Posts by chicagoland
From Surviving to Achieving
Mohammad once dreamt of studying aviation. Instead a civil war changed his life. Now he dreams for his kids…
Read MoreFrom Strangers to Family: How Volunteers Help Ukrainian Newcomers Find Belonging the U.S.
When volunteers Jackie and Royce said “yes” to helping their Ukrainian neighbors, they sparked a beautiful friendship. Read their story.
Read MoreAgainst the Odds, a Refugee Child Finds Growth and Stability
I prayed God would provide these precious kids the opportunity to do more than just get by, but to grow and flourish. Little did I know…
Read MoreBefriending Refugees in a Divided Time: One Church Responds
Immigration has always been a hot topic in our country’s political landscape — even more so during an election year.
Read MoreHarsh Immigration Policies Didn’t Stop Them: A Syrian Refugee Family Rebuilds
Zainab arrived in America at the last possible moment, and through grit, faith, and a community that showed up when systems fell away, she and her children began turning survival into stability—and strangers into family.
Read MorePlanting Faith, Sharing Hope: From New Beginnings to Global Impact
One day in 2007, shortly after arriving in Aurora as refugees from Burma, Pastor Manar Chai found his wife standing in the doorway, crying. Though grateful to be in the U.S., the early months were marked by isolation, bitter cold, and long walks to the grocery store without a car or community. “Sometimes it was so hard,” he recalls, “we thought, ‘Just send me back to Burma.’”
Read MoreFear Is Not My Future…God Is
When fear swept through Chicago’s immigrant communities amid rumors of ICE raids, one song echoed with new meaning—“Fear Is Not My Future.” In the midst of panic and uncertainty, this reflection reminds us that fear, sickness, and sorrow don’t have the final word. Hello peace, hello hope—it’s a new horizon.
Read MoreStarting School in a New Country: The Journey of Refugee and Immigrant Students
For the more than 100,000 estimated refugee and displaced children in the nation, a new school year isn’t just the start of a new grade. It’s a chance to reclaim stability, rebuild routine and rediscover hope.
Read MoreFaith in a New Land: A Story of Immigration, Belonging, and the Local Church
Discover Kimmy’s journey from Vietnam to Chicagoland—a story of immigration, faith, and leadership in the hearts of two welcoming local churches.
Food, Language, Dignity: A Call to Action for Our Community
Piece written by Stephanie Clark, Director of Strategic Engagement Lately, each day feels a bit heavier. I open my news apps not with anticipation, but with a quiet dread—because I already know what I’ll see. Another policy shift that reshapes lives. Another plea for humanitarian aid that goes unanswered. And most devastating of all: natural…
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