Early in the morning, refugees from around the world go to work at the Amazon plant on the north side of Davenport. From Syria, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Democratic Republic of Congo, they are a vital part of the workforce. In turn, Amazon offers them a livelihood for their families – and Quad Cities residents’ packages now arrive very quickly at our doors.
The same can be said of other QC companies that have made hiring refugees a priority – XPAC, Berry Global, SBM, Rhythm City Casino, and Tyson, to name a few. Nationally, a recent government study showed that refugees and asylees have generated $123.8 billion in net fiscal benefit to the U.S. economy between 2005-2019.
Tapestry Farms is a nonprofit urban farm system that invests in refugees who live in the QC. We do three things: Grow food, offer social services, and build our community’s welcoming infrastructure.
With the new federal administration, we expected some of what happened in the first two weeks (a temporary pause of refugee resettlement); we did not expect other things that took place (the end of the program that supports refugees for their first 90 days in country and proposed freezes on federal spending).
Given all of this, I’m thankful for the opportunity to share about our work, and some ways that you and your businesses can engage.
First, we are focused on the families in front of us. We continue to support families on their journey to self-sufficiency in the areas of housing, education, work, basic needs, medical/mental health, transportation, community, and U.S. citizenship.
We are meeting with people connected at the federal level. For example, we are thankful for the time and attention that Quad Cities-based representatives of Sen. Charles Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst gave.
We are partnering with World Relief Quad Cities, our community’s federally funded refugee resettlement agency, to help ensure that some of the 209 newest refugees to the QC have basic needs met. One example of what federal funding supports is payments to landlords for housing.
What are we asking of the QC business community?
Advocate with your federal Congressional leadership. We have contact information and scripts available at tapestryfarms.org/blog. Specifically, ask your federal elected leaders to encourage the president to resume refugee resettlement.
The 45-year-old program has its roots in Iowa, where Republican Governor Robert Ray helped craft the Refugee Act of 1980, signed into law by Democratic President Jimmy Carter. Articulate that you strongly believe in the continuation of long-standing federal funding to ensure refugees have the support they need to become self-sufficient.
Consider hiring refugees. Learn more about the practices that allow other QC employers to engage this workforce – reach out to me personally.
Give. Bring your staff and come garden with us this spring. Or, sponsor our Spring Fling event on May 2.
Regardless of how you engage, we would love to have you be a part of our work.
(Ann McGlynn is the founder and executive director of Tapestry Farms. She can be reached at at [email protected] or (563) 370-0004.)
