World Relief Chicagoland

Liz Stickel is an Associate English Language Instructor who has been here for almost three years. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an M.A. in TESOL from Wheaton College. Q: What drew you to World Relief Chicagoland? I was drawn by the team in the Education Department. The instructors and student support staff have this amazing combination of caring for students and maintaining a high level of professionalism. It's inspiring to be part of a team that embodies both compassion and excellence in their work. Q: How do you celebrate student progress? A: We celebrate small victories and baby steps! For example, over the course of a few weeks, a student might move from not being able to say their phone number to saying it tentatively, and then confidently. It’s such a win. Q: How does World Relief’s approach influence your teaching? A: A strength-based approach is part of the trauma-informed practices that our staff has received training on from World Relief. Instead of focusing on deficits, we emphasize our students' existing knowledge and life experience, highlighting what they’re doing well. Q: What are some of your current media or book recommendations? A: I’m currently enjoying The Swimmers on Netflix, which tells the story of two sisters who flee violence in Syria and continue their swimming training in hopes of competing in the Olympics. I also recommend the book Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang, which is her life story about moving from China to the U.S. as a child and the challenges of growing up without legal status in New York. Q: Any other favorite reads? A: Imitating the Humility of Christ in Language Teaching by Bradley Baurain, in the book Thinking Theologically about Language Teaching edited by Cheri Pierson and Will Bankston. It’s a call to humility for language teachers, challenging us to listen to and learn from our students.

Earlier this year, 15 women participated in this group for Arabic and Spanish-speakers. They covered topics related to health and well-being and cultural adjustment. They also connected with other local organizations and spent some time just enjoying each other like on this field trip to the Shed Aquarium 😍 What a joy to celebrate the hard work these women have done! *faces covered for privacy

We are thankful to be part of a vibrant community of support for newly arriving refugee and other immigrant families. That network consists of volunteers, churches, individual donors, our own staff members, dozens of other community organizations, schools, healthcare providers, local government entities, and funders like DuPage Foundation and DuPage County Last month we were among 16 grantee organizations serving the people of DuPage County in areas of immediate intervention, such as food insecurity, housing instability, mental health, and more. Thanks to a long-time partner and to folks like YOU for being part of this community of welcome! https://lnkd.in/gfzaN2Mp

We're Hiring! If you’re one of the many people feeling like you need to do more for our broken world, here’s your chance! In the midst of chaos, you can join the team and be part of World Relief Chicagoland's faith-driven mission. We are looking for people like you who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world. Current open positions include a Mental Health Counselor, a Bilingual Attorney/Legal Representative, a Housing Specialist, and more! https://lnkd.in/gh8F3Wm5

Grants Manager Laurel Opal, MBA has been part of World Relief Chicagoland for almost 7 years, bringing with her a master's degree from Elmhurst University. She pursued WRC because of a desire to ensure her professional life lines up with her value of caring for people on the margins of society. Here's more from Laurel: Q: What makes you inspired to get up each day and go to work?   A: I spend most of my work hours in spreadsheets of data, which sounds sterile, but honestly it’s still easy to be inspired. All it takes is remembering that each name in the dataset is a person, each case number is a family with their own story. Q: What is a win for you in your workday? A: A win happens every time I’m able to help a fellow staff member with a quick database fix or when I share program performance totals that encourage staff about the measurable impact being made. Q: What have you learned about working with refugees and/or other immigrants since starting in your role?  A: Learning never ends, so stay open to being taught. Each person we serve is truly unique and offers us something new to learn, if we’ll listen. Even on the grants side of our work, guidelines and landscapes are constantly changing; there’s always something new to learn, create, or improve. Q: What are three books, articles, or movies you would recommend? A: When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed. This is a graphic novel that’s technically a children’s book, but so easy for adults to appreciate, too. I discussed it with my daughter and found it very enlightening. Q: Favorite spot to eat or grab a cup of coffee in Chicagoland? A: Current favorite for coffee: Sawada Coffee in the West Loop. Pro tip: the military latte.

Need a good weekend listen? This three-part series has so many good insights, compelling voices, and commentary on the US Immigration System. A great intro if that is something you've been wanting to learn more about. https://lnkd.in/g9edqp66

We love being part of a community of volunteers, donors, churches, and partner organizations who are rebuilding connections for displaced people who find a new home in Chicagoland. Recently, nine refugee and asylum-seeking families met with Sgt. Salinas and Officer Niles of the Kane County Sheriff’s Department to learn and ask questions about law enforcement in Chicagoland. Such events are vital for setting people up for success, preventing misunderstandings, and building trust. It takes so many individuals, organizations, and local institutions to rebuild connections lost in displacement and create change that lasts! Thank you Kane County Sheriff's Office, and big shout out to landlord Juliana for working with our team to bring the event together at a convenient location for these families. 📷 1 (L to R): Sgt. Salinas, Juliana (local landlord), WR Staff Tahimi Pardo, Officer Niles, WR Staff Oscar Rodriguez 📷 2: The above mentioned plus 9 participating families, faces covered for privacy #stcharles #RefugeeSupport #CommunityBuilding #ChicagoCommunity #RebuildConnections #VolunteerImpact #SupportRefugees #Chicagoland #CommunityStrength #TogetherWeCan #MigrantSupport #NewBeginnings #CommunityCare #BuildingTrust #CommunityUnity #WelcomeHome #HopeAndHelp #StrongerTogether #refugeeswelcome #refugees #asylumseekers

Looking for a fall internship or know someone who is? We would love to hear from you! Staff, interns and other volunteers all grow and transform as we partner with local churches and communities to engage crises like global displacement. Staff member Mariia Deineka shares a glimpse of her learning journey. Learn more about internships here: https://lnkd.in/dQ2fzE-6 #VolunteerJourney #CommunitySupport #RefugeeStories #WelcomeNewNeighbors #BuildingBridges #RefugeeFriendship #Asylumseekers

Did you know this week marks three years since Kabul fell to the Taliban? Noor Ali's family fled Afghanistan and arrived in Chicago two years ago. He and his siblings were among the 47 million displaced children in the world, but now they have a home again—a place to learn, play, and grow. According to his parents, Noor Ali hasn't quite decided on a vocation yet and often changes his mind (he's in 3rd grade). But he's considering a career in law enforcement. 😊 He's pictured here enjoying some beach time at the World Relief summer program. Over 1,500 refugee and immigrant kids have been welcomed and supported over the last twelve months. We are so thankful for an amazing community of staff, volunteers, churches, donors, partner organizations, and people like you who make it happen! Because of the foundation you help lay for kids like Noor Ali, they will go on to earn degrees, impact their communities, have their own children, start businesses, and, most importantly, carry forward the stories of their families. Thank you for the part you play! 📷@sir_samhamel *stats from data.unicef.org #RefugeeSupport #ImmigrantChildren #ChicagoCommunity #WorldReliefChicagoland #DisplacedChildren #FamilyStrength #EducationalOpportunity #LawEnforcementDreams #BeachTimeFun #SummerProgram #CommunityImpact #VolunteerAppreciation #RefugeeJourney #ImmigrantStories #SupportForKids #HopeForTheFuture #EmpoweringYouth #BuildingFutures

As the Democratic National Convention draws near in Chicago, some anticipate new waves of asylum-seekers bussed from Texas. Here's a quick read about how our Southern Border Arrivals team has been working hard to show bold, consistent welcome and support in partnership with local churches and other community organizations. https://lnkd.in/gFvgKXNz #SupportMigrants #ChicagoShelters #BorderArrivals