Eddie Su was a refugee, even before he was born. His family fled Burma for neighboring Thailand when his mom was 7 months pregnant with him, his older sister strapped to her back. She also had whatever food and supplies she was able to carry. Su is one of about a thousand resettled Karen (pronounced kah-REN) people in the Akron area. The Karen, who have been violently driven … [Read more...]
‘I want to be a teacher and help people’: Resettled children share hopes and dreams
Thanks to the International Institute of Akron for sharing these interviews of children from local refugee families. Ba Bler loves being surrounded by books at the library and Gracie wants to be an artist when she grows up. BA BLER, 19, Burma What do you like about Akron? What I like about the United States is that there are so many opportunities out there. You can choose … [Read more...]
Burmese refugees are vital part of the fabric at S.C.O.P.E. Academy (Article and Video)
Residents share stories of their immigration, perform music at recent celebration -- The three men stood together in the classroom in Springfield, decades away from the day in 1997 when they fled from the Burmese Army, one of the world’s most oppressive regimes. But on this recent spring day, they were all safe, gainfully employed, and resettled in Akron with their families. … [Read more...]