Lifeline for refugees

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: From left, Iman Diriye, a trainee at the Providence Granola Project, Keith Cooper, executive director of Beautiful Day, and Evon Mano, manager, are seen in Providence's Amos House kitchen, where Beautiful Day's granola is produced. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: From left, Iman Diriye, a trainee at the Providence Granola Project, Keith Cooper, executive director of Beautiful Day, and Evon Mano, manager, are seen in Providence's Amos House kitchen, where Beautiful Day's granola is produced. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Although their backgrounds are diverse and the reasons for their arrival in Providence varied, the nonprofit Beautiful Day has learned that refugees all have a common motivation: a job to support their family.

“Refugees need jobs,” said Keith Cooper, a founder of the nonprofit. “They want jobs so badly. That’s their motivation.”

Beautiful Day has found a way to help refugees acclimate to new work expectations by manufacturing a signature product, artisan granola, sold under the Providence Granola Project label. The workers learn basic skills and build confidence as employees, as they build résumé experience to land a first job.

Its product, also sold in retail stores and at farmers markets, was chosen by design. Cooper and fellow founder Geoff Gordon wanted something with a long shelf life and that was labor intensive, but which required minimal investment in equipment.

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Beautiful Day now employs nine people, in addition to the 20 to 25 refugees who are placed temporarily as contract workers in the kitchen.

Before starting the project, Cooper had worked for six years in refugee resettlement through what is now called the Dorcas International Institute.

Now, he manages a workplace that helps teach soft skills, such as confidence. Alumni of the project have found first jobs as hotel workers, in restaurant kitchens or in dry cleaners.

“Our goals are very much social goals,” Cooper said. “We’re trying to help people who otherwise would not get jobs.”

Refugees, unlike immigrants, are forcibly displaced from their home countries, through natural disaster, famine, war, persecution or oppression. They come to the United States with documents that allow them to work.

But finding that first job is another issue.

The refugees in Rhode Island often come from established refugee camps, where some have lived for 10 to 20 years, Cooper said. Many have never held a job. They may know little English or have had little formal education.

Beautiful Day understands that just getting its trainees to its professional kitchen location, at Amos House, can be a challenge. So part of the learning curve is navigating the public transportation network or understanding that U.S. banks are a safe location for paychecks.

The confidence comes through the work itself, he said, and having refugees then turn to and help each other.

“It’s a foot in the door, so they can move into the system,” Cooper said. “They’re incredibly motivated. That’s what they have going for them, that a lot of other people don’t. They’re determined, if you give them a chance.” •

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