Medill Newsmakers: Ukrainian refugees adjust to America, advocate for Ukraine
By Seth Humeniuk Medill Reports As the war in Ukraine rages on, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their country. Many have made their way to Chicago’s Ukrainian Village, where a thriving community of Ukrainians has stepped up to help them adjust to life in America. Despite all the challenges they face in […]
WATCH: Chicago rallies around Ukrainian refugees
By Seth Humeniuk Medill Reports As the war in Ukraine rages on and millions of Ukrainians flee their homes, Chicagoans are stepping up to help. Protesters rallied support for the Ukrainian government, organizations prepared resources to help refugees and one brave young woman told her story of escape and begged Americans to support her war-torn […]
Chicago ranked most welcoming city to immigrants, despite hurdles
By Seb Peltekian Medill Reports Chicago is the most welcoming city for immigrants in the country, according to the latest Cities Index of the New American Economy, an immigration advocacy and reform organization. “Chicago has a very pro-immigrant posture, which no doubt is to the benefit of the people we serve. Our local and state […]
Close to Thanksgiving, hundreds of O’Hare workers set to strike
By June Leffler [Update: On Mon., Nov. 21, SEIU Local 1 announced that the strike has been delayed until after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and is now set for Tues., Nov. 29] Baggage handlers, custodians, security officers and wheelchair attendants have voted to strike in the next few days, potentially through Thanksgiving weekend. Workers are […]
Syrian Community Network encourages civic engagement
By Misha Euceph As most of Chicago was awaiting returns from the Illinois primary Tuesday night, Suzanne Akhras Sahloul, Founder and President of the Syrian Community Network, was encouraging students and faculty at Loyola University, Chicago to continue to engage civically on behalf of Syrian refugees around the world. “We have the opportunity to go […]
Resettled refugees face challenges in U.S. education system
By Marisa Endicott With the Syrian refugee crisis intensifying in Europe and debate stateside over the deportations of Central American asylum seekers, it is easy to get wrapped up in the ideological and political rhetoric instead of getting to know the day-to-day experiences and obstacles resettled refugees face. Access to education is a main hurdle. […]
A tale of two cities: how education trumps war in Chicago and Reyhanli
By Aryn Braun “There are lots of Syrians in Chicago like me, second-generation Syrians,” says Samia Akhras, 24, of Chicago’s growing Syrian Community. But Chicago isn’t home. Chicago isn’t Syria. Syrian-Americans, like Akhras and her family, are constantly reminded of the violence and upheaval that is everyday life in the Syrian Arab Republic. Akhras’ voice, […]
Syrian refugees struggle with American schools
By Nikita Mandhani Firas Jawish arrived in Chicago with his family as a Syrian refugee in September 2014. Despite being a doctor, he makes ends meet by working in a data entry job at a clinic. One of his daily concerns is finding an appropriate school for his 3-year-old son, Hasan.
North Korean’s divine revelation brings him to Chicago
By Jenny Lee On the northernmost headland of the world’s most reclusive country, North Korea, there stood young Jon Nam Kim’s home, overlooking a beautiful landscape of cliffs rising sheer from the East Sea and mountains brimming with larches, pines and pear trees. Now thousands of miles away, his old stomping ground has become a […]
