Spotlight: Joseph Genda, Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office for New Americans
The Center for Economic Opportunity and Belonging (CEOB) is excited to continue this Spotlight series where we sit down with community leaders and organizations to talk about their work and their belonging journey in Utah.
We recently sat down and spoke with Joseph Genda, the New American and Refugee Liaison for Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office for New Americans, about building belonging in Utah and his work at the Office for New Americans.
In two to three sentences can you explain what you do?
The Office for New Americans was established in 2016, and it aims to improve the lives of Salt Lake County’s new American residents by maximizing civic, social, and economic potential. On a National level, I represent the Mayor and Salt Lake County on national task forces, boards, and commissions for immigration and refugee issues. On a local level, I lead communication efforts between the Mayor's Office and community leaders, especially those representing immigrant and refugee communities. I collaborate with community leaders and partners to rally support for immigrant and refugee communities.
What does belonging mean to you?
Belonging is about being embraced, welcomed, cared for, and valued. Belonging means people are there to embrace others, irrespective of where they are coming from or whether they know them. Also, it means caring for them and valuing individuals. We demonstrate that in different forms: by showing compassion, rendering services, and being there for others. In brief, belonging means being there, being there to embrace others, not only your inner circles, but people that are different from you. You care for them and you value them.
“Belonging is about being embraced, welcomed, cared for, and valued. Belonging means people are there to embrace others, irrespective of where they are coming from or whether they know them.”
Can you share with us a bit of your story of finding belonging/ or your continued journey of finding belonging in Utah?
I came here as a refugee in 2007, and when I came here, I wanted to go to school. We had two younger children by then. However, babysitting was expensive. So, one couple, we have in our community volunteered to watch my boys while I went to classes in the evenings after work. They had other kids who were boys as well, so they said they could watch them with their boys. I submitted my transcript to the University of Utah, and I decided to go there. So this couple and their family volunteered to help me by taking care of watching over my kids as we are away. That demonstrates that they care for me, and I am part of their family, and they value me and what I want to become. It was very helpful.
Another example I have is a couple of family friends we have. They were born here and have been here for nearly 18 years. As my kids were growing up, they used to take us to different national parks and different places every year. They took us to places such as Zion and Yellowstone National Parks. Throughout the years, they have shown that they love us and that we belong. Now, we don’t go with them on trips anymore, but they have stayed connected with us. They know all my children, including all my family members. They created a platform of welcoming and have shown me that I belong here. They did this by being there for me and taking me out, visiting places that I probably wouldn’t see by myself. They have been instrumental in my life, connecting me with those things that my family and I like.
Going back to what you do, how do you think belonging fits into what you do/ and or your organization does?
In my position, I am here to help other immigrants and refugees, or new Americans in general, to be able to integrate fully. I try to empower them or empower those organizations that are serving new Americans. Last year, I received a grant fund for a project where I recruited 15 youth, nine of whom were born overseas, and six who were born here. We came together and identified four of our community members from each of the continents for a book that was published full of stories regarding their journey, their experiences, and integration in Salt Lake County The National Tongan American Society is selling the books so that we can raise money to help those who will need financial assistance for either green cards or citizenship fees.
Beyond that, I participate in the Welcoming Week planning committee, which constitutes planning activities for Welcoming Week with community organizations as well as local governments. I've been in this role for over three years, and during Welcoming Week, people from different backgrounds and those who are long-time residents come and celebrate the diversity of our county together.
Another part of what I also do in my role is organize resource fairs that will benefit our immigrant and refugee communities. I invite community members as well as leaders to come and see what is available to serve this population. I try to organize events that will bring our immigrant and community leaders and elected officials into a space so that we can learn about our successes, challenges, and find ways to address them.
What are some things you believe we need to do as Utahns to make our state a place where everyone belongs? Or what is something someone did that helped you feel like you belong in Utah?
As for the second question, the two families I mentioned earlier created a platform for me to interact with them and trust them, and they proved to me that I belong here. They did everything possible for me to go to school. And even during hard times, they were there for me. If you were not born here, you have to go through this system, especially education, which is necessary for a successful integration. Any form of education will be vital in being able to have a better job, a better earning capacity, so that you'll be able to take care of your family. So through their help, they demonstrated that I belong here. I trust them, and they are my brothers, and they are my sisters. Although I might be different, they have created a platform where we are all the same. They have made it possible for me to know that I belong here.
At the state level, we have an office established that helps immigrants and refugees. I wish there were an office for all the different counties or cities. Salt Lake County serves as a great example, dedicated to serving especially the immigrant and refugee residents, so that there will be someone just like them who can connect to them and connect with those that are already here to bridge that gap. We need to be more welcoming for the people here, not only those who were born here, but also those who are coming from different places.
Individually, try to know more about others, go outside of your family and your immediate community. Get outside to know others, be part of other communities, get to know them, go to the events that they have, or invite them to participate in your events, so that they can get to know you.
How can people get involved?
You can get involved in different ways. If you see a family in your community that is different from you, get to know them and invite them to your barbecues. Go out of your way to befriend them so that you can get to know them better.
Also, in September of every year, we have different organizations partnering with the Salt Lake County Mayor's Office for New Americans to participate in Welcoming Week. We host events across the country where you can get involved. You can be a planning committee member, or you can be involved by attending those events.
There are a lot of organizations in Utah serving new Americans, refugees, and immigrants. You can get involved by volunteering with those organizations. You are also always welcome to donate to these organizations. Some of the organizations that serve these populations are Women of the World, Refugee Services Office, International Rescue Committee, Catholic Community Services, and Holy Cross Ministries. Those are organizations serving new Americans, including immigrants and refugees, so donate your time and money if you can; they need your support today more than ever, which would be very helpful.