Immigrants and refugees contribute greatly to Middle Tennessee. They add cultural diversity, shape the local economy and cultivate strong community.
How rising housing costs are pushing Nashville’s immigrant communities further away
In this episode, we examine how the red-hot Nashville market specifically impacts working class and recently-arrived immigrants and their families. We’re joined by community members, outreach worker, and educators to learn about how development and rising rents are making cultural communities and vital services harder to access for many immigrants and recently-arrived refugees.
‘I never forgot the journey’: Afghan refugees reflect on the day they left Kabul and the lives they’re building in Nashville
For many of the more than 300 Afghan refugees who attended the Islamic Center of Nashville’s December welcome dinner, this was the first chance to see what life will be like in Tennessee.
Welcoming Afghan refugees to Middle Tennessee
In this episode, we hear the stories of the people who have been resettled here. Then, we learn about how Tennessee’s refugee resettlement infrastructure works. Finally, we hear how the community came together to fill in the gaps in the system and how listeners can help.
First Kurdish American wins top prize at Tennessee Craft for textile work that captures the immigrant experience
This year, for the first time, the top prize at a biennial exhibit of Tennessee Craft has gone to an artist from the state’s Kurdish community.
‘We Don’t Look Back, We Look Forward’: A Syrian Family Rebuilds Their Life In Murfreesboro
This year marks a decade since the start of the Syrian civil war that has caused more than 6.5 million people to seek refuge around the world, including Kinan Alrifai and her family in Middle Tennessee. The John Overton High School science teacher spoke with WPLN News about the challenges and triumphs of rebuilding their lives here.
Deported — Then Brought Back: An Iraqi Native Battles To Stay In Nashville
Listen Under President Donald Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been ramping up efforts to deport hundreds of Iraqi nationals whose legal status in the U.S. is in limbo. But one Nashville man’s case shows how hard it is to send someone back after nearly 25 years in the U.S.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM