September 20, 2016 ~ By Kim Briggeman/Missoulian
Millions of Congolese have fled from a nation of incomprehensible violence and poverty amid an amazing wealth of natural resources that are at the root of those problems. Read more.
“A Soft Landing in Missoula”
September 18, 2016 ~ Placemakers: Episode Seven/Slate Magazine
Mary Poole has been a nurse, an arborist, a jewelry-maker, and a mom. But she’s never been a politician or an activist. At least not until one heartbreaking photo from halfway around the world changed everything for her. Now she’s on a mission to make her hometown of Missoula, Montana, home to refugees fleeing conflict globally. But not everyone in this conservative state is happy about it. Read more.
A year after initiative to bring in refugees, Missoula becomes a welcoming city
September 14, 2016 ~ By Jenna Heberden/abcFOXMontana
This week marks a year that the organization Soft Landing Missoula was created with the goal of bringing refugees to Missoula, which has been a topic of controversy throughout the state. Read more.
In the spotlight: Al Jazeera films refugee efforts in Missoula
September 13, 2016 ~ By Martin Kidston/Missoula Current
The night after Missoula became an official “welcoming city” in refugee speak, a film crew with Al Jazeera English unloaded its gear and began shooting a short feature on the city’s resettlement efforts. Read more.
Preparing the way: Mentors train how to handle incoming refugees
September 10, 2016 ~ By Kim Briggeman/Missoulian
Suzy Hampton has pots and pans, six straight-back chairs and a recliner to give to the cause. Anna Tucker offered her pickup and four-horse trailer to haul the furniture and household goods. “And my kids have a chest of drawers they want to get rid of,” Tucker said Thursday night. “We can have them outfitted in no time flat.” Read more.
Missoula joins national “Welcoming Cities” campaign on refugees
August 24, 2016 ~ By Martin Kidston/Missoula Current
Saying that all people are deserving of dignity and basic human rights, the city of Missoula joined the Building Welcoming Communities Campaign on Wednesday, adopting a resolution proclaiming its support for the national movement. Read more.
First Congolese refugees arrive in Missoula
August 20, 2016 ~ By MTN News
The first family of refugees arrived in Missoula this week, marking the beginning of the re-opened International Rescue Committee office efforts to make Missoula home to over 100 refugees over the next year. Read more.
First Congolese refugees touch down
August 20, 2016 ~ By Kim Briggeman/Missoulian
Missoula’s latest wave of refugees has begun. A family of six Congolese arrived in town Thursday from East Africa, and the first five-person family mentor team trained by Soft Landing Missoula swung into action to ease the shock. Read more.
MCPS prepares to integrate kids from Congolese refugee families
August 10, 2016 ~ By Augusta McDonnell/KRTV.com
The first refugee family being settled in Missoula will arrive soon, with more to follow shortly after, said Molly Short Carr, International Rescue Committee Missoula director. Read more.
Fears about Muslim refugees settling in the American West
August 4, 2016 ~ BBC News
Around 100 refugees could be moving to the American West thanks to a local group in Missoula who were inspired to help after seeing the photo of a drowned Syrian boy whose family had fled the conflict. Read more.