In the summer of 2021, as the Taliban took over Afghanistan, many Afghans fled the country. Some landed in Akron, which has one of the largest refugee resettlement programs in Ohio. A network of volunteers and government, nonprofit and educational organizations were waiting. They help new arrivals fleeing war or persecution find not just a haven, but a home in Akron.
The refugee resettlement process can take years. Those who aren’t in the community themselves may have no idea a refugee is working the register at their gas station, handling their orders at the Amazon fulfillment center or packaging their chicken at a nearby factory – all while trying to attend English classes and find transportation, affordable housing and healthcare.
During the spring 2022 and 2023 semesters, journalism students in the Advanced Magazine Writing class went to Akron’s North Hill neighborhood, where immigrants from more than a dozen nations work and live. The website, houses their work.
In 2022, they found stories about professionals trying to work without transportation, Afghan women loving the independence of driving and Bhutanese artists keeping their culture alive. They talked to volunteers and educators who teach English to students of all ages, levels and language backgrounds. They explained Akron’s rich immigration history and the United States’ system of resettlement.
In 2023, the students, all journalism majors, cover a new array of subjects:
- Reegan Saunders, '23, that every refugee must attend.
- Alexandra Golden, '23, visits where new arrivals grow vegetables alongside native Akronites.
- Nathalia Teixeira, '23, , where orders for sari and lehenga dresses are taken, custom-made in Nepal and then shipped to customers in Akron.
- Jenna Bal, '23,, which has become a bustling hub for refugees. There, they can take English classes, have documents translated and check out children’s books in Nepali, Farsi or Chinese.
- Gabby Jonas, '23, meets with a young Muslim refugee whose mosque helps her integrate into American culture
- Jacob Hansen, '23, .
Advanced Magazine Writing is taught by Professor Jacqueline Marino.