People from more than 120 nations call Central Indiana home. They have left their home countries to start a new life as immigrants and refugees. This special episode of For Good, features representatives from the immigrant and refugee communities discussing their hopes and fears about living in Indianapolis. Leaders from two organizations that support resettlement will also weigh-in on the realities of life in America for these residents.

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Transcription of episode available below.

WHO YOU’RE LISTENING TO

Angela Cain – Angela Cain Communications

Ally Mulumba Ntumba – CICF community ambassador & case manager at Exodus Refugee

Cole Varga – executive director at Exodus Refugee

Terri Morris Downs – executive director at Immigrant Welcome Center

Dabrice Bartet – CICF community ambassador

Graham Melendez – natural helper at Immigrant Welcome Center

DISCOVER MORE

Immigrant Welcome Center

-view detailed statistics in their Indianapolis Immigration Integration Plan here

Exodus Refugee

-learn facts and figures about refugees here

Learn more about our community ambassadors

Woman finds dream job through Exodus Refugee – a story from 2017 about Priscilla Lalthanmawii and her 12-year-old son 

Welcome to, For Good, Central Indiana Community Foundation’s podcast, highlighting stories about passion, purpose and progress in Central Indiana. At CICF, we believe in opportunity and equity. We believe that our communities and neighborhoods are stronger because of our diversity. And we believe that with innovation and boldness, central Indiana can be a place where everyone can reach their full potential, no matter their place, race or identity. This is our community and these are your stories.

Imagine fleeing for your life from your homeland or choosing to move to a new country. Nearly 90,000 foreign born residence have braved that unpredictable journey and made Marion County their home. They are refugees and immigrants, some of them CICF Ambassadors.

I’m Angela Cain, your host for this special episode of, For Good. You’ll hear what it takes for them to build a new life in Central Indiana, stories of joy, challenges and hope, and learn what they fear most. CICF believes, when we listen, we learn.

ALI: Our appointment is tomorrow.

Ali Mulumba Ntumba is at work in Indianapolis today, happy to be here from the first moment he stepped foot in America in 2013, as a refugee.

What was it like to come to America?

ALI: To come to America was for me, to get a safe place and also to be in peace.

To be safe, to have peace, something Ali says many Americans may take for granted.