I see smiles on their faces. Chief Christine Hudson. He ultimately hopes to become an immigration officer, even though federal hiring for those positions is frozen, at least for now.“The doctors thought that maybe it was because of the war, but I don’t think I was traumatized. “I didn’t make this place a compassionate community – yes, we enshrined it in an official way, but it was a compassionate and welcoming community long before I got here.”This small-town feel is both part of the reason Clarkston works – and a limiting factor. Story by Carly Berlin | Photographs by Johnathon Kelso
He had protested in support of a democratic government, a potentially deadly endeavor given that since 1962 Myanmar has been controlled by a military junta that vowed to track down dissenters. I’m writing this, still that woman, with the realization that I know precious little about anything. When Majeda began vending home-cooked Syrian food at the Clarkston Community Center, Malek saw how much people loved his mother’s kibbeh and baklava. But there's no one we'd rather face the big challenges with than you, our committed and passionate readers, and our team of fearless reporters who show up every day.Today Ransom seems a little sore that Terry is being credited with Clarkston’s success. The Oos, also, practice Islam.Clarkston, Georgia, has welcomed so many refugees that it has become the most ethnically diverse square mile in America.
"And then to see her after her first day at work, the smile on her face — the difference in the photographs is just amazing to see.”The new arrivals, who typically have already spent eight to 10 years in a refugee camp or dislocated from home, also usually have a skill that can help them find employment quickly. “You don’t want to miss sparklers and the national anthem, do you?”Inexpensive, too!
Some 60,000 refugees have called Clarkston, and nearby neighborhoods, their first American home. Refugees and their American neighbors seem to have found a sense of belonging here. For refugees, Clarkston is a starter city. It’s very accepting.”Mixon has been working with refugees in Clarkston for 20 years and notes that relations between the existing community and refugees have had their rough patches. The group had envisioned adding amenities the whole town could enjoy—soccer fields, maybe, or a job-training program or business incubator. Hani now drives a van pool, helping others in the Clarkston refugee community who need transportation. Friends of Refugees Founder Pat Maddox — aka "St. Pat of Clarkistan" — at the Forty Oaks Nature Preserve, just next to her property in Clarkston. Lauren Brockett, Director of Employment Services at Friends of Refugees, prays with a fellow employee before the work day begins. To meet with Oo, I visited the Atlanta-area headquarters of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), situated in an office park north of Clarkston. The organization empowers refugees to integrate successfully into their new country by providing them the support and structure they need to realize their vast potential. Already, the two have prepared meals for groups with Friends of Refugees, and for a recent event at their mosque, Masjid Al-Momineen, in Clarkston. The premise was to invite non-Muslims into the mosque, to help provide understanding.Standing Together for a Better South - 2020 Membership drive