Articles by Staff

Interview with Stacey Abrams, a candidate for governor of Georgia. She formerly served in Georgia's general assembly and was its House minority leader

Local non-profit Refuge Coffee and owner Kitti Murray just made a big commitment to Clarkston—they bought the property at the corner of Market St. and Ponce de Leon, known for the past two years by the iconic bright red Refuge Coffee truck. From renting part of the property and open just two days a week, to now owning the plot of land and operating a catering truck as well as the six-day-a-week coffee truck, Murray talks to Sagal about Refuge Coffee's growing mission to provide not only coffee, tea and snacks, but also job opportunities and training.  Murray also wants the community to remember that their name is Ref-uge (providing shelter), not refu-gee (someone forced to leave their home).

Michelle Bernier-Toth, who runs overseas services for American citizens abroad, recently spoke to Atlanta's Somali American Community Center about young Somali-native U.S. citizens being held against their will and abused in Kenyan and Somaliland camps disguised as reform schools. So far, around 20 young Americans have been rescued from such camps and returned to their families. The State Department wants local Somalis to encourage families to conduct thorough research before sending young people away. There are U.S. resources available to victims and their families. 

Espoir Eso, a student at Clarkston Youth Development Initiative, and Naima Abdullahi, from Ethiopia, discuss what it’s like to immigrate to the U.S. and become a new American. 

Amondi Mani, a student at Clarkston Youth Development Initiative, and Awet Eyasu, a City Council Member of Clarkston discuss what it’s like to immigrate to the U.S. and become a new American.

 Genet Woldtsadik from Clarkston Community Youth Development Initiative interviews Sumaya Karimi , Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities , Organizing Director, Real Communities Initiative about the hardest parts of coming to America: the unknown. Unknown language, unknown people and unknown culture—but we will hear how they both overcame their struggles by making connections through empowerment and education.

Shaadia Saeed, a student from Clarkston Youth Development Initiative interviews Omar Shekhey  executive director for the Somali American Community Center in Clarkston, discussing what it’s like to immigrate to the U.S. and become a New American.

Bilan Ismail, a student from Clarkston Youth Development Initiative interviews Glory Kilanko, founder and CEO of Atlanta-based Women Watch Afrika, an international non-profit dedicated to women’s health. Glory was forced into exile from Nigeria, she shares some of the hardships of forced immigration and the struggles of coming to America.

Meymoon Abdi, a student from Clarkston Youth Development Initiative, interviews Justine Okello, Director of programs and technology at Clarkston Community Center. Meymoon is a student of Justin’s at the Center, and today we will hear about both of their immigration stories.