“i just wanted to stay somewhere there was a job, life and
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ldquoI just wanted to stay somewhere there was a job life and protectionrdquo he says content warning violence torture war
War-torn Sudan seems a world away from the quiet apartment in EastChattanooga Mohamed and Ibrahem now call home The journey has beennothing short of incredible Mohamed gracious and polite quietly tells how local raids forced him toabandon the family farm He then escaped twice from wretched conditionsbeatings and constant threat of murder in the infamous refugee camp of
Darfur Ibrahem charismatic and a natural storyteller speaks of how he was arrestedand beaten for refusing to fight in Sudanrsquos ongoing civil war ldquoI told them lsquoThese are my people How do I fight my own peoplersquordquo he saysHe likely wouldnrsquot have survived the ordeal if not for a sympathetic jailerwho helped him escape
The Impact of Interns Meet Katy Shes one of the firstfriendly faces refugees see uponarrival to their Knoxville homeSince October she has been servingas an intern with Bridge providingthe cultural orientation classesrequired within the early days oftheir arrival Interns like Katy are crucial tohelping support Bridge casemanagers who struggle with heavycaseloads and the many federally-mandated tasks that must becompleted within refugeesrsquo first 90
Culture Corner Baladi bread عیش بلدي is a Sudanesebread In Sudan bread is a staplewith most meals Click the imageabove to learn how to cook this dishfrom Omer the son of Sudanesedoctors living in the UK Image credit Omer Eltigani Sudanese Kitchen
Keep reading
days of residency Continuereading
Tennessee Educational EquityCoalitions 2019 Education Summitamp Day on the Hill Kirsten Cole Bridge RefugeeServices Knoxville School Liaisonattended the Tennessee EducationalEquity Coalitions 2019 EducationSummit amp Day on the Hill Picturedis Representative Ryan WilliamsDistrict 42 Gini Pupo-Walker-Senior Director of Education Policyamp Programs at Conexioacuten Ameacutericas afellow Summit attendee andKirsten Cole
In The News
Executive Director DrocellaMugorewera Celebrating 10 yearsin America Ten years ago I came to theUnited States and was warmlywelcomed by a Bridge RefugeeServices Case Manager with adelegation from Northside ChristianChurch It had been a long andpainful journey but I was full ofhope During that time of adversityI remained faithful Continuereading
Oscar-nominated director NadineLabakis latest film follows the storyof a young boy living in the slums ofBeirut Zain Al Rafeea the childactor was a Syrian refugeediscovered at a street casting Image credit Mehdi Chebil FRANCE 24
Upcoming EventsKnoxville
March 11th Community Assistance Info Meeting
6pm Mar 27th
Volunteer Orientation 530 - 7pm Mar 27th
Sweet Ps BBQ Taste amp Toast 630pm
Chattanooga March 12th
Volunteer Orientation 11am-12pm
Donate
(Top) Drocella Mugorewera was honored with a
Peacemaker Award by the Oak Ridge Environmental
Peace Alliance She is the second honoree from
Bridge last year Summer Awad our Intensive Case
Manager received the honor And this year Seema
Singh-Perez (right of Drocella) a Knoxville
councilwoman and Bridge volunteer with our mens
and womens groups also received the award
(Center) Terry Reed from Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) and Knox County CAC spoke to our
clients about taxes and how to avoid scams aimed at
refugees and immigrants
We wish a warm welcome toHannah Mask Hannah is joining theChattanooga office as the Volunteerand Community Manager
Staff amp Board Retreat 2019 Bridge board and staff members spent a weekend retreat working on a strategic plan and highlightingpriorities for the future The most valuable part of coming together as an entire organization saysBoard Chair Martin Lester was the chance for the staff and the Board to work together as a team toplan Bridges future For me personally it was very gratifying to see that we have a strong and solidorganization that will continue to serve refugees and our communities We are thankful for such a dedicated team of individuals committed to welcoming refugees and asyleesto East Tennessee Thank you to Jerry Askew and Elle Benson from the Alliance for Better Non-profitsfor their guidance
Copyright copy 2019 Bridge Refugee Services Inc All rights reserved
Our mailing addresses are 3839 Buffat Mill Road Knoxville TN 37914 4791A Hal Drive Chattanooga TN 37416
Want to change how you receive these emails
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
Darfur Ibrahem charismatic and a natural storyteller speaks of how he was arrestedand beaten for refusing to fight in Sudanrsquos ongoing civil war ldquoI told them lsquoThese are my people How do I fight my own peoplersquordquo he saysHe likely wouldnrsquot have survived the ordeal if not for a sympathetic jailerwho helped him escape
The Impact of Interns Meet Katy Shes one of the firstfriendly faces refugees see uponarrival to their Knoxville homeSince October she has been servingas an intern with Bridge providingthe cultural orientation classesrequired within the early days oftheir arrival Interns like Katy are crucial tohelping support Bridge casemanagers who struggle with heavycaseloads and the many federally-mandated tasks that must becompleted within refugeesrsquo first 90
Culture Corner Baladi bread عیش بلدي is a Sudanesebread In Sudan bread is a staplewith most meals Click the imageabove to learn how to cook this dishfrom Omer the son of Sudanesedoctors living in the UK Image credit Omer Eltigani Sudanese Kitchen
Keep reading
days of residency Continuereading
Tennessee Educational EquityCoalitions 2019 Education Summitamp Day on the Hill Kirsten Cole Bridge RefugeeServices Knoxville School Liaisonattended the Tennessee EducationalEquity Coalitions 2019 EducationSummit amp Day on the Hill Picturedis Representative Ryan WilliamsDistrict 42 Gini Pupo-Walker-Senior Director of Education Policyamp Programs at Conexioacuten Ameacutericas afellow Summit attendee andKirsten Cole
In The News
Executive Director DrocellaMugorewera Celebrating 10 yearsin America Ten years ago I came to theUnited States and was warmlywelcomed by a Bridge RefugeeServices Case Manager with adelegation from Northside ChristianChurch It had been a long andpainful journey but I was full ofhope During that time of adversityI remained faithful Continuereading
Oscar-nominated director NadineLabakis latest film follows the storyof a young boy living in the slums ofBeirut Zain Al Rafeea the childactor was a Syrian refugeediscovered at a street casting Image credit Mehdi Chebil FRANCE 24
Upcoming EventsKnoxville
March 11th Community Assistance Info Meeting
6pm Mar 27th
Volunteer Orientation 530 - 7pm Mar 27th
Sweet Ps BBQ Taste amp Toast 630pm
Chattanooga March 12th
Volunteer Orientation 11am-12pm
Donate
(Top) Drocella Mugorewera was honored with a
Peacemaker Award by the Oak Ridge Environmental
Peace Alliance She is the second honoree from
Bridge last year Summer Awad our Intensive Case
Manager received the honor And this year Seema
Singh-Perez (right of Drocella) a Knoxville
councilwoman and Bridge volunteer with our mens
and womens groups also received the award
(Center) Terry Reed from Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) and Knox County CAC spoke to our
clients about taxes and how to avoid scams aimed at
refugees and immigrants
We wish a warm welcome toHannah Mask Hannah is joining theChattanooga office as the Volunteerand Community Manager
Staff amp Board Retreat 2019 Bridge board and staff members spent a weekend retreat working on a strategic plan and highlightingpriorities for the future The most valuable part of coming together as an entire organization saysBoard Chair Martin Lester was the chance for the staff and the Board to work together as a team toplan Bridges future For me personally it was very gratifying to see that we have a strong and solidorganization that will continue to serve refugees and our communities We are thankful for such a dedicated team of individuals committed to welcoming refugees and asyleesto East Tennessee Thank you to Jerry Askew and Elle Benson from the Alliance for Better Non-profitsfor their guidance
Copyright copy 2019 Bridge Refugee Services Inc All rights reserved
Our mailing addresses are 3839 Buffat Mill Road Knoxville TN 37914 4791A Hal Drive Chattanooga TN 37416
Want to change how you receive these emails
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
days of residency Continuereading
Tennessee Educational EquityCoalitions 2019 Education Summitamp Day on the Hill Kirsten Cole Bridge RefugeeServices Knoxville School Liaisonattended the Tennessee EducationalEquity Coalitions 2019 EducationSummit amp Day on the Hill Picturedis Representative Ryan WilliamsDistrict 42 Gini Pupo-Walker-Senior Director of Education Policyamp Programs at Conexioacuten Ameacutericas afellow Summit attendee andKirsten Cole
In The News
Executive Director DrocellaMugorewera Celebrating 10 yearsin America Ten years ago I came to theUnited States and was warmlywelcomed by a Bridge RefugeeServices Case Manager with adelegation from Northside ChristianChurch It had been a long andpainful journey but I was full ofhope During that time of adversityI remained faithful Continuereading
Oscar-nominated director NadineLabakis latest film follows the storyof a young boy living in the slums ofBeirut Zain Al Rafeea the childactor was a Syrian refugeediscovered at a street casting Image credit Mehdi Chebil FRANCE 24
Upcoming EventsKnoxville
March 11th Community Assistance Info Meeting
6pm Mar 27th
Volunteer Orientation 530 - 7pm Mar 27th
Sweet Ps BBQ Taste amp Toast 630pm
Chattanooga March 12th
Volunteer Orientation 11am-12pm
Donate
(Top) Drocella Mugorewera was honored with a
Peacemaker Award by the Oak Ridge Environmental
Peace Alliance She is the second honoree from
Bridge last year Summer Awad our Intensive Case
Manager received the honor And this year Seema
Singh-Perez (right of Drocella) a Knoxville
councilwoman and Bridge volunteer with our mens
and womens groups also received the award
(Center) Terry Reed from Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) and Knox County CAC spoke to our
clients about taxes and how to avoid scams aimed at
refugees and immigrants
We wish a warm welcome toHannah Mask Hannah is joining theChattanooga office as the Volunteerand Community Manager
Staff amp Board Retreat 2019 Bridge board and staff members spent a weekend retreat working on a strategic plan and highlightingpriorities for the future The most valuable part of coming together as an entire organization saysBoard Chair Martin Lester was the chance for the staff and the Board to work together as a team toplan Bridges future For me personally it was very gratifying to see that we have a strong and solidorganization that will continue to serve refugees and our communities We are thankful for such a dedicated team of individuals committed to welcoming refugees and asyleesto East Tennessee Thank you to Jerry Askew and Elle Benson from the Alliance for Better Non-profitsfor their guidance
Copyright copy 2019 Bridge Refugee Services Inc All rights reserved
Our mailing addresses are 3839 Buffat Mill Road Knoxville TN 37914 4791A Hal Drive Chattanooga TN 37416
Want to change how you receive these emails
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
Oscar-nominated director NadineLabakis latest film follows the storyof a young boy living in the slums ofBeirut Zain Al Rafeea the childactor was a Syrian refugeediscovered at a street casting Image credit Mehdi Chebil FRANCE 24
Upcoming EventsKnoxville
March 11th Community Assistance Info Meeting
6pm Mar 27th
Volunteer Orientation 530 - 7pm Mar 27th
Sweet Ps BBQ Taste amp Toast 630pm
Chattanooga March 12th
Volunteer Orientation 11am-12pm
Donate
(Top) Drocella Mugorewera was honored with a
Peacemaker Award by the Oak Ridge Environmental
Peace Alliance She is the second honoree from
Bridge last year Summer Awad our Intensive Case
Manager received the honor And this year Seema
Singh-Perez (right of Drocella) a Knoxville
councilwoman and Bridge volunteer with our mens
and womens groups also received the award
(Center) Terry Reed from Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) and Knox County CAC spoke to our
clients about taxes and how to avoid scams aimed at
refugees and immigrants
We wish a warm welcome toHannah Mask Hannah is joining theChattanooga office as the Volunteerand Community Manager
Staff amp Board Retreat 2019 Bridge board and staff members spent a weekend retreat working on a strategic plan and highlightingpriorities for the future The most valuable part of coming together as an entire organization saysBoard Chair Martin Lester was the chance for the staff and the Board to work together as a team toplan Bridges future For me personally it was very gratifying to see that we have a strong and solidorganization that will continue to serve refugees and our communities We are thankful for such a dedicated team of individuals committed to welcoming refugees and asyleesto East Tennessee Thank you to Jerry Askew and Elle Benson from the Alliance for Better Non-profitsfor their guidance
Copyright copy 2019 Bridge Refugee Services Inc All rights reserved
Our mailing addresses are 3839 Buffat Mill Road Knoxville TN 37914 4791A Hal Drive Chattanooga TN 37416
Want to change how you receive these emails
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
Staff amp Board Retreat 2019 Bridge board and staff members spent a weekend retreat working on a strategic plan and highlightingpriorities for the future The most valuable part of coming together as an entire organization saysBoard Chair Martin Lester was the chance for the staff and the Board to work together as a team toplan Bridges future For me personally it was very gratifying to see that we have a strong and solidorganization that will continue to serve refugees and our communities We are thankful for such a dedicated team of individuals committed to welcoming refugees and asyleesto East Tennessee Thank you to Jerry Askew and Elle Benson from the Alliance for Better Non-profitsfor their guidance
Copyright copy 2019 Bridge Refugee Services Inc All rights reserved
Our mailing addresses are 3839 Buffat Mill Road Knoxville TN 37914 4791A Hal Drive Chattanooga TN 37416
Want to change how you receive these emails
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
Our mailing addresses are 3839 Buffat Mill Road Knoxville TN 37914 4791A Hal Drive Chattanooga TN 37416
Want to change how you receive these emails
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list