Spokane’s Diversity Hotspots: Jacob’s Well

   As I commented in my last post, many refugees find their community through religion. Jacob's Well is a local church, pastored by an American named Eric Blauer, that has taken on the role of host for Spokane's population of Karen Burmese refugees. It helps with the initial complexities of life as a resettled refugee—finding housing, making and keeping appointments, addressing physical needs, finding childcare, getting enrolled in school, and generally learning to function in American culture—and also has become home to a Karen church pastored by a Karen pastor from New York.

   This church has become a bastion of support for the Karen Burmese community in Spokane, and a great place to look for diversity in Spokane. Which teaches us another lesson about finding refugees near your home—look around for churches and organizations that have involved themselves in refugee affairs, and then get involved with them!

–J.R.