World Refugee Day in Northeast Ohio

Cleveland continues to prove itself a wonderful place for welcoming refugees.  This year, on World Refugee Day the community gathered to recognize the day itself and reflect upon the reasons for success in Cleveland.

The city’s wealth of housing stock is cited by the Refugee Services Collaborative as one reason this area is a good fit for refugees. Brian Upton is with Building Hope in the City and says one of the challenges facing refugees – finding work – is often easily solved in Northeast Ohio.

“We’ve got a manufacturing sector that is looking for labor solutions at the right pay level. When we introduce refugees to manufacturers who need those kind of positions, their consistent report is, ‘Can you bring more of them? They are a faithful, reliable labor source for us.’”

• A recent study shows that refugees generate nearly $3 million in state and local taxes each year. Upton says the economic impact of refugees on Northeast Ohio will be the focus of a series of short documentaries being released in September by the Refugee Services Collaborative. A similar series last year focused on the day-to-day lives of refugees.

You can learn more here in the excellent coverage by WKSU.