September 20, 2013 Vol

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

September 20, 2013 Vol A unique experience Pilgrimage to Jasper, Ferdinand to highlight German Christmas traditions, page 7. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com September 20, 2013 Vol. LIII, No. 49 75¢ ‘Terrible loss of life’ at Natalie Hoefer Photo by Navy Yard Sharing the Jesus in them shocking and sad, says archbishop WASHINGTON (CNS)—As military, police and federal investigators searched for answers as to why a lone gunman opened fire on Sept. 16 at the Washington Navy Yard, killing 12 people and wounding at least eight more, religious leaders and public officials offered prayers for the victims and their families. Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl and Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, who heads the Washington-based Archdiocese for the Military Services, both issued brief statements offering prayers for the victims and their families. The shooter was identified as Aaron Alexis, 34, Members of the Congolese Catholic Choir in the U.S. sing a song of praise during the Mass held at St. Bernadette Church in Indianapolis during the third who became the annual convention of the National Association of African Catholics in the U.S. on Sept. 7. 13th victim when Cardinal he died in a gun Donald W. Wuerl battle with police Contagious spirit spreads at National Association at the naval office building in the of African Catholics conference in Indianapolis nation’s capital. At first, law enforcement By Natalie Hoefer in Indianapolis as the city hosted native of Nigeria. authorities thought the third annual conference of the More than 200 African-born Catholics there was a Dressed in colorful traditional attire, National Association of African Catholics from around the U.S. gathered for the second shooter, but the primarily African-born Catholic in the United States (NAACUS) at conference, titled “One Faith, One Body by the end of the day congregation clapped and danced to the St. Bernadette Retreat Center on Sept. 6-8. in the Era of the New Evangelization.” confirmed Alexis was beat of bongo drums, making their way to “Indianapolis for a long time has been “I’m fascinated by the new the only gunman. the altar for an offering of thanksgiving well organized,” said Handmaids of the evangelization,” said Dabrice Bartet, a According to news and blessing toward the end of the Mass. Holy Child Jesus Sister Joanna Okereke, native of Togo who is now a member of reports, Alexis was a African youths danced and dipped in program coordinator for the Pastoral St. Monica Parish in Indianapolis. “I like Archbishop former Navy reservist choreographed moves, and shrill cries Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers trying to find new ways to reach people. Timothy P. Broglio who received a of joy burst forth sporadically from subcommittee of the U.S. Conference of “This morning the keynote speaker “general discharge” individuals around the sanctuary. Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Cultural gave us some good ideas,” she said from the service and had moved to the “I felt right at home because we Diversity in the Church. “We could not of Nigerian Father Pascal Nduka, Washington area from Texas about a year share the same Spirit; we share the choose a better place that is well organized administrator of St. Anthony of Padua ago. He worked for a military contractor and same faith,” said Franciscan Brother and willing to receive us. Parish in Morris and sacramental had security clearance at the Navy Yard. Moises Gutierrez, director of the “From the faces of the people, from minister of St. Nicholas Parish Archbishop Broglio said the “terrible archdiocesan Office of Multicultural how they talk, you can see that they are in Sunman. loss of life” shocked and saddened him, Ministry. “As a matter of fact, their enjoying the conference. It has been so Zimbabwe native Stella Mabudzi particularly as it occurred at a familiar place spirit was contagious!” lively. It has been so wonderful, enriching traveled from California with her where he has often visited and celebrated The contagious spirit was spread and spiritually filled,” said Sister Joanna, a See NAACUS, page 8 See SHOOTING, page 9 Catholic school values are at the heart of award recipients who make a difference By John Shaughnessy who bucked the odds and the naysayers to Bowers and Wolf will receive Career start from scratch a Catholic high school Achievement Awards from the archdiocese One of the common qualities of in a South Carolina community that is “not while the Lechleiters are the recipients of people whose Catholic values shape their exactly a Catholic bastion”—a school that is this year’s Community Service Award. commitment to others is how they prefer to now thriving in its efforts to offer a Catholic Here is a glimpse of the four honorees talk about the people who have influenced education. and the difference they make to others. them—and the people who they believe do And Dr. David Wolf talks about growing so much more than up in a poor family and how two parish Dr. David Wolf them. priests were among the mentors who taught Dr. David Wolf never forgets the So Sarah him “to set high standards, set goals and example his mother set for her children: Lechleiter praises never give up.” “For my mom, going to church was just as the Little Sisters And Julie Bowers raves about her important as having food on the table.” of the Poor grandmother, the youngest of 18 children, He often thinks of all the people who at St. Augustine Home for the Aged in who kept living her faith and serving others helped him and his family when he was Indianapolis, where her longtime volunteer into her 90s. growing up—the parishioners who gave efforts have included making beds for Yet while all four individuals seek to them clothes, the religious sisters who residents. steer the spotlight away from themselves, shared food, and the man who became like “There is no greater beauty than the work they will be honored during the Celebrating a father to him after his dad died. they do,” she says. “I learned about sheer Catholic School Values: Scholarship and “Growing up, the Church was there for love there, with no questions asked.” Career Achievement Awards event in us over and over,” Wolf recalls. “I was And John Lechleiter focuses on his sister Indianapolis on Oct. 8. See AWARDS, page 2 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, September 20, 2013 that faith will get you through anything. been a catechist, a youth group leader AWARDS That constant reminder of Christ in your and a confirmation preparation leader continued from page 1 life is what makes Catholic education at St. Patrick Parish in Terre Haute. She invaluable.” has also been the coordinator of a capital able to go to Catholic schools because of campaign for the parish, and has served on others. Now, I’m one of those others. I Julie Bowers its school commission and parish council. feel an obligation to help.” One story shows the impact that Now, she is the “animator” of the He does it with a faith and a focus that Julie Bowers had on the children strategic restructuring plan for the he describes as “full throttle.” that were the focus of her years as a Terre Haute Deanery, helping the parishes He is a past president of the board Catholic educator. there collaborate their ministries. Her of directors at Roncalli High School in “I had taught this student in first grade, efforts include a plan for St. Patrick Indianapolis, where he has been involved and then he was a student when I was School that “will ensure an affordable and John Lechleiter Sarah Lechleiter with the building the principal,” accessible Catholic education to children of a new chapel, Bowers recalls in the deanery.” their three children attended St. Matthew a fine arts center, of her time at Bowers has seen the way Catholic School and Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory the athletic St. Patrick School education has touched her life, and School, both in Indianapolis. stadium and an in Terre Haute. she wants that opportunity to continue John has helped with the Boy Scouts, administrative “His mother for others. coached basketball and football in the wing. withdrew him “Working in Catholic education is not Catholic Youth Organization and served He is a from our school a career, it’s a vocation,” she says. “A on the board of education at St. Matthew founding member one year because vocation is something you do out of love and as the chairman of the board of of SS. Francis of financial for the Lord. What you do in service to trustees at Brebeuf. and Clare of reasons. About him is a gift.” Their involvement and influence Assisi Parish in a year later, his also continue to make an impact Dr. David Wolf Greenwood, Julie Bowers grandfather called John and Sarah Lechleiter on Xavier University in Cincinnati, where he has done and said he really John and Sarah Lechleiter believe that Marian University in Indianapolis and everything from coach basketball to lead wanted him back in our school. “the hand of God is in everything,” and Providence Cristo Rey High School in baptism classes with his wife, Anne. Monsignor Larry Moran and I found some part of their purpose in life is to extend Indianapolis, as well as their home parish, He set up a dental clinic in Haiti, school funding to provide a scholarship God’s reach through their efforts. St. John the Evangelist in Indianapolis. volunteers as a dentist for poor children for him. “Living our life and living as people The tight weave of promoting Catholic in Romania, and provides free dental care “That was in the fourth grade.
Recommended publications
  • A COMMUNITY of CONTRASTS Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the San Gabriel Valley
    2018 A COMMUNITY OF CONTRASTS Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the San Gabriel Valley SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Introduction . 1 The SGV . disaggregated by ethnic group . Recognizing sig- Executive Summary . 2 nificant social and economic diversity among Asian The 626 . Map . 4 Americans, it includes data on immigration, lan- guage, education, income, housing, health, and Demographics . 5 The Asian American community in the San Gabriel Valley is one of the most iconic in the United States . environmental justice for eight ethnic groups . Economic Contributions . 8 Located in Los Angeles County just south of the Second, this report makes the data accessible to com- Civic Engagement . 9 San Gabriel Mountains, the region is home to over munity organizations, community members, policy Immigration . 10 half a million Asian Americans, more than in makers, foundations, businesses, and others look- Language . 11 Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Chicago . It is known ing to better understand and serve Asian American Education . 14 for its vibrant Chinese American community and, of communities . By soliciting feedback on content from Income . 15 course, its food . key stakeholders, consolidating important data from disparate government and academic sources, Employment . 16 Yet both the history and current reality of the and presenting them in a way that is easy to digest, Housing . 18 San Gabriel Valley challenge this simplistic view, the report makes a valuable contribution to our Health . 19 drawing attention to its diversity and ongoing understanding of one of the largest Asian American Environmental Justice . 20 struggles for racial justice . communities in the country . Policy Recommendations .
    [Show full text]
  • Syrian Refugees in the American South a Case Study of Refugees in Towns Austin, Texas, USA
    Syrian Refugees in the American South A Case Study of Refugees in Towns Austin, Texas, USA May Mzayek Austin, Texas, USA / A Case Study of Refugees in Towns 1 JUNE 2018 Contents About the RIT Project 3 Location 4 Introduction 5 About the Author and How She Wrote the Report 5 Methodology 5 A Note on Terminology 6 Background on Refugees in the United States 7 Background on Refugees in Austin, Texas 9 Mapping the Refugee Population 9 The Urban Impact 10 Economic Integration 10 Social & Cultural Integration 10 Refugee Experiences in Austin 11 Health care 11 Psychological Issues 12 Financial Challenges 12 Culture and Language 13 Green Cards 14 Hope in their Children 14 Conclusion 15 References 15 Austin, Texas, USA / A Case Study of Refugees in Towns 2 About the RIT Project The Refugees in Towns (RIT) project promotes understanding of the migrant/refugee experience in urban settings. Our goal is to understand and promote refugee integration by drawing on the knowledge and perspective of refugees and locals to develop deeper understanding of the towns in which they live. The project was conceived and is led by Karen Jacobsen. It is based at the Feinstein International Center at Tufts University and funded by the Henry J. Leir Foundation. Our goals are twofold Our first long-term goal is to build a theory of integration form the ground up by compiling a global database of case studies and reports to help us analyze and understand the process of immigrant/refugee integration. These cases provide a range of local insights about the many different factors that enable or obstruct integration, and the ways in which migrants and hosts co-exist, adapt, and struggle in urban spaces.
    [Show full text]
  • Asian-American Characters in Black Films and Black Activism
    GET OUT, HIROKI TANAKA: ASIAN-AMERICAN CHARACTERS IN BLACK FILMS AND BLACK ACTIVISM by Naomi Yoko Ward Capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with UNIVERSITY HONORS with a major in Communication Studies in the Department of Language, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Approved: Capstone Mentor Departmental Honors Advisor Dr. Jennifer Peeples Dr. Debra E. Monson ____________________________________ University Honors Program Director Dr. Kristine Miller UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, UT Spring 2020 1 Get Out, Hiroki Tanaka: Asian-Americans in Black Stories and Black Activism Naomi Yoko Ward Utah State University 2 Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship Asian-Americans have with black Americans in order to determine how Asian Americans navigate their role in American racial discourse. Additionally, this study considers the causes and effects of Asian-American participation in movements like Black Lives Matter (BLM). This topic is explored through the analysis of Asian-American characters in black stories told through four films: Fruitvale Station, Get Out, The Hate U Give, and Sorry to Bother You. To ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ narrow the scope of this research, I placed focus on characters in works that have been published since 2013, when the Black Lives Matter movement was officially formed and founded. Media functions both as a reflection of the society it is made in as well as an influence on how society perceives the world. The pervasiveness and power that media has in the world, particularly concerning social issues and social justice, makes this lens appropriate for studying race relations in the United States over the past several years.
    [Show full text]
  • Hispanic Texans
    texas historical commission Hispanic texans Journey from e mpire to Democracy a GuiDe for h eritaGe travelers Hispanic, spanisH, spanisH american, mexican, mexican american, mexicano, Latino, Chicano, tejano— all have been valid terms for Texans who traced their roots to the Iberian Peninsula or Mexico. In the last 50 years, cultural identity has become even more complicated. The arrival of Cubans in the early 1960s, Puerto Ricans in the 1970s, and Central Americans in the 1980s has made for increasing diversity of the state’s Hispanic, or Latino, population. However, the Mexican branch of the Hispanic family, combining Native, European, and African elements, has left the deepest imprint on the Lone Star State. The state’s name—pronounced Tay-hahs in Spanish— derives from the old Spanish spelling of a Caddo word for friend. Since the state was named Tejas by the Spaniards, it’s not surprising that many of its most important geographic features and locations also have Spanish names. Major Texas waterways from the Sabine River to the Rio Grande were named, or renamed, by Spanish explorers and Franciscan missionaries. Although the story of Texas stretches back millennia into prehistory, its history begins with the arrival of Spanish in the last 50 years, conquistadors in the early 16th cultural identity century. Cabeza de Vaca and his has become even companions in the 1520s and more complicated. 1530s were followed by the expeditions of Coronado and De Soto in the early 1540s. In 1598, Juan de Oñate, on his way to conquer the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, crossed the Rio Grande in the El Paso area.
    [Show full text]
  • A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians And
    2015 A COMMUNITY OF CONTRASTS Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the West ARIZONA HAWAI‘I LAS VEGAS OREGON SEATTLE CONTENTS Welcome 1 OREGON 46 Introduction 2 Demographics 47 Executive Summary Economic Contributions3 49 Civic Engagement 50 WEST REGION Immigration 5 51 Demographics 6 Language 52 ARIZONA 10 Education 53 Demographics 11 Income 54 Economic Contributions 13 Employment 55 Civic Engagement 14 Housing 56 Immigration 15 Health 57 Language 16 SEATTLE METRO AREA 58 Education 17 Demographics 59 Income 18 Economic Contributions 61 Employment 19 Civic Engagement 62 Housing 20 Immigration 63 Health 21 Language 64 HAWAI‘I 22 Education 65 Demographics 23 Income 66 Economic Contributions 25 Employment 67 Civic Engagement 26 Housing 68 Immigration 27 Health 69 Language 28 Policy Recommendations 70 Education 29 Glossary 73 Income 30 Appendix A: Population, Population Growth 74 Employment 31 Appendix B: Selected Population Characteristics 80 Housing 32 Technical Notes 85 Health 33 LAS VEGAS 34 METRO AREA Demographics 35 Economic Contributions 37 Civic Engagement 38 Immigration 39 Asian Americans Advancing Justice Language 40 Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and Education 41 human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved Income 42 communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. Employment 43 Housing 44 Advancing Justice | AAJC (Washington, DC) Health 45 Advancing Justice | Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco) Advancing Justice | Atlanta Advancing Justice | Chicago Advancing Justice | Los Angeles All photos in this report were taken by M. Jamie Watson unless otherwise noted. Data design and layout were provided by GRAPHEK.
    [Show full text]
  • The Experience of Burmese Refugees in US Higher Education
    Taylor University Pillars at Taylor University Master of Arts in Higher Education Thesis Collection 2017 Purpose and Resilience: The Experience of Burmese Refugees in U.S. Higher Education Rebecca Tervo Taylor University Follow this and additional works at: https://pillars.taylor.edu/mahe Part of the Higher Education Commons Recommended Citation Tervo, Rebecca, "Purpose and Resilience: The Experience of Burmese Refugees in U.S. Higher Education" (2017). Master of Arts in Higher Education Thesis Collection. 85. https://pillars.taylor.edu/mahe/85 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Pillars at Taylor University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master of Arts in Higher Education Thesis Collection by an authorized administrator of Pillars at Taylor University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PURPOSE AND RESILIENCE: THE EXPERIENCE OF BURMESE REFUGEES IN U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION _______________________ A thesis Presented to The School of Social Sciences, Education & Business Department of Higher Education and Student Development Taylor University Upland, Indiana ______________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Development _______________________ by Rebecca Tervo May 2017 © Rebecca Tervo 2017 Higher Education and Student Development Taylor University Upland, Indiana CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL _________________________ MASTER’S THESIS _________________________ This is to certify that the Thesis of Rebecca Tervo entitled Purpose and Resilience: The Experience of Burmese Refugees in U.S. Higher Education has been approved by the Examining Committee for the thesis requirement for the Master of Arts degree in Higher Education and Student Development May 2017 __________________________ _____________________________ Scott Gaier, Ph.D.
    [Show full text]
  • Current and Future Worldwide Threats to the National Security of the United States
    S. HRG. 111–254 CURRENT AND FUTURE WORLDWIDE THREATS TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION MARCH 10, 2009 Printed for the use of the Committee on Armed Services ( U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 54–639 PDF WASHINGTON : 2010 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Nov 24 2008 10:28 Jan 29, 2010 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 Y:\BORAWSKI\DOCS\54639.TXT JUNE PsN: JUNEB COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES CARL LEVIN, Michigan, Chairman EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Massachusetts JOHN MCCAIN, Arizona ROBERT C. BYRD, West Virginia JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut JEFF SESSIONS, Alabama JACK REED, Rhode Island SAXBY CHAMBLISS, Georgia DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina BILL NELSON, Florida JOHN THUNE, South Dakota E. BENJAMIN NELSON, Nebraska MEL MARTINEZ, Florida EVAN BAYH, Indiana ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi JIM WEBB, Virginia RICHARD BURR, North Carolina CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri DAVID VITTER, Louisiana MARK UDALL, Colorado SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine KAY R. HAGAN, North Carolina MARK BEGICH, Alaska ROLAND W. BURRIS, Illinois RICHARD D. DEBOBES, Staff Director JOSEPH W. BOWAB, Republican Staff Director (II) VerDate Nov 24 2008 10:28 Jan 29, 2010 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0486 Sfmt 0486 Y:\BORAWSKI\DOCS\54639.TXT JUNE PsN: JUNEB C O N T E N T S CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF WITNESSES CURRENT AND FUTURE WORLDWIDE THREATS TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 10, 2009 Page Blair, Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • Moving Beyond the “Asian” Check
    Moving Beyond the “Asian” Check Box Analyses of national opportunities and challenges for education data reform through data disaggregation that recognizes the unique identities of Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander communities Southeast Asia Resource Action Center June 2013 Moving Beyond the “Asian” Check Box © 2013 SEARAC Produced by: Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) 1628 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009-3099 202.601.2960 phone 202.667.6449 fax www.searac.org Author: Quyen Dinh, SEARAC Contributors: Mark Ro Beyersdorf, Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund (AALDEF) William Chiang, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) Monica Thammarath, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA)/National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) About the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center The Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) is a national organization that advances the interests of Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese Americans by empowering communities through advocacy, leadership development, and capacity building to create a socially just and equitable society. SEARAC was founded in 1979 to foster the development of nonprofit organizations led by and for Southeast Asian Americans. Today, SEARAC strengthens the capacity of community-based organizations led by refugees from around the world, serves as a coalition builder and leader among diverse refugee communities, carries out action-based research projects, fosters civic engagement among refugees, and represents refugee communities at the national level in Washington, DC and at the state level in California. Special Thanks & Acknowledgements to Our Contributors SEARAC would like to thank the following partner organizations who contributed to the analysis and writing of this report.
    [Show full text]
  • Perception, Identity, and the Role of Choice in Race
    William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice Volume 26 (2019-2020) Issue 3 Article 3 April 2020 Flexibly Fluid & Immutably Innate: Perception, Identity, and the Role of Choice in Race Emily Lamm Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl Part of the Law and Race Commons, Legal History Commons, and the United States History Commons Repository Citation Emily Lamm, Flexibly Fluid & Immutably Innate: Perception, Identity, and the Role of Choice in Race, 26 Wm. & Mary J. Women & L. 525 (2020), https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl/ vol26/iss3/3 Copyright c 2020 by the authors. This article is brought to you by the William & Mary Law School Scholarship Repository. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl FLEXIBLY FLUID & IMMUTABLY INNATE: PERCEPTION, IDENTITY, AND THE ROLE OF CHOICE IN RACE EMILY LAMM* INTRODUCTION I. THE CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF RACE A. Race & Rhetoric: Justifications for Slavery and American Imperialism B. Dominance Through Division: The Racial Hierarchy’s Ultimate Illusion C. Ensnared Elevation: The Plight of Races Deemed Superior II. IN SEARCH OF CLARITY: DECONSTRUCTING RACE IN THE COURTROOM A. Endorsing Racism B. Judicial Waffling C. Recognizing the Power of Perception III. MITIGATING THE BATTLE BETWEEN PERCEPTION AND IDENTITY A. Choosing a Racial Identity B. Taking One Small Step in a Delicate Dance CONCLUSION INTRODUCTION October 27, 2018, was an unfathomable day. Within the tran- quility of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylva- nia, one of the deadliest attacks on the Jewish community in the United States had taken place. For nothing more than their faith, a remorseless white supremacist stripped eleven members of the Tree of Life Synagogue of their lives.1 After twenty-two years in the FBI, special agent Robert Jones called this the “most horrific crime scene” that he had ever witnessed.2 Though unfathomable, this * JD, Vanderbilt Law School, Order of the Coif, 2019; Biology BS, Denison University, summa cum laude, 2016.
    [Show full text]
  • Burmese Refugee Women in Resettlement: Narratives Of
    BURMESE REFUGEE WOMEN IN RESETTLEMENT: NARRATIVES OF STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH A DISSERTATION IN Counseling Psychology Presented to the Faculty of the University of Missouri-Kansas City in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by JOANNA CHEE MAUNG M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2015 B.A., University of California, San Diego, 2010 Kansas City, Missouri 2018 © 2018 JOANNA CHEE MAUNG ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BURMESE REFUGEE WOMEN IN RESETTLEMENT: NARRATIVES OF STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH Joanna Chee Maung, Candidate for Doctor of Philosophy University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2018 ABSTRACT Though there is research to suggest a robust association between exposure to traumatic events and negative mental health outcomes (Fazel, Wheeler, & Danesh, 2005), refugees, amongst other individuals, demonstrate remarkable resilience and ability to cope with adverse stressors (Schweitzer, Greenslade, & Kagee, 2007)—some even report positive psychological changes as a result of their struggle with highly challenging life circumstances (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004b; Hussain & Bhushan, 2013). The goal of this qualitative study was to examine the strengths, adaptive capacity, and posttraumatic growth experiences of a community of female Burmese refugees resettled in a Midwestern city of the United States. Based on data gathered from eleven participants, Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) analysis yielded a thematic overview of four domains: (a) pre-resettlement experiences; (b) post-resettlement experiences; (c) coping and resilience; and (d) experiences of posttraumatic growth. The results provided contextual evidence to the pre-resettlement and post-resettlement stressors experienced by Burmese refugee women in resettlement. Findings also highlighted the strengths, protective factors, and resources of Burmese refugee women, whose narratives of positive growth and change seemed to co-exist with memories and experiences of trauma, suffering, and hardship.
    [Show full text]
  • Refugees from Burma/Myanmar and Bhutan in the United States
    2014 INVISIBLE NEWCOMERS REFUGEES FROM BURMA/MYANMAR AND BHUTAN IN THE UNITED STATES INVISIBLE NEWCOMERS: REFUGEES FROM BURMA/MYANMAR AND BHUTAN IN THE UNITED STATES The usage of the term “Burma” is consistent with reports released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as they track refugees to the United States. We recognize the sensitivity that exists regarding the use of the term. We use Burmese Americans and Burmese refugees to encompass all refugees with origins in Burma/Myanmar with the understanding that there are numerous ethnic groups who prefer to be identified by their respective ethnic identity. We are also sensitive to the use of the country’s current official name of The Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Many in the international community use Myanmar because they believe that nations should be referred to by the name that they prefer. We are aware of the recent changes in U.S. relations with the country and that in its May 15, 2013 statement regarding Myanmar President Thein Sein’s visit to the United States, the Obama Administration referred to the country as Myanmar, as INVISIBLE NEWCOMERS: a courtesy gesture of respect for a government that is pursuing a REFUGEES FROM BURMA/ transformative reform agenda. MYANMAR AND BHUTAN IN THE UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION FOR ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES (AAAS) Funding for this project is Chia Youyee Vang, Ph.D. provided by the Asian & Co-Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Pacific Islander American Monica Mong Trieu, Ph.D. Scholarship Fund (APIASF), Co-Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Purdue University in collaboration with the ADVISORY COMMITTEE Association for Asian Mary Yu Danico, Ph.D.
    [Show full text]
  • Disaggregating and Identifying Partisan Political Trends in Asian-American Communities
    NOT ALL THE SAME: DISAGGREGATING AND IDENTIFYING PARTISAN POLITICAL VIEWS IN ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES by Nicholas Michela Bellomy A thesis submitted to Johns Hopkins University in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Baltimore, Maryland May, 2019 © 2019 Nicholas Michela Bellomy All Rights Reserved Abstract This study looks to address gaps in the existing literature by examining the salience of ethnicity in impacting partisan political views among Asian Americans. Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial group in the United States. Yet, this diverse community is understudied in both the national political discourse and in political science, compared to other racial communities. The existing studies related to Asian Americans and the political landscape generally aggregate diverse ethnic communities, with potentially diverse political views, into a single Asian American political bloc based on race. The resulting explanatory theories for Asian American political activity center on explaining political participation, such as voting in an election or joining political interests groups. However, these theories do not examine the views of Asian American individuals or communities towards key partisan political issues, nor do they examine how unique ethno-cultural factors contribute to issue view formation. Through analyzing respondent data from the National Asian American Survey 2016 Post-Election Survey, this study identified that ethnicity plays a significant role in impacting several partisan political issue views. The issues studied included: political party affiliation; approval for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants; legalization of abortion; legal protections for lesbian, gay, and transgender individuals; and views on the efficacy of the Affordable Care Act.
    [Show full text]