Refugee Welcome Wagon
Clementine Mukeshimana Msengi, 34, three children
Bright Move Network, Cedar Falls, IA
When she first came to the United States 11 years ago, Clementine Mukeshimana Msengi was traveling in refugee mode: displaced but determined. She carried only a few reminders of her life in Rwanda, where civil war had erupted, uprooting her family and killing her parents. An older brother who had immigrated earlier arranged for her relocation to Cedar Falls, IA. "I had the culture shock," says Clementine. "I spoke only a little English and had problems socializing. And the snow, it was really depressing."
She was told to find work at the local meatpacking plant and assume a modest immigrant's existence—in other words, settle into an unnoticed life. Instead, Clementine, now married and a mother of three (Hope, 4; Elisante, 3; Peace, 9 months), put herself through college and graduate school, majoring in community health. After bettering her own life, she looked around to see what she could do for others.
Three years ago, she founded Bright Move Network, an innovative education, mentoring and referral service that helps refugees and immigrants adjust to life in the Hawkeye State, which has increasingly become a haven for people from past and present global hot spots such as Bosnia, Haiti and Iraq. "I was a refugee," she explains, "and because of my personal experience I know how hard it is. But I've also had so many good people touch my life." Clementine mentions a woman who hid her in Rwanda and the countless people stateside who reached out to her when she felt sealed off from the language and culture. The only way to repay them, she says, is to help other immigrants feel wanted and welcome. At last count, more than 300 immigrants and their families had passed through the program. "It's very important to integrate newcomers," she says.
Ethnic divisions were largely responsible for the Rwandan war. Bright Move Network symbolizes the possibility of community, in this case bridges between the mostly white Christian majority and the myriad of races, ethnicities and religions from other countries. "We have several people in the mentoring program who became friends and welcomed each other into their homes," says Clementine.
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