I believe that doing good is selfish, because it always feels good, so much better than argument and hatred. Today, a chance for me, and perhaps for you, to feel very good. We need $1,200 for 90 art kits for some refugee children. I choose compassion and empathy not fear and division. I don’t want my hear to turn to stone, and there is out there an Army Of Good.
Meet Solange Mendevu, in the photo above. A decade ago, Solange, a member of the Banyamulenge Tribe in the Congo, fled a horrific massacre with her family and was living in a refugee camp, hoping to get to America, everyone’s beacon of hope and safety and justice. She watched her brother and cousin shot and nearly killed when another tribe attacked the refugee camp.
Today she is a certified accountant, a new board member of RISSE, the Refugee And Immigrant Support Services organization in Albany, New York, the first refugee RISSE to graduate from Sienna College. A decade ago, she was a refugee child.
In a sense, Solange is a living truth machine. She gives the lie to every awful and false stereotype spread about refugees and immigrants. posted a photo of her last night shyly covering her face, but then, she wanted to be photographed, on behalf of all of the refugees and immigrants in the world praying to get to America.
It is a disgrace to blame all refugees for the criminal acts of a few, any more than we can tar all of our neighbors for the crimes some commit.
Solange does not steal or tax our public services illegally. She speaks fluent English after years of hard work. She is employed and productive and pays taxes. She is not a terrorist, nor does she know of any. She does know of many of her former tribesmen still dying and desperate in Africa, a dozen were supposed to come to New York this week, their visas – they worked for years to get them – suddenly denied.
“They are very frightened,” she says, “they have no place to go.” I met with Solange and RISSE officials yesterday, and I hope to get to know them and write about them and help them. In America, newly arrived immigrants come under the care of U.S. Committee On Refugees and Immigration (USCRI). Then, after three months, they are on their own.
Scores come to RISSE whose main building in Albany was burned to the ground by arsonists a year ago, the tires on all of their vans slashed. They function out of a small rebuilt house and the cramped second floor of the Emmaus Methodist Church. They are overwhelmed, broke and in need of everything, from fences for the schoolyard to a new van.
They offer English and business and other classes, and day care and art programs for refugee children, 90 of whom are crowded into small spaces in need of paint and new fencing for the playground.
I have been given permission to visit RISSE regularly, meet the refugees, take photos and hopefully, offer some help. They are cranking up a new fund-raising program on their own. They are sponsoring a refugee art show in Albany on March 30 at the Albany Repertory Theater.
I have been looking for months for an organization like RISSI to visit and write about. As the descendants of immigrants, it is also true that almost no one in my family, including me, would be alive today if not for the generous and open spirit of America. We are in danger of losing that spirit, it is a cancer that will turn our hearts and souls to stone.
When I came to meet Solange and a wonderful man named Francis Sengabo, the RISSE Director Of Operations (more about him later), I brought ten of the art kits Rachel Barlow has been making for refugee children. This week, she is bringing 50 of them to refugee children in upstate New York.
Solange and Francis loved the art kits and I said I would try to raise funds to bring 90 more to the children at RISSI, they come from all over the world, they would benefit greatly from the creative tools in Rachel’s kit.
These children have suffered greatly in their former homes, they are struggling to acclimate in a new culture, they need to explore their creative sparks, find their voice, build their confidence. Rachel’s kits are amazingly creative and fun. It will cost $1,200 for her to purchase the materials for 90 art kits. Maria and I have both volunteered to help her assemble them. We know how healing and empowering creativity can be.
Rachel Barlow is an author, illustrator and painter in Vermont, and she plans to expand her program to refugee children and children in foster care. Social workers say the kits are healing and valuable to these children. I am sorry to be talking so much about money these days, but we are in a great conflict over values.
My choice is not to argue, but to do good, and this is a way to do immediate good. I hope to help RISSE in other ways as well, they are dedicated and worthy. But one step at a time. If you care to help us raise $1,200 for 500 art kids for refugee children, you can do so here.