Finding Refuge in KC takes us inside the homes and lives of five refugees who are giving back to the community that received them. A young Congolese man leads his college student government. A loving Somali mother helps new arrivals like herself. A Syrian family is grateful for Kansas City’s welcoming spirit and its medical expertise. A former refugee from Europe is a beloved restaurateur. And a Vietnamese businessman regales his customers with a soulful version of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”
Produced by KCPT and Gusewelle Films, Finding Refuge in Kansas City highlights the extraordinary resilience of immigrants who have endured war, dislocation and stints in refugee camps. The project is produced and directed by Jennie Gusewelle, daughter of the late KCPT contributor and Kansas City Star columnist C.W. Gusewelle. The documentary and video sketches are filmed and edited by Dave Burkhardt of KCPT, one of C.W. Gusewelle’s longtime collaborators at the station.
With generous support from:
Baldwin & Vernon
Pella and Jack Fingersh
Jamie and Bush Helzberg
The Herman Family Foundation
Linda Lighton and Lynn Adkins
Seyferth Family Fund
#FindingRefugeKC
Featured Stories
Finding Refuge in Kansas City: Yearning to Breathe Free
Muna Abdi sees the bewilderment in the eyes of newly arrived international refugees whose journey brings them to Kansas City. They don't know the language. They have no idea where or how to shop for food. Thermostats and many household appliances mystify them. Such things don't exist in the tarped quarters of refugee camps.
Explore, Learn & Engage
Center for New Americans: Resources for immigrants
https://cnam.org
New American Economy: The positive impacts of refugees on America’s economy https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/issues/refugees/
Refugee Council USA: A coalition of US-based non-governmental organizations that advocate for refugees
https://rcusa.org
The Refugee Project: Interactive learning experience fueled by 50 years of data from the UNHCR tracing the history of refugee migration worldwide
https://www.therefugeeproject.org
UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency: News, stories and ways to get involved
https://www.unhcr.org
Welcoming America: Make your community more welcoming
https://www.welcomingamerica.org
Local Refugee Resettlement Agencies
Additional Local Resources
Filmmakers
Jennie Gusewelle
Producer, Gusewelle Films
Jennie Gusewelle has produced documentaries and educational programs for television, nonprofits, schools and unions, including pieces for Hallmark Entertainment, the Service Employee’s International Union (SEIU), the Natural Gourmet Institute, the Consortium for Educational Change and Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy.
Dave Burkhardt
Editor and Videographer, KCPT
In 1997, I had the good fortune to work with legendary writer Charles Gusewelle of the Kansas City Star on “This Place Called Home,” a story of immigrants who came to came to Kansas City and flourished here. This year, I had the good fortune again to work with Jennie Gusewelle, Charles’ daughter. We believe this is an important time to tell refugee’s stories, and they have great stories to tell.