Global Fellows writes notes of welcoming affirmation to immigrants

Ella Kitchens, Staff Writer–

Denison Global Fellows gathered in Knobel Hall on Sept. 26 to embrace and support immigrants and refugees living in two communities in Ohio. 

The group made welcoming cards for the Community Refugee and Immigration Services in Columbus (CRIS). They also wrote letters of support for the Springfield Haitian Community Help and Support Center after recent threats to the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio.

“Columbus is definitely more local to us than Springfield, so we hadn’t really broadened our scope until now,” said Jazmyn Rafique, president of Global Fellows.

Rafique was glad they were able to add card making for Springfield as well as Columbus.

“The recent bomb threats and aggression toward the Haitian community in Springfield definitely prompted our interest in catering toward that community,” she said.

Global Fellows is a committee within the Denison Community Service Association (DCSA) that makes an impact beyond Denison through their work with immigrants and refugees. The program began when Denison partnered with local churches to host a refugee couple in Granville. Since then, Global Fellows has expanded to include many more events and service opportunities.

“When there are various failings across whatever systems are in place, people in the community really step up in a lot of amazing ways,” said Emily Vermillion, associate director of Alford Community Leadership & Involvement Center (CLIC) and advisor to Global Fellows. Vermillion believes that adding Springfield to their letter writing event was an important decision.

“We really wanted to think about how we can support them and assist them from afar,” Vermillion said. “This situation has impacted that community very deeply.”

Throughout the organization’s existence at Denison, Global Fellows has worked closely with organizations such as CRIS. An example of their collaboration is CRIS Day, a yearly event where students that are part of Community Refugee and Immigration Services can learn more about higher education.

“The biggest event we’ve had in past years has definitely been CRIS Day,” said Rafique. 

CRIS Day provides a campus tour, performances and games, and a panel discussion about the challenges and opportunities these students can find in higher education. After the pandemic, CRIS Day was expanded in DCSA’s effort to rebuild their volunteer programming.

Global Fellows has continued to work within Denison’s campus outside of CRIS Day. Working with the Medical Volunteers, they made period care packages for immigrants and refugees. Last year on Valentine’s Day they had a bake sale selling baklava from a Palestinian-Immigrant owned bakery, with all proceeds going to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.

Another part of Global Fellows’ direct service is mentorship. Through CRIS, Denison students can mentor middle and high school aged immigrants and refugees in Newark and Columbus. The connection between mentors and mentees can last beyond these years of school.

“They provide tutoring opportunities, or you can give advice and be there more generally,” Rafique said. “It’s really beneficial to them and to the community.”