Did you know...

Utah is one of only one of a handful of states that accepts Refugees. Refugee are individuals who are forced to flee their homes and their countries, because of their race, religion, or other beliefs. Usually due to political or religious turmoil these individuals are forced to begin a new life in a new country. Utah's refugee population is made up of individuals from Asia, the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and other countries. New refugee groups relocated to Salt Lake include Burma and Iraq. Within those groups there are 59 different ethnicities and nationalities and they speak more than 53 languages.

Refugees work hard and become productive residents of our state. They open new businesses, increase diversity, and become U.S. citizens.

In order for us to be a cohesive community it is important for us to support programs and inititatives that support integration. Refugees aren't asked where they would like to relocate, they are told and then they have to make the best of it. We can do more as a society to get to know the needs of the refugees living in our state but also take advantage of the opportunity to get to know them as people and enrich our culture by infusing some of their culture in to our daily lives.

Catholic Community Services and IRC are the two organizations in the state that assist refugees with resettlement. Check out their websites to learn more.

http://www.theirc.org/where/united_states_salt_lake_city_ut/
http://www.ccsutah.org/programs/immigration-and-refugee-resettlement