KFC’s Post

Last week, NorthStar engaged with Josie Krieger to learn more about the history of refugee resettlement and pathways for refugee employment in 2024.    Meeting the requirements to gain a refugee classification can be difficult due to its narrow definition. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees states that a refugee is “someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or memberships in a particular social group.” A refugee classification is defined differently than an internally displaced person, an asylum seeker (Asylee), a state-less person, or a migrant. The refugee definition does not include someone forced to flee due to climate change or extreme weather. How an individual is classified, when they flee their home country, determines the services and resources they can access.   When a refugee is resettled in a new country, like the United States, the work skills and education they gained in their home country is not often considered. When working at a refugee resettlement non-profit, Josie supported a man who came to the United States carrying his PhD certification and a photo of his daughter. He was told he could start work at 7-11 the next day, despite obviously having well defined, expert level, skills in other areas.   Organizations like https://www.tent.org/ are trying to flip the narrative. Refugees are assets to organizations and who should be recognized for their unique skill sets. We need to rethink solutions to problems like a company’s skilled employee shortage or refugee reliability on humanitarian aid (aid that can easily get cut). At NorthStar, we previously filed shareholder proposals encouraging companies to adopt a Fair Chance Employment program that intentionally hires formerly incarcerated people and pays them a living wage. We need similar efforts, through shareholder proposals or engagements with companies, calling for the intentional hiring of refugees and skills matching.   Some private citizens are even personally sponsoring refugees and families through https://lnkd.in/eUgaEBkJ.   What are your thoughts on how companies can do more to support refugee resettlement and employment in the United States?   For a deeper understanding of the refugee experience, check out this video Josie shared on what it means to be a refugee: https://lnkd.in/dwte_HAs #RefugeeResettlement #RefugeeEmployment #ShareholderActivism #FairChanceHiring #CorporateResponsibility #DiversityAndInclusion #WorkplaceEquity #HumanRights #SocialImpact  

Warning: This is going to be a long post. Last January, Bobby asked if I had time to participate in an exciting pitch that could change our surroundings and our lives. If you know me well, you know I said, "Hell yeah!" So, I became the strategist behind the team that won the UNHCR Bulgaria account with a simple but powerful insight: You cannot have an opinion about someone without listening to their stories, just as you cannot have an opinion about a dish without tasting it. This insight challenged data from research conducted by Global Metrics in March-April 2024: more than 50% of people had no opinion about refugees, and more than 70% hadn't had any direct contact with a refugee in the last year, so they feel distrust towards them. That's how "Food for Thought" was created as a pitch proposal. Two months later, we received an official email confirming we won the tender and became the next agency for the UNHCR office in Bulgaria. I was thrilled! But from the start, we knew we had only 50 days to launch the campaign. Yes, you read that right: 50 days. First, we needed to find Chef Imad Alarnab, a Syrian refugee who made his way to London and opened a pop-up restaurant. Our colleagues from the UNHCR London office found his contact, and after a meeting with Niki, we received an email: "Имаме Шеф Имад" (We have Chef Imad). He was crucial not only because he supported us charitably but also because he hosted our digital cooking show, interviewing three refugees — Haled, Sasha, and Sara — who taught him how to cook their favorite meals. We even filmed TV commercials with their stories in a documentary style. Shoutout to RAZKAZ Studio for creating these videos. <3 Creating a video wasn't enough for these types of campaigns because they might get lost in the noise, and we at All Channels Communication believe we can do even more. As you can see from our name, 'All Channels'. That's why we opened a pop-up restaurant at Restaurant Talents, supported by the great HRC Academy Bulgaria, Talents Restaurant, and Kitchen59 team. Here, we served our heroes' favorite dishes, improved by Chef Imad. If you want to experience it, click here — https://lnkd.in/dUuHizxu And this is just the beginning. We have even more planned for this campaign, so I will keep you updated. If you've read this far, send love to everyone who participated in this project. Special thanks to my mentors, Bobby and Nikolay, who challenge me every day. In this project, I managed to wear many hats: strategy, account, PR, event specialist, and even writing some copy, and creating a reel. And that's very cool! Special thanks to all the wonderful people at RAZKAZ Studio — if you're not working with them, you're missing out. A special shoutout to Maria, the biggest professional ever and a person who can bring any vision to life. She's a magician. In closing, I want to say that we're working on this campaign to change the world and give everyone a chance. That's cool! Love, Marti <3

Nothing brings people together like sharing a meal around a table. Recently I had a wonderful opportunity to join a group of interested and curious people for brunch at Free to Feed https://lnkd.in/gmfeYfpW.  Free to Feed is a social enterprise creating empowering employment opportunities for people seeking asylum & people from refugee backgrounds, through the creation of shared food experiences. On one hand a simple idea, it leverages a skill that many have (cooking) and celebrates culture (through food) on the other, its such a powerful way to find connections, belonging and purpose. Spending this brief period with a group of people, was a wonderful reminder of the power of sharing a meal. Sitting around a table, it’s amazing how much easier it is to strike up conversation, share stories and take the time to listen to others. At a time when there is so much cultural divide in the world and more people looking for help, support and a safe place to be, an organisation like Free to Feed has never been more important but equally challenged during more uncertain economic times.  A few quick things to know about what they do: *Free to Feed participants represent 44 unique cultural groups, and they are currently supporting increasing needs from Afghan, Ukrainian and Iranian arrivals. *Over 400 refugees and people seeking asylum have participated in Free to Feed programs and received a range of trauma informed support to enable their skills and confidence to grow.  *23,000 people in Victoria joined Free to Feed events and as a result have increased their sense of connection with migrant and refugee communities. *95% of Free to Feed program participants realise their personal goals which may include permanent employment, entry to study or starting their own business. *86% of program participants are women, many of whom are victims of domestic violence. *Since 2015 Free to Feed has provided over $1.6M in wages and over 60,000 hours of training and development to people seeking asylum and refugees. This has enabled over 400 participants to put food on their table, support their children to attend school and build their independence and self-esteem. I had the privilege to get a look into the work they do and want to encourage some of you out there who might be looking for something different to do for a corporate team event (they have a beautiful events space for your next offsite and you can then glide into an evening of cooking and sharing a meal together) or on a personal level, consider a gift that brings great joy (they run wonderful cooking classes) to take a couple minutes to learn more about Free to Feed. There is no better time to engage with something that is all about bringing people, cultures and communities together and giving those new to our shores and facing a few challenges a welcoming hand. 

As someone who constantly examine concepts and theories, challenging them to discover and implement improved approaches, I am reflecting on this nomination and being a finalist, so please bare with me and I'm sorry for the a bit long post 😅. While the notion of empowerment and its associated initiatives may seem appealing, they often fall short of addressing the essential systemic changes required. To begin with, the very concept of "empowerment" suggests a transfer or bestowal of power from one entity to another, inadvertently perpetuating existing power imbalances and reinforcing the misconception that power must be granted rather than shared equally. Furthermore, by placing emphasis on empowering individuals or communities, there is a risk of diverting attention from the critical need to tackle broader structural and systemic issues that underlie marginalization and disempowerment. In addition to the aforementioned considerations, it is imperative to underscore the significance of altering narratives in effecting genuine progress towards systemic change. The term "empowerment" carries with it a colonial undertone, insinuating that power must be bestowed upon those perceived as lacking it, often by external entities or institutions, a notion that is inherently problematic. The individuals, communities, youth, refugees, and all those we engage with and advocate for inherently possess power and knowledge. The key lies in practicing humility, recognizing this inherent power within ourselves, and embracing a collective responsibility to distribute power, resources, and privileges equally among us. This shift in mindset and practice is essential to cultivate a more inclusive and just society where power is shared rather than imposed. As a finalist, it is crucial for me to acknowledge that this designation does not imply superiority over anyone, especially not over the community to which I belong—the refugee community. Rather, it signifies that I have been afforded this opportunity due to the privilege of my current circumstances. It is essential to recognize this privilege and use it to advocate and take actions to opening doors to refugees and immigrants, sharing resources equitably with them. By embracing inclusivity and distributing resources fairly, we can create a more supportive environment where awards are not just earned but also used to address crucial needs within the community. Moreover, I take immense pride in being nominated by one of the youth I collaborate with. The insights and experiences shared by these young individuals have been invaluable to me, and I continue to learn with and from them. This mutual exchange of knowledge and perspectives underscores the importance of listening to and valuing the contributions of youth in shaping a more inclusive and empathetic society. Thanks to my colleagues and management at World Education Services, the partners, and the youth who are embracing this learning journey with me.

Today is #WorldRefugeeDay and with the crisis and displacement of millions of people in both the Middle East and Eastern Europe, it takes on even greater importance and urgency. The stories of refugees are heartbreaking as they strive to build better lives for themselves, often in countries very different from their home country. From my own experience, if given the opportunity, refugees will continue to contribute to a stronger, safer and more vibrant world. They need an opportunity to engage in the economy and to support their families. And hiring refugees addresses talent shortages – so is a win-win all around. When with my grandsons at a playground while visiting my daughter and her family in Boston, I met an Afghan refugee who was there with his young son. He was on crutches having been injured by a landmine in Kabul. We got talking and he shared that he had chosen Boston because of the excellent universities and hospitals. He was training to be a lab technician and had ambitions for his two children, hoping they would get a stellar education positioning them for fulfilling careers. He was eager to be economically independent and to engage fully in the US economy. Organizations like the Tent Partnership for Refugees, that I am proud to be on the advisory board of, realise this and work with organizations to hire refugees and to provide them with economic opportunities. Just this year, 70 companies came together to launch TENT UK, a new coalition of businesses committed to connecting refugees to work. I applaud all of these organizations who are empowering refugees to build a better life for themselves. Amazon Accenture Arcadis Ben & Jerry's Bank of America Bloomberg bp Cisco Citi Compass Co-op Deloitte The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Finastra Hilton GSK IHG Hotels & Resorts IKEA Indeed LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) Linklaters L'Oréal Microsoft Randstad Reckitt Salesforce Sanofi Sodexo Starbucks Unilever Visa UNIQLO In my book, Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, I share the story of Deutsche Post DHL’s efforts to hire refugees and facilitate their integration. The organization’s commitment to refugees is impressive; they delivered language and professional development classes to over 12,000 refugees in Germany. In Sweden, they had a shortage of forklift drivers and trained refugees to pass the rigorous test and to take on these roles. The video on the link below shares the inspiring story of Ghais Dayob, a Syrian refugee, who fled to Germany in 2014. Since then, Ghais, was recruited by DHL, and is now off welfare and has integrated successfully into his new community: https://lnkd.in/eBjzy8aF If your company is interested in providing jobs to work-ready refugees, please reach out to Veronica (Noni) Rossini. #RefugeeSupport #EconomicInclusion #DiversityEquityInclusion #HireRefugees

Today, on #WorldRefugeeDay, there are more than 43 million refugees around the world. At the Tent Partnership for Refugees, we know that major businesses – now more than ever — have the opportunity and urgent responsibility to welcome refugees: stepping up to hire, train, and mentor them at their companies, fostering their long-term professional success, and helping them put down roots in their new communities. More on my musings in UNLEASH 👇🏼

Global Café creates opportunities for immigrant and refugee food entrepreneurs to sell dishes from their home countries and makes international cuisine affordable and accessible in Memphis, Tennessee. They offer event catering and serve lunch, dinner, desserts, drinks, and Sunday brunch in the Crosstown Concourse, a LEED Platinum certified building. 😊 Everything is freshly made in-house using a profit-sharing model that enables immigrants and refugees to set up food businesses with no upfront costs. 🙌 Global Café provides wraparound support including free English lessons, free shoes for back-of-house staff, and free meals for employees. They also contribute to the Newcomer International Center high school and the Opportunity Scholars program at the University of Memphis and provide free food to community organizations. ❤️ Global Café is part of REDF, World Relief, Refugee Empowerment Program, Inner City Capital Connections, and SBA Thrive. Memphis, Tennessee, United States https://lnkd.in/gYA2fReg

Community Corporate and Woolworths Group are working together to create meaningful employment opportunities for refugees. Since 2018, Woolworths Group’s refugee employment initiative—one of Australia’s largest single employer-led refugee-specific sustainable employment programs—has welcomed over 250 refugees into its workforce. Woolworths Group has employed refugees from countries like Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine to work across levels of its company. From 'personal shoppers' at their Rochedale online Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) hired through the Refugee Employment Program, to DC Support Technicians who have completed the Digital Cadetship Program and gone on to grow within the company. The success of these employer-led models, unique to a partnership with Community Corporate, is reflected not only in the long-term employment opportunities it creates for refugees but also in Woolworths Group’s ability to expand its services and impact by tapping into an eager-to-engage workforce that might otherwise be overlooked. Is your business ready to explore the possibilities of employer-led programs to engage dedicated, skilled workers? Contact Community Corporate today.

Nau Mai Rā, Glad You’re Here. We are celebrating Welcoming Week – Te Wiki o Manaaki this week from 6 – 15 September 2024 across Aotearoa New Zealand. Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the most diverse countries in the world. With over 200 different ethnicities, our diversity is our strength. It is what makes us a vibrant and attractive place to be. Welcoming Week is a time to showcase and celebrate how communities across Aotearoa New Zealand are working to be more welcoming places for all. Welcoming Communities is a year-round effort, but this September during Welcoming Week, we are shining a spotlight on this important initiative.   Te Waharoa ki ngā Hapori Welcoming Communities is a settlement programme that supports local councils and their communities to create welcoming and inclusive environments for newcomers – recent migrants, former refugees and international students. It involves local residents in developing, delivering and participating in welcoming activities. This approach creates communities where everyone can belong, participate, contribute and thrive. It helps increase social engagement, build social connections and grow social inclusion. This generates economic, social, civic and cultural benefits for the whole community.   The Community Refugee Sponsorship pathway relies heavily on this concept. Sponsored refugees receive support from community groups (Approved Sponsors), which generates a positive ripple effect in the way they are welcomed into their new communities. You, too, can create an environment for newcomers in your community and neighbourhood where everyone can belong, participate, contribute and thrive. Check out the events happening this week: https://lnkd.in/gRTjCFzk If your community wants to be more welcoming, check out this resource for ideas: https://lnkd.in/eRgECbtg   #welcomingcommunities #welcoming #community #inclusion

Refugees in Canada are often misunderstood. Too often, they're seen as a financial burden, but they bring valuable skills, entrepreneurial drive, and a strong work ethic. Some major hurdles? Language and networks. Haven helps address these gaps: 🔑 Refugees in our language program learn English three times faster than in government-funded programs. 🗣️ They practice speaking with Canadians, building real-world confidence. 🤝 They gain connections that lead to job opportunities. By bridging these gaps, we’re turning untapped potential into real opportunities. It’s a win for everyone: refugees, employers, and the broader economy. FindHaven.org