New sewing program brings clients together to learn enterprise skills
Sunday, October 6th, 2019
Claudine Tuyisenge didn’t know how to handle a needle, let alone a sewing machine when she participated last month in a sewing workshop offered through Bridge Refugee Services’ Knoxville office. “Now I can make my own skirt,” says Claudine, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who resettled in Knoxville with Bridge’s help. […]
Read More »Interpreter follows in father’s footsteps
Sunday, October 6th, 2019
When Sarah Whayeb greets Arabic-speaking refugees who arrive in East Tennessee, she welcomes them in her native language. But Sarah, an interpreter with Bridge Refugee Services, understands first-hand the culture shock, exhaustion and uncertainty they’re experiencing, as well. With Bridge’s help, she resettled in Chattanooga 11 years ago after fleeing war-torn Iraq with her mother, […]
Read More »Couple founds Chattanooga coffee business with refugees in mind
Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019
Cherita Rice understood the plight of refugees at an age most aren’t aware they exist. She’s a native of the unique community enclave of Clarkston, Ga., where thousands of refugees settled and built new lives. “All my friends were refugees,” she says, hailing from Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, all over the world. The experience led her […]
Read More »Bridge client, volunteer land slot in Knoxville film fest
Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019
Hemedi had to Google Knoxville, Tennessee, when he learned as a Congolese refugee living in Burundi that he would be resettled here. This month, a movie he helped produce and film will be featured in the Knoxville Film Festival. It will screen as part of a block of short films featured 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. […]
Read More »Syrian twins win spots in national welcome program
Friday, May 31st, 2019
It is no exaggeration to say Yara and Yazan escaped war-torn Syria by the skin of their teeth. The day they left Syria with their parents and two older siblings, their home was bombed. Ten days later it was completely destroyed by fire. The refugee family was resettled in Chattanooga, where they have been rebuilding […]
Read More »Churches join to welcome refugees
Friday, May 31st, 2019
They may be different church denominations, but when you ask Jack and Nathan what moved them to come to the aid of refugees, they both quote the same verse: “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” It’s this common belief that has brought Jack’s church, St. Joseph Catholic, and Nathan’s church, St. Francis Episcopal, […]
Read More »We love our volunteers and donors—check out our celebrations!
Friday, May 10th, 2019
Volunteers and donors gathered in April for recognition events held April 11 in Knoxville and April 23 in Chattanooga.
Read More »Cars for Bridge—an Iraqi refugee pays it forward
Friday, May 10th, 2019
Karzan, who once oversaw hundreds of people working for companies that included a large American military contractor, AsiaTel and Coca Cola now works in a tiny office of two on a used car lot. Orange Auto Sales. 6271 Clinton Hwy. Knoxville, Tennessee. USA. Since his arrival with his wife and children in 2016, Karzan—who is […]
Read More »Former Iraqi refugee helps found church partnership
Friday, May 10th, 2019
Abdulwahhab Alabid, known as Wahab, came to America from Iraq determined to succeed. He went to work at Amazon. He started a catering business with his son, Ahmed, and wife, Jinan. He connected with a local family early on who helped him find the mobile home he bought and renovated (the beginnings of a small, […]
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