A former client gives back by continuing her story as an interpreter.
Mona Alkhodor counts the day she became an interpreter for Bridge Refugee Services among one of three milestones in her refugee resettlement journey that made her shed happy tears. “I came here as a refugee from Iraq in 2009 with my husband and three children,” she said. “We arrived in Chattanooga on September 9, 2009,… Continue Reading
Bridge Refugee Services’ new Executive Director hopes to cast a wider net when it comes to resettlement in East Tennessee.
“I want to see what I can do to streamline processes, make things simpler and better utilize resources so we can impact the most people we can,” said Stephanie Livigni. “For 2023 and beyond, being able to impact as many people as possible and looking at what else we can provide – resettlement services, plus… Continue Reading
Venezuelan family of six turns to a Bridge Refugee Services Community Assistance Team (CAT) for help and friendship.
As a Venezuelan family of six has adjusted to life in East Tennessee, they’ve turned to a Bridge Refugee Services Community Assistance Team (CAT) for help and friendship. “They help with everything,” said Asdrubal, who resettled in Chattanooga in early June with his wife, Miley, and their four sons: Adrian, 18, Alexander, 15, Axel, 5,… Continue Reading
Abrahan’s Chromebook access helps build new life in America.
The Chromebook Abrahan received during a digital literacy course is helping him build a new life in America. As one of three Bridge Refugee Services clients from Cuba to participate in the course this summer, Abrahan uses the laptop daily to learn English, translate documents, and email the lawyer helping him apply for asylum. “Here,… Continue Reading
Increasing numbers of Cubans mean connections and community are crucial.
As the number of Cubans migrating to the United States continues to increase, Bridge Refugee Services has been welcoming those landing in East Tennessee by connecting them to one another and community resources. “Since October, more than 80,000 Cubans have arrived across the US,” said Bridge Case Manager Lydia Tarry. Roughly 60 who made their… Continue Reading
In Chattanooga, a Summer learning program offers long-term confidence.
Brothers Deng and Ding feel more confident about school this year thanks to the time they spent in a Summer learning program. “I was very happy they attended the summer school because they learned a lot of things like English, writing and reading and got confidence,” said their mother, Achok, who fled civil war in… Continue Reading
Like many kindergartners, Antoine has big dreams for his future.
“I want to be a doctor when I grow up,” he said. “I also want to be a pilot.” Antoine, 5, took the first steps towards achieving his dreams when he started kindergarten this month. “He was so excited to start school,” said his mother, Ange. Ange, a Congolese refugee who has spent the past… Continue Reading
Generosity from people spanning the globe brings four displaced Ukrainian women and their children safely to Oak Ridge.
Generosity from old friends, new ones, and strangers spanned the globe to bring four displacedUkrainian women and their children safely to Oak Ridge this past spring. “We met very helpful people all along,” Tetiana “Tania” Alfimova said. Tania and the other women – Mariia “Masha” Rudiuk, Olha “Olya” Kvach, and Olya’s mother,Tamara – are among… Continue Reading
From the safety of a friend’s home in Chattanooga, a couple struggles with news of the war raging in their native Ukraine.
From the safety of a friend’s home in Chattanooga, Mykhailo and Olena Murza struggle withnews of the war raging in their native Ukraine. “When it’s your home country, it’s really painful,” they said. The couple and their four children, ages 26 to 15, fled their home in Mykolaiv on Feb. 24 – thesame day Russian… Continue Reading