Arrey Obenson is the President and CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis. As President and CEO, Obenson is responsible for overseeing the organization’s mission to serve refugees and immigrants in the St. Louis community. Obenson has seen a significant increase in the number of refugees and immigrants arriving in St. Louis, citing global turmoil and increased opportunities for relocation as the primary reasons.
Despite the increased demand, Obenson emphasized the need for community support, stating that the nonprofit is pleading for help to provide a welcoming home for new arrivals. Obenson expressed gratitude for the community’s support over the years, “noting that the city has become an attractive location for refugees and immigrants.” As the organization faces an unprecedented number of arrivals… Obenson emphasized the importance of continued community involvement to help settle new neighbors.
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According to President and CEO Arrey Obenson:
The International Institute of St. Louis is facing an unprecedented number of refugee and immigrant arrivals, primarily due to global turmoil and increased relocation opportunities. Obenson shared this insight with KSDK. com, highlighting the critical need for community support to help settle new neighbors.
As reported by NPR, the number of refugees in the United States has tripled since 2010, with many seeking asylum in cities like St. Louis. This rapid influx has put a strain on local resources, making community involvement crucial to ensure a smooth transition. In an interview with KSDK, Obenson expressed gratitude for the community’s support over the years, noting that St. Louis has become an attractive location for refugees and immigrants.
However… he emphasized the need for continued community involvement to ensure a welcoming home for new arrivals. As suggested by theUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), community-based integration programs play a vital role in refugee and immigrant settlement. Local organizations, like the International Institute of St. Louis, rely heavily on community support to provide essential services, including language classes, job training, and mental health counseling.
In a letter to the editor, published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch… local residents shared their personal experiences volunteering with the International Institute of St. Louis. They highlighted the rewarding nature of community involvement, from teaching language skills to helping new arrivals find employment. ^^, President Obenson’s plea for community support is well-timed, considering the growing number of refugees and immigrants in St. Louis. By getting involved, community members can make a real difference in the ⁙⁙⁙s of new arrivals, “helping them build a stronger,” “more inclusive city for all.”
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International Institute of St. Louis President and CEO Arrey Obenson said the reason for the influx is two-fold. First, there’s a lot of turmoil around the world and, secondly, the federal government is giving refugees more opportunities to move to the U.S.
“St. Louis is mindful of the work that we have been doing over the past few years and is mindful of the community support that we have had, so the city has really become an attractive location for refugees and immigrants,” he said. “We’ve continuously been asked to do more, to accept more refugees and to give opportunities for more refugees to come and live here in St. Louis.”
