You have to understand,
No one puts their children in a boat
unless the water is safer than the land.
— Warsan Shire
The poem “Home” by Somali poet Warsan Shire captures the violence and disruption refugees and asylum seekers often face in a way only poetry can. These devastating words cut through the ongoing xenophobic rhetoric sweeping our nation to the heart of the reality of so many refugees and immigrants and the challenges they face as they leave their homes and arrive in a new place.
It is one of the many reasons we are proud of EMO’s longest running direct service program,
Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees (SOAR), established in 1979. Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers welcome newly arrived refugees at the airport, settle them into their new homes with clothing, furniture and Re-Start kits—bedding, kitchen supplies, cleaning items and more—and provide assistance as they learn a new language, enroll their children in school, develop job skills and search for employment.
We have collected just a few of SOAR’s many refugee success stories. Two elected officials who were refugees, Daniel Nguyễn and Nafisa Fai, also shared their stories with us. These stories of resilience offer a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people are provided the resources and support to start a new life. Refugees overwhelmingly give back to the communities that welcome them—opening businesses, volunteering and becoming actively engaged citizens.
Resettlement isn’t easy, but with the support of their new communities, it is clear refugees can thrive in their new homes.
By Frances King, EMO's public relations specialist
IRAN
The first time Farhad [name changed for privacy] stepped onto American soil, the warm August sun did little to ease the chill of uncertainty in his chest. It was 2007. He held his three-year-old son’s hand, and his wife carried their infant son. The four of them stood in a strange new land, surrounded by words they couldn’t understand.
Fleeing instability in Iran, the family arrived in the United States with hopes for a better life, but also with overwhelming anxiety. Farhad, a civil engineer by training, didn’t speak English and was not sure about his future employment. The road ahead looked anything but easy.
The SOAR team helped Farhad and his family secure a small apartment of their own and guided them through crucial steps, such as enrolling in English classes, navigating the healthcare and educational systems, and preparing for the job market.
Farhad was eager to work and quickly found a job in an auto repair shop. With limited English and no U.S. work experience, the pay was modest, but his determination was not. He did not complain. He saw each small step as a building block toward a more stable future.
Today, Farhad is a proud U.S. citizen, homeowner and successful small business owner. His auto repair shop has been serving the Portland community for 14 years. His two eldest children have grown into the promising lives Farhad envisioned for them. His youngest child, born in the United States, is preparing to graduate from high school.
Reflecting on his journey, Farhad expressed heartfelt gratitude for the early support he received from SOAR. “That help meant everything,” he said.
CENTRAL AFRICA
A young woman from Central Africa arrived in the United States in 2024 with two younger siblings, having lost both their parents. As the eldest, she stepped into the role of parent and caretaker—determined to give her siblings a better future.
From day one, our SOAR team surrounded the family with vital support. Thanks to this assistance, the siblings are thriving in school and have part-time jobs. The young woman has completed a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course and now works full-time as a caregiver. She is actively applying for hospital positions as a CNA to grow her career and continue providing for the family.
MIDDLE EAST
Fleeing life-threatening danger in a Middle Eastern country due to the father’s work as an interpreter for U.S. troops, a courageous family of five arrived in the United States with no relatives or community connections—except for a U.S. soldier who had served alongside the father and volunteered to be their official U.S. sponsor.
From the moment the family arrived, SOAR staff and volunteers, along with their soldier ally, provided unwavering support. Recognizing the language barrier, SOAR arranged for a trained volunteer to provide one-on-one ESL tutoring for the mother and children. A SOAR case manager also helped enroll the children in school and supported both parents as they connected with employment specialists at IRCO.
Today, the family is thriving—grateful for all those who turned their uncertain arrival into a hopeful new beginning.
SOMALIA
By Nafisa Fai, Washington County Commissioner
I was born in Mogadishu, Somalia. In 1990, civil war erupted, a conflict that not only shattered Somalia but also claimed countless lives, and it continues to devastate the country to this day. My family and I were lucky to flee the violence and resettle in Oregon, where I have proudly lived for nearly 30 years.
I currently serve as a Washington County Commissioner, representing Oregon’s second-largest and fastest-growing county. I previously served as the vice chair of the Washington County Board of Commissioners. In 2021, I became the first immigrant and refugee, first Black leader and first Muslim elected to serve on that board. That is the American dream.
My experiences as an immigrant and refugee—combined with decades as a public health leader, advocate and coalition-builder—have shaped my approach to governing and strengthened my commitment to equity, opportunity and justice. Since joining the Board of Commissioners, I have championed investments in housing and homelessness services; expanded access to behavioral, mental health and addiction services; improved transportation safety; and prioritized climate resilience and environmental stewardship.
I envision an Oregon where every person, family and business has access to opportunity, every community is safe and thriving, and local government works for the people it serves.
VIETNAM
By Daniel Nguyen, Oregon House of Representatives, 38th District
My parents left everything behind—our home, our language and the only life we had known. They arrived in the United States from Vietnam with nothing but hope for something better. Their sacrifice, scrappiness and determination to make a better future for me and my siblings became the foundation for everything I have achieved and will achieve.
Inspired by the freedoms my family sought and found here in the United States, I felt compelled to get involved in public service. Today, as a member of the Oregon State Legislature, I carry my story with me into every decision I make.
In my position as a state representative, I am able to lift up my culture and the Vietnamese-American community in Oregon, such as hosting students from the Vietnamese Dual Language/Immersion program for a day at the Capitol. And I took legislative action to pass a resolution this year, on the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, designating April 30 as Vietnamese American Remembrance Day.
I share my story and my lived experience as a testament that where you start does not define where you can go. My family’s journey is a shared story between the many families that came before us and the many that will come after us. It’s not just part of my story; it’s part of the larger American story.
I continue to work toward policies that expand opportunity for all and honor the diverse communities that make this nation strong. My family may have come here as refugees, but today I serve as a proud American politician—committed to giving back to the country and region that gave my family a second chance.
