Work Dreams & Work Realities at IRIS

For refugees, the “American Dream” is attainable…but it takes a long time.

Everyday at IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services), all of us work with refugees to obtain self-sufficiency.  We work closely and personally with clients, learning about their histories, experiences, present and future aspirations.  As an employment specialist, each day becomes a new humbling experience.

When refugees arrive, they step into the beginning of a bell curve experience.  They arrive alone, intimidated, and unsure of what to expect.  The beginning of the curve is a slow progression upward.  They look around at America and see so much.  They interact with volunteers who are kind, welcoming and interested in their futures.  They become energized, enroll in adult education classes, and begin to dream of a new prosperous life. Those with professional backgrounds explore opportunities to work in their fields.  I have yet to meet one refugee who’s looking for a hand out, but they are looking for help to start their lives quickly.  They think prosperity will happen quickly.  They are still climbing upwards, filled with optimism and possibility.  They create plans, dreams and goals for the future.  They come to me with these dreams.  Here is where the employment conversation begins.

We begin with the refugee: his or her education, work history, skills, knowledge and abilities. We talk about obstacles that they have to employment--physical, mental, social, linguistic—and how they can overcome these obstacles.  We discuss the poor economy, which none of us can control. We talk about the importance of learning English.  We brainstorm ideas of typical work available to refugees for their first job in America.  We talk about the short time they have to find work before their financial assistance runs out.  I think it’s here that the optimism begins to decline and the realism—and sometimes panic—sets in.  The downward slope of the bell curve begins.

At this point we develop realistic short term goals.  Refugees are diverse in all dimensions, but their first employment goal is always the same: ANY work, as long as it’s legal.  People appear at my desk repeating, I need job, I need job, I need job.  Rent to pay all by myself next month, family, babies, food, gas, electric.  I want job.  I need job.  I will take any job.  These are words every refugee learns quickly.

Every day we dream with our clients.  We try to focus on solutions.  Every day we aim for the best and at the same time we give thanks for employment that is found.  Sometimes we even help make their dreams a reality—or help them develop a new dream.

Refugees are the most motivated, adaptable people I have ever met.  “You know, in Iraq, I have 2008 car, and today I ride a bike.  But it’s ok.  That was another life, another world.  We must always be looking forward.”  This was part of a conversation I had with a refugee on the way to interview for a job making $9.00 an hour—the kind of job that’s coveted by many refugees once they have been here for a few months.

The bell curve doesn’t end on a downward spiral.  When they find employment, the curve begins to climb.  Every time someone gets a job, their whole outlook changes. They become optimistic again.  Their confidence, integrity, pride, and hope return.  Even having a job interview will affect the bell curve, giving people a little hope that they will find work.  Hope that they will be ok.

This is what we do with the help of the United Way of Greater New Haven.  We help people through the complicated process of the bell curve and making sure it never ends on a downward slope.  Thanks to grants like United Way’s, we are able to work with people beyond the federally supported 120 days. Without this support many of our folks might not be able to find jobs in time.  Instead, we help them orient to the American workplace and make plans to follow their next dreams.

Recently I’ve been working with a client who has a master’s degree in engineering, great work experience and perfect English.  He was unemployed for a long time, and then he volunteered with IRIS, worked as temporary staff on a store remodeling project, and later worked in a factory in Wallingford.  He never imagined that he would work in any of these positions.  But he had to.  Then a job came across my desk —an Arabic translator position at Yale.  I invited him back IRIS to work on getting this position.  We reviewed his resume, wrote the cover letter, asked our contacts for advice, and he did it…HE interviewed and got the position.  It’s not engineering, but it’s one step closer.  Like many refugees, he’s continually redrawing his plan – as Americans do: in pencil.