Questions for Anna Wageling

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  1. How did you first become involved with the International Institute of New Hampshire?
  2. What would you say are the biggest focuses of IINE’s work at the Manchester location?  Which tasks take up most of the staff and volunteers’ time, energy, and attention?
  3. What do you think are the biggest needs and challenges facing refugees and immigrants in Manchester?
  4. As a volunteer coordinator involved with community outreach, do you see any patterns in how volunteers become aware of the need in the refugee and immigrant community?  How do people typically get plugged in to your organization?
  5. What are the most important things that volunteers need to understand or learn when they start working with refugees?
  6. Recently, concern about Syrian and Muslim refugees has been a topic of discussion on the national political stage.  Do you see this kind of concern among the Manchester population, and how do you see them expressed?
  7. What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about refugees and immigrants?
  8. What would you like my students, the people of Manchester, and the people of New England to know about the work of IINE?

 

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Questions for Anna Wageling

Brainstorming – Anna Wageling

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  • What are the most important goals of your organization?  How would you state the organization’s mission?
  • How many refugees do you work with, and what are the most common national origins?
  • Why do you think Manchester has become such a hub for refugee resettlement?  Do you think that refugees overall find it a welcoming community?
  • What attitudes do you commonly find among the citizens of Manchester regarding immigration and refugee resettlement?  And are there any misconceptions about these groups that you’d like to clear up?
  • What do you think the government of Manchester and the government of New Hampshire can do to ensure that refugees to Manchester/NH are entering a welcoming and safe community?
  • Similarly, what can the government do to ease citizen concerns about resettlement and/or educate the people of Manchester on this subject?
  • The furor on the national stage related to Syrian refugees has calmed down some in the recent months, but I know decisions are still being made by our governing officials related to this population.  Do you think that Manchester is a likely resettlement location for Syrian refugees, and if so, will your organization likely be working with them?  If so, what are you currently doing to prepare for that population?

OTHER THINGS TO DO – do more research on Anna Wageling and her position, her bio, as well as the organization

Brainstorming – Anna Wageling

Questions for Bhagirath Khatiwada

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  • ­ Which services do refugees and refugee families need most when they first resettle to the United States, and how does the Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire help to provide those services?
  • Obviously the Bhutanese refugee community here in Manchester is a large one. What would you like others to know or experience about that community?  (Any place in Manchester I can go to get really good Bhutanese or Nepalese food? J)
  • I noticed in my reading that it sounds like the flow of Bhutanese refugees to the United States is slowing as refugee camps in Nepal empty. Is that correct?  As that slowdown happens, how will the mission of BCNH shift?
  • Do you anticipate that BCNH will work with Syrian refugees in upcoming months and years?
  • Obviously the question of whether the United States will welcome Syrian refugees has become a hot-button issue in recent months.  As a former refugee and an advocate for refugees, I’d love to hear your perspective on that local and national conversation.
  • If you could give one message to those Americans who are reluctant to support refugees and refugee communities, what would you want those people to know or understand?
  • What is the biggest challenge that BCNH faces now and in upcoming years?
  • For those of us with a desire to support refugees and refugee communities, what can we do right now to contribute positively to those communities?
  • Ask about sustainable tourism in Nepal – Everest?
Questions for Bhagirath Khatiwada

Possible Interview with Dan O’Neil

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Dan O’Neil – set for some afternoon next week (?)

I proposed Wednesday afternoon – follow up if don’t get response

Dan O’Neil proposed including his brother Pat, who works with English Language Learners – develop questions that focus on Pat’s skill set as well as Dan’s government experience

Learn more about the work of aldermen

Learn more about their relationship with the mayor

Elected officials? I assume yes.

What other votes has Dan O’Neil cast that might relate to refugees?

What is his general political viewpoint?

What is Pat O’Neil’s official title?

Possible Interview with Dan O’Neil

Brainstorming – information about interviewee 1: Bhagirath Khatiwada

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Interview with Bhagirath Khatiwada – What do I need to know?

Organization: Bhutanese Community of NH

Title: Program Director

He’s also one of the developers of the organization.

Online bio from the Bhutan News Service:

[Khatiwada] completed his Master’s degree in Rural Development from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, in 2005. After completing his degree, Khatiwada served in Columbus Treks and Expedition, Kathmandu, Nepal for three years as General Manager. He has also authored a series of social studies text books for grades six and seven through Asia Publication in 2008. He has conducted research works on good governance and sustainable tourism in Nepal. He has also written various news articles in different newspapers at different times.

Khatiwada came to Concord, New Hampshire in the United States of America in August 2008. Soon after his arrival, he jumped into community service. He helped in developing a non- profit organization, Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire (BCNH) in June, 2009 with the vision of helping Bhutanese for successful integration. He has also established and directed the Nepali Learning Project in Concord to help Nepali speaking kids in Nepali language learning process with the objective of preserving and promoting Nepali language, Bhutanese culture, arts and heritage since May, 2011. He is also serving as the Vice President in Gyan Jyoti Kendra– A Global Institute for the Nepali-Speaking Diaspora since December 2011.

He is also serving as the Consultant in Healthy Home Healthy Community-A collective health effort of Office of Minority Health and Refugee Affairs, Concord Hospital, BCNH and Somali Development Center. Besides, he is serving as a Caseworker at Services for New Americans, A program of Lutheran Social Services of New England. He is also the Board Chair of BCNH. Bhagirath is pursuing his Master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of New Hampshire.

Born in Lalai, a remote village in Gaylegphug district in Bhutan in August 1975, Bhagirath Khatiwada was evicted from his country at the age of 14 due to the intolerable atrocities of the autocratic Wangchuck regime that made him live the most painful and miserable refugee life for more than 18 years in Nepal.

 

Article co-authored by Khatiwada:  http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/2575143-95/bhutanese-bhutan-concord-refugees

Article that references Khatiwada’s work: http://nhpr.org/post/arriving-america-bhutanese-story

 

Brainstorming – information about interviewee 1: Bhagirath Khatiwada