When we talk about refugees in the United States, the images we think of are often people crossing seas or deserts seeking a new home. What’s often missed are the real humans that live behind the word “refugee”. In the day to day at The Refugee Response, we’re fortunate to witness the entire picture of the deep, rich lives that refugees live. What we see is that when newcomers to our communities find their new homes, their lives are an interwoven tapestry of their past and current homes. The worlds of refugees that now call Cleveland their home often look the same as those who have been Clevelanders from birth. 

#ReFramingRefuge is a way for us to shed light on the hidden worlds that live behind the word refugee in our community. We gave polaroid cameras to members of our Teen Response program and asked them to take photos of their lives over one week to show others what they see throughout their days. We will share those photos with you on this webpage and on our social media as we receive them.

We hope that this series can serve as a looking glass into the lives of the refugees that live in your community, and show that whether you are a refugee in a new place or born here, our lives and homes are much more similar than they are different.