Greensboro refugees are suffering

In a diverse pannel discussion tonight at Elon University, speakers noted the difficulties for refugees in North Carolina in adapting to American culture.

Speaker Shana Morrison, a professor of public health at the University of Chapel Hill Greensboro, said there is a need for improvement in the care of refugees in the area, but that this change will not come easily. She specifically spoke on the Montagnard community in North Carolina, who are political refugees from Vietnam. North Carolina, she said, is home the the largest population of Montagnards outside Vietnam, about 9,000 – 10,000. The community is made up of substance farmers, with strong family ties, a traditional way of life and unfortunately said Morrison, a lack of language assimilation, education and high poverty rates.

She is in the progress of implementing a program to heal improve these factors for the refugee community.

“DO YOU SEE HOW CLEAR THAT IS?” emphasized Morrison when displaying a representation of her improvement model.

Morrison and her team of student researchers are planing an intervention to help the Montagnards improve their quality of life and adapt to the American culture. Focus problems include:

Health Care Access

The Montagnards have been able to attain an “orange card” for access to free health care. This card was instated and then takes a way a number of times but it currently in use.

Literacy and Health Literacy

Morrison said that Montagnard women have shown interest in learning and reading but are unable to due to inaccessibility and cost. She also expressed the importance that the Montagnards have a stronger understanding of English.

Community Health Center

Morrison and her team are looking to set un a Community Health center where modern medicine can be administered as well as to provide access to a health education.

Morrison also expressed the need for funding. Poverty, she said, is a huge block in the road for the Montagnards. Much improvement is seen to be capable with little money as she explains that women were able to create their own sustainable water source and garden with only $5 for dirt and a water bucket.

Though improving health, wealth and education in such a community will be immensely difficult, the outcome would allow the refugees to experience the real freedoms that America has to offer them.

As speaker Dr. Idris put it, “The importance of freedom is not about having it, but to give it too.”

Elon University holds a panel discussion on refugees and asylee’s in Greensboro

Elon University hosts a panel discussion on the needs, challenges and opportunities of refugees and immigrants in Greensboro.

Heather Scavone

 Scavone joined Elon as the Clinical Practitioner for the Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic in 2011. Scavone represents hundreds of refugees and asylees each year.

“A family member may never see their spouse or children again,” said Scavone.

When families immigrate, the transition from one country to another structurally redefines the family. To successfully achieve cultural competence, organizations must incorporate it into every level of their structure.

 Family unity promotes:

• Good mental health
• Economic self-sustainability
• Social integration.

For example, three minor children in Uganda are waiting to come to the U.S. Their mother, sends in her paycheck each week to support her children, which causes economic sufficiency.

According to the law:

• Spouses and unmarried children under 21 are automatically eligible
• Parents and minor siblings are sometimes eligible under a special State Departmental program

 Sharon Morrison

Morrison, assistant professor of public health and research fellow in public health education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Morrison informs the audience about the Montagnards that populate Greensboro.

• The Montagnard nationality are from the highlands of Vietnam
• Greensboro hosts the largest number of Montagnards, around 10,000.
• Montagnards are culturally unique, under-studied and medically undeserved

Morrison also focused on the barriers:

• Low income poverty
• Culture and Language disconnection
• Health inequalities

 Dr. Mussa Idris

 Idris is an assistant professor for anthropology and sociology at Elon. Idris addresses his personal experience as an asylee from Eritrea, Ethiopia.

• Idris was the first in his family to go to college and finished second in his class
• He received a masters degree
• He went back to Eritrea and was prosecuted for his beliefs
• He received his U.S. green card in 2008
• He became an American citizen in 2013

“I am so fortunate at Elon to pursue my passion and help others in the United States,” said Idris.

Technology takes students by a storm

In these modern times, people have the ability to filter what they see in the news. Social media has allowed people to customize which stories they see each day. Elon is filled with intelligent students that stay tuned in with the latest news using social media

BuzzFeed

BuzzFeed is an upcoming social media site that has completely changed the way people get their news. The primary objective of the site is to mix breaking news stories with articles on celebrities and other entertaining stories. The site tends to appeal most to students.

“I use BuzzFeed as my main source of news,” said freshman Chris Brenning. “Its awesome to read about whatever you want to and its not all heavy news stories about the state of the world.”

Yik Yak

If we’re talking about local news, Yik Yak has provided a way for anyone to post stories within the area anonymously. Though these stories are usually informal and often vulgar, there have been plenty of posts about a significant event around campus.

“Yik Yak is one of the more unconventional social media apps,” said senior Corey Nagel. “Posts are often useless and nonsensical but when something big happens around campus, people post it first to Yik Yak.”

Facebook/Twitter

According to this article published by The Guardian, as of early 2014, Facebook has over 1.23 billion users. Having this many users, one would think that most students would rely on the social media site daily, but this is not the case.

“I used to use Facebook to get my news but recently, I’ve found myself checking Twitter more often,” says senior Alexis Fallon. “Facebook seems a bit irrelevant these days.”

Facebook has been around for many years and has always been an asset to the typical teenager but as new social media sites continue to rise, Facebook has declined.

The decline of Facebook over the years