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Aug 15, 2009 9:25 pm US/Central
Thousands Of Iraqi Refugees Call North Texas Home
Arezow Doost
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Thousands of Iraqi refugees call North Texas home.
As they adjust to life in this area there a number of agencies trying to help the families struggling to survive.
The Texas Muslim Women's Foundation, Iraqi American Association of North Texas, Mosaic Family Services and now the Janan Collection are helping raise awareness for those here and overseas.
The Janan Collection created by two sisters is showcasing Iraqi women artists.
"Many of the paintings are done by widows," says Ty Nguyen-Reed as she points to a number of paintings depicting life in Iraq despite war.
Nyguyen-Reed, 33, was a commander in the U.S. Army stationed in Baghdad. She has served three tours. "These painting are just gorgeous," Nyguyen-Reed gushes.
From a widow painting her kids excited to see a bird freed from a bird cage to women washing laundry in one of the river's the solider brought the paintings home hoping to help families with an income.
Nyguyen-Reed and her sister created the Janan Collection and are selling paintings, baskets and jewelry to help the families trying to feed their children.
"This is a way for them expressing themselves and you think this is hope," says Nguyen-Reed.
As the sister's help those overseas, there is a great need for the almost 4,000 Iraqi refugees in North Texas.
At a conference Saturday in Deep Ellum a number of the non-profits discussed ways to support the refugees. Families like the Alameri's. "I left Iraq in 1999 because of difficult conditions there," says Salih Alameri.
The Alameri's escaped to Jordan then eventually to Dallas.
The professor and author struggles to find work. He's currently a part-time greeter at Wal-mart.
"I'm not used to do the job, because all my life I've been teaching, investigating and well directing doctoral and master's thesis," says Alameri.
President of the Iraqi American Association of North Texas and Texas Women's Foundation Amira Matsuda says they come across many families in need of guidance and support.
She says there are many challenges the families face, but perhaps the greatest is finding work.
"Coming here with degrees and they cannot find a job that fits with their profession," says Matsuda.
Helping find jobs the refugees are qualified for, poverty; homelessness and isolation are just a few things the non-profits are trying to tackle.
As they work tirelessly to support the refugees, Nguyen-Reed is trying to change perceptions.
"I feel the world needs to know about this," says the solider "We think Iraq war. I want to change that to Iraq artists, ancient, culture, a place you want to see."
The paintings sold by Janan Collection cost between $350 to $500. Proceeds will go to each artist in Iraq.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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