It took me nearly four months, but I have finally made the refugee connection I have wanted to make, a wonderful, dedicated organization, a group of newly-arrived refugees, the chance to meet them, photograph them, show their true faces, write about their real lives.
Most of them I met today are children, but not all. At RISSE’s (The Refugee and Immigrant Support Services of Emmaus) very crowded offices, in a big and beautiful old Methodist Church in the Pine Hills of Albany, I got to find what I have been looking for.
The refugee and immigrant story is not an easy one to find these days, there are many issues of trust, purpose, patience and willfulness.
Had I not been a reporter for some years, I doubt I would have been able to do it. There are lots of people smarter than me, but not too many as stubborn.
My mission is to write and take photos that show the truth about refugees and immigrants in America, that show how real and very much like us they are, how much they need our help and generosity, how frightened and encircled they feel.
Tuesday was just the beginning, a chance to see the kids, sit in on the adult classes, get a feel for this remarkable place. One year ago, arsonists burned their classroom and office building down, and slashed all of the tires on their aging vans. RISSE needs just about everything, and any donations you choose to give will be put to great use.
The church chose to stand by the refugees, they rebuilt the offices and are looking for a new van.
I will begin my part by joining artist Rachel Barlow next week to bring 90 art and creativity kits for these amazing young people, many of whom I saw and met and photographed today. I was struck by how much they love one another, how eager and open they are, how devoted their teachers are, and how much they love their students. It takes a lot of heart to do this work, and there was a lot of heart on display at RISSE.
The refugees at RISSE are her from all over the world – Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America. They come to RISSE every day to learn English, look for jobs, organize their finances, fill out the daunting paperwork of American life.
For now, the photographs speak for themselves. I think we have enough money now for the art kits, Rachel will make as many as she has funds to make. The kids were so excited to be getting them.
I’ll put up some photos on Facebook, my first RISSE album, I have been seeking to do this for a while. I am the child of immigrants from a family of immigrants.
To me, America is about opening its arms to people, as you can see from the photos, they are part of the rich tapestry that has made America unique in the world, and I want to show that they are not dangerous, they have not come to steal our services or harm us. Some of these children have suffered horribly. The idea that they are dangerous is a monstrous lie.
I hope these new Americans and especially, these children, get to see the true heart and soul of this generous country.
So here goes, the RISSE project, I hope to help them raise some of the money they need to do some of the things they are in urgent need of. Here we go, and thanks for your support of the art kits, a great start. I’ll put up some photos on the blog, make them an album on Facebook. Many more to come.