New Haven Independent

The celebration, held last Thursday night, was held in a large room that normally holds English classes at the home of the Interfaith Refugee Ministry program. Cuban, Eritrean and Afghan foods were arrayed along one wall, and were a highlight of the gathering at the agency’s new office at 235 Nicoll Street in East Rock. Executive Director Chris George proudly showed off the new space, which is three times as big as IRM’s old offices in Wooster Square. Staff and board members mingled with volunteers and a few city and state officials, like state Rep. Bill Dyson (on the right, with George on the left).

George, who took over as executive director 15 months ago, said he’s amazed that so few people seem to know about his agency’s work resettling about a hundred refugees per year in the greater New Haven area. He said other similar agencies want to keep a low profile, fearful of negative consequences because they deal with foreigners. But George said he wants to celebrate the fact that these are people who’ve been invited into the country, fleeing persecution or war, and almost all become model citizens within five years. “They put us to shame,” he said, “registering and voting in much higher numbers than the rest of us.”

Naem Mohammed Daoud (pictured above, with volunteer Christine Chen) brought the scrumptious Afghan food, made by his wife. He immediately piled a plate high with rice, vegetables and yummy miniature turnovers and handed it to this reporter, who got to sample the fare for the first time in an earlier visit to the entire family of eight. They hope to start a restaurant, and are slowly making progress toward that goal. For now, he jokes, his “job” is to drive some of his six children to school.

Emmanuel Bakwowi, a refugee from Cameroon, West Africa, said he fought for the rights of the less fortunate in his country, and that got him into trouble. Click here to listen.

Bakwowi arrived last March and has been looking for a job. He knows IRM needs to use its funds to support even newer refugees coming to resettle here.

But there haven’t been as many coming, says George, because of a new law excluding anyone who has provided “material support” to terrorists. He says IRM was expecting 160 this year, and has received only 55 as of the end of September (including ten who arrived on the day of the open house). Click here to listen to his opinion of the new law.