World Relief Minnesota

The shutdown of State of Minnesota social service programs is scheduled to begin on Friday, July 1. The shutdown will continue until the Minnesota legislature reinstates funding for government services.

The shutdown does impact refugee social services provided by World Relief Minnesota. Read below to learn more about how these programs will be affected and who to contact at World Relief for assistance during this period:

• Immigration Legal Services
• Refugee Employment Services
• Refugee Cash Assistance
• Reception & Placement

Immigration Legal Services
Current World Relief immigration clients with whose cases need urgent attention (for example, clients who receive an I-797C Request for Evidence Letter from US Immigration) should contact Clarissa Robison, at crobison@wr.org or 612-243-2971 and give detailed information about their urgent need. Clients whose cases need urgent attention should also submit any mail or paperwork received from US Immigration to the World Relief office. Copies of letters from US Immigration can be submitted to World Relief either by dropping off a copy at our front desk during business hours (Monday –Thursday 9 am to 5 pm, and Friday 9 am to 12 pm) or by fax (fax #: 612-798-4314, Attn: Clarissa).

World Relief immigration staff will be checking email and voicemail weekly to respond to clients with urgent needs. Current clients are advised that only urgent case needs will receive a response during a shut down, and that World Relief immigration staff will use their discretion to decide which cases are high priority. Current clients with non-urgent needs are requested to wait until after a shut-down to contact the immigration department.

Refugee Employment Services
Current World Relief employment clients with whose cases need urgent attention (for example, clients who have an interview or start of work scheduled should contact Allison Morris, amorris@wr.org or 612-243-2954 and give detailed information about their urgent need. Clients whose cases need urgent attention can also stop by the front office and leave a detailed message with the receptionist during normal business hours.

World Relief employment staff will be checking email and voicemail daily to respond to clients with urgent needs. Current clients are advised that only urgent case needs will receive a response during a shut down, and that World Relief employment staff will use their discretion to decide which cases are high priority. Current clients with non-urgent needs should wait until after a shut-down to contact the employment department.

World Relief will not be taking any new employment cases during a government shut-down. New clients are requested to wait until after the shutdown to contact World Relief for an appointment.

Current clients who currently receive gas and bus card assistance can call and leave a message to schedule a time to pick up and sign for their assistance.
If you have an urgent job interview or start a new job, call Laura, the World Relief MN receptionist at 612-866-0462 and tell her when and where you need to be.

Refugee Cash Assistance
In the event of a state shutdown, the RCA office at World Relief Minnesota will be closed. However, existing RCA clients will still be able to pick up monthly checks from the receptionist on or after July 5. New RCA applications will be accepted in order to set an application date, but no eligibility interviews will be conducted until the RCA office reopens. If you have questions, please contact Laura, the receptionist at World Relief Minnesota at Minnesota@wr.org.

Reception and Placement
Our Reception and Placement program is federally funded allowing us to continue to welcome new refugees into the country during a state shutdown. Our refugees rely heavily on many of the services that will be paralyzed by a state shutdown. Newly arrived refugees will need additional financial, material and community support if social services are not available to them. Do you have time and resources to fill these gaps? If so, please contact Katie Day, kday@wr.org or 612.746.5634.

Our event will run from 5-8pm on Friday, June 10. Ten Thousand Villages will donate 20% of their sales during those hours to World Relief Minnesota. Many of the items available at Ten Thousand Villages are made by people living in countries from which refugees have called home. Visit their website to see some of the beautiful hand-made crafts they sell.

We’ll have a couple of WRM staff people at the event to talk about refugees and their resettlement process in the United States.

Ten Thousand Villages, 867 Grand Ave # 6, Saint Paul, MN 55105

World Relief Minnesota (WRM) will host our first annual community-wide Hygiene Supplies Drive this May. The drive will be a simple yet significant opportunity for the local church and local community to extend welcome to some of the world’s most vulnerable people who have become our newest neighbors. Many new refugee families struggle to afford basic necessities such as hygiene supplies, but more established members of our Richfield community may have extra hygiene supplies unopened in our homes or can easily pick up an extra item at the store. By going door-to-door to collect these necessities, we hope to raise awareness among our closest neighbors about the refugee families we serve and present a simple way to respond.

The hygiene supplies drive will take place in Richfield, Minnesota (the neighborhood surrounding the WRM office) on Saturday, May 7. Participating in this drive as a volunteer will be a great opportunity to advocate for the cause of the refugee among us while enjoying a beautiful day outdoors with your family or group of friends. Please consider joining our efforts as Gatherer!

We are looking for volunteers for Saturday, May 7:
Gatherer Description: On Saturday, May 7 there will be two Gatherer shifts: 9:00-11:00 am and 11:00am-1:00 pm. Gatherers will go door-to-door to the houses canvassed on Tuesday to collect supplies. Volunteers will be divided into groups and given specific streets to cover based on a map of the community. Volunteers will meet at the WRM office 15 minutes prior to the start of their shift, which will begin with a brief volunteer orientation.

You can learn more about World Relief Minnesota by visiting our website, www.worldreliefmn.org. For general questions about the drive or for more information about volunteering, please contact Katie Day at 612-746-5634 or mnvolunteers@wr.org. To register as a volunteer, please visit the online application

Seven years in development, the newly revised Somali-English ABC Book is now available. This book is designed for Somali adults who may have never gone to school, who are learning the alphabet, and reading for the first time in their lives. Somali parents are also using the book to teach their children Somali language and culture. In turn, Somali children can help their parents with English.

Each lesson starts in Somali (with translations for the English-speaking tutor’s benefit), then bridges to English. This approach works because Somali and English share essentially the same alphabet. Each page has pictures to aid comprehension. Each lesson has a verse from the Bible, in both English and Somali, highlighting the key word and truth on which Muslims and Christians agree.

SALT’s ESL workbook can be purchased through World Relief Minnesota

$20 each for 1 or 2 copies
$15 each for 3+ copies

Contact salt@wr.org to request a copy

Enjoy a night with Bob Stromberg of Triple Espresso fame
in support of Refugee Life Ministries

April 2, 2011 at 7 p.m.

Roseville Covenant Church

The entertainment includes coffee and dessert.  Tickets are $10 and can be purchased or reserved online (click on this link to be taken to a secure registration website for this event).

Use this link to learn more about Refugee Life Ministries

Imagine… living in fear of forced labor camps, debilitating taxation, no representation, and State sponsored physical and sexual abuse. Imagine… your family targeted because of your ethnicity. Now, ask yourself, “What would I do to protect my spouse, my children, myself from torture, persecution and death?”

This is the life of a refugee. This is the life many of the refugees coming to Minnesota have experienced. They have fled for their lives – leaving their homeland behind completely – their homes in Somalia, Laos, Burma, Liberia, Bhutan and many other places. And through the efforts of the UNHCR and the U.S. Deptarment of State they have been transplanted to Minnesota.

Nem Lam Din, a Karen women (an ethnic group in Burma) lived in a refugee camp in neighboring Thailand for many, many years. Her family was not allowed to leave the refugee camp – they couldn’t legally work, buy food or explore the countryside.

Last year, the United States welcomed Nem Lam Din, offering her family a safe haven – a new place to call home. Our government invited them to replant their lives here as legal residents.

Imagine… what refugees face as they arrive in America. They step off the plane with fear and trembling – as they walk down the long airport concourse with all of their possessions in one bag – they have no idea what awaits them. “Where will we live? What will we eat? Who will be our friend?”

Volunteers from a church made Din’s family welcome in their homes, in their neighborhood and in their church. In time, Nam began to ask questions: “What is this love that you are sharing with us? Where does it come from?” Volunteers were able to answer and tell her about a God who loves her and died for her – a God who empowered His Church to welcome strangers – to welcome refugees like Jesus, who was a refugee with his parents in the land of Egypt.

This is the story of the Church at work. This is the story of World Relief Minnesota partnering with that Church. Imagine… befriending a refugee.

Few Say Religion Shapes Immigration, Environment Views

from The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life | Sept 17, 2010

Many Americans continue to say their religious beliefs have been highly influential in shaping their views about social issues, …

Despite the fact that many religious leaders have been outspoken advocates for immigration reform, just 7% of adults who take a position on immigration say that religion is the most important influence on their views on this issue. About one-in-four churchgoers (24%) say the clergy at their places of worship have spoken out about immigration, nearly the same as in 2006. About half of those who hear about immigration in church say their clergy are favorable to immigrants and immigration.

The source of this news comes from The Pew Forum for Religion & Public Life.  Public life.  One would think that public life should be deeply impacted by what we believe.  However “should” isn’t the correct verb … public life IS impacted by what we believe.

Why do so few Christians say that their religious beliefs influence their stand on immigration? Perhaps that’s an accuracte self-assessment – our words and deeds aren’t always consistent with the words and deeds of Jesus and the apostles. Often the way we live is influenced more by economic considerations and ethnic/racial biases than by loving our neighbor as ourself.

A recent article (7/20/10) from Pioneer Press tells the story of a Bhutanese  family settling in the Twin Cities. Learn more about our newest neighbors – there’s approximately 300 Bhutanese already in the metro area.

A good source of info is the Nirvana Center of Minnesota website.

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Dick Lugar recently released a report urging the Administration to better match federal resources with refugee admissions so that the costs associated with operating the U.S. resettlement program do not unfairly burden local communities.

 The report, “Abandoned Upon Arrival: Implications for refugees and local communities burdened by a resettlement system that is not working,” highlights the significant challenges local communities in Indiana and across the country are confronting as a result of a U.S. resettlement program that is under-funded and over-stretched. While offering safe-haven to refugees who face persecution should remain a humanitarian imperative for our nation, we must acknowledge the significant costs associated with this activity and find an appropriate policy remedy at the federal level,” Lugar said. “I urge the Administrations to reform the U.S. resettlement program so that it continues to be perceived as a benefit to local communities, not a burden.”

This press release suggests that refugees can be perceived asa burden on the resources of local communities.  Is this perception accurate?

How can we change the perception to one that says “refugees are a benefit to the local community?”  I think part of the answer is related to how we view the role of the public domain (local and state governments) in the care of vulnerable populations.  Is it the sole responsibility of government to provide services?  From a biblical perspective, the Church has a role in caring for downtrodden and the poor. Members of faith communities can reflect the grace and compassion of God to these persecuted peoples from around the world. Beyond that, through relationships, we can bridge the gap between social service programs and self-sufficiency and integration. Talk with refugees that have been befriended and mentored by Americans and you’ll hear stories of gratitude, gradual assimilation, and the realization that refugees themselves have a place in our culture.

World Relief has seen local churches come along side refugee families in communities throughout the United States. Often long-term relationships are formed that benefit both the refugee family and the church.

Refugee News
from International Association for Refugees

Number of Refugees Grows to 43.3 million
Highest number of refugees in the world since the mid-1990s
The Refugee Highway – 16 June 2010
According to the latest statistics published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of forcibly displaced people in the world has increased by more than 1 million in the past year.

Here are some FAQ concerning the Refugee Highway today…

Q. How many forcibly displaced people (FDP) are in the world?
A. 43.3 million. The number includes internally displaced people (IDP), refugees, asylum-seekers and Palestinian refugees receiving support from the UN’s UNRWA program.

Q. How many of the world’s FDP are internally displaced (IDP)?
A. 27.1 million. “Internally displaced persons are people or groups of individuals who have been forced to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of, or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights, or natural- or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an international border.” -UNHCR

Q. How many refugees are in the world?
A. 15.2 million. Who is a refugee?

• Refugees have to be outside their country of origin;
• The reason for their flight has to be a fear of persecution;
• The fear of persecution has to be well-founded
• The persecution has to result from one or more of the 5 grounds listed in the definition, that is race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion;
• They have to be unwilling or unable to seek the protection of their country.

Source: UNHCR

Q. How many Palestinian refugees are in the world?
A. 4.8 million. This is the number of Palestinian refugees receiving care from UNRWA.

Q. How many asylum-seekers are in the world?
A. 983,000. “Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined.” -UNHCR

Q. How many stateless people are in the world?
A. Between 6.6 million and 12 million. “Stateless persons are individuals not considered as citizens of any State under national laws.” -UNHCR

Q. What can you tell me about the average refugee in the world today?

• 49% of the world’s refugees are women.
• 45% of the world’s FDP are under 18 years old.
• 41% of the world’s FDP

Q. What country is producing the greatest number of refugees?
A. 25% of the world’s refugees come from Afghanistan (2.9 million).

Q. What are other leading refugee-producing countries in the world?

1. 2.9 million refugees from Afghanistan
2. 1.8 million refugees from Iraq
3. 678,300 refugees from Somalia
4. 455,900 refugees from D.R. Congo
5. 406,700 refugees from Myanmar
6. 389,800 refugees from Colombia
7. 368,200 refugees from Sudan
8. 209,200 refugees from Eritrea
9. 195,600 refugees from Serbia

Q. What part of the world hosts the most refugees?
A. 37% of the world’s refugees are hosted in the Asia/Pacific region of the world. 80% of the world’s refugees are hosted by developing nations. Over half are living in urban areas.

Q. What countries host the largest number of refugees?
A. Pakistan (1.7 million), Iran (1 million) and Syria (1 million) host the largest number of refugees in the world. Taken together, these countries plus Germany and Jordan host 47% of the world’s refugees.

Q. What country received the most claims for asylum in 2009?
A. South Africa received 222,000 claims for asylum in 2009.

Q. What country received the most resettled refugees in 2009?
A. 80,000 refugees were resettled to the United States in 2009. Canada resettled 12,500 refugees in 2009. There are only 19 countries in the world that receive resettled refugees.

Q. What does the Bible have to say about refugees and forcibly displaced people (FDP)?
A. Click here to watch a 3 minute online video to begin exploring the answer. Click on the “Orphan, Widow, Alien” video option in the list.

Source: UNHCR, 2009 Global Trends, published 15 June 2010.

Refugee News is a free service from International Association for Refugees (IAFR).

Learn more at www.iafr.org.