Being a Friend to a New American

Simquily: Please share a little bit about Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) and your role with the organization. 

Laura: CFNA is a non-profit agency in St. Louis, Missouri, that reaches out to refugees and immigrants. Initially, I got involved with CFNA as a volunteer, driving people to their medical appointments. Over time, I started working with the health and wellness screening program and then became the program’s coordinator. As the Health and Wellness coordinator, I coordinate a monthly health screening for refugees and immigrants, which includes reaching out to the refugee and immigrant communities, as well as coordinating the volunteer practitioners, registrars, drivers, and interpreters. If the practitioners recommended that an individual needs an appointment, I try to set it up and find a volunteer driver to take the person to the appointment. 

Simquily: While it might seem a bit obvious, who does CFNA consider to be “New Americans”? 

Laura: At CFNA, we consider New Americans as individuals who have recently arrived in the United States—as recently as a few weeks or a few months. But we still call them New Americans after they have lived here quite awhile. So, maybe the idea can be about time, but it’s also about being foreign born. The clients we serve are almost 95 percent refugees, the other 5 percent are immigrants. Refugees have been placed in St. Louis through the refugee resettlement program with the United States State Department. In St. Louis, a local organization called International Institute contracts with the State Department to be the placing agency for refugees in St. Louis. 

To be a refugee, one has fled their home country because of persecution, war, or natural disaster and made it to a second country. After extensive vetting, multiple security and health checks (which can last several years), the individuals are then placed/resettled in a third country. The United States is one of many countries officially recognized by the United Nations as a country that will accept refugees, and all refugees are in the United Sates legally. Like refugees, asylees are also trying to escape persecution. However, asylees have not had an opportunity to have their refugee status established. Immigrants come to the Untied States for various reasons: to be with family, because of work, or because they want to live here. Immigrants apply to immigrate to the United States. 

It’s also interesting to note that some individuals don’t always come to the United States because they want to be an American, especially refugees. They are fleeing a country that, given the chance, they may want to return to a some point if the circumstances change. Although, in my experience, this rarely happens once people are in the United States. An individual must live in the United States for five years before they can become a citizen.  

Simquily: What do you like best about working with New Americans?

Laura: I like helping people, reaching out to people who don’t have many friends or family, and helping them see that they don’t have to feel alone. I enjoy getting to know people and their experiences, as well as learning about different cultures and customs—it’s almost like having the opportunity to travel without really going anywhere. Most of all, I like how I am continually reminded that people are people who share many of the same human concerns, joys, worries, and loves, no matter where in the world they were born or have lived. 

Simquily: In your work with CFNA, what are some of the biggest needs refugees have when they first arrive? What about later when they settle in to their new home?

Laura: Initially, one of the biggest needs is help with day-to-day needs, including physical needs: furniture, clothing, blankets, towels, dishes, etc. Usually, most refugees come with one suitcase per person. At the same time, when New Americans first arrive, many are assimilating to a very different culture. Things we take for granted may be very different for them, whether it be the food, health care system, schools, banks, living situations, or public transportation. Language is often the biggest barrier. Trying to learn some key words and phrases in the refugee’s language shows interest and can make him or her feel more comfortable. 

Food can be a common denominator, but it can also be a challenge. Many immigrants and refugees have a hard time adapting to the American diet and foods. Instead of taking a plate of cookies to your new neighbor, maybe flowers would be a better idea. Think about what it means to be a friend. A welcoming smile goes a long way! Offering to take people places can be a big help too. Many people don’t yet have an established network of friends or relatives to assist in a crunch. And while many individuals want to be autonomous, there can be many barriers. Or people may need help learning to drive, take the permit test, etc. Going to the local DMV with someone can not only help them feel at ease but also ensure they get the correct information. For example, sometimes tests can be taken in other languages. In the United States, driving is a huge deal, and some people are coming from places where they didn’t have access to cars, the ability to drive, or as a woman, were not allowed to. 

Simquily: What would you say are some of the most common goals New Americans have when moving to the US? How does CFNA help these individuals work toward accomplishing their goals? 

Laura: For refugees, common goals are to be safe, establish a home for their families, and find work. CFNA assists by being a friend—welcoming people, providing a place for after school tutoring, offering English as a second language (ESL) classes, coordinating furniture deliveries, and offering Bible studies. Basically, we want to make sure people know they are loved. 

We also recently began helping individuals learn about job opportunities as well as providing some skill enhancement training and classes. And, we try to connect people to opportunities when possible. Depending on where people are coming from, they may have no formal education, and they might even be illiterate in their first language. Or, they may have a PhD. Unfortunately, for many educated people such as doctors, dentists, nurses, etc., their training is not recognized here, and some have to start all over or find a completely different line of work. In many cases, such educated individuals end up taking jobs that are more menial or don’t utilize their skills or educational backgrounds. 

Simquily: Sometimes when speaking with someone from another culture, we worry that we might be offensive unintentionally, that the language barrier might be too much, or that we might ask questions that could be taken as an invasion of privacy. What encouragement do you have for being a friend to a New American?  

Laura: It’s important to remember that, world-wide, people are people and, overall, innately the same. Everyone wants to be happy, healthy, provide for their family, their children, etc. Asking about the person, showing interest in them, is the most important. But, it is important to recognize that many people have experienced very traumatic events (war, civil right issues, physical harm, political isolation, etc.) and will continue to suffer and deal with this trauma for the rest of their lives. It is not realistic to expect that people should or can assimilate easily. Sometimes until we know someone certain discussions are difficult. Depending on where the person has come from and why they left, conversations can be tricky. Leaving war-torn areas, enduring civil wars, and experiencing civil rights abuses can leave people traumatized. They may have seen family die or had to leave their family, which makes them sad. But expressing an interest in these things, also shows love and compassion.

Ultimately, it’s important we always recognize that God is the God and Creator of everyone in the world. We are all His children. Sometimes Americans think their way of doing things is the best, correct, or only way. In reality, “New Americans” have much to bring to the table in all aspects of life. Being a friend is being open to learning, spending time with someone, and developing a relationship.