2022 Research Grantee Dialogue

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

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Embracing the Diversity of Civic 

Engagement: Opportunities for 

National Service
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Katy MHussey-Sloniker, BA, MSW, LGSW,

Learning Officer, 

AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation

2022 Research Grantee Dialogue: 

Embracing the Diversity of Civic Engagement
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Welcome!

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2022 Research Grantee Dialogue:

Embracing the Diversity of Civic Engagement

May 18, 2022

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Fostering Civic Participation for 

Refugee Communities
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Panel Moderator

Andrea Robles, Ph.D.,

Research and Evaluation Manager, 

AmeriCorps Office of Research 

and Evaluation

Fostering Civic Participation for 

Refugee Communities
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2022 Research Grantee Dialogue: 

Embracing the Diversity of Civic Engagement
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Panel Moderators

Fostering Civic Participation for 

Refugee Communities

Emily McDonald, 

Ph.D. 

Research Analyst

AmeriCorps Office of 

Research and 

Evaluation

Victoria Narine, 

Ph.D. 

Research Analyst

AmeriCorps Office of 

Research and 

Evaluation
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Bryan Wright, Ph.D.

Director

Cincinnati Compass

Fostering Civic Participation for 

Refugee Communities

Setting the Stage: 

Refugees in the United States
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Fostering Civic Participation for 

Refugee Communities
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Refugee Experiences in Cincinnati Ohio

CARE: Cincinnati – Civic Action for Refugee Empowerment

Anjali Dutt, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

University of Cincinnati, 

Department of 

Psychology

2018 Grantee

Bryan Wright, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Cincinnati Compass

2018 Grantee
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Description of Study

Since 2018 our team has worked together using an 

iterative community based participatory research 

process to support refugee integration and civic 

participation in Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati has over 25,000 refugees, however, there is 

minimal infrastructure to support immigrant and refugee 

integration.

Our goal has been to identify barriers to participation 

and wellbeing experienced by refugees and use this 

information to create actions and inform policymakers to 

enhance refugee experiences. 

Refugee Experiences in Cincinnati Ohio

CARE: Cincinnati – Civic Action for Refugee Empowerment
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Study Design

Phase I:

Survey 291 local refugees to learn about how life is 

experienced by members of local refugee 

communities

Phase II:

Follow up focus groups to gain deeper insight into 

the meaning behind survey findings

Phase III: 

Actions – using the findings from our study to create 

actions in response to identified concerns

Refugee Experiences in Cincinnati Ohio

CARE: Cincinnati – Civic Action for Refugee Empowerment
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Findings from phases of research pointed to lack of 

understanding of how to navigate life in Cincinnati 

as among the most pressing concerns, as well as a 

strong desire but uncertainty in how to engage in 

local civic life. In response we collaboratively 

developed the following actions:

1. “How to live in Cincinnati” videos

2. Refugee and Immigrant Civic Leadership 

Program 

3. COVID survey

Grantee Program Accomplishments

Refugee Experiences in Cincinnati Ohio

CARE: Cincinnati – Civic Action for Refugee Empowerment
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Jenna Cushing-Leubner, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

University of Wisconsin: Whitewater, Curriculum & Instruction

Lub Zej Zog

2018 Grantee

Lub Zej Zog Project: HMoob language & culture reclamation

Pang Yang, M.Ed.

Community Partner Lead, Hmong Heritage Language 

Teacher (Osseo Public Schools, MN), 

Executive Director MN Zej Zog

Lub Zej Zog

2018 Grantee

Fostering Civic Participation for 

Refugee Communities
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HMong community-driven educational 

transformation

• HMong language and cultural knowledge loss

• Structural barriers to HMong heritage language and 

ethnic studies programs (school-based)

------------------

• Refusal of language and knowledge system loss

• Commitment to HMong futures

• Driven by community knowledge holders 

• Intergenerational education as theory of change

Lub Zej Zog Project: HMoob language & culture reclamation

Fostering Civic Participation for 

Refugee Communities
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Study Design

Participatory Design Research as Garden for communitydriven educational change

• Multiple interconnected projects

• Lead community researchers

• Community design research teams

• Community aims

• Curriculum

• Materials

• Professional development

• Program growth & stability

• Teacher leadership

• Scholarship aims

Lub Zej Zog Project: HMoob language & culture reclamation

Fostering Civic Participation for 

Refugee Communities
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Symbiotic Findings/Action

Phase 1: curriculum & materials

Phase 2: language, literacy, culture standards; mental 

health; ethnic studies and Moob hab Ntsuab

curriculum/PD

Phase 3: program stability and growth

- est. MN Zej Zog

- Hmong teacher licensing

- networked new program development

- teacher and community leadership expansion

- youth educator mentorship

- growing the field of HMong educational 

scholars

Lub Zej Zog Project: HMoob language & culture reclamation

Fostering Civic Participation for 

Refugee Communities
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Reflections: Turning Research to Action

Jacob Sgambati

Deputy Director

AmeriCorps National 

Civilian Community Corps 

(NCCC)

Sonali Nijhawan

Director

AmeriCorps State and 

National

Jacqueline 

Dulude

Recruitment & Outreach 

Manager 

AmeriCorps Office of 

External Affairs

Fostering Civic Participation for 

Refugee Communities
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Panelist Discussion and Q&A

Jacob Sgambati 

Deputy Director

AmeriCorps National 

Civilian Community 

Corps (NCCC)

Bryan Wright, Ph.D.

Director

Cincinnati Compass

Victoria Narine, Ph.D. 

Research Analyst, 

AmeriCorps Office of 

Research and Evaluation

Anjali Dutt, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, 

Department of Psychology

University of Cincinnati

Emily McDonald, Ph.D. 

Research Analyst, 

AmeriCorps Office of Research 

and Evaluation

Pang Yang, M.A.

Executive Director

MN Zej Zog / Lub Zej Zog 

Project

University of Wisconsin 

Whitewater/Hmong 

Group Team

Sonali Nijhawan

Director

AmeriCorps State and 

National

Jenna Cushing- Leubener, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

University of Wisconsin- Whitewater

Fostering Civic Participation for 

Refugee Communities

Jacqueline Dulude

Recruitment & Outreach 

Manager 

AmeriCorps Office of 

External Affairs
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Mary Hyde, Ph.D.

Director, 

AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation

2022 Research Grantee Dialogue: 

Embracing the Diversity of Civic Engagement
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Katy Hussey-Sloniker, MBA, MSW, LGSW,

Learning Officer, 

AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation

Closing Remarks

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

2022 Research Grantee Dialogue:

Fostering Civic Participation for 

Refugee Communities