Author: Caitlyn Scott
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“We are living our second life here”: Farima’s Story
Farima is not only a high school student, but a wife, mother, and refugee looking to give her little family a better life. Farima, 19-year-old, and her husband are from Afghanistan and have lived in Pittsburgh for over a year with their son Mosawer who they welcomed in August 2022. The couple married a year…
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Hello Neighbor supports students through Study Buddies
Hello Neighbor provides a program called Study Buddy to help students transition from their home country school to a United States school. This program mainly provides tutoring services to children in first to 12th grade. Each student is paired with a tutor where they meet once a week virtually, through Zoom. When asked what she…
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Refugees Make America Great (An Editorial)
The widespread idea in America that refugees and asylum seekers make the country poorer is an outrageously misguided narrative. The truth is that for hundreds of years, refugees have brought diversity and resilience to our communities, contributing to our economy and enriching our culture. When individuals seek asylum and refuge in America, they often do…
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Helping Through Housing: How A Pyschotherapist Found The Key To Helping Refugees
“I’m drawn to be someone who cares about other people and it’s other people’s lives that interest me above all else,” Cmarada explained. Shortly after moving to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania fifteen years ago, Cmarada began purchasing properties to rent out, in addition to his psychotherapy work. This is when he found out about Hello Neighbor, a…
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Cultures Colliding: A Refugee Story
Imagine all the things that make your life how it is right now: your daily routines, your school, your job, or your friends and family. Imagine all the things from your past: things that you remember by memory, places you’ve visited, and maybe a special event like a concert, or a movie that you saw.…
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Hello Neighbor Photographer Tells Story of Refugees
“In all chaos there is cosmos, in all disorder a secret order,” by Carl Jung may be the few words which can describe freelance photographer Christopher Sprowls’ work style. Sprowls presents himself as the grunge poster child from his past, with long hair and neutral clothing colors. He embraces that being a professional photographer is…
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Smart Start Volunteers Provide Meals (photo essay)
Through Hello Neighbor, refugees and immigrants are supported through education and resources once they arrive in Pittsburgh. Volunteers at Hello Neighbor play a crucial role in providing support throughout all of their programs. Through their Smart Start program, the focuses is on providing refugee and immigrant families education and support throughout the birthing process. Hello…
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Hello Neighbor Storage Center (photo essay)
Hello Neighbor Volunteer Coordinator, Aubrey Parke, talks about her role in collecting donated goods from the community for refugee families in the beginning stages of arriving in Pittsburgh. Through Hello Neighbor’s resettlement team, refugee families are able to be placed in a fully stocked apartment when they arrive in Pittsburgh. The housing goods that are…
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How Hello Neighbor’s Mentorship Program Turns Strangers into Family
Hello Neighbor provides a wide variety of services for refugees to help them get back on their feet and settle in their new home. One of these services provided is a mentorship program that pairs local Pittsburgh families with a mentee. Through the program, the mentor and mentee pair spend time together, work through everyday…
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The History of Refugees in the United States
The history of refugees in the United States is long and confusing. The first act specified to refugees wasn’t passed until 1948. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) website, “The Displaced Persons Act of 1948 aimed to address the nearly 7 million displaced persons in Europe as a result of World War…
