The Introduction

A refugee is someone who is displaced from his or her home country due to an internationally recognized conflict or violence. After being displaced from their home country, many refugees make their way to the United States in order to begin a new life.  These refugees are expected to learn a new language, understand a foreign culture, and find a job in less than three months. Refugees may vary widely in nationality, religious background, and ethnicity, but they share the desire to begin a new life in the United States. Refugees are an asset to their communities and workplaces as they bring a wide array of personal skills and cultural diversity.

Since 1980, roughly 46,000 refugees have been resettled in Colorado. Most of these refugees have been resettled to the Denver metropolitan area, but areas such as Colorado Springs and Larimar County are starting to receive refugees as well. While refugees resettled in Colorado come from almost every country in the world, during the past few years the majority of refugees have come from Burma, Iraq, Bhutan, and Somalia. The African Community Center is one of many organizations in Denver that helps to resettle refugees. The ACC assists refugees by providing English language classes, cultural orientation, and work training programs. Overall, the ACC acts as a guide, a resource, and a reference for refugees after they arrive in the United States. Through the efforts of the ACC, thousands of refugees have been able to build safe and sustainable lives here in Denver.

The refugee population is a unique and dedicated community. Refugees commit to a high standard of hard work and responsibility. While they may experience immense challenges, such as language and culture barriers, their positive spirits and strong sense of perseverance provide them with the drive to be successful in this new environment. In the workplace, refugees add great diversity to the community. Incorporating various worldviews and perspectives into the workplace creates a productive space in which all ideas, backgrounds, and values are respected. For refugees, employment is not merely a job; rather, it is the path toward a better, more sustainable life. Employers in the Denver metropolitan area should greatly consider hiring refugees because the opportunity to help a refugee get back on his or her feet is not only good for business but also a strong step toward building a more inclusive and connected Denver community.