Turning hope into action: Setting up refugee resettlement in a new community in Florida

We are stronger together. Whatever your strength, we hope you'll contribute to the ̽��ѡ. Join us in getting to know how Lauren Poe, President and CEO of the Greater Gainesville International Center (GGIC) is mobilizing his community to transform newcomer lives. We're showcasing their journey as part of our turning hope into action holiday series.

How did you get connected to the ̽��ѡ?

Lauren Poe, President and CEO of the Greater Gainesville International Center (GGIC): The ̽��ѡ found us. The Greater Gainesville International Center (GGIC) was established in 1982, our 501C3 was formed in1997, and we were volunteer run. We started off very episodic. We only did things when they presented themselves to us geared towards other communities, but nothing, at that point, for the broad international community that composed a third of our community.

I took over in January of 2023 with the goal of professionalizing the organization and broadening our impact. This is around the same time ̽��ѡ and PRM recognized that Greater Gainesville could really benefit from a resettlement agency. Eventually, the ̽��ѡ stepped in and started talking to a lot of the same community partners that I had been bringing in and saw that Gainesville could be the perfect fit to resettle refugees.

We started by engaging ̽��ѡ's Remote Placement program that has helped guide us in starting to resettle refugee families this year. We're becoming an affiliate of the ̽��ѡ. The process took about 9-12 months of growth and development of policies and serious vetting and scrutiny, which accelerated our growth as an organization and allowed the board to commit to doing the work; to which I am grateful.

Una, ̽��ѡ Deputy Directory of New Resettlement Pathways: All the stuff Lauren had to do to set up his organization to be an official affiliate was cumbersome, invasive, and extensive. For context: Lauren was the previous Mayor of Gainesville. He was always supportive of community inclusion and engagement. ̽��ѡ saw this as an opportunity to have GGIC start the remote placement community partner program as a sponsor. Currently they are community partners but will be a full blown ̽��ѡ affiliate this coming January!

Share about the journey mobilizing your community to resettle refugees?

Lauren Poe, President and CEO of the Greater Gainesville International Center (GGIC): It has been an incredible journey. Starting out, I knew some local advocacy groups and individuals helping asylum seekers that had experience in supporting people navigating asylum processes but they were not as familiar with refugee resettlement. Therefore, when I first pulled the group together, there was a lot of skepticism, apprehension, and even opposition. The prevailing concern was that resettling new families would drain resources from those already in the community.

Overall, the process has been a rollercoaster of emotions, with a mix of anxiety and excitement. Initially, we expected more enthusiasm from the community but it did not come at first. I came in excited, thinking, 'Look at this amazing opportunity to help families start over!' I quickly realized I had to adjust my expectations.

We are still finding our way but we have made great strides in the last six months. It has taken a lot of time, effort, and support from the ̽��ѡ to get the broader coalition on board and help them see that resettling refugees is worth trying.

We started with a group of 12 to 16 people representing different organizations and we asked, ‘What can your organization help with?’ For example, one participant ran an ESL program at the local college and connected the families with the right classes. Another person from a Quaker organization whom was helping an Afghan family, eagerly took on cultural orientation and training modules to create presentations. A retired social worker jumped in to help with face-to-face discussions and guided the family through their new life. Artist Terrence Ho has captured the journey in these drawings to help share the story.

There were still some skeptics in the group, people who doubted it would work and we welcomed them.

Everything was coming together smoothly until the first family arrived. That was our welcome to reality moment. Suddenly, there were a lot of immediate, specific tasks to handle, especially within the first two weeks, which were intense.

The arrival of the first family forced us to ask, ‘How is this really going to work?’ Afterward, enthusiasm dipped when people realized how challenging and time-consuming resettlement was. We took a month-long break between the second and third families to regroup and reassess.

We learned that GGIC, as an organization, would need to take primary responsibility for plugging in others where they could help, like with ESL classes or cultural orientation. Some tasks, however, had to be handled in-house to ensure they were done correctly and on time. We thought we could just assign tasks at specific times, but we quickly learned that it does not work.

The gap between the first and third families—from mid-July to September—helped us hone our approach. Now, when someone asks what we need, we have clear and concise answers—whether it is asking for kitchenware, furniture, or a ride to an event.

Through the remote placement program, how many families have you helped?

We have helped four families of four. Two are just past the 90-day period and the others are just passing their 30-day period. We have also been helping a Ukrainian family of two that came through the Welcome US program by providing resources for the family who is sponsoring them.

What is your motivation to participate in this work?

It is incredibly impactful work. You are serving families that are so deserving and in such tremendous need. I feel like we are privileged because we are given the opportunity to do this. Gainesville is an incredible community. We are welcoming, we believe in inclusion, and, while we are already a diverse community, this is a new, beautiful addition to who we are as a people.

When you look at communities who welcome large numbers of refugee families, those communities always become stronger, better, and more beautiful.

Call it kismet, destiny, fate or whatever - the ̽��ѡ and GGIC found each other at just the right point. Of course, there are some days you are wondering ‘What are we doing?’ but it is hard not to be excited for the work that we do. The work speaks for itself.

What have you enjoyed most while moving through this process of resettling newcomers?

The most rewarding part was getting to know the families. They are no longer just case numbers. Each one is unique, with their own story, journey, and expectations. They are all amazing in their own way.

We have also enjoyed the challenge of honing our approach and getting better with every day. Much of this work is about learning through experience. We thought we were prepared but quickly realized we were not. Part of the process has been working with different community organizations, engaging supporters, and getting valuable input from site visits. Even with those who figured out that their role was not the right fit, they still wanted to stay involved and find a better match. It has been a constant evolution with the goal always being: Let’s serve these families as best as we can.

Eventually, we hope these families will settle in, that we will run into them at the grocery store no longer needing to worry because they will be on their way.

What has been something you have learned?

The first thing we have learned is that every family is different; there is no one-size-fits-all. We have been taught about the emotional curve families go through, but nothing truly prepares you for the extremes until you see it firsthand. When families first arrive, they are excited and grateful, but by day two or three the jarring reality of being in a new place, not knowing anyone, and dealing with unfamiliar food sets in.

For example, with our first Afghan family, they were terrified of cockroaches and lizards—something quite common in Florida. Early on, we wanted to be perfect, to be their friends, and to always be available. We soon realized it was not sustainable and it was not healthy for anyone. We had to ask, ‘How can we support them while setting realistic boundaries and expectations?’ We did this by following a process, developing a system, and an approach. No matter how much our empathy tugged at us, sometimes you have to say no.

What would you tell other communities who want to mobilize to welcome newcomers?

If you do not do this, you are making a huge mistake. It will make your community more beautiful, more resilient, more inclusive, more empowered. It’ll be a better place to live, not just for incoming families, but for everyone.

When we look at places that have been welcoming refugees for at least two generations you see crime rates significantly reduced and self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship increasing. Of course, people still have different opinions but we share them in a civil and respectful way.

I think the whole concept of refugee resettlement when first presented can seem incredibly intimidating. I was intimidated even after serving in an elected office for 14 years while tackling huge policy challenges. However, with the national support network provided through ̽��ѡ and other agencies, I realized that I did not need to be afraid. There is a community of folks who have been doing this for a long time and are there to support you.

You can be part of transforming lives too. We hope you'll join us and share with your neighbors, friends, and family. To learn more about the work of the ̽��ѡ in Florida and for information on how you can get involved with the ̽��ѡ in Tallahassee as a volunteer, please contact Laura Hamilton, Volunteer Specialist at [email protected] or 470-543-4407, or as a donor, please contact Development Director, Heloise Ahoure, at [email protected] or 770-570-9156.

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