Best Idaho Office For Refugees Sb Studios Podcasts (2024)

1
Ukrainian Welcome Center: Building Trust & Connection 28:56

2h ago28:56

28:56

The Ukrainian Welcome Center in Nampa has served more than 700 people displaced by the war in Ukraine. The center's Executive Director Tina Polishchuk and recent School Impact Coordinator Joni Leipf share how their summer program brought a sense of normalcy and an opportunity for healing for students who haven't had a normal school year since befor…

1
Global Gardens Research: A Connection to the Land 32:26

8d ago32:26

32:26

A research team from Boise State University is studying the ecological knowledge of Boise farmers from refugee backgrounds and learning how they adapted to farming in a new location. The project will bring more understanding of how Global Gardens farmers are using knowledge from their home countries here in Boise and contributing to the local food …

1
Lisa Meierotto: Global and Local Perspectives 34:02

7d ago34:02

34:02

Lisa Meierotto is the Program Lead of Boise State University’s Global Studies program, which she helped create. Along with teaching, Lisa researches intersections between global migration, human rights, and environmental justice. Lisa grew up in Idaho and lived in Ecuador, Cuba and Costa Rica while earning her degree in global studios and anthropol…

1
Pace4Peace 5K: Meet the Student Organizers 52:41

26d ago52:41

52:41

The Pace4Peace 5K was founded by a local group of people with the goal of raising awareness for the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and bringing the community together. Boise has a strong Congolese community, and the DRC has been the top country of origin for refugees resettling in Idaho for several years. Hear from some of the race orga…

1
Chandra Upreti: Giving Back to the Community that Welcomed Me 39:44

1M ago39:44

39:44

Chandra Upreti is a dedicated advocate for refugee rights and resettlement. Born in Bhutan, he experienced displacement at a young age, fleeing to Nepal as a refugee. After spending 17 years in Refugee Camps, Chandra was eventually resettled in Twin Falls, Idaho, where he found a new home and purpose. With over a decade of experience in refugee res…

1
Sangam Kumari: Learning through Life’s Transitions 42:03

2M ago42:03

42:03

Sangam Kumari has experienced many transitions in her life. When she was 4 years old, her family moved from India to Nepal. She took an even bigger leap at the age of 8, moving without her family to America with a family friend. Sangam’s career has also transitioned from environmental engineering, in which she has a Ph.D., to social work, where she…

1
Thara Rita: How It Feels to Rebuild - Twice 30:26

3M ago30:26

30:26

Today we share in a powerful conversation with Rita Thara, who owns Thara Fashions with her mother, Veronique. They import fabrics from Africa to design and create modern clothing, handbags and accessories with a traditional African twist. Veronique learned to sew from her own mother at the age of 7 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She studied …

1
Singaporean Mental Health Expert Visits Idaho 35:39

4M ago35:39

35:39

Friends call Yi Feng the "Mental Health Guy" for doing many things relating to mental health for the ‎past 12 years. He is a Registered Social Worker, Certified Master Solution Focused Practitioner, ‎Certified Narrative Therapist, and Organization Development enthusiast, seeking to build mentally healthier workplaces and more socially impactful ‎or…

1
Joel Ntando: What World Refugee Day Means to Me 39:05

5M ago39:05

39:05

Today we hear from Joel Ntando, coordinator of the Refugee Speakers Bureau at ‎the Idaho Office for Refugees. Joel has a background in theater and academia. He ‎lived and worked in South Africa for 14 years before resettling in Idaho and is ‎originally from the Democratic of Republic of Congo. He shares what World ‎Refugee Day means to him personal…

1
Aanish Shamim: Perspectives from a ‘Third Culture Kid’ 41:18

6M ago41:18

41:18

Aanish Shamim is a first-generation immigrant from Pakistan who has called Idaho home since he was 3. Aanish has a degree in international political economy from The College of Idaho and is the City of Boise’s Community Engagement Coordinator. He previously worked closely with students at the College of Western Idaho and helped empower marginalized…

1
Klaudia Saric: What Happened in Bosnia & Herzegovina Could Happen Anywhere 53:44

7M ago53:44

53:44

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 …

1
Joe & Kim Mitchell: Welcoming Refugees to Idaho Falls 38:58

8M ago38:58

38:58

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…

1
Eliza Shabire Reunites With Her Dad After Years Apart 36:33

9M ago36:33

36:33

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 …

1
Sakhi Hasmati on His Work and Experience in Refugee Resettlement 43:29

10M ago43:29

43:29

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 earlie…

1
Sadia Abdulkadir on Social Work, Fashion, and Family 40:05

11M ago40:05

40:05

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…

1
Moses Mukengezi: ‘I am more than a refugee, but it’s also part of me’ 43:31

11M ago43:31

43:31

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 fo…

1
From the Philippines to Pocatello with Andrea Soleta Schmutz 37:30

11M ago37:30

37:30

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…

1
Global Talent Docs: The Journey for New American Doctors 36:42

12M ago36:42

36:42

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 wi…

1
Taste of Persia: Boise Family Opens Afghan Restaurant 28:49

1y ago28:49

28:49

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 child…

1
Jan Reeves & Patty Haller: History of Resettlement in Idaho 29:23

1y ago29:23

29:23

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 a…

1
Meet Mungo: Painter, Dancer, Musician 35:20

1y ago35:20

35:20

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 i…

1
Cultural Humility with Reshma and Reshad 38:07

1y ago38:07

38:07

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 ref…

1
Winnie Christensen: Culture for Change 35:21

1y ago35:21

35:21

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 …

1
Afghan Veteran’s Experience Resettling in Idaho Falls 27:11

1y ago27:11

27:11

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…

1
New Americans in the Classroom 29:36

1y ago29:36

29:36

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…

1
Check In: Idaho Outlook & Opportunities 13:01

1y ago13:01

13:01

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…

1
Welcoming Week with Lana Graybeal & Beth Norton 32:46

1y ago32:46

32:46

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 …

1
Halima Hamud on Learning to Be Herself - Even When It's Scary 42:31

1y ago42:31

42:31

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 Scholar…

1
From Hostility to Hospitality 46:20

1y ago46:20

46:20

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 understa…

1
Boise ecologist shares why 'goatheads ain't chill' 14:08

1+ y ago14:08

14:08

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 …

1
Catching Up on Idaho Resettlement News 6:37

1+ y ago6:37

6:37

This week we’re taking a few moments to catch up on resettlement news and events in Idaho. For the next six minutes you’ll hear updates on Global Talent’s cohort of Afghan pilots, Global Gardens (which is selling at farmers markets and just opened sign-ups for its Fall CSA!), and upcoming events. Thanks for tuning in and being part of the MOSAICS c…

1
Idahoans Share Insights on Sponsoring Refugees 1:19:13

1+ y ago1:19:13

1:19:13

When the opportunity arose for Americans to privately sponsor refugees, Joe and Kim Mitchell of Idaho Falls felt called to step up. They helped form a Sponsor Circle to welcome three Afghan pilots to Idaho Falls in 2022, the first new refugee arrivals the community had seen in decades. More recently they welcomed a family of four (now five) through…

1
From Bosnia to Boise with Maya Duratovic 45:54

1+ y ago45:54

45:54

Maya and her family came from Bosnia to Boise as refugees in 1997 when she was 11 years old. As she has seen and been a part of Boise's growth from a small sleepy town to the city it is now, she considers herself more Idahoan than Bosnian or American. Much to her parents chagrin, her first career was as a cosmetologist while she operated her hair s…

1
Afghan Pilots Resettling in Idaho Dream of Flying Again 46:32

1+ y ago46:32

46:32

Amani and Bashir are experienced Afghan military pilots who served alongside U.S. allies. Now resettled in Idaho, they are part of Global Talent’s first cohort of pilots to work toward become certified commercial airline pilots in the U.S. It’s a demanding and expensive process – one they are navigating while supporting their families back home in …

1
Judith Mwamba on Parenthood and Holding on to Hope 31:43

1+ y ago31:43

31:43

Judith Mwamba is a teaching assistant at the English Language Center in Boise. She loves math, music, and laughter. Judith resettled in Idaho in 2022 with her young son, mother and brothers, and they long for the day when they will be reunited with her father and older siblings. Judith shares what it's like to feel like an outsider in a new country…

1
Jane Chu & Palina Louangketh: Mothers, Daughters, and Keepsakes 1:10:19

1+ y ago1:10:19

1:10:19

Illustrator Jane Chu, former chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts, shines light on ‎refugee and immigrant stories by drawing their keepsake items. Her work is inspired by her own mother ‎leaving behind all she knew in China to find a life of safety and opportunity. ‎ Jane presented at the Idaho Conference on Refugees this year and fac…

1
The Black Legacy Project Visits Boise 25:57

1+ y ago25:57

25:57

Todd Mack and Trey Carlisle, co-creators of The Black Legacy Project, share about their national project that helps people open up about race relations in their communities and work together to advance solidarity and belonging. The Atlanta-based organization selected seven communities nationwide, including Boise, for a series of intimate roundtable…

1
Bringing Joy with Good Food and Sports 24:14

1+ y ago24:14

24:14

A conversation with Wahid Amani, a cook, physical trainer, and army veteran from Afghanistan Wahid Amani studied physical education in Kabul and joined the military in 2012, working closely with U.S. and NATO allies and building up a sports program for the Afghan army. When the U.S. military withdrew from Afghanistan, Wahid and his brother and cous…

1
From becoming a refugee to leading a resettlement agency 1:01:06

1+ y ago1:01:06

1:01:06

Zeze Rwasama shares his story from DRC to Rwanda to the U.S. Zeze Rwasama is the director of the College of Southern Idaho Refugee Programs, which resettles refugees in Twin Falls, Idaho. As a child Zeze dreamed of becoming an engineer in electronics, but his passion shifted to helping refugees after he himself become a refugee in 1995. Conflict st…

1
A conversation with Makatas Dancers founder Joetta Julugbeh 28:03

1+ y ago28:03

28:03

Joetta, a young Idaho educator, shares about pushing through struggles to embrace her calling Mosaics is thrilled to welcome guest Joetta Julugbeh of Pocatello, Idaho. Joetta works in the classroom as a K-12 teaching assistant while earning her degree in education. Joetta is the founder of the Makatas Dancers, a mentorship program that teaches girl…

1
'Idaho Reminds Them of Home': Ukrainian Welcome Center Marks First Anniversary 17:54

1+ y ago17:54

17:54

This week Mosaics talks with Tina Polishchuk, executive director of the Ukrainian Welcome Center. Tina, whose own family fled religious persecution in Ukraine more than 30 years ago, was building her career and raising a young family in Idaho when Russia invaded Ukraine last year. What started out as a clothing drive became a twist in her own life …

1
Trailer - Mosaics 0:29

1+ y ago0:29

0:29

Idaho has a heritage of refugee resettlement that’s enriched our culture, economy, and communities. On the Mosaics podcast, we’ll hear from Idahoans with lived refugee experience and from community members who are building a culture of belonging. We all have a role to play in creating the bigger picture of a vibrant and connected society. Presented…

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