Do you know what it’s like to not be able to communicate with your neighbors, unable to tell a paramedic what hurts or at a loss to ask for the the simplest item at a store? Mahananda Luitel does. The former refugee now teaches English to among the city’s hundreds of internationally born people who come to Akron each year. “I saw people here having language as a big problem, … [Read more...]
North Hill residents, officials discuss proposed community health center
AxessPointe plans to open community health center here in 2017 -- More than half of North Hill residents live below 100 percent of the federal poverty level, which makes this neighborhood an ideal candidate for a new integrated community health center. “Seventeen percent of people in this neighborhood have no access to health care,” said Chris Richardson, COO of … [Read more...]
International Institute hosts citizenship ceremony for nearly 50 new residents
About 50 residents were officially given their U.S. citizenship on Tuesday. The Naturalization Oath Ceremony, held at the Akron-Summit County Public Library’s Main Library auditorium, awarded citizenship to people from India, South Korea, Burma, Canada, Hungary, Belarus, China, Lebanon, France, Peru, Mexico and Cameroon, among a few dozen other countries. The International … [Read more...]
Agency helps refugees establish roots in Akron
The International Institute of Akron’s entryway was filled with at least seven people, some sitting on the bench attached to the wall. I squeezed past the families, nodding hello, and entered the old building on Tallmadge Avenue. The father on the couch over from me spoke English and mentioned to an employee he needed to sign his wife up for the citizenship test. His daughter, … [Read more...]
Refugees stay warm with scarves, hats from Lucky Seniors
Local refugee youths are feeling extra fortunate – and warm – this winter. Nearly 200 recent immigrants and refugees received brand new scarves, hats and mittens, thanks to dedicated volunteers in the Lucky Seniors program at Asian Services in Action.With the help of a $1,000 grant from the Vernon L. Odom Fund of Akron Community Foundation, these senior volunteers knitted 175 … [Read more...]
