Meet Stephanie Gromek, development and communication coordinator for Church World Service Lancaster. CWS Lancaster just celebrated its 30th official year of resettlement and immigration services in Lancaster.
CWS Global was founded in 1946, in the aftermath of World War II. The mission of CWS Global is to work together with partners to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice around the world. CWS Lancaster serves the refugee and immigrant communities of central Pennsylvania through hard work and a long-term commitment of support. As a result, people who once had no hope are discovering the means of transforming their lives.
1. Immigration and refugees have become politically charged topics over the past year; how has that affected the work of CWS? And how are the refugees you’re working with feeling in today’s political climate?
We just received the national capacity limit for fiscal year 2018, which was set at 45,000 by President Trump. This is the lowest number in history, and we are still currently in a full suspension of the program until October 24th—thereby, the US will probably not even be able to resettle this many refugees in 2018’s fiscal year because the refugee vetting and clearance process is so rigorous and involved that we aren’t anticipating receiving new refugees until December or January. CWS Lancaster is fortunate in that we have 11 various support service programs serving refugees for up to five years and beyond from their date of arrival. With this, CWS Lancaster is able to continue to provide support and service to refugees, even in the midst of a full suspension of the program. We are currently anticipating a reduction in arriving refugees, but fortunately we just completed our strategic plan and feel confident in moving forward with additional support programs until resettlement is back in full swing.
In regard to our clients, they are uncertain as to the road ahead for those they left behind in the refugee camps and back at home. While they look forward to rebuilding their lives, there is always a worry or fear for their loved ones back at home—we are currently facing the world’s greatest refugee and humanitarian crisis. There are more refugees now than ever before. And in a time when these people need us the most, the US has virtually closed its doors to a mere crack, with so many regulations and stipulations and bans on countries that it is nearly impossible for people from many countries to arrive and resettle.
2. In January, Lancaster made national news being called a Sanctuary City that came together to stand against a proposed refugee ban. Can you speak to the success of this year’s Concert for Refugees, how it felt to be a part of that event and the vigils in the square as well? How has the long-term impact of money raised by those special events shaped CWS this year?
Lancaster is not a Sanctuary City, nor are we looking to become one. Lancaster is in the slow process of considering becoming a Welcoming City, which is a city that is simply recognized for its welcome to newcomers, whomever they may be. There are no policies, no funding implications, but rather the city is recognized for its welcoming nature and its policies demonstrating such. This is a process that takes some time and is done through a national organization called Welcoming America.
As for the Concert for Refugees, which was the second annual concert at Tellus360, it was wildly successful, as it fell on the heels of the first executive order set in motion by Mr. Trump. CWS Lancaster received just over $38,000 in donations through the event, 100 percent of which was used to stabilize programs serving refugees and to ease the transition of staff during such uncertain times.
Because of this event and more, CWS Lancaster has been able to ride the waves of executive orders, thereby providing consistency and care for clients served through our programs. The vigils and outpouring of support has continued and doesn’t seem to be lessening.
The community has stood up and showed up consistently in support of refugees and immigrants within our community. They have made it clear that we are all a part of the woven fabric of this community, and because of our diversity and culture, we are stronger together than alone. We feel completely honored to be standing in solidarity with all of our neighbors—refugees, immigrants, DREAMers and Lancastrians alike. This is the foundation of what this community is based on—dating all the way back to the early 1700s with William Penn! (Check out the exhibit that CWS and LancasterHistory.org are showing through Spring 2018 at the LOOP Visitor’s Center.)
3. What is the number one obstacle immigrants and refugees face coming into the US? How does CWS work to help them succeed and become productive members of society?
Language and adjustment to American life are the most obvious of challenges that every refugee must go through when first arriving into the US. Within the first week from arrival, CWS enrolls clients into a two-week cultural orientation class that explains in detail everything, like how to pay the rent, how to purchase medications at the pharmacy, how to utilize public transportation, what the laws are, where the children attend school, and much, much more.
We work to understand what skills and trades they brought with them through their previous employment history—and then we work to find them similar jobs in the US. Oftentimes those entry-level jobs are the most important, because those are the jobs that help to make clients fully self-sufficient within four to six months. Once clients are stable, they are able to return to our employment program for up to five years for a job upgrade or transfer—and CWS walks beside them the entire way.
We also offer immigration legal services to refugees and immigrants. For refugees, this work generally ends when the client becomes a US citizen through naturalization, which can take place at the five-year mark. This is a detailed application and testing process that all must go through.
Refugees are legal and able to work from their first day entering the US. They are fully contributing and ready to begin their lives again. They are humble, resilient and have persevered through unimaginable experiences. They are the heroes of the story, because they have survived.
4. What are some of the misconceptions causing fear among Americans? What kind of advocacy do you do to try to change that?
There are many misconceptions about refugees, and CWS works very hard to dispel those myths. We are holding monthly information sessions at our office that community members can sign up for on our website, cwslancaster.org. We are also always willing to come to a meeting or gathering or school to have a dialogue about the situation. Refugees give back to their communities, and contribute to the gross domestic product and contribute to the local economy, social security and taxes. Refugees create more jobs in the areas where they are resettled, because employers recognize the motivation and ability; several major companies have relocated to the Lancaster County area (Urban Outfitters and Forever21 are just two companies that have brought literally hundreds of jobs to the area).
Refugees are legally eligible to be in the US and are eager to start their lives again. They want to be independent and are able to do so with an integrative and accepting community—which Lancaster has proven to be. Check out the latest video on our website!
5. Share with us a couple success stories of people who have come to Lancaster as refugees and impacted our community.
There are many success stories of refugees in Lancaster, and business owners are only the tip of the iceberg.
Mustafa Noor, founder of Bridge Possible, just won the Great Social Enterprise PITCH and is getting ready to launch his own business, which encourages and promotes dialogues between refugees and the community to foster a greater sense of understanding and provide a humanizing effect for refugees and immigrants.
Marie Claire Kaberamanzi, a refugee from the Democratic Rebublic of Congo, was selected from a handful of local refugee youth to speak at the CWS breakfast in April 2017, that Malala Yousafzai attended. She met further with Malala and is now an ambassador with Malala promoting equality and education for girls—and just recently spoke with the UN General Assembly. Since her resettlement through CWS, she graduated high school, attended college to become a nurse, and is now in Spain understanding and learning in a study abroad opportunity.
Refugees and immigrants bring many wonderful talents and skills to the communities they resettle in. CWS is continually grateful for a welcoming community for refugees.
6. Where do you see the greatest needs for these people and your organization moving forward? How can locals continue to help?
We need your voice now more than ever to stand up for the freedoms of refugees. Refugees do not get to choose where they are resettled—but we are happy that they come to Lancaster. Please let your elected officials know this, share a smile on the street as you pass them by, and be friendly to all, regardless of who they are or where they are from. If you know of a group that would like to have CWS come speak or host a fundraiser, we would be happy to do so. We need your support, and refugees and immigrants need your welcome. Every donation works to provide additional support and cultural adjustment service to refugees resettled by CWS.
