February at the International Institute of Akron

February has left as quickly as it came. Still, our work in the immigrant and refugee community is ongoing, with the resettlement of 50 refugee arrivals in Akron this past month and providing our additional services to the greater immigrant community. We look forward to sharing more about our work this past month, ways to get involved, and more below.

Immigrant Spotlight: Barthelemy’s Social Justice Journey 

Barthelemy's story is one of resilience, leadership, and a commitment to social justice. He is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact one person can have on their community.

In our latest blog post, you can learn about Barthelemy's work with international and local refugee organizations.

Read his story at: https://www.iiakron.org/blog/2024/2/23/immigrant-spotlight-barthelemys-social-justice-journey

 
 

Outreach in the Community  

One of our work's greatest joys is the opportunity to go out into the greater Akron community and educate and advocate for refugees and immigrants.

On February 17, IIA’s Eka Anthony spoke with the Akron Torchbearers to discuss his work as a young leader in the immigrant community. Eka shared his experience coming to Akron as a refugee, working his way up to a case management role at IIA, and what motivates him to make an impact in his community. The Torchbearers left the discussion feeling inspired by Eka’s work and leadership in Akron’s immigrant community.

 

On Sunday, February 25th, the Girl Scouts of Copley-Fairlawn hosted their World Thinking Day event, featuring presentations from over a dozen troops about various countries of their choosing. As part of this event, the Girl Scouts decided to collect household donations for IIA clients. IIA Communications Specialist Liv Randall spoke to the girls about refugees and how IIA assists them in settling in Akron.

We’re grateful to everyone in the community who wants to learn more about Akron’s refugee and immigrant community! Education and understanding are excellent steps in making Akron a welcoming place for all.

 

Black History Month Business Spotlights 

For Black History Month, we’ve recommended two African-owned businesses to support in Akron! Although February has come to an end, it’s always a good time to support our local businesses and restaurants to uplift our immigrant community. Check out our recommendations below!

Recommendation Corner: Race-ing Fargo

This month, for IIA’s recommendation corner, we want to spotlight Race-ing Fargo, a book written by feminist anthropologist Jennifer Erickson that tells the story of the lives of resettled refugees in North Dakota. Race-ing Fargo details the individual stories of Bosnian Muslims and South Sudanese refugees who reveal their experiences fleeing from their home countries and growing accustomed to American culture. Erickson’s book tackles the many hardships of refugee programs, citizenship, language barriers, and the sense of belonging. Race-ing Fargo also speaks on the many effects of globalization, such as neoliberalism, and how its aspects are ingrained in America’s Immigration policy.

Social Factors describes Race-ing Fargo as “a meticulously researched study about citizenship and diversity practices among residents and newcomers resulting from refugee resettlement and how those played out in, and transformed, the small global city of Fargo, North Dakota—making important contributions to race, immigration, belonging, welfare, and globalization scholarship.”

You can access Race-ing Fargo at any of your local booksellers.

 
 

Get Involved

Donations:

As IIA begins to welcome many new immigrant families to Akron this year, we are always in need of donated goods such as hygiene products, cookware, bedding, and more.

To stay up to date on what is needed and to get involved, please visit: https://www.iiakron.org/donation-room.

Hiring:

Interested in working at IIA? We have multiple openings, including Community Support Specialists and Ukrainian/Russian Interpreters.

Learn more about the open positions and how to apply at: https://www.iiakron.org/join-our-team

Thanks for staying up to date on everything IIA, and we look forward to sharing more information soon!

Immigrant Spotlight: Barthelemy’s Social Justice Journey

 
 

On June 29th, 2023, 30-year-old Barthelemy arrived in Akron, Ohio, from Zimbabwe after residing in the country for 11 years as a refugee. Born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the city of Lubumbashi, Barthelemy conducted journalistic work and pursued academic studies before fleeing his home country in 2012. Fluent in French, Swahili, Lingala, English, and a local language from Zimbabwe, Barthelemy’s linguistic skills reflect his diverse background and experiences.

During his time in Zimbabwe, Barthelemy was deeply involved in social justice organizations for refugees, particularly those led by refugees themselves. He quickly rose to the position of secretary in the organization Youth Mobilizers, focusing on topics such as climate change in refugee camps, cultural diversity among refugees, and the rights of refugees.

Barthelemy later founded an organization called Youth Mental Health Promoters, serving as its president, to assist young refugees in adapting to their new lives in the Zimbabwean camp. Barthelemy became the refugee youth leader, leading over 5,000 youth. Additionally, he worked as a childcare worker at the camp and assisted the camp’s office with cases concerning domestic abuse. He actively participated in various refugee-led programs, including Engaging Men and Boys Through Accountable Practices to Prevent Gender-Based Violence Against Women (EMAP) and the Global Refugee Network. He managed to secure funding for five different refugee organizations at the camp.

Recognized for his leadership and service, Barthelemy was nominated as delegate and co-chair of the UNHCR Global Youth Advisory Council (GYAC), making appearances at various UN-led conferences in Geneva. He also attended various other UNHCR events, including the 2022 World Refugee Commemoration in South Africa, the 2023 UNHCR Global Refugee Forum in Geneva,  and the 2023 SDG Summit in New York.

Since arriving in Akron, Barthelemy had been resettled by IIA, and IIA’s legal team assisted him in acquiring travel documents to participate in more global conferences concerning social justice for refugees. Currently, he is working with the Global Refugee Youth Network. This refugee youth-led organization supports young refugees in developing their capacity to help each other, leading initiatives to respond to their community's needs, and advocating for change that they feel is important for them and their communities. In addition to working with the Global Refugee Youth Network, Barthelemy gives back to his local community as an ESL instructor and Bus Trainer at IIA.

Barthelemy has always been passionate about social justice advocacy, a passion that was ignited in him while living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His ultimate goal is to become a journalist while continuing to advocate for social justice. He encourages all refugees not to limit themselves and to share their unique skills with others to contribute to the development of society. As he puts it, “If you have talents, showcase them so they can contribute to the awesome development of the United States.”

December at the International Institute of Akron

As 2023 comes to a close, we can’t help but look back on our year in Akron and feel immense gratitude and pride for the work that we did as a community. In 2023, IIA resettled 407 new refugee arrivals, enrolled 256 immigrants in English classes, worked on 55 asylum cases in our legal department, and moved our office to downtown Akron! IIA looks forward to the upcoming year and our future accomplishments as an organization, team, and community.

December at the Institute 

This past month at IIA, our team welcomed 58 new refugee arrivals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burma, and Afghanistan, providing initial resettlement services such as housing, cultural orientation, and more.

On Friday, December 1st, IIA’s legal team hosted a free Citizenship Workshop and assisted 16 immigrants with their application to become U.S. citizens! We’re proud to be a small part of these individuals' journey to becoming citizens.

Lastly, we’d like to give a big shoutout to North Hill Needle Crafters and Shelf Life Bookstore for putting together some fantastic donations for IIA! The North Hill Needle Crafters provided us with handmade blankets and winter gear for the cold season ahead, and Shelf Life held a donation drive of hygiene products for newly arriving refugee families!

Get Involved  

During the holidays, we have a couple of great ways for our community to get involved in our work and help support our mission.

Belonging Begins With Us Fundraising Campaign: As we bid farewell to 2023, we have one final request for our devoted supporters. We aspire to raise $20,000 by January 15th to sustain our comprehensive services for refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers arriving in 2024. These funds will bolster essential programs such as our resettlement services,  ESL and citizenship classes, employment services, intensive case management, legal services, and more. Your support is vital as we anticipate the resettlement of 500 refugees in the coming year, marking the highest number of new arrivals in Akron since 2016. If you’d like to make a contribution, you can do so by clicking the button below! Thank you for your unwavering support.

Click to Donate!

Host a Donation Drive: Are you a part of an organization, community group, church, or business and looking for a way to get involved? Consider hosting a donation drive on behalf of IIA! As we prepare to welcome 500 refugees to Akron in 2024, there are essential needs required for each individual, such as bedding, pots and pans, hygiene products, and more. If you’d like to host a donation drive to support our new neighbors or are interested in learning more, please contact kevin.walter@iiakron.org.

Upcoming Events in Akron 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture: Dr. Michael Eric Dyson – On Sunday, January 14th, from 2:00pm-4:00pm, the Akron Main Library will be hosting Dr. Michael Eric Dyson for a lecture on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Michael Eric Dyson is one of the nation’s most renowned professors, gifted writers, inspiring preachers, knowledgeable lecturers, and prominent media personalities. Dyson’s experience and expertise make this an event you won't want to miss. This is a free event. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

To learn more about Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and the event, please go to: https://services.akronlibrary.org/event/9510766

Winter Spice Club Kickoff – Spice up your cooking at the Akron-Summit County Ellet Branch Library on January 2nd with the Winter Spice Club! Pick up a free kit that includes a history of the spice, recipes, and a sample to use at home. This is a great way to learn about spices and where they come from around the globe! Learn more at: https://services.akronlibrary.org/event/9423338

Marking Luther King Jr. Day at the Akron Zoo – Visit the Akron zoo on Monday, January 15th and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Admissions is free for all guests!

Recommendation Corner

Kwanzaa 

As the holiday season approaches, many diverse communities come together to celebrate their unique traditions and customs. One such celebration during this time is the African holiday of Kwanzaa. Rooted in rich cultural heritage and a commitment to unity, Kwanzaa is a seven-day festival that provides a meaningful opportunity for reflection, connection, and community building.

Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits" in Swahili, was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 to reconnect African Americans with their African roots and celebrate their shared cultural heritage. The festival is observed from December 26th to January 1st, with each day dedicated to one of the seven principles, known as the Nguzo Saba. Though Kwanzaa was first created and celebrated here in the United States, it is celebrated throughout the world where there are populations of the African Diaspora. This holiday is celebrated not only by native Africans, but it is also celebrated by immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers from across the world.

The Seven Principles:

1. Umoja (Unity): The first day of Kwanzaa emphasizes the importance of unity within the family, community, and nation. Families come together to light the first candle on the Kinara, a symbolic candleholder, and reflect on the power of togetherness.

2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): On the second day, Kwanzaa encourages individuals to define themselves, speak for themselves, and stand up for what they believe in. This principle fosters a sense of empowerment and self-responsibility.

3. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): Day three underscores the value of collaboration and shared responsibility. Communities are encouraged to work together to solve problems and uplift one another.

4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): The fourth day focuses on economic cooperation and building businesses within the community. Supporting black-owned businesses becomes a central theme, promoting economic empowerment and sustainability.

5. Nia (Purpose): On the fifth day, participants reflect on their individual and collective purpose, striving to set and pursue goals that contribute to the betterment of the community.

6. Kuumba (Creativity): Day six celebrates creativity in all its forms—art, innovation, and self-expression. Kwanzaa encourages individuals to use their creative talents to contribute to the cultural enrichment of the community.

7. Imani (Faith): The final day emphasizes faith in oneself, in the community, and in the future. It serves as a reminder to maintain a strong sense of belief and confidence in the possibilities ahead.

Kwanzaa stands as a beacon of unity, culture, and community, providing an opportunity for people of African descent to connect with their roots and celebrate the strength of their shared heritage. As we embrace these principles, let us come together to honor the past, celebrate the present, and build a brighter future for all.

To read more about Kwanzaa, click here.

Thanks for staying up to date on everything IIA, and we look forward to sharing more information soon!