LINCOLN SQUARE — Hundreds of people flocked to Sulzer Library Wednesday night for a refugee forum that's been months in the planning but proved timely on the same day news broke that President Donald Trump intends to not only ban Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. but block all other refugees for several months.
Sulzer was standing-room-only in the library's community room, and the spillover engulfed the lobby, where organizers held a separate session to accommodate the larger-than-anticipated crowd.
Moderated by Phil Ponce, host of WTTW's "Chicago Tonight," the forum featured representatives from nonprofit agencies that resettle refugees in Chicago. Attendees also heard from 22-year-old Paw Say Ku, a refugee from Burma.
Asked for her reaction to Trump's proposal, Paw responded, "I feel very sad and very devastated.... I'm very angry."
Though Paw, her parents and siblings arrived in Chicago nine years ago, her grandparents are still in a refugee camp in Thailand.
"Living in a camp, living in a cage, your future is very uncertain," she said. "All human beings ... deserve to live in a safe space."
"We have to push back," said Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th), whose office helped organize the forum. "There is a lot of good that we can do ... if we channel this energy into advocacy."
Sara Aardema, representing World Relief, urged people to sign a petition circulating at wewelcomerefugees.com.
Other ways to help, she said, include volunteering with organizations such as hers, as well as Refugee One and Heartland Alliance, which also took part in the forum.
"Give money," Aardema added in all frankness.
State funding has already been slashed, she said, and "we don't know what's going to go on at the federal level."
Burmese refugee Paw Say Ku was among the speakers at Wednesday's forum. [DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
Most of the evening was devoted to promoting better understanding of the refugee experience and dispelling myths.
Aardema, Kim Snoody of Refugee One and Lea Tienou of Heartland Alliance tackled questions on everything from why refugees are resettled in Chicago to whether they pose a security risk.
Though the Syrian crisis has received the most attention, refugees from countries including Burma, Ethiopia, Congo, Eritrea and Sudan arrived in Chicago in 2016.
Tienou explained that individuals must meet specific requirements before receiving official refugee status from the United Nations.
The vast majority, she emphasized, are resettled near their country of origin but those who do enter the United States arrive only after a lengthy process that includes multiple personal interviews, background checks, fingerprinting, medical screenings and more before they ever get on a plane.
"Refugees are the most vetted immigrants who enter this country," Tienou said. "The process takes at least two years."
Chicago is a common destination — among them, the three organizations resettled nearly 2,000 people in 2016 — because it's welcoming, has employment opportunities and is diverse, Snoody said.
But it also can be overwhelming.
Paw described arriving in the city as a 13-year-old, not knowing a word of English.
"The first year was kind of a nightmare," Paw said, as she found herself shouldering a lot of adult responsibilities. "Imagine not knowing how to speak, adjusting to everything."
She frequently felt "hopeless and frustrated" until she learned how to communicate, Paw said.
Refugees, many of whom have been traumatized by violence, are given little time to acclimate, Snoody said.
Organizations such as hers receive funding from the State Department, in the amount of $1,875 per refugee, which equates to $7,500 for a family of four, which is supposed to cover three months of services, she said.
Agencies have typically exceeded that amount by the time refugees step off the plane, having used the funds to secure housing, which is expensive in Chicago, and provide furnishings, clothing and food, according to Snoody.
Within those first three months, refugees are expected to learn English and find a job.
"It's a lot to take in, they really have to start at the beginning," Snoody said, explaining that some are coming from places that didn't even have running water.
They need to learn how refrigerators work, they need to learn how keys work because they've never lived somewhere with doors, she said.
"It's almost like you're learning how to walk at [age] 50," Snoody said. "It's a shock.... So many things are new, so many things are different."
To Snoody's constant amazement, the refugees adapt.
"They actually do it," she said. "Within months they're getting around."
For those who are still fearful of refugees, Paw, who now works for Heartland Alliance, advised visiting a resettlement organization.
"We cannot just generalize," she said. "Understand their story. These are just normal people."
For more information, click on these links: World Relief, Refugee One and Heartland Alliance.
A second forum on the refugee situation is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Concordia Place, 3855 N. Seeley Ave. Seating is limited, please RSVP to Daniel@staterepsara.com.
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Line to get into Refugee Forum at Sulzer Library. @DNAinfoCHI pic.twitter.com/TIvRg5AlhC
— Patty Wetli (@Pattydnachicago) January 26, 2017
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