INDEX
Abdi, Johara, 62
Academic Intervention Services (AIS), 70
addiction, 93, 145
Aiello, Katie, 105
alcoholism, 143, 145
Alsayfis, Anwar, 50–51
Alsayfis, Ehab, 51
Alsayfis, Khoulood, 50, 51
Alsayfis, Sabah, 50
Ambure, Sadia: Americanized behavior of, 92; baby shower for, 183–85; birth of Rajab, 206–9; buying balloons at party store, 115; depression and, 173; dreams of, 3–5, 20; employment at Turning Stone, 152–53; fight with mother over wedding, 41–47; fight with other girl at school, 15–17; friendship with Ayuong, 89, 115; graduation of, 65–67, 88; move to apartment with Sofia, 95–97; move to grandmother’s house, 88–89; opinion of parenthood, 154–55; pregnancy of, 172–74; reconciliation with Zahara, 225–26; relationship with Chol, 116, 153–54; relationship with in-laws, 208–9; secret boyfriend of, 18; self-image of, 18; studying for naturalization exam, 209; taking up running, 225; trip to NYC, 225; visit to father, 46
Amerasian refugees, 35
American Dream, 120
Amrah (Sofia’s daughter), 95–96, 147
AMS company, 102, 104
Anderson, Mimi, 165
arson in Utica: history of, 9, 11–14; Strike Force, formation of, 59–60
Badnjevic, Sefik, 36
Bakert, Heidi: Ali’s deployment, effect on, 125–26; Ali’s return home from Bagdad, 218–20; anxiety about Julia, 190; anxiety about violence in Iraq, 190, 193–95; attitude toward Muslims, 26; effect of Ali’s absence on happiness, 217; independence of, 192; meeting Ali, 22–24; reaction to Muslim travel ban, 82; reflects on end of first marriage, 157; social life after Ali deploys, 156–57; text messages with Ali, 194–95; trip to Green Lake with Ali, 219–20; vows with Ali, 25–26
ban on Muslim travel, 79–82
Ben-Israel, Ron, 33
Bite, 103
Black community, 9, 168–69, 222
Black Lives Matter protests, 222
Bleecker Street, Utica, 40, 163
bomb threat at Utica College, 110
Bosnia: intervention in, 133–34; Hajrudin’s experience as prisoner of war, 134–37; opinion of diaspora in, 111; outbreak of war in, 127–32; peace agreement ending war in, 137; Srebrenica massacre, 133
Bosnian refugees: arrival in Utica, 35, 36–37; cultural practices contributing to home fires, 61; 18th birthday celebrations, 76; role of leaders in, 143; Special Bosnians, 213–14, 223. See also by name
Brain, Danielle, 68–69, 70
Burmaster, Robert, 105
Burmese refugees, 36, 70
Callahan, Shelly: education of refugees about fire hazards, 62; on learning curve of refugees, 37; on population of refugees in Utica, 35, 167; on refugee work ethic, 36; on restarting resettlement program, 222–23
Caruso, Carmela, 40, 103, 222
Caruso, Peter, 12
The Center, 35, 36
Chobani yogurt factory, New Berlin, 19, 36
Chol (Sadia’s boyfriend), 116, 153–54, 206–8
citizenship, 80, 209
Colosimo-Testa, Samantha, 166–67
Comets hockey team, 102
Communication: with refugees about fire hazards, 61–63; of refugees with doctors, 147–48
concentration camp in Kotorsko, Bosnia, 135–36
COVID-19 pandemic, 221–22
Cree (semiconductor company), 168, 210–11
cultural competency in medicine, 145–46
cultural practices contributing to home fires, 61–63
Cuomo, Andrew, 102
Dayton Accords, 137
DeCarlo, Fred, 62
DeMetri, Claude, 59–60
depression, 145, 173–74
diaspora, Bosnian, 111
dietary restrictions, Muslim, 26
Di Pena, Robert, 11–12
divorce, in Somali Bantu community, 41
Doh, LuPway: on abuse among Karen, 145; childhood in Thailand, 144; help for woman who left abusive husband, 149–51; role as community leader, 143; on success of Karen refugees, 144; trauma in, 144, 151
domestic violence, 145, 149–51
Dongsavanh, Jimmy, 164–65
Douglas, Roberta, 35
Duracak, Sakib, 37, 143
education: of older students, 70–72; outcomes of students, 73; psychological support for students with trauma, 72–73; teaching challenges, 68–69, 74
Eid al-Fitr, 161, 165
EL&N, 180–81
Fasolo, Michael, 11
Fasolo, Phil, 11, 13, 59–60
fire department, Utica: cultural change in, 63–64; educating refugees about fire hazards, 61–63; fighting arson, 9, 11–14; Strike Force, formation of, 59–60
fires in Utica: cultural practices contributing to, 61–63; history of, 9, 11–14; Strike Force, formation of, 59–60
Ford, Nancy, 9, 14
Ganiso, Mohamed, 38–39, 143, 203
General Electric, 10, 39–40, 102
Halima (Sadia’s grandmother): escape from Somalia, 202–4; purchase and renovation of house, 3; Sadia’s relationship with, 20–21; Sadia’s stay at house of, 94–95
Halima (Sadia’s sister), 65, 90, 97, 187–88
Hamid, Nawres Waleed, 224
Hamilton, Freddie, 169, 222
Hanna, Ed, 10
Harbor Point Project, Utica, 166, 169–70
hibachis, fires caused by, 62, 63
high school. See Proctor High School, Utica
Hines, Kevin, 170–71
hospitals: cultural competency in, 145–46; plans for new, 104–5, 222
housing: arson problems affecting, 9, 11–14; lead poisoning risk, 146–47; loft development in downtown area, 99–101
Hua, Natalie, 145, 147–48, 221
Hubbell, Chris, 103
Hussein, Saddam, 48–49, 177–79
immigrant history of Utica, 39–40
industrial decline in Utica, 9–12
Ingersoll, Scott, 9, 62
Iraq: escalation of violence in, 193–94; Saddam’s presidency in, 48–49; Saddam’s trial in, 177–79
Iraqi refugees: closeness of, 49–50; description of, 26–27; segregation of sexes in, 27–28. See also by name
Italian immigrants, 39, 40, 168
Johnson, Patrick, 169
Julia (daughter of Heidi): acceptance to college, 175; accompanies mother during Ali’s absence, 155–56; depression in, 81, 85, 126; devotion to Utica, 191; employment at meat market and grocery, 191; first year at college, 190–91; friendship with Kurrine, 86–87, 175; opinion of Ali, 81; opinion of Trump, 82; plans for her mother in Ali’s absence, 156; relationship with Ali, 125; trip to Green Lake with Allison, Heidi and Ali, 219–20
Kanatenah building fire, Utica, 12–14
Karen refugees: arrival in Utica, 36, 37–38; cultural practices contributing to home fires, 61; domestic violence among, 149–51; success of, 144; trauma in, 143–45
Landmarc Building, Utica, 101
lead poisoning, 146–47
Lebanese immigrants, 39
Leonard, Jason Allen, 103, 105
loft development in Utica, 99–101
Mana (Sadia’s sister): bantering with Sadia, 3, 4; devotion to Utica, 92; on disciplining children, 92; employment at Walmart, 92; fear of school, 93; marriage of, 65; opinion of Americanized behavior of Sadia, 92; relationship with siblings, 186–89; remarrying, 189; separation and move back to Zahara’s house, 90–92
Mandaeans, 51
“March on the Drina” (Serbian song), 128–29
Marken, Kevin, 73
Maunz, Mickey, 59
medicine: cultural competency in, 145–46; lead poisoning in children, 146–47; patient communication in, 147–48; psychological support for trauma, 148–49
Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), 73
Mukonje, Ahmed, 38, 203
Muslim community: celebration of Ramadan, 84–85, 159, 160–62; dietary restrictions, 26; reaction to Muslim travel ban, 80–82; segregation of sexes in, 27–28
Muslim travel ban, 79–82
nanotechnology program, 102, 104
naturalization, 27–28, 209
New York Civil Liberties Union, 71
Nexus Center, Utica, 169
Ocean Blue restaurant, Utica, 101
older students, education of, 70–72
Omeragic, Ajla, 160, 161–62
Omeragic, Elhan, 131, 159–60, 161, 211, 213
Omeragic, Faris, 76, 78, 107, 160
Omeragic, Hajrudin: account of outbreak of war in Bosnia, 127–32; bread baking, 31; capture as prisoner of war, 134–37; culinary classes taken by, 31; fear of charging more, 213; healing after release from concentration camp, 137–38; marriage to Mersiha, 138; opening of restaurant, 159, 210–14; purchase of house on Blandina Street, 7; renovation of restaurant building, 180–82; return to home during war, 133–34; visit to Bosnia in 2015, 53–54; war-related trauma in, 137–40
Omeragic, Ismar: birthday party for, 76; choice to become video game designer, 75–78; encouraged to work in Utica, 210–11; support for parents, 160
Omeragic, Mersiha: account of outbreak of war in Bosnia, 198–200; arrival in Utica, 29; birthday party for Ismar, 76; cakes made by, 33–34; celebration of Ramadan, 160–62; closure of bakery, 55; college education, 30–31; death of aunt, 54–55; death of mother, 30; decision to open café, 104, 106–7; discovery of talent, 30–32; dream of opening café, 6–8; effect of COVID-19 pandemic on restaurant, 223–24; employment at curtain factory, 29–30; family of, 7, 29–30; feeling suspended between two worlds, 110–11; home bakery of, 33–34; kidnapping by father, 199; macaron class in Paris, 53–54; marriage to Hajrudin, 138; opening of restaurant, 210–14, 215; opinion of new hospital, 105; opinion of Ocean Blue restaurant, 101; pastry chefs admired by, 33–34; physical toll of baking on, 8, 213, 215; preparation for prom, 198; purchase of house on Blandina Street, 7; purchase of Rutger Restaurant, 112–14, 159–60; reaction to barbed comments about refugees, 110; reaction to Ismar’s career choice, 75–78; reaction to Special Bosnian’s complaints, 213–14; reaction to Trump election, 79; as refugee in Croatia, 199–202; renovation of restaurant building, 180–82; re-opening of home bakery, 75; teaching in ESL program, 106, 107–9, 223; trip to Bosnia in 2015, 53–54; visit to mother’s grave, 161–62
Omerovic, Fahrudin, 110
On Point for College program, 73
opioid crisis, 93
Palmieri, Robert: development plans for Utica, 100, 104, 166–68, 169; at opening of Yummilicious Café & Bakery, 210–11; weekly sweeps by, 163–66
Pathways to Justice Careers, 63
Paw, Pri, 70
Pembroke, Krista, 69, 72–73
Pezzolanella, Michael, 100–101
Phillips, Marques, 163, 222
polygamy, 119–20
posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), 137–40, 151, 224
Proctor High School, Utica: handling of Sadia’s fight with other student, 15–17; older students allowed at, 70–72; outcomes of students from, 73; psychological support for students at, 72–73; Sadia’s graduation from, 65–67; teaching challenges at, 68–69, 74
psychological support for trauma, 72–73, 148–49
Ralya (Sadia’s sister): death of twins, 225–26; employment at Walmart, 152; on future spouse, 97; help in raising Sadia, 45; marriage of, 184; on power within the family, 97; trip to fair with siblings, 188–89; worried about Sadia losing touch with family, 225
Ramadan, 84–85, 159, 160–62
refugee camps, Kenyan, 20, 204–5
refugees: arrival in Utica, 35–39; cultural practices contributing to home fires, 61–63; decline in number of, 83–84, 167–68; leaders in communities of, 143; resettlement program, restarting for, 222–23; sense of belonging in, 110–11; travel ban, effect on, 79–82. See also specific groups; specific names
Russian refugees, 37
Rust Belt cities: population decline in, 9–12, 167; repurposing of properties in, 99–100
Rutger Restaurant, Utica, 112–14
Sadia Ambure. See Ambure, Sadia
safety burners, 63
Sarhan, Ali: anxiety while in Iraq, 216–17; arrival in Utica, 22; beard turns white, 51–52, 124; celebration of Ramadan, 84–85, 159; death of friend Nawres, 224; death threats received by, 196–98; deployment to Middle East, 125–26; description of brother, 122; drone incident, 85–86; employment as interpreter in Utica, 25, 49, 83–84; employment in Iraq, 175–77; family of, 5–6, 26–27, 48; feeling American, 224; flying drones at Proctor Park, 86–87; friendship with Bill in Middle East, 157–58; increased violence in Iraq, 193–95; kidnapping of brother and nephews, 52, 123–24, 217–18; learning to fix things on YouTube, 218–19; learning to paint, 218; loan from Heidi for rent, 23–24; meeting Heidi, 22–23; memories of Saddam Hussein’s government, 48–49, 81, 179; memories of Saddam Hussein’s trial, 177–79; motivation for anti-terrorist work, 217–18; move to apartment with Heidi, 25; naturalization celebration of, 27–28; not able to visit family in Iraq, 176; physical changes while in Iraq, 191–92; plan to buy house with Heidi, 192; preparation to return to civilian life, 218; PTSD in, 224; reaction to Muslim travel ban, 80–82; reasons for immigration, 196–98; return home from Bagdad, 218–20, 224; tea preparation, 82; trauma in, 49, 51–52, 124, 224; trip to Green Lake, 219–20; visits home from Bagdad, 175–79, 216–17; visit to Alsayfis family, 50–51; vote for Trump, 80–81; vows with Heidi, 25–26; work for ABC News in Iraq, 122–23
Sarhan, Saif: description of, 5, 122; kidnapping of, 123–24; move to Syria, 123; work for ABC News in Iraq, 122
Schneiderman, Eric T., 70
Sofia (Sadia’s cousin): account of family’s escape from Somalia, 202–5; American-style behavior in, 94; attends Sadia’s baby shower, 183, 184; blocking Sadia on Facebook, 46; compares Sadia to Zahara, 204; COVID-19 infection, 221; employment at nursing home, 95; failure of marriage, 94, 95; friendship with Sadia, 15; lead poisoning in Amrah, 147; move back home, 153; move to apartment with Sadia, 95–97; move to grandmother’s house, 94–95; relationship with Amrah’s father, 95–96; relationship with mother, 153
Somali Bantu refugees: adaptation to life in Utica, 38; cultural practices contributing to home fires, 61–62; divorce among, 41; family disagreements among, 46–47; home purchases by, 118; importance of children to, 19; polygamy among, 119–20; role of leaders in community, 143; view of dating, 18; view of Zahara, 15; wedding celebrations of, 41. See also by name
Special Bosnians, 213–14, 223
Stam, Kathryn: on cultural practices contributing to home fires, 61, 64; on importance of children in Somali Bantu families, 19; on lead poisoning, 146; on polygamy in Somali Bantu families, 119; on reception of Somali Bantu in Utica, 38
Strike Force, formation of, 59–60
students: older, high school education of, 70–72; outcomes of, 73; psychological support for trauma in, 72–73; teaching challenges, 68–69, 74
Suleimani, Qassim, 194–95
Sunderland, Chris, 80
Syrian immigrants, 39
teachers, challenges facing, 68–69, 74
textile mills, in Utica, 39
Thomas, Brian, 99–100, 102, 105
traditional medicine, 147
trauma: in Bosnian refugees, 137–40; in Iraqi refugees, 49, 224; in Karen refugees, 143–45, 150–51; psychological support for, 72–73, 148–49; in Somali Bantu refugees, 202–4
travel ban on Muslims, 79–82
Trump, Donald: election of, 79; Muslim travel ban, 79–82; number of refugees admitted under, 83–84
Utica, New York: arrival of refugee groups in, 35–39; arson in, 9, 11–14; Black Lives Matter protests in, 222; COVID-19 pandemic in, 221–22; crime issues in, 93; cultural practices contributing to home fires, 61–63; development plans for, 166–68, 169; Harbor Point Project in, 166, 169–70; immigrant history of, 39–40; lead poisoning in, 146–47; loft development in, 99–101; new hospital in, 104–5, 222; opioid crisis in, 93; population decline in, 9–11, 167–68; revival of, 99–103; Strike Force, formation of, 59–60
Utica school district, lawsuit against, 71–72
Valastro, Buddy, 33
VanWagoner, Randall J., 72
Vietnamese refugees, 37
Volk, Laurie, 99–100
Warden, Katherine, 148–49
Warfel, Mark, 145–46
weddings, in Somali Bantu community, 41
Wilson-Allam, Deborah L., 71
work ethic of refugees, 36–39
Wynn Hospital, 222
Young Scholars Liberty Partnerships Program, 69
Yummilicious Café & Bakery: effect of COVID-19 pandemic on, 223–24; opening of, 210–14; purchase and renovation of building, 112–14, 180–82
Zahara (Sadia’s mother): anger at Sadia, 120; disciplining children, 120, 121; employment at Chobani yogurt factory, 19; feeling of safety in Utica, 93; fight with Sadia over wedding, 41–47; how family finances houses, 118; independence of, 19; lead poisoning in children of, 147; life in Kenyan refugee camp, 20, 204–5; marriage to Mustafa, 117–19; pride in children, 19; purchase of house on Steuben, 117–19; reaction to Sadia’s fight at school, 15–17; reaction to Trump election, 80; rebelliousness of, 204, 205; relationship with Sadia, 66, 225–26; response to Mana returning home, 91; on the run with parents, 204–5; taught to use gas stove, 61–62
Zogby, John: on construction of new hospital, 105; on COVID-19 pandemic, 221; on impact of refugees, 35, 37; on industrial decline in Utica, 9–10
Zumpano, Anthony, 11, 61, 63