A Little More About Jesamyn

We are happy to have Jesamyn join the RefugeeWorks blogging team.  Please do leave comments for her (and the other writers!) so we know you stopped by.

Meet Jesamyn

Jesamyn is the Coordinator of Employment Services for Exodus Refugee Services in Indianapolis, Indiana.  She actively seeks new businesses who will employ refugee clients and acts as a liaison between job seekers and employers. She educates employers about the skills of newly arriving refugees and serves as a contact to troubleshoot any issues that may arise after they are hired.   Jesamyn also supervises other staff as well as interns to execute the overall vision for the Employment Department.   Recently spear-headed the opening of the Refugee Resource Center, housed within Exodus Refugee Services.  This new center provides a comprehensive collection of community referral information as well as a clothes closet with professional clothes and accessories for those first interviews.

Jesamyn says that her favorite part of her job is, “seeing families gain "self-sufficiency" and become contributing members of the Indianapolis community. I gain a deep feeling of professional and personal satisfaction when I know that efforts made by myself or other staff have a positive and lasting impact on people’s lives. I consider sustainable and meaningful employment to be THE gateway to self-sufficiency!”

Outside of work, Jesamyn  enjoys spending time with her family and friends, visiting art galleries and having a good conversation over dinner with a good bottle of wine.  She can also be found hunting for vintage furniture, trying on the latest fashion trends and discovering hidden treasures in places she visits and the people she meets.

P.S.  RefugeeWorks is always looking for blog writers from the front lines who can share insights and express  challenges they face in helping refugees work.  If you would like to contribute to the blog, email Rebecca Armstrong at rarmstrong@refugeeworks.org.

Greetings from Indianapolis!

Hello out there!

I am beyond thrilled to be joining Refugee Works as a contributing blogger! Thanks to the wonderful folks I recently met at the Refugee Works Match Grant Educational Training Institute: Atlanta, I am able to share with you insider information from the world of refugee resettlement. Working with refugees certainly is a dynamic and ever-changing environment to be a part of, and the resilience and determination of my clients is nothing short of amazing. As an Employment Developer and Coordinator of Employment Services, it is my job to "get the word out" about who refugees are, and what they have to offer as unique and dedicated employees in the workplace. How does one do this you may ask? You will find the answer to this question and many more as this quest unfolds in postings to come...so stay tuned! Employment Staff has been, and will always be dedicated to seeing each and every client succeed, and I am pleased to say we have come up with some creative and interesting ways to achieve this! For starters, our Hospitality Training Program is generating buzz around the community...clients are looking for real solutions to prepare them to enter the U.S. workforce or to go after that higher paying and more stable job. The course is an excellent intensive as well as short-term training option, and clients are able to attend these weekly classes in our newly opened Refugee Resource Center!

My first experience working with refugees began almost a year ago, when I came to work at Exodus Refugee Immigration, Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana. Working for non-profits is not a new role for me, but working so closely with clients from such diverse backgrounds is. My eyes were immediately opened..wide open!! There is something to be said for the determination that propels us forward, drives us to take one more step along the path of "stepping stones", and allows us to connect with others in a deep and meaningful way. The human spirit never fails to amaze and inspire me. Refugees are people that have literally been forced to flee for their lives, or face persecution and/or imprisonment, and it is our responsibility to help them build new ones. I am proud to say that Indianapolis holds an eclectic mix of people and opportunities, and celebrating these differences can only enrich the fabric of our community. Please join me in this journey of information sharing and discovery, reporting from the "front lines", and client and employer success stories! As always, comments and questions are welcome at any time. Thank you for taking the time to read, and get ready to take a ride on a journey that you hopefully will find exciting and useful as you contribute to the community of wherever you happen to work, live, and love.

Best Wishes,

Jesamyn