Mosaics

Staying Connected to Your Purpose: Anna Lloyd of Task Force Argo

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Anna Lloyd is the Executive Director and Afghan Allies Advocate with Task Force Argo. Task Force Argo formed after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan to support Afghan allies and help people who were stranded in Afghanistan or neighboring countries.‎

In this episode, Anna, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, shares about the work of Task Force Argo and how she stays focused and driven amid the daunting scope of the situation and suffering. She finds purpose in helping each next person that she can.

“You can’t feel guilty about living your life,” Anna shares. “You have to live your life. Because when you’re at peace, and you’re fulfilled, and when you have happiness and joy and something to look forward to, focus and purpose and mission, you’re more productive to help somebody else in need.”

Anna served in the U.S. Marine Corps for nearly 21 years and was a Master Sergeant when she retired in 2018. She served in 4 deployments, including humanitarian deployments and 2 combat deployments in Iraq. From 2015 to 2018, she served as Deputy to the Legislative Director, providing advice and support to the Chairman of ‎the Joint Chiefs of Staff on all legislative matters.

Anna now lives in Indiana with her husband and children. She plans to visit Idaho next month for Agency for New American’s movie night at The Flicks on April 23. The film, Fremont, is a 2023 American drama film about an Afghan refugee living in the U.S. after serving as a translator for the U.S. military in Afghanistan

Artisans for Hope: A Community of Creators from Refugee Backgrounds

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Amy Pence-Brown is the new executive director of Artisans For Hope in Boise, Idaho, a vibrant community space of creativity and economic empowerment. Here's their story:

In 2009, a group of Boise women in a book club began discussing their common interest in textiles and care for refugees resettled in Boise. They felt many refugees were met with difficulties of adjusting and community misunderstanding and ambivalence. These women wanted to help find a creative and inexpensive way to help refugee neighbors feel welcome and become a part of the larger Idaho community. The vehicle? Textile handcrafts and an opportunity to connect, learn, create, and earn. Artisans For Hope became a nonprofit and started teaching Idaho refugees to sew and knit for free in beginner courses and the opportunity to become advanced sewists who sell their wares and earn a 60% commission. Sixteen years and nearly a thousand graduates later, we remain committed to the same mission.

Each Refugee Experience is Unique: Sanga Zamaraikamal Pori

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Within the term “refugee” is a wide range of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences - including ‎among refugees from the same country.Sanga Zamaraikamal Pori, a senior at Boise State University and fellow with Neighbors United, is a former refugee from Afghanistan. Her story is unique to her own set of experiences and perspectives.Sanga and her family resettled in Boise, Idaho, when she was 4 years old, when the Afghan community was smaller. She remembers being the only student in her class wearing a hijab.Sanga is proud of her heritage, including being a Pashtun. She passionate about building a future career that supports other refugees in some way. In her free time, she loves getting creative with thrift store finds to make beautiful and traditional outfits.

UnDEfeated: Advocate and Author Desange Kuenihira

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Desange Kuenihira wrote her book, Undefeated Woman, to encourage other young people from refugee backgrounds - and through the process she found strength and healing for herself. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Desange spent much of her childhood in a refugee camp in Uganda before resettling in Salt Lake City. She has since graduated from the University of Utah and founded UnDEfeated, a nonprofit uplifting students and women in Uganda, some of whom are navigating life after child marriage. UnDEfeated’s American sponsors can take trips to Uganda to personally meet the people they are sponsoring. Learn more about the work of UnDEfeated and hear directly from students at speakundefeated.org and on the UnDEfeated YouTube page.

Immigration Then and Now: A Deeper Look from John Slocum of Refugee Council USA

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The United States is in a moment of upheaval for refugee resettlement and immigration enforcement. John Slocum, executive director of Refugee Council USA, has spent many years working in migration policy and human rights. John shares a valuable and historical perspective on the immigration conversation of today.

Pace for Peace: Advocating for Afghanistan

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:51:24 +0000

The Pace for Peace 5K is returning to Boise this month - this time with a focus on Afghanistan.

“The situation in Afghanistan still is getting worse, not better,” said Yasmin Aguilar with Agency for New Americans. “We have clients here, they are suffering, they have family members there – extended or immediate – and our hands are tied.” Sayed Mirbacha, one of the local students organizing Pace for Peace, fled Afghanistan with his family four years ago after the U.S. military withdrawal and Taliban takeover.

“Leaving everything behind and moving to another country…was shocking,” he said. “The support and the community I found here was so heart-touching to me.”

Sign up here to support Pace for Peace: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pace-for-peace-5k-run-for-afghanistan-tickets-1487201251979

Run for Afghanistan on Sept. 27. Proceeds will go to the Qamar Foundation, whose mission is to tackle social injustice and poverty through education.

Unified Purpose featuring the Idaho Office for Refugees

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Mosaics host Holly Beech recently joined the Unified Purpose podcast to dive into what it means to help people transition from surviving trauma to truly belonging in a new country.

The episode explores how Idaho’s long-standing refugee program —celebrating 50 years of resettlement — goes beyond logistics, offering emotional support, career reintegration, cultural connection, and community partnerships to make resettlement meaningful and humane.

From pilot retraining programs and mental health support to community soccer rivalries and women’s art circles, this episode showcases how small efforts, when done with heart, create powerful ripples of belonging and purpose.

Unified Purpose is produced by Penji and reshared here with permission.

Idaho Launches New Pathway for Internationally Trained Physicians

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Doctors moving into the U.S. bring much needed skills but face barriers getting back to the medical field – including a competitive process to redo their residency training.

A new law in Idaho is providing an alternative pathway for these physicians so they can complete a supervised apprenticeship and get back to the work they love.

Today we’re joined by Dr. Scott Smith and Viktoriia‎ Siedikova ‎of Global Talent to learn how House Bill 542 is bringing a win-win solution to Idaho and providing a model for other states.

Viktoriia Siedikova is a Career Advisor with Global Talent with a background in human resources, project management, and community advocacy. Originally from Ukraine and fluent in English, Russian, and Ukrainian, she brings a deep understanding of the challenges faced by newcomers to the U.S.

Dr. Scott Smith is a mentor with Global Talent working with a cohort of New American medical professionals in Idaho. He is an internal medicine doctor, educational researcher, and professor of medicine ‎‎(emeritus) with the University of Washington. Since 2019, Scott has mentored 42 internationally trained physicians from 21 ‎countries. Of those, seven are now practicing in the U.S.

To learn more about Global Talent and how to get involved, please visit https://glotalent.org/.

Lena Contor: Idahoans Are Making a Difference in Ukraine

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Lena Contor grew up in Ukraine and moved to Pocatello, Idaho, after getting married. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lena was presented with an opportunity to go back on a humanitarian relief trip. Her first thought was, “Who am I to do anything? I’m not rich. I’m not powerful.” But she couldn’t push the thought out of her mind, and she took the leap.

She is now getting ready to go on her 10th trip back to Ukraine, and she has rallied the Pocatello community to fund solar panels that will power running water for devasted communities. Lena shows how overcoming self-doubt and thoughts of insignificance – and stepping up to do what we can in the moment – can have powerful ripple effects.

Fredrick Shema: What Motivated Me to Study Law ‎

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Fredrick Shema grew up in a refugee camp in Uganda before resettling in Boise with his ‎family in 2012 as a high school student. In college, he was able to go back to the camp ‎where he grew up for a research project, reconnecting with friends still living ‎there.

Through this experience and working with Boise youth from refugee backgrounds, ‎Fredrick set his sights on becoming an attorney – wanting to make a tangible difference in ‎people’s lives. After earning his law degree this spring, Fredrick sat down with Mosaics to ‎share about his life, what he’s learned, and how he found his ‘why.’‎

Meet Damir Subasic, Local Law Enforcement Officer From A Refugee Background

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Damir Subasic is a local law enforcement officer and trainer whose family came to Idaho many years ago through the refugee resettlement program.

Damir and his family left former Yugoslavia when he was 9 on what he thought was going to be a visit to his grandma’s in Germany. But as war and violence escalated back home, it became clear they couldn’t return. Damir, the only Bosnian kid at school, faced intense bullying and isolation in those early years in Germany before making a few close friends who made life start to feel normal again.

When Damir was 16, his family resettled in Boise, where his uncle had previously been sponsored as a refugee by the owners of a local deli. Damir went to school with his guard up, expecting to face more bullying and beatings. One day he met his first American friend – a seemingly small encounter that changed Damir’s perspective for the rest of his life.

Damir went on to earn his degree in criminal justice and has worked in law enforcement for 15 years, including alongside other officers from refugee backgrounds. He now teaches at the police academy and speaks at schools and community events.

“I try to be there for others,” he said. “There’s a trickle effect you don’t realize you might ‎have on someone way down the road.”

Tap Dancer Andrew Nemr on Enduring the Dark Night

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 28 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Andrew Nemr is an international performer, speaker, author, and teacher. His parents are originally from Lebanon, and in 2015 when civil war escalated in neighboring Syria, Andrew started exploring the idea of what it means to endure and encounter hope in the midst of darkness. His vision will come to fruition in August, when Andrew will tap dance for 12-hours straight in an immersive experience calledDark Night.

Visitors are invited to reflect on and honor the enduring spirit within us all. (Find tickets at https://www.darknightlive.com/.)

Andrew, who has been tap dancing since the age of 3, has a new book out this year, The Tap Dance Method, a practical exploration of tap dance land.

Join our conversation to reflect more on what dark nights can mean for our lives and for who we are becoming.

Run for Refugees: Uniting for Welcome

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 07 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

All are welcome to join the Pace for Peace Run for Refugees in Boise on May 24, 2025, in support of Agency for New Americans.

The agency has been resettling refugees in Boise for many years. Community support is even more important this year as federal funding has been frozen. Proceeds from the race will help new refugee neighbors afford rent, utility, and medical expenses as they get on their feet in Boise.

Brandee Robles from the Agency for New Americans shares with us how her agency is navigating the new national changes and continuing to support the hundreds of people who have been welcomed over the past year.

Sayed Mirbacha, an organizer with Pace for Peace, shares why he is passionate about helping fellow refugees adjust to their new lives with hope, health, and community.

Pace for Peace Run for Refugees: http://www.anaidaho.org/runforrefugees.html

Lok Darjee: Preserving American Democracy Takes All of Us

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Lok Darjee works to empower others from refugee and immigrant backgrounds to use their vote and their voices to help shape and preserve the American democracy that he cares deeply about. His family is originally from Bhutan, but they were among the more than 100,000 Nepali-speaking people who were displaced in the early 1990s due to government persecution and attacks on their language, culture, religion, and citizenship. Lok resettled in Twin Falls, Idaho, as a teenager. While in Twin Falls, he founded a program to pair refugee students with American-born mentors.

He now runs Refugee Civic Action in Pennsylvania ‎and is a fellow at Foreign Policy for America. Lok holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia ‎University and has written extensively on immigration, policy, and identity.‎

Lok said pausing the refugee resettlement program goes against who we are as Americans. The program “gives a lot of hope to kids like me who are refugees, gives a second chance to people like ‎my family to come to this nation and build up again,” he said.

Check out his recent powerful op-ed in the Inquirer.

Displaced for her Baha'i faith, Mona Heern holds on to joy

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Mona Heern shares with Mosaics about her experiences as a young girl growing up during the Iranian revolution of 1979. Mona’s family and other members of the Baha’i faith - Iran’s largest non-Muslim religious minority – became the targets of intense persecution and restrictions, which continue to this day. Mona, her mother, and younger sister fled Iran after her father was murdered in prison simply for being Baha’i. Mona shares how she has found healing through sharing her story and serving alongside her community to maintain joy and hope.

Mona is now an educator and public speaker. She currently serves as an instructor and field experience coordinator at Idaho State University in Pocatello, preparing the next generation of teachers.

“I come from a country where it’s against the law for Baha’is to be teachers, so to having come to the United States where I can be a teacher, and now being part of that training process of future teachers, just means so much to me,” she said.

Through her public speaking engagements, Mona sheds light on the challenges faced by refugees in various forums, including school assemblies, community groups, and the media. Her hope is that through education and dialogue, we can build communities that embrace refugees and human rights in all social and institutional settings.

Mona was the recipient of the Freedom Festival Award and the NAACP Ron Timpson Award for her “significant contribution to the community through volunteerism and dedication to human rights."

City Cast Boise: The Resettlement Program is Paused. Now What?

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 11:02:00 +0000

Join us for a conversation with local podcast City Cast Boise about Boise's rich history of resettlement and the current executive order that abruptly suspended the program. Where are things now? Moses Mukengezi was resettled with his family in 2007, and he’s talking about his story alongside Holly Beech from the Idaho Office for Refugees. City Cast Boise host Lindsay Van Allen is finding out the pause means on the local level — both for the families caught in limbo and the agencies scrambling to support them. Plus, what would a permanent pause in resettlement mean for Boise’s identity?

Here’s more information on the lawsuit that was filed in federal court in Seattle seeking to reverse the Trump administration’s refugee resettlement order.

Sisters from Afghanistan Stand in Solidarity

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 19:09:00 +0000

Razma and Hasina are sisters who resettled in Idaho with their family in 2022. Razma is continuing her education at Boise State, where she is majoring in computer science, and Hasina is a senior in high school. They are pursuing dreams of education and future careers that would not be possible for them under new rules in Afghanistan banning girls and women from school and work opportunities and even leaving the house without a male escort.

The sisters are sharing their stories because they care deeply about advocating for Afghan women and girls. Their voices offer hope and encouragement to others facing hardships. Their journey hasn’t been easy, but they have learned to stay determined and work toward making a difference for themselves and for others.

National Update: Also in this episode is an update on the recent changes to refugee admissions to the United States. A presidential executive order issued on Jan. 20 suspends the arrival of refugees into the U.S. for at least 90 days, at which point it will again be under review by the president. The pause creates painful delays for refugees who have been approved for resettlement or who were about to reunite with their families after years of separation. The order does not impact the status of those who have already arrived, and the Idaho Office for Refugees and local resettlement agencies in Idaho are continuing our work to support them. Please share Mosaics and your support for resettlement with your networks to show that Americans care about our heritage of being a nation of hope, welcome, and freedom.

Understanding Immigration With Attorney Chris Christensen

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Immigration attorney Chris Christensen provides insight into where we’ve been and what we might expect in the U.S. immigration system in the year ahead.

“I think it’s important for immigrants to understand that regardless of their legal status, that they have rights in this great country,” he said.

In this episode, Chris shares valuable Know Your Rights information and practical steps people can take to reduce their risk if they are undocumented or have temporary immigration status.

“The government doesn’t have the funds, the resources, to remove (every undocumented resident),” Chris said, “and I think most of society would agree that it doesn’t make sense to deport the hardworking farmworker who has no criminal record and who has a family full of U.S. citizen children, who pays taxes and contributes, who goes to the local church every Sunday.”

Chris founded Christensen Legal PLLC in December 2017 so that he could continue serving the ‎immigrant community in Idaho and beyond. A Caldwell native and graduate of ‎Caldwell High School, Chris always had a passion for Spanish and started learning early. ‎From 2013-2015 he directed the Migrant Farmworker Law Center ‎at Indiana Legal Services, visiting labor camps in Indiana and talking to ‎migrant field workers about their rights, housing, pay, taxes, immigration options, and more.‎

Chris said, “It is that human connection, the life-altering impact that I can have to better somebody’s life, that keeps me doing this.”

Raquel Reyes of PODER: Where We Are, and What’s Next

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Join us to hear from Raquel Reyes, director of programs & operations at PODER of Idaho. We talk about the daily anxieties experienced by families of mixed immigration status, reflections on the recent election, and the many ways immigrant communities contribute to a vibrant economy and culture.

You can connect with PODER on

Instagram (poder_idaho)

and find Platicas con Poder, hosted by Raquel, on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@PlaticasConPoder.

Raquel, born in Los Angeles, has lived in Idaho since she was 2 years old. She attended elementary and high school in Wilder, a small agricultural town about 40 miles from Boise. Her life’s work has been in social justice, and she has been a vocal advocate about the injustices she has seen in the workplace. Her background is immigration, and she helped found an immigration program at the Community Council of Idaho known as Familias Unidas, Immigration Legal Services. Raquel has been married to her husband for 19 years. She has 3 adult children, 6 grandchildren, 3 dogs, 3 cats, 2 goats and lots of poultry.

Ukrainian Welcome Center: Building Trust & Connection

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 19:49:34 +0000

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 before Covid.

Learn more about the center's Adopt-a-Family Christmas campaign at www.ukrainianwelcomecenter.org.

Global Gardens Research: A Connection to the Land

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:36:48 +0000

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 scene and farming techniques.

Hear from two of the student researchers on the project: Alice Mwamba – a nursing major and former refugee from the DRC – and Maci Mattravers, an ethnic studies major from Boise. Both are sophomores with minors in refugee studies.

Also joining the conversation is professor and researcher Lisa Meierotto, Boise State Global Studies Program Lead. Hear more from Lisa on global trends and perspectives on episode 39.

Join the research team in February at Boise State for a community event to share in the results of the project. And check out Global Gardens for seasonal produce!

The title of the research project is: Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Communities: A Study of the Social, Ecological, and Economic Factors Shaping Experiences of Global Gardens Farmers

It is funded by Boise State Resource Nexus for Sustainability Grand Challenges

Participants:

Dr. Rebecca Som Castellano is the principal investigator.
Ben Brock, Program Manager, Global Gardens
Deanna Dupuy, City Design Manager, Planning and Development Services, City of Boise
Dr. Kelly Hopping, Assistant Professor, Human-Environment Systems, Boise State University
Dr. Lisa Meierotto, Associate Professor, School of Public Service, Boise State University
Oliver Nsabimana, Farm Manager, Global Gardens
Dr. Rebecca L. Som Castellano, Professor, Sociology, Boise State University
Dr. Laura Villegas-Ortiz, Economist, Boise State University Affiliate

A public event featuring the research will be held at Boise State during the Spring 2025 semester. Stay tuned!

Lisa Meierotto: Global and Local Perspectives

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

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 anthropology. She has a master’s degree in international development and a Ph.D in cultural and environmental anthropology.

In our conversation, Lisa shares about what drew her to global studies, what it’s like to be a newcomer in a different country, her research at the southern U.S. border, and displacement trends facing communities around the world. We focus on the history of colonialism and ongoing resource extraction in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the top country of origin for refugees resettling in Idaho.

Pace4Peace 5K: Meet the Student Organizers

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

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 organizers - Boise State students Ani Carnell, Sayed Mirbacha, and Samuel Bisoka - on their vision for this community event and how you can be involved. The 5K is on Saturday, October 19th in Boise with music, food, and activities. Funds raised will go through the African Community Development Inc. to meet needs in the DRC.

Chandra Upreti: Giving Back to the Community that Welcomed Me

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

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 resettlement, Chandra was recently named the field office director of the resettlement agency in Twin Falls, which is affiliated with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.

Chandra also serves on the board of directors for nonprofits including the Unity Alliance of Southern Idaho, EveryBody House, and Housing Coalition Region 4.

Chandra holds a bachelor's degree in Human Resources and a Master of Business Administration from Idaho State University. He and his wife own the Saffron Indian Cuisine restaurant in Twin Falls.

Sangam Kumari: Learning through Life’s Transitions

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 17:58:32 +0000

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 feels a true heart calling. She’s currently earning her master’s degree in social work from Boise State. Six years ago, Sangam transitioned into motherhood.

She has also experienced the transition from a collectivist to an individualistic society, and learning to hold space for both. She is the first to say she is still on the journey of finding herself and her community. Sangam shares her insights and ongoing learnings with us in today’s episode. She will also lead a workshop at the Idaho Office for Refugees’ upcoming conference, the Northwest Conference on Resettlement, focused on gentle yoga and meditation techniques in the lens of conscious, compassionate community.

Thara Rita: How It Feels to Rebuild - Twice

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

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 sewing and worked as a model in Switzerland before going on to start her own Business, JOLIE MODE, designing clothes for women and children back home in Africa.

Rita began following in her mother’s footsteps at the age of 6, dressing up, designing outfits, and dreaming of a career in fashion. But when JOLIE MODE was destroyed by the war, Rita and Veronique had to put their dreams on hold.

The two designers were given a second chance when they moved to Boise in 2012 and opened a successful retail shop in the Boise International Market. When it burned down in 2015, the two women were more determined than ever.

Veronique learned to sew handbags at Artisans for Hope, a nonprofit that helps new refugees gain skills to help them be self-sufficient and integrate in Boise. Likewise, Rita developed her talents sewing beautiful bags at Asana, where she works.

Now Thara Fashions is a thriving online and pop-up shop, creating unique designs and made-to-order clothing and accessories for women and children. Visit www.thara-fashions.com/.

Singaporean Mental Health Expert Visits Idaho

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

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 ‎organizations. ‎ Yi Feng hails from Singapore and visited Idaho in May 2024 as a fellow with the Young Southeast ‎Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI).‎ While in Boise he worked with Mike Krause, Chief Coaching Officer of Global Bound LLC, to 'make good trouble' ‎and improve workplace mental health. Yi Feng shares interesting insights about Singapore, his first impressions of Idaho, and his approach to belonging and well-being.

Joel Ntando: What World Refugee Day Means to Me

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 22:00:00 +0000

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 personally and what it means for everyone on a global ‎level.

Aanish Shamim: Perspectives from a ‘Third Culture Kid’

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 29 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

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 communities through his role at Jannus Economic Opportunity.

In our conversation, Aanish shares about navigating life as a ‘Third Culture Kid,’ and how his Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca helped shape his perspective on religion and identity.

Aanish highlights the importance of amplifying individual voices and celebrating the richness of cultural diversity within society. Outside of his professional pursuits, he enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons with his friends, playing cricket, laughing with his family, and doting on his cherished cat, Taara, meaning ‘Star’ in his primary language of Urdu.

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

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

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 that is done when people are manipulated into seeing each other as less than human based on religion or nationality. Throughout her career, Klaudia has helped many people become successful business owners. As a former business owner and holder of a bachelor's in business administration, she values the entrepreneurial spirit. Becoming a refugee is like having your wings clipped, she said, and that drives her to help others regain their sense of choice and empowerment.

Reach MOSAICS with questions and story suggestions: mosaics@idahorefugees.org

Mosaics is recorded and produced by SB Studios

Joe & Kim Mitchell: Welcoming Refugees to Idaho Falls

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

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 operation.

The community response was so overwhelmingly positive that the group formed a nonprofit, Idaho Falls Bridge Builders, which in 2023 welcomed another refugee family, from Ukraine.

Joe & Kim were inspired to be involved in a private sponsor group because they know what it’s like to be newcomers in a foreign country. Their family spent a total of seven years living in rural China, and the way they were welcomed into the community with open arms inspired them to provide a similar welcome to others in their home state of Idaho.

Connect with Idaho Falls Bridge Builders: https://sites.google.com/view/idaho-falls-bridge-builders/home

Learn more about Welcome Corps: https://welcomecorps.org/

Reach MOSAICS with questions and story suggestions: mosaics@idahorefugees.org

Mosaics is recorded and produced by SB Studios

Eliza Shabire Reunites With Her Dad After Years Apart

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 11:00:00 +0000

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 to process so he can join his family in Idaho.

Eliza is studying social work at Boise State University with dreams to be a clinical social worker and help immigrants and refugees in mental health and social justice.

Mosaics is produced by SB Studios, fundung from M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, and special thanks for the theme music to The Afro Sonics.

Sakhi Hasmati on His Work and Experience in Refugee Resettlement

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 11:00:00 +0000

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 earlier on in their resettlement journey, as the Idaho Community Advisor Network Supervisor at the International Rescue Committee in Boise.

When Sakhi first moved to Idaho, his goal was to move on quickly to a place with more earning potential. But he found a closeness within his family and community that’s made Idaho feel like home. Sakhi’s wife is awaiting approval to resettle here, too.

“I deeply appreciate the culture and kindness prevalent in this state,” Sakhi said. “In my free time, I cherish moments with family and friends, often enjoying a game of soccer.”

Sakhi loves learning about the laws and history of any country where he lives. (Sidenote from the episode: there are 27 amendments in the U.S. Constitution!)

Sakhi’s goal is to advocate, support, and deliver services to asylees, refugees, and immigrants. Recognizing the importance of families seeking and achieving long-term happiness and self-sufficiency, he’s passionate about bringing consistency to these families and aiding them in attaining a fulfilling, normal life.

Sadia Abdulkadir on Social Work, Fashion, and Family

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 21:25:57 +0000

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 appreciate people representing themselves,” she said. “Sometimes they can feel like they don’t belong unless they look a certain way, and most of the time that means getting rid of a certain aspect of their culture. I wish it was different, because for me I’m really into my culture and I love representing it.”

Sadia looks forward to using her social work degree to help people. She’s thankful to her parents for what they endured so she and her siblings could have opportunities.

“When I was younger the word ‘refugee,’ like the stigma around it, I didn’t really like it,” Sadia said. “But now I am definitely proud of being a refugee, and to me there’s a lot of pride within the word because it just reminds me what my family went through, especially my parents.”

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

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 11:00:00 +0000

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 for Boise State University, where he earned a bachelor’s in sociology.

Moses has enjoyed several years of coaching refugee youth through Nations United Soccer and speaks six languages; he is especially fond of French.

Moses has presented as a member of the Refugee Speakers Bureau, a program of the Idaho Office for Refugees (IOR). He is a board member for Jannus, Inc., which IOR is a part of, and for the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora.

Hear more from Moses on StoryCorps, where did an interview with his wife, Kathleen, in 2022.

From the Philippines to Pocatello with Andrea Soleta Schmutz

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 11:00:00 +0000

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 is originally from the Philippines, collaborates with partners including Bridges, the Rotary Club of Pocatello, and University of Utah psychiatry residents.

To other immigrants, Andrea says, “It might take you a lot of years to finally be established, but please be patient. … The rejections, failure – that’s not a weakness, that’s a strength, because you’ll be more powerful at the end.”

CONNECT

Empowering Immigrant Women website

Hear Andrea on CEWT Talk – Idaho State University's Continuing Education/Workforce Training podcast

Join Empowering Immigrant Women on Jan. 26, 2024, for a light dinner and to hear current students share about the class offered at CEWT this spring called Higher Education in the U.S. (geared towards refugees, immigrants, and first-gen) taught by Andrea Soleta Schmutz. We will also learn about the Idaho Launch, a program that provides grants for education and training programs. Starts at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the ISU Diversity Resource Center, 921 S. 8^th Ave., Pocatello. RSVP to empoweringimmigrantwomen@gmail.com

Keep an eye out for the International Women's Day Event from 5:30–7 p.m. March 8 at the ISU Diversity Resource Center (invitation upcoming). We will celebrate International Women's Day by featuring local immigrant and refugee women in ‎Pocatello selling their home-baked goods and handmade items.‎

Global Talent Docs: The Journey for New American Doctors

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0000

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 with Global Talent working with a cohort of New American medical professionals in Idaho, including Sampson, a physician and general surgeon from Nigeria.

“Medicine, essentially, for me it’s a calling. Right from when I was a little kid I always wanted to take care of people and help people,” Sampson said. “When I arrived in the U.S. and I wasn’t able to do that, it was difficult for me. Because for all my life that’s all I wanted to do.”

Sampson works at the Idaho Health Neighborhood Clinic in Nampa and has completed the necessary exams to apply for medical residency this winter. He helps other IMGs (international medical graduates) on their path to practicing medicine in the states.

Dr. Paula Carvalho works at the Boise VA Medical Center, where she assists the Global Talent Docs cohort with simulation lab training. She and Scott are both Idaho WWAMI Medical School alumni.

To contact Global Talent about this program, please email globaltalentinfo@jannus.org. Reach out to Mosaics with your questions and ideas at mosaics@idahorefugees.org.

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Sampson Nde was a physician and general surgeon in Nigeria for four years before moving to the United States in 2015. He obtained a master's degree in public health from Westminster College in Utah and worked in the public health space for more than two years in research and program development.

In 2022, Sampson moved to Idaho and took a position at the University of Idaho as a program manager with Project ECHO, where he helped in the dissemination of medical education across the Gem State.

With the help of Global Talent, he currently works at Idaho Health Neighborhood Center in Nampa as Lead Physician Extender, while also assisting in the development of a training curriculum for International Medical Graduate (IMG), which helps facilitate medical graduates' transition to a medical practice in the United States.

He has passed the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE) and will be applying for medical residency this winter.

Dr. Scott Smith is an internal medicine doctor, educational researcher, and professor of medicine (emeritus) with the University of Washington. He was in residency leadership for 28 years and was a USMLE “National Boards” question-writer for eight years. He discovered that this was the perfect job experience to help immigrant and refugee physicians to get licensed to practice medicine in Idaho. He began working with Global Talent doctors in 2019 and since then, he has served 31 individuals from 19 countries. To date, six candidates have been accepted into residency and are practicing, or soon to be, in Idaho.

Dr. Paula Carvalho attended medical school, residency, and fellowship at the University of Washington. She is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical care, and Sleep Medicine and Adjunct Professor, Department of Surgery at the University of Washington. She is also a Teaching Scholar at the University of Washington.

She is the academic section chief of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine at the Boise VA Medical Center, as well as director of the intensive care unit, bronchoscopy service, and simulation program. Her specialty boards include Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine, and Palliative Care.

Dr. Carvalho is a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine writing panel for Critical Care Medicine and an advisory member of the FDA Pulmonary panel. She has received teaching awards for seven years from the University of Washington medical students and medical residents.

Taste of Persia: Boise Family Opens Afghan Restaurant

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0000

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 children in 2005, knowing little English and working long hours to provide. Bahija went on to open her own drapery business, The Golden Needle.

Taste of Persia is the family’s way of carrying on their customs, sharing traditional food with others, and providing for relatives who were displaced a second time when the war in Ukraine started last year.

Taste of Persia is open 12-9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays) at 10386 W Ustick Road in Boise.

Jan Reeves & Patty Haller: History of Resettlement in Idaho

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:25:00 +0000

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 an important part of their story, but it’s not the whole story.”

We’ll hear what it was like to lead resettlement in Idaho through times of change and sometimes upheaval, such as 9/11, when there was growing fear but also a show of support for refugees and Muslims in Idaho.

“There’s been a growing appreciation for the value that refugees bring to our community,” Jan said.

We hope you’ll join us for this informative episode!

Meet Mungo: Painter, Dancer, Musician

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 10:29:00 +0000

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 inspired Mungo to continue building his career here.

Mungo fuses Afro-Soul and RnB into his music. His paintings reflect a call to action for social justice.

Last year Mungo founded MUNGOWONA ARTS LLC with a mission to help people connect with their bodies and feel confident in their movements, whether they are beginners or seasoned dancers. He teaches movement workshops all over the valley.

Connect with Mungo on Instagram to learn about his upcoming concerts and exhibits: @mungowona.

Thank you for listening! Please reach out to our MOSAICS team with your questions, feedback and suggestions for future guests: mosaics@idahorefugees.org.

Cultural Humility with Reshma and Reshad

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 10:56:00 +0000

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 refugee resettlement and for the past year has served as a community advisor with the International Rescue Committee.

Reshma is also a community advisor at the IRC and the humanitarian and outreach director for the Islamic Center of Boise. In these roles she has worked to build connections and understanding with organizations such as Glocal Community Partners, Peace Catalyst International, and the Boise Police Department. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Boise Public Library.

Listen to Rashad and Reshma’s stories to learn more about the meaning of ‘limbo,’ the importance of grace and curiosity, and the power of saying ‘I don’t know.’

Winnie Christensen: Culture for Change

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 11:49:00 +0000

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 understanding through storytelling. She’s also given back to other immigrants as they adjust to life in America (seriously, did you realize how many different kinds of soaps exist on American grocery shelves and how confusing that can be?!).

Winnie will keep you laughing and on your toes. Make a cup of tea and join us.

Afghan Veteran’s Experience Resettling in Idaho Falls

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 10:22:00 +0000

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 Idaho State University. He has applied for asylum with hopes that his wife and parents will be able to join him in Idaho in the future.

A couple in Ahmadi's sponsorship group, Joe & Kim Mitchell, were featured on Mosaics in July. Check out Episode 10 to hear from them.

If you would like to support Afghan pilots on their journey to becoming certified to fly in the U.S., please see our Global Talent Pilot Training Project.

Your feedback, questions, and suggestions are welcome! Please reach us at mosaics@idahorefugees.org.

New Americans in the Classroom

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:28:00 +0000

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 part of a Neighbors United group offering trainings for educators and law enforcement officers. The next training series for teachers starts Sept. 23. Learn more and sign up here (professional development credit available!)

Also on Sept. 23, join in the fun at the Welcoming Week Family Field Day in Boise or the Community Unity Table dinner in Hailey.

Please send us your feedback, questions, and ideas at mosaics@idahorefugees.org.

About this week’s guests:

Chantale has a bachelor’s in social work from Boise State University. As the first graduate in her family, Chantale is determined to inspire and empower young adults to dream big and not be confined. Chantale was born in East Africa and resettled in Idaho at the age of 8.

Sara has a master’s in public health and specializes in creating workshops and meetings that are transformative for the people involved and for the communities where they live and work. Sara’s background is in community-based public health, and she brings cross-cultural experience from her work with farmworkers, refugees, and other immigrants, and from her time living in Spain and Brazil.

Check In: Idaho Outlook & Opportunities

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 10:13:00 +0000

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 coordinator, with the Idaho Office for Refugees

Professional Development Course for Educators - New Americans in the Classroom

20^th Annual Gala on Oct. 13 – Agency for New Americans

Ukrainian Welcome Center featured on KTVB

Afghan Adjustment Act

Welcoming Week

Community Coordination Meeting on Nov. 28, Boise

Welcoming Week with Lana Graybeal & Beth Norton

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 10:36:00 +0000

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 initiative by Welcoming America brings together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity.

Lana and her family experienced the meaning of welcome when she was 5 years old and resettled in the United States as refugees. And Beth, who moved around a lot as kid, remembers feeling alone in a new school and how it felt to have someone reach out. Tune in to hear their experiences.

Links and events mentioned in this episode:

Idaho Welcoming Week Events 2023:

City of Boise First Thursday on the Plaza dedicated to Welcoming Week and Pride Month
Sept. 12: Afghan Culinary Cultural Experience in English & Dari with IMID and IOR at Jump!
Sept. 23: Welcoming Week Family Day with the YMCA & NU Transportation Committee
Sept. 23: Community Unity Table in Hailey hosted by the Unity Alliance of Southern Idaho

Other Events and Resources:

- Global Lounge Saturday Farm & Art Market
- Glocal Community Partners Friendship Partners
- Welcome Corps – sponsorship program
- Houseyourneighbor.org
- Idaho Office for Refugees Community Calendar

Thank you to the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust for the grant funding to produce this podcast, and to the Afrosonics for our theme song, Mosaic.

Halima Hamud on Learning to Be Herself - Even When It's Scary

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 Scholars in 2021. She is now studying at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She has created the Circle of Excellence platform and is launching a podcast series to highlight the stories of women who have overcome obstacles to continue their profession in the states.

“I want to be able to improve the lives of refugees and former refugees here in the states,” she said, “and I want to be able to work with an organization that is stiving to improve and empower and inspire women.”

Find Halima on LinkedIn.

From Hostility to Hospitality

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 understanding of current and historical expressions of social hostility toward refugees and immigrants, and to create connections that help us see our shared humanity.

Boise ecologist shares why 'goatheads ain't chill'

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 10:10:00 +0000

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 bikes are a crucial form of transportation. For them and other community members, a flat tire isn’t just a nuisance, it’s a barrier to getting to work or appointments or the grocery store.

The problem is so ubiquitous that the Boise Bicycle Project has even created a bike parade and festival called the Goathead Fest that inspires people to get out and become weed warriors, working together to clear as much of this invasive plant as we can.

And now, thanks to a partnership between the city of Boise and Boise State University, researchers have created a new hot-spot map (goatheadmap.com) to help us know where the biggest problems are.

Today’s guest is Richard Rachman, a plant ecologist, doctoral student at BSU, and one of the researchers on that team. He’s here to share with us his team's findings and how each of us can play a role in creating a more equitable city for all cyclists and pedestrians.

You can find Richard on Instagram: @a_wandering_ecologist

And be sure to check out Goathead Fest on August 19 (www.boisegoatheadfest.com), where you can meet Richard and the Idaho Office for Refugees team.

Catching Up on Idaho Resettlement News

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 community. We’d love to hear from you! What questions, feedback, or story suggestions do you have? Please email Holly at iorinfo@idahorefugees.org.

Links from today’s episode:

Global Talent Afghan Training Project: www.idahorefugees.org/pilots.html
Global Gardens: www.globalgardensboise.org
Community Calendar: www.idahorefugees.org/calendar.html
Neighbors United: www.neighborsunitedboise.org
Global Lounge: www.globallounge.org
Cultural for Change Foundation: www.cultureforchangefoundation.org

Idahoans Share Insights on Sponsoring Refugees

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 Uniting for Ukraine.

On today's episode, Kim shares about what it has been like being a sponsor and gives an update on how their new friends are doing today. We'll also hear Joe & Kim's workshop presented at this year's Idaho Conference on Refugees.

Americans interested in sponsoring refugees can learn more at www.welcomecorps.org. You can connect with Joe and Kim's nonprofit, Idaho Falls Bridge Builders, at https://sites.google.com/view/idaho-falls-bridge-builders/home.

From Bosnia to Boise with Maya Duratovic

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 salon for 10 years. Since then she has had a career in Higher Education working at Boise State University. Since the pandemic Maya has exchanged her salsa dance shoes for a power drill and is spending a lot more time on managing her properties than salsa dancing. Being involved in the community has always been a passion and she enjoys planning events and volunteering for various nonprofit organizations.

Afghan Pilots Resettling in Idaho Dream of Flying Again

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 Afghanistan. But they are determined. Once you fly, they said, your heart belongs to the sky. You can learn more about Global Talent's pilot project, one of the first of its kind in the U.S., and support these pilots at www.idahorefugees.org/pilots.html.

Judith Mwamba on Parenthood and Holding on to Hope

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 (which she's experienced twice), how parenting has differed in the U.S. compared to Namibia in southern Africa, and how she has used her own experiences to be a light of hope for the students where she works.

Jane Chu & Palina Louangketh: Mothers, Daughters, and Keepsakes

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 facilitated a Q&A with Dr. ‎Palina Louangketh, founder of the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora, and Palina’s mother, ‎Phouthasinh, who fled Laos with her two children when Palina was 3 years old.‎

This week we are excited to share that meaningful conversation here on Mosaics.

The Black Legacy Project Visits Boise

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 discussions. Created by Music in Common, the project also works with local Black and White musicians in each community to record present-day interpretations of songs central to the Black American experience and compose originals relevant to the pressing calls for change of our time. The community roundtable discussions helped inform how these songs are interpreted and written.

"Hope is like the currency, or the rent that I pay living on this planet," Trey said. "I am able to live in this country now with the rights and the opportunities and the privileges I had because my parents and my grandparents and those who came before us practiced hope and built a better world in a time where it was much easier to feel hopeless and disheartened than it is now. So even in the moments where I do feel discouraged, hope is much less of a feeling to me, but it's more so a way of being and it's a way of life, and it's a responsibility."

See which Boise musicians were selected in Boise at www.theblacklegacyproject.org/boise. They performed their compositions before a Boise audience on June 18, and an album including their music will be released in 2024. Boise's roundtable discussion will be featured on The Black Legacy Project docuseries.

Bringing Joy with Good Food and Sports

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 cousin, both Afghan Air Force pilots, had to evacuate with other military personnel who became targets for the Taliban.

Their journey brought them to Boise, Idaho, where Wahid now works as a cook at St. Luke’s Health System and Zullee Mediterranean Grill. He dreams of opening his own Afghan restaurant someday and helping people as a physical trainer.

When Wahid arrived in the U.S., he saw a woman in the airport holding up a sign that read, “Welcome to your country.” That small gesture made all the difference

“When you lost your country, lost your family, lost your friends, everything -- you got so far and you come in a new country, and somebody accepts you. Somebody says, welcome to your country. … From the first day I'm feeling it’s my home, it’s my new home,” Wahid said. “It’s my second country.”

From becoming a refugee to leading a resettlement agency

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 stemming from the Rwandan genocide moved into his community in the DRC (then Zaire). Zeze and his family, part of the Tutsi ethnic group, became targeted and were forced to escape to a refugee camp, where they lived for several years before relocating to the U.S.

Over the years Zeze has held several key roles in and outside of the U.S. helping refugees integrate into their new communities. He is married with four children and holds a master's degree in public administration.

Much of Zeze’s outlook on life and relationships comes from his father’s kindness toward others and from the generosity he himself received from strangers, life lessons he is now passing on to his own children and the people he works with.

A conversation with Makatas Dancers founder Joetta Julugbeh

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 31 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 girls traditional African dances, and the Makatas Heart Foundation, which works to advance education in Liberia.

“My mom told me, ‘If you are able to, once you’re stable, don’t forget the others,’” Joetta said. “And that’s what we’ve been doing.”

Joetta and her family resettled in Boise in 2003 when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Boise High School in 2012 and later earned the title of Miss Africa Idaho, representing Liberia.

Join our conversation to learn what Joetta’s first week in Boise was like, and why her fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Lincoln, inspired her to become a teacher herself.

You can see the Makatas Dancers in action at World Refugee Day Boise on June 17!

Trailer - Mosaics

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 24 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 by the Idaho Office for Refugees with grant funding from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.

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

Idaho Office For Refugees | SB Studios — Wed, 24 May 2023 10:00:00 +0000

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 that she never saw coming.

The Ukrainian Welcome Center in the past year has welcomed and assisted more than 500 people fleeing the war. Learn more about why they chose to seek safety in Idaho, and how people came together to help them feel at home.

The community is invited to mark the one-year anniversary of the Ukrainian Welcome Center on Saturday, May 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Welcome Center, 304 16th Avenue North in Nampa. The building is the former Boise Rescue Mission’s Lighthouse shelter, which coincidentally closed as the conflict in Ukraine was starting up. The Rescue Mission’s CEO quickly jumped on board with using the space for assisting Ukrainian refugees instead.

“Despite the fact that there’s a lot of evil in the world, there’s always a place for good,” Tina said. “And I think we’re seeing that realize itself in the Ukrainian Welcome Center.”

Learn more at www.ukrainianwelcomecenter.org.