Columbia is a place of refuge

This is a number not many Columbians probably know: 1,300. Thirteen hundred refuges from Baghdad, Rwanda, Burma, Congo, Iraq, Eritrea and other places of conflict live in Columbia. For the most part, their lives are hidden as they struggle to adjust to Midwestern culture, language and starting over. Organizations like City of Refuge, Safi Sana and Step Up! provide resources to ease the transition. Read this piece. Get to know your neighbors. Then think of what you can do to welcome them.