Klaudia Saric is a Business Development Specialist at Jannus Economic Opportunity in Boise, Idaho. She works with aspiring entrepreneurs from many backgrounds, including former refugees like herself. Klaudia and her husband are from Bosnia & Herzegovina, which they fled in the 1990s due to war and ethnic cleansing. Klaudia saw firsthand the damage that is done when people are manipulated into seeing each other as less than human based on religion or nationality. Throughout her career, Klaudia has helped many people become successful business owners. As a former business owner and holder of a bachelor's in business administration, she values the entrepreneurial spirit. Becoming a refugee is like having your wings clipped, she said, and that drives her to help others regain their sense of choice and empowerment.   Reach MOSAICS with questions and story suggestions: mosaics@idahorefugees.org Mosaics is recorded and produced by SB Studios

Welcome Corps Allows Private Americans to Help Resettle Refugees Joe & Kim Mitchell are part of a private sponsor group in Idaho Falls that welcomed refugees to the city for the first time in decades. In April 2022, through the Operation Allies Welcome program, their Sponsor Circle welcomed three Afghan Air Force pilots, allies of the U.S. military operation. The community response was so overwhelmingly positive that the group formed a nonprofit, Idaho Falls Bridge Builders, which in 2023 welcomed another refugee family, from Ukraine. Joe & Kim were inspired to be involved in a private sponsor group because they know what it’s like to be newcomers in a foreign country. Their family spent a total of seven years living in rural China, and the way they were welcomed into the community with open arms inspired them to provide a similar welcome to others in their home state of Idaho. Connect with Idaho Falls Bridge Builders: https://sites.google.com/view/idaho-falls-bridge-builders/home Learn more about Welcome Corps: https://welcomecorps.org/ Reach MOSAICS with questions and story suggestions: mosaics@idahorefugees.org Mosaics is recorded and produced by SB Studios

Eliza Shabire was a young girl when she and her sisters were separated from their father when he had to flee the Democratic Republic of Congo for his safety. She lived with relatives in Rwanda for many years before reuniting with her father in her early 20s in Idaho.   Eliza is now a mother to 1-year-old Mina. They are waiting for her husband's case to process so he can join his family in Idaho.   Eliza is studying social work at Boise State University with dreams to be a clinical social worker and help immigrants and refugees in mental health and social justice.     Mosaics is produced by SB Studios, fundung from M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, and special thanks for the theme music to The Afro Sonics.

Sakhi Hasmati was born in Afghanistan and lived in Pakistan, India, and United Arab Emirates before moving to Idaho to reunite with his parents and siblings about seven years ago. “My parents, one of the reasons they were moving around, is because they had concerns about their children’s safety,” he said.Now, Sakhi helps other people who are earlier on in their resettlement journey, as the Idaho Community Advisor Network Supervisor at the International Rescue Committee in Boise. When Sakhi first moved to Idaho, his goal was to move on quickly to a place with more earning potential. But he found a closeness within his family and community that’s made Idaho feel like home. Sakhi’s wife is awaiting approval to resettle here, too. “I deeply appreciate the culture and kindness prevalent in this state,” Sakhi said. “In my free time, I cherish moments with family and friends, often enjoying a game of soccer.” Sakhi loves learning about the laws and history of any country where he lives. (Sidenote from the episode: there are 27 amendments in the U.S. Constitution!) Sakhi’s goal is to advocate, support, and deliver services to asylees, refugees, and immigrants. Recognizing the importance of families seeking and achieving long-term happiness and self-sufficiency, he’s passionate about bringing consistency to these families and aiding them in attaining a fulfilling, normal life.

Sadia Abdulkadir is a social work student at Boise State University. Born in Kenya, Sadia is part of a large, tight-knit family who resettled in Boise in 2008, when she was 4.   “Since I was young, I was able to kind of adapt and change into the culture a bit more,” she said.   Fashion is a way for Sadia to stay connected to her cultural roots.  “I just appreciate people representing themselves,” she said. “Sometimes they can feel like they don’t belong unless they look a certain way, and most of the time that means getting rid of a certain aspect of their culture. I wish it was different, because for me I’m really into my culture and I love representing it.”  Sadia looks forward to using her social work degree to help people. She’s thankful to her parents for what they endured so she and her siblings could have opportunities.  “When I was younger the word ‘refugee,’ like the stigma around it, I didn’t really like it,” Sadia said. “But now I am definitely proud of being a refugee, and to me there’s a lot of pride within the word because it just reminds me what my family went through, especially my parents.”

Moses Mukengezi is a dad, husband, soccer coach, commercial real estate broker, nonprofit board member and former resettlement worker in Boise. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Moses’ family resettled in Boise, Idaho, in 2007 when he was 13. It was through soccer that he first felt connection to the community. He went on to play for Boise State University, where he earned a bachelor’s in sociology.   Moses has enjoyed several years of coaching refugee youth through Nations United Soccer and speaks six languages; he is especially fond of French.   Moses has presented as a member of the Refugee Speakers Bureau, a program of the Idaho Office for Refugees (IOR). He is a board member for Jannus, Inc., which IOR is a part of, and for the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora.  Hear more from Moses on StoryCorps, where did an interview with his wife, Kathleen, in 2022.

University professor Andrea Soleta Schmutz moved to Pocatello, Idaho, in 2022 and wanted to do something to connect and empower other immigrants. She founded Empowering Immigrant Women, has helped launch a weekly mental health clinic for immigrants and refugees, and will teach a community course to help New Americans navigate higher ed. Andrea, who is originally from the Philippines, collaborates with partners including Bridges, the Rotary Club of Pocatello, and University of Utah psychiatry residents.  To other immigrants, Andrea says, “It might take you a lot of years to finally be established, but please be patient. … The rejections, failure – that’s not a weakness, that’s a strength, because you’ll be more powerful at the end.”  CONNECT  Empowering Immigrant Women website  Hear Andrea on CEWT Talk – Idaho State University's Continuing Education/Workforce Training podcast  Join Empowering Immigrant Women on Jan. 26, 2024, for a light dinner and to hear current students share about the class offered at CEWT this spring called Higher Education in the U.S. (geared towards refugees, immigrants, and first-gen) taught by Andrea Soleta Schmutz. We will also learn about the Idaho Launch, a program that provides grants for education and training programs. Starts at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the ISU Diversity Resource Center, 921 S. 8th Ave., Pocatello. RSVP to empoweringimmigrantwomen@gmail.com  Keep an eye out for the International Women's Day Event from 5:30–7 p.m. March 8 at the ISU Diversity Resource Center (invitation upcoming). We will celebrate International Women's Day by featuring local immigrant and refugee women in ‎Pocatello selling their home-baked goods and handmade items.‎

Idaho comes in last place for the number of doctors we have per capita. Yet when immigrant and refugee physicians move here, the process to get back to practicing medicine is complex and expensive.  On today’s episode we’re joined by local doctors who are addressing this issue – Drs. Scott Smith, Paula Carvalho, and Sampson Nde.   Scott is a mentor with Global Talent working with a cohort of New American medical professionals in Idaho, including Sampson, a physician and general surgeon from Nigeria.  “Medicine, essentially, for me it’s a calling. Right from when I was a little kid I always wanted to take care of people and help people,” Sampson said. “When I arrived in the U.S. and I wasn’t able to do that, it was difficult for me. Because for all my life that’s all I wanted to do.”  Sampson works at the Idaho Health Neighborhood Clinic in Nampa and has completed the necessary exams to apply for medical residency this winter. He helps other IMGs (international medical graduates) on their path to practicing medicine in the states.  Dr. Paula Carvalho works at the Boise VA Medical Center, where she assists the Global Talent Docs cohort with simulation lab training. She and Scott are both Idaho WWAMI Medical School alumni.  To contact Global Talent about this program, please email globaltalentinfo@jannus.org. Reach out to Mosaics with your questions and ideas at mosaics@idahorefugees.org.    ABOUT OUR GUESTS  Sampson Nde was a physician and general surgeon in Nigeria for four years before moving to the United States in 2015. He obtained a master's degree in public health from Westminster College in Utah and worked in the public health space for more than two years in research and program development.  In 2022, Sampson moved to Idaho and took a position at the University of Idaho as a program manager with Project ECHO, where he helped in the dissemination of medical education across the Gem State.  With the help of Global Talent, he currently works at Idaho Health Neighborhood Center in Nampa as Lead Physician Extender, while also assisting in the development of a training curriculum for International Medical Graduate (IMG), which helps facilitate medical graduates' transition to a medical practice in the United States.   He has passed the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE)  and will be applying for medical residency this winter.  Dr. Scott Smith is an internal medicine doctor, educational researcher, and professor of medicine (emeritus) with the University of Washington. He was in residency leadership for 28 years and was a USMLE “National Boards” question-writer for eight years. He discovered that this was the perfect job experience to help immigrant and refugee physicians to get licensed to practice medicine in Idaho. He began working with Global Talent doctors in 2019 and since then, he has served 31 individuals from 19 countries. To date, six candidates have been accepted into residency and are practicing, or soon to be, in Idaho.   Dr. Paula Carvalho attended medical school, residency, and fellowship at the University of Washington.  She is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical care, and Sleep Medicine and Adjunct Professor, Department of Surgery at the University of Washington.  She is also a Teaching Scholar at the University of Washington.   She

Meet the Afghan-American family behind the newest and one of the only Afghan restaurants in Boise, Taste of Persia.   Hafiz & Bahija Karim left behind their lives and careers in Afghanistan in 1990 when they were targeted by the Taliban due to Hafiz earning his college degree abroad in Russia. The couple resettled in Boise with their four young children in 2005, knowing little English and working long hours to provide. Bahija went on to open her own drapery business, The Golden Needle.  Taste of Persia is the family’s way of carrying on their customs, sharing traditional food with others, and providing for relatives who were displaced a second time when the war in Ukraine started last year.   Taste of Persia is open 12-9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays) at 10386 W Ustick Road in Boise.

Get to know Jan Reeves and Patty Haller, who worked together in leadership of the Idaho Office for Refugees for 20 years. We’ll learn more about the history of resettlement in Idaho and why programs like Global Gardens, Global Talent, and the Refugee Speakers Bureau got their start.  “So often refugees are labeled as refugees,” Patty said. “That’s an important part of their story, but it’s not the whole story.”  We’ll hear what it was like to lead resettlement in Idaho through times of change and sometimes upheaval, such as 9/11, when there was growing fear but also a show of support for refugees and Muslims in Idaho.   “There’s been a growing appreciation for the value that refugees bring to our community,” Jan said.   We hope you’ll join us for this informative episode!

Mungo Ligoya uses the power of art to connect people and inspire conversations that challenge oppressive systems.   Mungo was born and raised in Malawi, a country known as the warm heart of Africa. He moved to Idaho five years ago to attend The College of Idaho in Caldwell. His roots in the local community and relationships with fellow artists have inspired Mungo to continue building his career here.  Mungo fuses Afro-Soul and RnB into his music. His paintings reflect a call to action for social justice.  Last year Mungo founded MUNGOWONA ARTS LLC with a mission to help people connect with their bodies and feel confident in their movements, whether they are beginners or seasoned dancers. He teaches movement workshops all over the valley.   Connect with Mungo on Instagram to learn about his upcoming concerts and exhibits: @mungowona.  Thank you for listening! Please reach out to our MOSAICS team with your questions, feedback and suggestions for future guests: mosaics@idahorefugees.org.

We’re joined by Reshma Kamal and Reshad Akbari to learn about cultural humility, the pitfalls of making assumptions about others, and the power of sharing one’s own story.  Reshad was born and raised in Afghanistan. After graduating from university, he worked in government and as a freelance translator. He moved to the U.S. in March 2022 through refugee resettlement and for the past year has served as a community advisor with the International Rescue Committee.  Reshma is also a community advisor at the IRC and the humanitarian and outreach director for the Islamic Center of Boise. In these roles she has worked to build connections and understanding with organizations such as Glocal Community Partners, Peace Catalyst International, and the Boise Police Department. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Boise Public Library.  Listen to Rashad and Reshma’s stories to learn more about the meaning of ‘limbo,’ the importance of grace and curiosity, and the power of saying ‘I don’t know.’

Tune in for an engaging conversation with Winnie Christensen, founder and director of the Culture For Change Foundation based in Twin Falls, Idaho. Winnie immigrated to the U.S. from Kenya and attended high school in the small town of Blackfoot, Idaho, where her family was one of a handful of Black families. Over Winnie’s life she has helped build understanding through storytelling. She’s also given back to other immigrants as they adjust to life in America (seriously, did you realize how many different kinds of soaps exist on American grocery shelves and how confusing that can be?!).  Winnie will keep you laughing and on your toes. Make a cup of tea and join us.

Ahmadi served as a transport pilot in the Afghan Air Force before relocating to Idaho Falls in 2022 through a private sponsorship group, along with two other pilots from Afghanistan.   He’s now interning at the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, a city of 67,000 people in eastern Idaho, and is working toward an electrical engineering degree at Idaho State University. He has applied for asylum with hopes that his wife and parents will be able to join him in Idaho in the future.   A couple in Ahmadi's sponsorship group, Joe & Kim Mitchell, were featured on Mosaics in July. Check out Episode 10 to hear from them. If you would like to support Afghan pilots on their journey to becoming certified to fly in the U.S., please see our Global Talent Pilot Training Project.   Your feedback, questions, and suggestions are welcome! Please reach us at mosaics@idahorefugees.org.

This week we hear how the experiences of refugee resettlement impact children in the classroom, and what teachers can do to build a culture of welcome and empowerment.  Our guests are Chantale Niyonkuru, the REACH Youth Program Specialist at the Idaho Office for Refugees, and Sara Skinner, a facilitator, trainer and consultant.  Chantale and Sara are part of a Neighbors United group offering trainings for educators and law enforcement officers. The next training series for teachers starts Sept. 23. Learn more and sign up here (professional development credit available!)  Also on Sept. 23, join in the fun at the Welcoming Week Family Field Day in Boise or the Community Unity Table dinner in Hailey.  Please send us your feedback, questions, and ideas at mosaics@idahorefugees.org.  About this week’s guests:  Chantale has a bachelor’s in social work from Boise State University. As the first graduate in her family, Chantale is determined to inspire and empower young adults to dream big and not be confined. Chantale was born in East Africa and resettled in Idaho at the age of 8.  Sara has a master’s in public health and specializes in creating workshops and meetings that are transformative for the people involved and for the communities where they live and work. Sara’s background is in community-based public health, and she brings cross-cultural experience from her work with farmworkers, refugees, and other immigrants, and from her time living in Spain and Brazil.

Today we’re getting caught up on resettlement updates in Idaho. It’s almost the end of the fiscal year, so you’ll learn about arrivals for the year and what we’re expecting for the year ahead.  As always, you can reach us at mosaics@idahorefugees.org with feedback, questions and ideas.   Links from today’s episode:   Job Opening! Refugee Speakers Bureau coordinator, with the Idaho Office for Refugees  Professional Development Course for Educators - New Americans in the Classroom   20th Annual Gala on Oct. 13 – Agency for New Americans  Ukrainian Welcome Center featured on KTVB  Afghan Adjustment Act    Welcoming Week   Community Coordination Meeting on Nov. 28, Boise

This week we talk about what it means to feel welcomed, and what it takes to reach the next level of belonging. We hear from Lana Graybeal, City of Boise Senior Community Outreach Manager, and Beth Norton, Idaho Office for Refugees Events & Partnerships Coordinator.  In September, communities across the country celebrate Welcoming Week. This global initiative by Welcoming America brings together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity.  Lana and her family experienced the meaning of welcome when she was 5 years old and resettled in the United States as refugees. And Beth, who moved around a lot as kid, remembers feeling alone in a new school and how it felt to have someone reach out. Tune in to hear their experiences.  Links and events mentioned in this episode:  Idaho Welcoming Week Events 2023:  City of Boise First Thursday on the Plaza dedicated to Welcoming Week and Pride MonthSept. 12: Afghan Culinary Cultural Experience in English & Dari with IMID and IOR at Jump! Sept. 23: Welcoming Week Family Day with the YMCA & NU Transportation Committee Sept. 23: Community Unity Table in Hailey hosted by the Unity Alliance of Southern Idaho    Other Events and Resources:  Global Lounge Saturday Farm & Art Market Glocal Community Partners Friendship Partners Welcome Corps – sponsorship program

Halima Hamud is a Boise State University graduate who moved to Minnesota last year to pursue a graduate degree in Development Practices.   Halima was born to Somali parents in a refugee camp in Kenya. She and her family resettled in Boise in 2009 when she was in fourth grade.  Halima was among just 62 students in the country selected as Truman Scholars in 2021. She is now studying at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She has created the Circle of Excellence platform and is launching a podcast series to highlight the stories of women who have overcome obstacles to continue their profession in the states.   “I want to be able to improve the lives of refugees and former refugees here in the states,” she said, “and I want to be able to work with an organization that is stiving to improve and empower and inspire women.” Find Halima on LinkedIn.

The deep polarization of our time can feel overwhelming. On today's episode, we'll explore how to move from hostility to hospitality. That's the title of a workshop created by Nick & Laura Armstrong of Glocal Community Partners and Reshma Kamal of the Islamic Center of Boise and International Rescue Committee of Boise. They aim to increase understanding of current and historical expressions of social hostility toward refugees and immigrants, and to create connections that help us see our shared humanity.

Something most Idahoans can unite around is our disdain for goatheads, also known as puncturevine. These lovely plants came to Idaho in the 1800s on sheep and livestock and have been piercing heels and paws and popping bike tires ever since.  Often people who relocate to Boise through the refugee resettlement program don’t have a car right away, so bikes are a crucial form of transportation. For them and other community members, a flat tire isn’t just a nuisance, it’s a barrier to getting to work or appointments or the grocery store.  The problem is so ubiquitous that the Boise Bicycle Project has even created a bike parade and festival called the Goathead Fest that inspires people to get out and become weed warriors, working together to clear as much of this invasive plant as we can.   And now, thanks to a partnership between the city of Boise and Boise State University, researchers have created a new hot-spot map (goatheadmap.com) to help us know where the biggest problems are.   Today’s guest is Richard Rachman, a plant ecologist, doctoral student at BSU, and one of the researchers on that team. He’s here to share with us his team's findings and how each of us can play a role in creating a more equitable city for all cyclists and pedestrians.   You can find Richard on Instagram: @a_wandering_ecologist And be sure to check out Goathead Fest on August 19 (www.boisegoatheadfest.com), where you can meet Richard and the Idaho Office for Refugees team.