyarethereso
manypeoplelivingonthestreetsIsaidtomyself?MaybeIshoulddosomething.
AFSCisaQuakerorganizationthatstartedin1917andworksin14countriesintheareas
of:immigration,healingjustice,peaceandeconomicjustice.TheAFSCinWashingtonD.C.
looksatdifferenthumanrightsissuesinthecommunityandusesnonviolencetochangethe
injusticesinacommunity.
AnexampleofaninjusticeinD.C.arethewaydaylaborersaretreated.Ikambanastated
thatdaylaborersareusuallyimmigrantsfromCentralAmericaorSouthAmericalookingfor
jobsonthestreet.Theyareusuallyunderpaidanddonothavethesamelegalprotectionsasa
residentoftheU.S.Ikambanarecountsthestoryhehasheard:Daylaborersarehiredtoworka
job.Theirbossmightnotrecompensatethemiftheygethurtonthejob.AccordingtoIkambana,
daylaborerscanbefoundaroundHomeDepotoron15St.orPSt.inWashingtonD.C.
Heteachesthestudentsaboutdifferentinjusticesandthenthestudentswillchoosean
injusticeoftheirchoicetoresearch.Thestudentstrytochangesomethingwithintheirlife
experiences.Maybeitisteachingotherstudentsabouttheinjusticeortellingtheneighborhood
aboutsituations.

AlargepartofhisjobisteachinghumanrightstoyoungadultsinD.C.Ikambanagoesto
differentpublicschoolsinWashingtonD.Candteachesstudentsabouthumanrightsandhow
theycangetinvolvedwithhumanrightscauses.AFSCworkwiththreedifferentschoolsevery
semester.ThispastsemesterhehasworkedwithBallouandDunbarhighschools.InBallou
HighSchool,studentslearnedaboutminimumwageinD.C.andthroughvariousactions,they
wereabletogettheD.C.CityCounciltopassanewminimumwagelaw.Theyhandedoutfliers
intheirneighborhoodstoencourageadultstovoteorhelpchangetheminimumwage.They
explainedtheprocessinwhichittooktohelpwiththeidea.
Theyjoinedthecitywidecampaignbydistributingflyersatmetrostations,makingcalls
totheircitycouncilmembers,andeducatingotherstudentsabouttheimportanceofraising
minimumwageintheDistrict.Itiswithgreatsatisfactionthattheyreceivedthenewsofthe
passageofthebill.
Minimumwageisthesmallestamountanemployeecanbepaidbylaw,anythingunder
thatisillegalandthepersonisconsideredunderpaidandmustberecompensated.Thenew
minimumwagebillis$11.50perhour.BeforetheminimumwageinD.C.was$8.25perhour.
Ikambanasaysthatthemainchallengehefacesisthatmanypeoplearenotawareof
humanrights.Whenteachingstudentsabouthumanrights,hesayshewassurprisedtoseethe
astonishmentofthestudentswhentheylearnedthattheyhave30rightsthatarefollowedby
manycountriesaroundtheworld.Hebelievesthatyoungpeoplecanmakealotofchangesand
differencesbutabasichumanrightscurriculumisnottaughtateveryschoolandnotmany
peopleknowsomethingcalledhumanrightsexists.Anotherchallengeisgettingthestudents
AFSCteachestocareenoughaboutinjusticetobeengaged.Hewantstoteachyoungpeopleso
thattheycantakeactionagainsttheinjusticestheyarelearningaboutorgetinvolvedaactivists
tofindjusticeforthebetterofthecommunity.
Whenworkingwithdifferentschools,therearemanypeoplethatcomesfromdifferent
backgrounds.OneeventthatimpactedIkambanagreatlywaswhenastudentburstintotears
whenshelearnedabouttheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights(UDHR).Shecriedbecause
sheknewthatsheandherfamilycouldnothavethoserights.Article13intheUDHRstates
that,E
veryonehastherighttofreedomofmovementandresidencewithinthebordersofeach
state.
Ikambanatellsthatherfatherwasgoingtobedeported.shecriedbecauseeventhough
therearerightstheydonotdoanythingifherdadwasbeingdeportedeventhougheveryonehas
therighttofreelytravelanywhere.
Hetalkedabouthowstudentsinschooldonotreallyknowwhattheirpeersaregoing
throughathome.Theirparentsmaybeanundocumentedimmigrant,andtheymightlivewitha
fearofhavingoneoftheirownfamilymembersfacingdeportation.Hesuggeststhatschools
shouldteachstudentsabouthumanrightssothatthosewhofacethesetypesofsituationcan
knowwhatrightstheyhaveandwhattheycandotohelptheirfamilies.
ImmigrantstotheU.S.encountermanychallengesandstruggleslivingintheU.S.
AccordingtoChildTrends,In2014,nearlyonethird(28percent)offirstgeneration
immigrantchildrenlivedinpoverty,comparedwith25percentofsecondgenerationchildren,
and19percentofnonimmigrantchildren.Manyimmigrantchildrenfacemanystruggles,such
aspoverty.Eithertheirparents,whoisoffirstgeneration,ortheythemselves,the
secondgeneration,facemanychallengescomparedtononimmigrantsorcitizensoftheU.S.

Ikambanaannouncedthatthemajorityofimmigrantswhoarriveathisofficearechildren
andteenagers.Theysitandtalkaboutthechallengestheygothroughasanimmigrant.Heoften
useshisownlifeasanexamplereturningtothejourneyhemadethatallstartedwithanactof
resistance.
IkamabanaisanimmigrantfromtheDemocraticRepublicofCongoandhastaughtmany
studentswhathumanrightsareandencouragesmanytohelpmakechangesintheircommunity.

Unfair Treatment and Unfair Wages


By Kiyah Taylor and Anninah Henry
Forty-seven percent of immigrants in the United States are at or below the poverty line.
As people immigrate into the United States for many different reasons, they are treated unfairly
by employers. Many people become working poor, which is making money, but still on or below
the poverty line. Fortunately, some people aid in obtaining rights for the working poor.
Located on the Georgetown campus in Washington, D.C. the Kalmanovitz Initiative is a
group that helps get equal labor rights for immigrants and refugees. Ms. Kohnert-Yaunt became
involved when she was a sophomore in college as a student at Georgetown.
She grew up in Houston with many diverse cultures.
I grew up in Texas, which is very different than a place like Washington, D.C. And
one thing that I loved about growing up in Houston is that it is one of the most diverse cities in
America, it has a very large Latino population, a huge Jewish population, we have a really big
Vietnamese population. We had a lot of different kinds of immigrants and many types of
communities and its great, says Vail Kohnert-Yaunt, who works at Georgetown University
Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor.
Yet while she was growing up she had to go through racist comments but that made her
want to work harder.
Her job is something different everyday; sometimes she is the city council, listening to a
hearing on legislation, or shes in her office answering emails.
Working poor immigrants are a problem in the U.S. because of the volume of immigrants
below the poverty line. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, since the 1960s, the U.S. has
spent over $11 trillion on support such as cash, food and shelter to help the working poor. The
Kalmanovitz Initiative began to help the working poor by raising awareness through indirect
protest and indirect help from the organization.
...And because the way our immigration system works, because its so broken a lot of
them are forced to work at jobs that are really exploitative that take advantage of them... Ms.
Kohnert-Yaunt spoke about the state of the immigration system of United States.
Immigrants becoming a part of the working poor when they arrive in the U.S. is a big
problem across the country. Immigrant workers are the easiest to take advantage of. Being
undocumented and working under the table can cause a hazard in the workplace, causing pay
cuts, unfair working environments and even threats to be deported or turned into the
immigration authorities.
Kohnert-Yaunt spoke about a situation in which a restaurant owner was not paying his
undocumented workers the correct wages, or for their overtime.
Not only was he doing something illegal, he was also threatening to get his workers
deported which is so messed up, Kohnert-Yaunt says. This guy was a real jerk, and that really
tested Georgetowns policy and Georgetown had to really think about like how do we make sure
that these kind of things are not happening on our campus? They got the university to send a
letter to the owner saying this an unacceptable you have to stop and then the owner agreed to
stop paying his workers like he should. [He] agreed to...start following the law, says Ms.

Kohnert-Yaunt That made me really proud of the community at Georgetown even if it was a
very crappy situation.
Vail is also indirectly helping curb the problem of the working poor by letting people
know what is going on and how people are being treated. Also, she is talking to people on the
street, mainly college kids from Georgetown University, to inform them about how they can
help. She really has a heart for all people being treated equally, and having a fair opportunity in
this country, regardless of your citizenship status. If you came here two years ago, or were here
all your life, you should receive a fair wage and an adequate working environment.
Ms. Kohnert-Yaunt says that the Kalmanovitz Initiative works with many bigger
organizations, such as the Employment Justice Center, who work with a lot of workers who
have experienced discrimination on the job, abuse and especially wage theft to help them get
justice...
They also help to inform workers of their right to employment and payment.
You know you should get paid the minimum wage this is what it is in D.C. today. No
matter what your immigration status is, you have the right to [a living wage]. Immigrants have
the right to a union, the right to harassment free workplace, and no one should be able to take
that away from you, no matter your immigration status, or gender, or any other factor.

I still pinch myself everyday that I get paid to do this. You know, I get paid to do
something I really love and care abou
t
.

Gleb:RefugeeTurnedAdvocate
ByJesamilDiaz,MariaMoreno,andChidinmaLantion

Oppressed,abused,andmistreated.
GlebisnotonlyasurvivorbutalsoanactivistforgayrightsinRussia.Hedidnot
onlyprosperbutflourished.
Gleb,anLGBTactivistandRussianrefugeecametotheUnitedStates10
monthsagoseekingasylumfromtheinjusticesinRussia,wherethegovernment
persecutesLGBTpeople.Glebonlyuseshisfirstnameinordertoprotecthisidentity
andthatofhisfamilyandfriendsinRussia.

Thesituationsaresodifferent,likeinRussiaandintheUnitedStates.Icansee
intheUS,thelawsthatworkIcanseethegovernmentthattriestodosomethingto
improvethesituationofdifferentpeople,translateshisfriendSlava,alsoanLGBT
activistastheysitinfrontofGlebandSlavainawhiteroomwiththewords
Human
RightsFirst
onthewallbehindthem.
InRussia,situationsareverydifferent.TheTV,newspaperandmediaare
controlledbythegovernment.Allpublicationsreportthenewsfromtheperspectiveof
thegovernment,whichmakesiteasyforpeopletoseepropaganda.Iknewthatitwill
bringthecountrytohatredtowardLGBTpeople,Glebsaysthroughhistranslator
Slava.
BothsaythattheRussiangovernmentandlawenforcementdonothingtoprotect
thepeople,eventhoughtheyarecitizens.
WhileGlebwasinRussia,hewasachef.However,whenhebecameapartofa
humanrightsorganization,thingsbecamedifficultforhim.

Itwashardtofindajobbecausetheydidn'twanttoemployhumanrightsactivist,Gleb
remembers.
Noonewantstohaveconflictwiththegovernment.Employingsomeonewhois
demonstratingagainsttheRussiangovernmentmeansthatpeoplewhoemployeeGleb
andotheractivistsmayalsoexperiencehardship.
ThereareotherpeoplelikeGlebwhoaretryingtomakeadifferenceinRussia,
butitisntalwayssafe.
Overtheyearsthegovernmenttriedtopushthemoutofthecountry.Sothe
Russiangovernmentdoesn'twantsomeonesittingandwatchingRussiaandwatching
thehumanrightssituationthere,saysGleb.
TheRussiangovernmentisreallystrictwhenitcomestoitscitizens.Theydonot
wantpeopletorebelagainsttheinequality,sothegovernmentfightsback.
Butnowimmigration,thefaceofimmigrationchanged,nowpeopleare
escapingfromRussia.NotbecausetheywantabetterlifeintheUS,economically,but
becausetheywantfreedom,saysSlava.
Russianofficialstatisticsshowasignificantincreaseof10%Russianmigrantsto
theUnitedStatesin20132014,ofapproximately36,000migrants.Only494ofthese
migrantsweregrantedasylum.
ArecentHarvardUniversitystudyreportsthatthemainreasonforthiswaveof
immigrationisbecauseofwidespreadantiSemitism,tightgovernmentcontrolofthe

livesofordinarycitizens,adifficulteconomicsituation,andtheviolationofbasicrights
suchasfreedomofspeechandreligiouspractice.
TheRussiansarenotjustcomingtotheUnitedStatestoseekasylum,butother
countriesaswell.GlebchosetheUnitedStatesbecause,forhim,therearemore
opportunitiesintheU.S.
ItissafehereforpeoplelikeGleb,whomayfindrefugeinanothercountry,but
alsofearthatthepeoplewhooppressedthemwillfindthemandcontinuetodothe
samething.
BecauseinEurope,they'rekindofEuropeans,kindofsnobs.saysSlava.In
Europe,itisveryhardformigrantstofindagoodjobbecauseoflanguagefluency.
Europeansdonotlookatyourskills,butyouasaperson,asintheywouldlookifyou
areanimmigrantornot.TheUnitedStates,however,isacountrythatwelcomes
immigrants.
Russianofficialswhoareinvolvedinhumanrightsviolations...arebannedfrom
comingtotheU.S.Theywillnevergetvisa,saysGlebwithachuckle.
Eventhoughhehadtoleavehisfamilybehind,heisstillabletocommunicate
withthem.HealsometgoodpeoplelikeSlava,andamanwholaterbecamehis
husband.
Heisveryhappy,saysSlava.Heisabletobewiththepeopleheloves,nearor
far,whilebeingabletomakeadifferenceinRussia.
Slavasays,Everybodyknowsaboutproblems,butonlyactivistscando
somethingtochangethesituation.


LGBTrefugeesarenotalone
ByJanetArevaloandCatherinePineda

Trust.Comfort.ThisisthejobofEricScharfattheDCCenterfortheLGBT(lesbian,gay,
bisexual,transgender)Community.Hisjobistomaketherefugeesfeelcomfortable,tobeableto
helpthemgainpeaceofmindandthesenseofsecuritythatwasoncetakenaway.
Themostimportantthingisforrefugeestoengagewiththecommunity,saysScharf,a
volunteerattheLGBTCommunityCenter.ScharfsjobinvolveshelpingLGBTrefugeesatthe
CommunityCenter.HeworksasavolunteerattheGlobalCenterforLGBTImmigration
EqualityaccordingtoScharfwelcomesandhelpsrefugeesbecomesuccessfulandfind
resettlementintheUnitedStates.
LGBTrefugeesfacespecialchallengesintheircountriesbecauseoftheirsexual
orientationsaysScharf.Theyseekasylumbecausetheyfearpersecutionintheirhomecountries.
LGBTrefugeescomehereassumingthattheywillbewelcomed,saysScharf.
Internationally,theU.S.hasareputationofwelcomingimmigrantswithoutregardtoa
personssexuality.Scharfaddsthatwhiletheyfacechallengesintheirowncountriesoforigin,
whenrefugeesarriveintheUnitedStates,theyareoftenwelcomedbypeerswhohelpthem,but
donotalwaysknowthereasonthattherefugeeisseekingasylum.Whentherefugeesdotell
othersintheircommunitythattheyarereceivinghelpfromtheCenter,refugeesareoften
discouragedfromgettingthehelptheyneed.
ThatsanotherchallengesaysScarf,TheytellthatrefugeethattheGlobalCenterfor
LGBTisabadplacewithbadpeople,notknowingthatGlobalCenteriswhererefugeesreceive
themosthelpwithoutdiscriminationorjudgement.
MosttimestherefugeeswhoseekasylumtotheU.S.areactivistsintheirowncountry,
majorityaremen.Itsusuallyharderforfemalestogetavisabecausetheyeitherhavechildren
ortheyfinanciallyneedhelp.Theydontkeepstatistics,buthesuggeststhatatleast2percentor
3percentofthepeoplewhoseekasylumintheUnitedStateareconsideredtobeLGBT
refugees.ScharfsaysmostoftheclientsheservesfindtheCenteronline.
ThegoaloftheGlobalCenteristohelprefugeesnavigatetheprocessofseekingasylum.
Theygethelpfromlawyers,receiveclothing,areconnectedtosocialserviceslikemedicaland
healthandamonthlysupportmeetinganddinnerareheldforthemtomeetotherrefugeesand
receiveinformationabouttheprocessofseekingAsylum.TheCentertriestohelpLGBT
refugeesasmuchaspossiblebutfinancialassistanceislimited,becauseoffinancialreasons.
EricsbiggestrewardcomeswhentheCenterreceivesareportthatsomeonesasylum
hasbeenaccepted.Yet,hestillwisheshecoulddomore.
Itmakesmefeelvery...frustratedbecauseofthelimitationsofhowmuchtheD.C.
Centercanhelprefugees,saysScharfItissorewardingatthesametimehearingreportsof
theirasylumrequestbeingaccepted,resettling,theirfirstjobandtheirfirsthouse,saysScharf.

Therearesomedownsides,Ericwouldliketoseeofthecommunitypeoplestepupmore.
TheLGBTCommunityCenterprovidesawayofwelcomingLGBTrefugeesbyhelpingthem
meettheirmostbasic,butessentialneeds,includinghelpingthemengagewiththeD.C.
community.Mostimportantofalltheymakethemfeelliketheybelongandthattheyarenot
alone.
Weareallalittledifferent,yet,Ericseeshisjobashelpingthoserefugeeswhoare
treateddifferentlyinsocietyfeelwelcomed.

FightingInjusticetheBattleAgainstLowWages
ByMaxwellLeathersandAlfredoCoreasJr.

Currentlytheminimumwageis$9.50perhour,by2016theminimumwagewillbe
$11.50perhour.Althoughtheminimumwagemaygoup,thisdoesntmeanthatworkerswillbe
treatedwiththerespecttheydeserve.
Thereisalotmorefearespeciallywithworkerswhomightnothavetheirfulldocuments
linedup,saysAriSchwartz,anadvocatefortheworkingpoor.Schwartzisacommunity
organizerforDCJobswithJustice,anonprofitorganizationthatworksonprotectingtherights
ofworkingpeopleandsupportingcommunitystrugglestobuildamorejustsociety.Asa
communityorganizerhisjobistohelppeoplewhohaveaproblemoranissueandtrytobring
themtogethertosolvethatproblem.Themainstrugglenowislowwagesforworkers,meaning
peoplearenotgettingpaidenoughtomakealiving.Also,manyoftheworkersarenotbeing
treatedwithrespect.
AlotofthetimesitspeopleworkingatMcDonaldstheirbossdoesn'twanttogivethem
araiseordoesn'twanttogivethemtimeoff,statesSchwartz.Wetrytobringpeoplefromthe
communitytogethertosolvetheseproblems.Schwartzhasbeenworkingforthreeandahalf
yearsonpovertyissues,andhasbeenworkingwiththisorganizationforabouttwoandahalf
yearswithDCJobswithJustice.
In2012,accordingtotheBureauofLaborStatistics,46.5millionpeoplewerepoor,but
only10.6million(23%)ofthepoorwereworkingpoor.Theworkingpoorareworkingpeople
whoseincomesfallbelowagivenpovertyline.Thismeansthatthose23%dontearnenoughto
makeadecentliving.Also,in2013,accordingtotheBureauofLaborStatisticstheU.S.labor
forcewascomprisedof25.3millionforeignbornpersons.Thisbeing16.3%ofthetotallabor
force.Thismeansthattheforeignbornarealsoincludedintheworkingpoor.
Themainissueonceagainislowwages,peopledonthaveenoughmoneytosurvive
orsendtheirkidstoschool,saysSchwartz.
Theimmigrantsworkers,feelliketheyreatadisadvantage,saysSchwartz.Thereisa
lotmorefearespeciallywithworkerswhomightnothavetherefulldocumentslinedup,they
couldhaveICEcalledonthem,theyalsohaveaproblemwithlanguageandcommunicating
withtheirbossorsteppinguptothem.
Heexplainsthatbecauseofthisfear,thefearoflosingtheirjobs,theydontspeakup,or
demandrespect.
Therearenotalotofvictories,buttherearesmallvictories,saysSchwartz.
WeusetogototheHomeDepotonRhodeIsland,sotherewere200immigrant
workerslookingforconstructionworkthere.
Heexplainedthatwhentheysawcarspulluptheywouldbelikeyeahthatsa
contractorandallofthemwouldrushtothecarslookingforjobsandbytheendofthedayonly
about50ofthemgotwork.
Wewouldseethemsittingonthecornersometimestherewereproblemsbecausethey
wouldntbegettingpaidsowewouldgoouttheretotryandhelpsolvetheproblem.
Heexplainedthattheytriedtogetthementotrusteachother,butpeoplesimplysaid
noman,Imjusttryingtogetajobformemanandprovideformyfamily.

ItwaslikeeverymanforhimselfstatedSchwartz.Sotheycontinuedtogatherinthe
parkinglot.Schwartztoldusthatonedaythecopsshowedupandmadethemmovefromin
frontoftheHomeDepotandweresenttotheparkinglot.
WemadeeveryonewriteapetitiontotheHomeDepotsayingthattheywanttostay
thereandthattheywantedatrailerwheretheycouldgetcoffeetodrinkinthemorning,
explainedSchwartz.Theydidn'tgetthetrailerbuttheywereabletostayinfrontofthehome
depot.
Itwasn'tmuchofavictorybecausetheywerefightingforsomethingthattheyalready
hadbutitwasthefirsttimetheyworkedtogethertosolveaproblem.Basedonthisstory,itis
clearthatMr.Schwartzisverypassionateaboutthisissueandcaresaboutothers.Hebelieves
thatpeople,immigrantornot,deservetobetreatedwithrespect.

EveryonesNotTheSame
ByLeslieHernandez,LudwinChavez,JenniferRamos

AfifaSheikhsayssheneverexperienceddiscriminationthroughouttheyearof1999,
whenshefirstimmigratedtoNewYorkfromthecityofSargodhainPakistan.
Thefirsttwoyearswerefineinhernewcountry.Shewasabletostaywithherfamily.
ShelearnedEnglishbytakingESLclasses.Whensheturned18,shedecidedtogetherGED.
Shewantedtopursuehereducationandnotjustsithome.AftershereceivedherGED,Sheikh
wenttogethercollegedegree.
Ifyourenothighlyeducateditslessopportunitiesforagoodjob,shesays.
Beforeshebecameaschoolaide,shewasabletohelpachildinNewYorkwithspeech
problems.Itwasthefirsttimeshehadineducation.HerstudentwasalsofromPakistanandshe
helpedhiminaregularpublicschoolandthestudentneededsomeonetotalktohimInthe
nativelanguagewhichwasUrdu.Sheikhsaysthat50percentofthepeopleinherneighborhood
inNewYorkwerePakistani.
ThenSeptember11,2001,happened.
Rightaftertheterroristattackof9/11,forthefirsttimesheheardhatredand
discriminatorycommentstowardherandotherswholookedliketheterroristswhodiedinthe
attacksorwhomistookherreligiouspracticesasaMuslimasathreat.
SheikhimmigratedtotheUnitedStateswhenshewasonly15yearsold,whichisnow
thesameamountoftimethatshehasbeenlivingintheU.S.SheikhdidnotcometotheU.S.
withbothofherparents.HerdadwasthefirsttoleavePakistanbecausehewantedabetterjob
andwantedtoprovidethebestforhisfamily.
WhenSheikhsmotherwaspregnantwithher,herdadleftfortheU.S.Then,acoupleof
yearslater,she,hermotherandherthreeothersistersdecidedtoleavePakistanandboughta
onewayplanetickettoNewYorkCity.Shesaysitwasthebestchoiceforhertomigrate
becauseitisdangerousinPakistan.
Accordingto

theInstituteofBusinessAdministrationKarachi,in1990,theservice
sectorsinPakistanwereamajorpartofemploymentforthegenerationintheurbanand
nonagriculturalareas.Buttherewerealmostnojobsandmadeithardforpeopletoinvestfor
money.Thecountrysdebtgrewfromabout$8billionin1990to$29billioninJuneof1999
(convertedtopresentdaydollarsfromthePakistanirupee).Butoverthepastfewyears,she
hasfounditjustasdangerous.
Sheikhsays,Itsamessnowadayseverythingisgettingworse.
Shebarelyreturnshome.InJanuary,shemadereturnedhomeforbrotherswedding.
There,shesawseveralchanges,positivechanges.
Womenaregettingmoreeducationtheyregoingout.Theyhaveajob,shesaysofher
triptoPakistan.
Thenegativechangessheobservedwerethatthereisnoelectricityoronandoff.There
isalsonowater.Youhavetobuyyourwaterandifyourepoorwehavetotryandhelpthem.
Peopledontfollowtheruleswhentheyredrivingtheydontfollowthelightsignalstheyjustgo
theirway.

IntheU.S.therearetrafficproblemstoo,butitwaswhenshereturnedfromhertripto
PakistanthatshestartedtofeelsomethingshedidnotexperienceinPakistan:racism.There
wasthemaninTargettoldhertoGobacktohercountry.
ThentherewasaremarkSheikhexperiencedattheairport.Shefeltlikeitwas
somethingtoignoreandshedidso,butshestillfeltbadfortheperson.Sheikhthoughtthey
weresadformakingsuchanastycomment.Theproblemwassolvedwhenthebystandertold
herhusbandwhathappenedandtheycontactedthemanager.
Shestillwasabletomoveonwithherlifeandgotocollege,earningadegreein
accounting.Itsnotwhatsheendedupdoing.Shenowhelpschildrenwithdisabilities.

Somepeoplegetlaughedatandarejudgedforbeingdifferent.Sheikhgets
discriminatedagainstforbeingMuslim.Attimes,whenSheikhwearshercolorfulhijabsome
peoplehavefeltunsafewhentheyseeher,butshesnotanydangertoanyone.Thereisno
needforpeopletothinkeveryoneisjustalike.

DyersDuty:RefugeeRepresentation
ByRebeccaAkhigbe,IngrisFloresandHelenRamirez

IlovethepeopleIworkwith,JocelynDyersays.

DyerisalawyerthathelpsrefugeesatHumanRightsFirst
.
HumanRightsFirstisan
nongovernmentalorganizationthatfocusesonupholdingtherightsofeveryone,inthis
casepeoplewhousuallydonthaveaccesstorightsrefugees.Currentlysheworks
asastaffattorneyhelpingrefugeesreceivelegalrepresentationinordertostayinthe
UnitedStates.

Insomecases,shehelpprotectvictimsofinjusticeprojectvictimsofinjusticefrom
beingkilled,beatenorraped.InDyerscase,itmeansshehelpsrefugeeswintheir
asylumcasesinordertopermanentlystayintheUnitedStates.Withouther
representation,theymayhavetoreturntotheircountriesoforigin.

Dyersaysthattheyhavearighttononrefoulement.
Dyerdefines
nonrefoulementasa
lawthatprotectsasylumseekers,keepingthemfromreturningbacktoacountrywhere
theyareliabletobesubjectedtopersecution.

Dyersdailyjobconsistsoftrainingandmentoringvolunteerlawyerstorepresentclients
incourt.Whenaskedabouthowmanyclientsmetwithperweek,Dyersaidthereare
notalot.

"Wegetabout70caseseachyearandwehavemanypeoplewhomeetwiththem,I
mostlywillmeetwithclientslikeeveryotherweek.TherestofthetimeIspendadvising
thevolunteerattorneyswhotakethecases.Ihelptrainthemandmakesuretheyget
thejobdone.

AccordingtotheU.S.OfficeofImmigrationStatistics,69,909refugeeswereadmittedto
theUnitedStatesin2013,whicharethemostrecentnumbersfromtheoffice,whichis
undertheumbrellaoftheOfficeofHomelandSecurity.Dyerawhilebackwasina
nonprofitOrganizationcalledPAIR.

"Iwasreallyinterestedinworkinginpublicservice,itinspiredmehowtheclientsI
workedwithcameoutontheothersideaftersuchinjustice,
saidDyer.

DyerisaCornellgraduate,lawyer,motheroftwo,andsomewouldcallherasuper
hero.GraduatedcumlaudefromtheUniversityofPennsylvaniaLawSchool,Dyeristhe
firstlawyerinherfamily.

WebelieveAmericanleadershipisessentialintheglobalstruggleforhumanrights,so
wepresstheU.S.governmentandprivatecompaniestorespecthumanrightsandthe
ruleoflaw.Whentheyfail,westepintodemandreform,accountabilityandjustice.
QuotedfromHumanRightsFirst.,

Dyerhasworkedwithpeoplefromallovertheworld,fromcountriesincluding
Nigeria,
Honduras,ElSalvador,andRussia.Throughapreviousorganizationsheworkedwith
(PAIR),shewasabletomeetayoungwomanfromtheDemocraticRepublicofCongo
whowasincarcerated,raped,andbeatenforherpoliticalviewsandfled.

Wewerebothverysimilarcareerwiseanditmademereallygratefultoknowthathere
wehavefreedomtobelieveinwhatwewant,saysDyerwhenaskedtoshareaclients
story.

Dyersaysthatthiscasewasthemainreasonshewantedtoworkintherefugee
representationfield.SheexplainsthathavingthefreedomofexpressionintheU.S.
makesherthankfulbecauseshehastherighttobelieveinwhatshewantstobelievein.

Understandwheretheyfromandwhytheyfeellikehowtheywerefeelingatthetime
forexampleumyouknowwereapartoftheapprovingthatsomeoneisentitledto
asylumisshownthattheyhaveafearofreturnsoyouhavetoreally,Itsnotjustthese
eventshappentomeyouhavetoprovetheirafraidofgoingbackbecauseofthose
eventsandwhattheywerethinkingatthetimesoIthinkinawaythat'skindofputting
yourselfinthatplacelikethingtryingtounderstandwheretheywerecomingfrom.

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