In the corner of the Pink Room at our new Community Center sits a desk.
At first, it looks like any other desk. Simple. Sturdy. A place to sit and work. But, it is something more extraordinary.
This desk has been set up to help a new neighbor pursue their long-term dream of becoming a nurse.
Ange first joined Soft Landing as a high school student in our Youth Program, where she attended after school tutoring and joined us on outdoor adventures.
Now as a college student, Ange comes to our Community Center almost daily. Working with a volunteer tutor and by herself, this is where she puts in a ton of time and dedication doing homework and studying for exams.
In our old space, Ange worked anywhere she could find a spot- even if that meant working in a refurbished closet. Our new Community Center has more space for supporting new neighbors like Ange in pursuing their dreams.
Only with your help, we are here for the long haul, too.
And so, I’m writing to you with great urgency: We know you care deeply about refugees and immigrants in our state.
And, we need your help so that new neighbors have a place for a warm welcome and a long-term, extensive support system.
Beyond that, your investment buffers Soft Landing from the ebbs and flows of national politics ensuring our presence in Missoula into the future.
Lately, we’ve been hearing from families that the divisive election cycles and politics that are creating conflict in our own communities and are making them feel unwelcome.
This tells us that although we’ve accomplished so much together, we still have work to do as a community.
Ange’s words reflect the peace that home should feel like for everyone.
And they show how the kindness she received here in Missoula fuels her dreams of helping others as a nurse.
Even when things get hard, with you by our side, we know we’re on the right path. The kindness and care extended by you as part of this Soft Landing community we’ve built together are the antidote.
Garden City Harvest’s community garden plots have become a cherished resource for many of Missoula’s refugee families, offering a bridge to cherished agricultural roots and a path that can contribute to self-sufficiency. For over five years, we’ve partnered with Garden City Harvest to provide garden spaces for our clients, with a particular interest from the Congolese gardeners!
Many refugee families come to Missoula from subsistence farming backgrounds, bringing with them a wealth of agricultural knowledge. These garden plots serve as more than just a source of food; they’re a way to connect with the land in a new home, preserve knowledge and tradition, and learn new things. This connection between old and new, the pride that comes with a successful harvest, and the simple time spent outdoors has an incredible impact on wellness and mental health. As one family shared, they initially chuckled at the smaller plot size in relation to the larger scale subsistence farming they were used to, but they soon embraced the opportunity to teach their children about gardening and found joy in working in the soil again.
What started as modest plots has blossomed into larger farming endeavors. Several Congolese families have expanded their gardening efforts to Tower Gardens, a part of FARM- Future Agricultural Resources for Montana, where they now cultivate nearly half an acre of land. This growth reflects not only their agricultural expertise but also their determination to provide fresh food for their families.
These larger plots allow families to grow staples like beans and corn on a bigger scale. It’s inspiring to see women working the land with their children, using traditional tools like hoes and often working barefoot.
One of the most exciting aspects of these gardens for the families that work them is the cultivation of culturally significant crops. For example, lenga lenga (amaranth), often considered a weed in the U.S., is a familiar food source for Congolese families and has become a popular crop among Congolese gardeners in Missoula. This is one of many “unique” crops now intentionally grown using these garden plots- highlighting the importance of access to land for preserving cultural food traditions and the adaptability of refugee and immigrant growers.
Nourishing Community: The Garden City Harvest CSA Partnership
Our collaboration with Garden City Harvest’s River Road Farm CSA program has evolved into a vital source of fresh, organic produce for refugee families served by Soft Landing Missoula. Over the past three years, this partnership has grown to meet the unique needs of our increasingly diverse community.
What began as a distribution of surplus produce has transformed into a carefully curated selection that caters to the culinary preferences of our clients. Popular items include onions, potatoes, tomatoes, corn, leeks, and hot peppers. We’ve also discovered a high demand for herbs like parsley, which is beloved by families from Yemen and Syria.
The CSA now functions like a mini farmer’s market at Little Twigs Childcare, another partner of Soft Landing Missoula who employs and serves many refugee and immigrant families in Missoula. This CSA program that Soft Landing Missoula helps administer, serves around 25 families throughout the summer. As one Little Twigs staff member noted, “People are always excited when the fresh vegetables arrive. It’s a huge relief for them to have fresh, organic, healthy food for their families.”
This program has also fostered a beautiful exchange of culinary traditions. Little Twigs has an on-site kitchen where food for the staff and children is lovingly prepared. As their refugee and immigrant staff numbers have grown, so has the diversity of cultures represented, leading to a rich sharing of cooking techniques and ingredient uses. For instance, many women share knowledge about the medicinal properties of various vegetables, such as beets for iron or special preparations for new mothers.
The locally grown, organic produce available to refugee and immigrant families through these valuable partnerships not only provides nutritious food but also helps maintain connections to culinary heritage. It’s not only about feeding bodies, but also nurturing souls, preserving traditions, and growing a more connected, resilient Missoula community.
Special thanks to Garden City Harvest’s Greg, Ian, Rye, Emily, Dylan and Tara at River Road Community Garden and Farm, Tower Gardens, Little Twigs Childcare for making this partnership possible and Soft Landing Missoula’s Director of Community Partnerships & Client Engagement Greta Bates.
The fourth annual Stories of Home event recently brought together the Missoula community to explore how we define “home”. For many refugees and immigrants who have settled in our city, this seemingly simple topic unveils a mix of emotions, memories, and hopes for the future.
On a rainy evening, the ZACC auditorium filled with anticipation as attendees gathered to listen to the stories of four remarkable individuals who now call Missoula home. Their inspiring narratives captivated the audience and offered a window into the refugee and immigrant experience.
The event showcased the diverse meanings of “home” through stunning photography by Helen Rolston Clemmer and heartfelt written stories by Meli Slater, Outreach and Communications Manager for Soft Landing Missoula. These multimedia presentations brought to life the journeys of Tanya, Malak, Ange, and Pathou, each with their unique perspective on what it means to create a home in a new land.
For those who couldn’t attend, we’re excited to share these powerful stories and images with you through the Stories of Home website . They highlight the resilience, hope, and determination that mark the refugee and immigrant experience in Missoula.
Home is more than just a physical space. For those who have experienced displacement, it can be a cherished memory of the place left behind, the comfort found in a loved one’s embrace, a dream of future stability, or the community that welcomes them.
While each story is unique, common threads emerge. There is the courage to start anew in an unfamiliar place, finding joy in small victories and cultural connections, and navigating the challenges of building a life in a different country.
These stories offer a window into the lives of Missoula’s newest residents. Tanya’s journey from Ukraine illustrates her struggle to leave Odessa amidst war. She reflects on her new life in Missoula, where she has rekindled her passion for music and found solace in community support while holding onto memories of home.
Malak’s story from Iraq showcases her joyful spirit as she embraces life in Missoula after years of waiting for resettlement. Her bond with family remains strong as she navigates her new environment, finding empowerment through education and community involvement.
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Ange’s experiences from Uganda emphasize the importance of peace and belonging. She has thrived academically despite language barriers and is now pursuing a nursing career to give back to her community. Her connection to her cultural roots remains vibrant as she shares traditional meals with her family.
Pathou’s journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo highlights his dedication to providing a better life for his children while advocating for refugee rights. His commitment to education and community service reflects his desire to contribute positively to his new home.
The hope of sharing these stories is to foster understanding within the wider Missoula community. It celebrates the diversity that enriches our city and reminds us all of our shared humanity, regardless of origin. Through these shared narratives, we gain a deeper understanding of what it means to create a home in a new land and how we can all contribute to making Missoula a place where everyone feels they belong. We encourage you to read each of the full stories on the Stories of Home website. These personal accounts offer deeper insights into the experiences of our community members. Additionally, don’t miss the front page article in the Missoulian about this year’s event, which provides a comprehensive overview of the impact and significance of Stories of Home in our community.Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Stories of Home a great success. We look forward to bringing you new stories next year.
On June 16th, 2024, Soft Landing Missoula hosted our favorite annual event- a celebration of World Refugee Day. For Soft Landing, this celebration is a way for us to say “Thank you” to the incredible community of refugees and immigrants that we get to work along-side each day. It is a way to show our gratitude and express our love for our new neighbors. We do this the ole’ fashioned way- though sport, amazing food, music and dancing, and of course gathering in conversation around shared tables. Each year, this joyous party has grown in size and festiveness as the refugee and immigrant community in Missoula has grown and it was a blast to celebrate with around 450 people this year!
With more players than we have ever had, the day kicked off with a friendly 7 vs 7 round-robin style soccer tournament that set the tone for the festivities. The teams are made up of whoever shows up and become a mix of nationalities, ages, skill, and friends new and old. It is wonderful to witness folks from all over the globe work together on the field- often for the first time and through multiple languages- emerge from the experience laughing, clasping hands, and asking when the next time they can play together will be. Congratulations to the champion Blue Team who proudly showed off their medals during dinner, mingling with the rest of the party-goers.
“United We Eat” once again proved to be a culinary delight, offering an array of delicious and beautiful dishes prepared by talented refugee chefs and our kitchen staff. Their hard work and passion were evident in every bite, and attendees raved about the flavors and aromas that filled the air. It is no small feat to feed 450 people and every dish was a testament to the rich culinary traditions our refugee community brings to Missoula. And yes, we had lots of yummy treats and ice cream as well (Thanks Big Dipper!).
Adding to the festive spirit, Djebe Bara Community Dance and Drum brought together the crowd in their energetic live performance. Their rhythms and melodies, stemming from West African dance traditions, are driven by an infectious beat that had everyone swaying and dancing along. Djebe Bara has played each year we have hosted this party and is always a highlight of the evening that gets everyone up and moving- even with really full bellies! With both live and recorded music playing through the evening, we love watching folks across many cultural backgrounds dancing along together and sharing their own versions of dance, regardless of the origins of the music.
Along with the main activities, our youth team knocked it out of the park with fun experiences for the kids and adults alike! The balloon artist and face painting were once again a big hit and who doesn’t love giggling kiddos with bubbles and a little sidewalk chalk art?! It was also lovely to be joined again by representatives from the City of Missoula, interacting with folks at the event and sharing the many ways that our city is involved in and committed to welcoming refugees and immigrants.
It, of course, takes more than just our Soft Landing staff to pull off an event of this size. We are so full of gratitude for all of the volunteers that helped with every aspect of this celebration- on the soccer field, in the kitchen and food line, at the welcome table, helping set-up, helping clean-up, and on and on… While this event isn’t advertised or fully open to the public due to the size, we love being able to invite volunteers to share this day with us and see the huge impact they have. Special thanks as well to our sponsors: Clearwater Credit Union, Good Food Store, Jiffy Lube, and other generous supporters from the Missoula community.
As we reflect on World Refugee Day 2024, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone and every family who joined us. This event not only acknowledges the many contributions of refugees and immigrants, but also reminds us of the strength and beauty that diversity brings to our lives. From the warm smiles at the welcome booth to the engaging activities and lively conversations, it was clear that this day was about more than just a celebration—it was about building connections and fostering a sense of belonging.
At Soft Landing Missoula, we recognize the many ways in which refugees and asylees contribute to our communities.
As Missoula families work and play alongside our new neighbors, we experience first-hand the benefits of a more diverse community. By sharing the richness of cultural practices and traditions, teaching us about experiences that create resilience and strength, and showing us a window to the increasingly global world we all live in, refugees and immigrants offer an essential perspective on what it means to be a good neighbor. This is especially important for a rural state like Montana.
Economic Contributions of Refugees and Asylees
According to a recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), refugees and asylees also provide significant economic benefit to our communities. This study reveals the remarkable contributions of refugees and asylees to the American economy and sheds light on the invaluable role these individuals play in shaping our nation’s economic landscape.
Refugees and asylees have not only contributed significantly to government revenues but have brought a fiscal benefit to both federal and state governments across the US. Over a 15-year period, refugees and asylees have made a substantial fiscal impact of nearly $124 billion, with approximately $92.3 billion benefiting state and local governments and $31.5 billion benefiting the federal government. These figures highlight the overwhelmingly positive influence refugees and asylees have on our economy.
This study also helps to debunk the misconceptions surrounding the economic burden often associated with refugee resettlement. Refugees and asylees have proven to be positive contributors, surpassing the cost of public services through their tax contributions. Over the 15-year period examined, their tax payments totaled a staggering $581 billion, far surpassing the $457.2 billion spent on government services. As Robin Dunn Marcos, HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Humanitarian Services, aptly stated, “We have witnessed for years the significant contributions that refugees and asylees provide to our communities and workplaces.” Indeed, the report serves as a testament to the resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and economic dynamism of refugee and asylee populations.
Addressing Workforce Challenges in Montana
Economic impacts of refugees and immigrants can be especially significant in Montana where our aging population is leading to a decline in labor force participation. Montana is among the top 10 states in the nation with the highest percentage of residents 65 and older. The 2023 Montana State Plan on Aging underscores this rising percentage, highlighting the pressing need for solutions to sustain the workforce. Retirements have led to a decline in labor force participation, as noted in the 2023 Montana Labor Day Report, exacerbating workforce shortages. Refugee and asylee families, often young and dynamic, engage in bolstering the local economy. While they may not be the sole solution to this challenge, they certainly play an essential role in addressing the economic implications of Montana’s aging population. By actively participating in the workforce, they bring fresh energy and skills, offering a promising outlook for combatting the economic challenges presented by our state’s demographic shifts.
As we celebrate the profound positive impact that refugees and asylees bring to their new American home- economic and otherwise- we can see how important it is to foster inclusive communities where newcomers can thrive and contribute their talents. We are hopeful the insights from this new report can be a part of informing evidence-based decision-making and advancing policies that uphold America’s tradition of welcoming vulnerable families from around the globe. Together, we can continue creating a more inclusive and welcoming America for generations to come.
