International Institute of Metropolitan St. Louis

Dear Friends, Family, and Fellow Residents of St. Louis,

My name is Charles Mullenger – I am a St. Louis native, small business leader in Maryland Heights, and a former Captain in the U.S. Army who served in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2012 & 2013. The recent and swift takeover by the Taliban in Afghanistan has sent a sharp and cold dagger through hundreds of thousands of U.S. military veterans and Afghan supporters who poured blood, sweat, and tears into this 20-year-old conflict, and the cost is more than many of us can bear. However, our fight is not over.

I wish I could explain here the efforts of my fellow veterans and contemporaries working to evacuate our friendly forces from Afghanistan, bringing them and their families to safety, but my words would do little to no justice. I am part of several active group chats with peers and friendly forces around the nation and with boots on the ground in Kabul – each morning I wake up to thousands of messages and success stories as we tirelessly work to support those who aided, protected, and befriended our fellow American fighters.

As I write this note, thousands of Afghans are being evacuated to Qatar and Kuwait, where they will be vetted for potential entry into the United States of America. Our very own home of St. Louis, MO is preparing and committing to receive 1,000 Afghan refugees for a new, welcomed life in the city of St. Louis and surrounding areas. Upon a recent conversation with the International Institute of St. Louis, my personal mission shifted to this effort:

“The International Institute has for many years welcomed waves of refugees to St. Louis and is very experienced with resettlement. However, this time around, no one can be prepared enough for the crisis that we face. With an unprecedented number of projected Afghan arrivals and the need to build capacity to welcome these new neighbors we must deploy an unprecedented number of resources to meet the need. Our welcome is only as good as the community that stands with us. We cannot do this alone; we rely on the help of the community to provide a welcome with the dignity that our new neighbors deserve. As President and CEO of the International Institute I am humbled by efforts of veterans like Charles Mullenger who saw firsthand the kindness of these Afghans as they were at the battle front and are now working to pay it forward. I salute their efforts. Thank you to our veterans, thank you for your service, but fight continues right here.” Arrey Obenson, President of the International Institute of St. Louis.

This fundraiser is vital to the successful integration of the Afghans we hope to welcome soon. The $250,000 in funds will go directly to:

- Multi-passenger vans for transportation needs upon arrival to St. Louis

- Household goods and furnishings for incoming refugees

- Increased staffing capacity at IISTL to meet the forthcoming needs

My American brothers and sisters in uniform who served in Afghanistan will agree – we owe our allies from Afghanistan and their families the continued taste of freedom that we offered for the past twenty years. Let’s bring them home where they belong, and provide a path to success in the wonderful city of St. Louis.

Yours Truly,

K. Charles Mullenger

The funding from this donation will go directly to the International Institute of Metropolitan of St. Louis.

The Taliban forces have taken over the country in recent days after the collapse of the government. Thousands of Afghan families and children left their homes with nothing to escape the Taliban but now they are homeless on the street, hopeless, desperate, and trying to get out of the country. Political and business leaders are pledging to relocate at least 1,000 Afghan refugees to the St. Louis region and those refugees will arrive in St. Louis region soon. This funding will go directly yo the International Institute of St. Louis to resettle Afghan refugees and provide basic neccissities such as food, water, and shelter. International Institute of St. Louis has resettled 626 Afghans in the St. Louis area since 2010, with nearly half arriving since 2018 as the U.S. accelerated its drawdown of troops in Afghanistan. The organization has already resettled more than 50 Afghans with Special Immigration Visas this year and is ramping up for a sudden increase in refugees seeking shelter in St. Louis. This funding will help the International Institute of Metropolitan St. Louis to provide food, water, shelter, and other necessities for the Afghan refugees arriving in St. Louis. These refugees left everything in Afghanistan and will be starting a new life in St. Louis with nothing. This funding will profoundly help the International Institute of Metropolitan of St. Louis to welcome 1,000 Afghan refugees with an open arm and provide them the resources they need to start their new lives.  

 

Immigrants add so much to our St. Louis community, and with the pandemic and recent economic challenges, this is our chance to support them! I am raising money to benefit the International Institute of St. Louis, and any donation will help make an impact. 

More information about the International Institute of St. Louis (IISTL): IISTL is our community's immigrant service and information hub. They offer essential economic and cultural integration services, including English classes, employment, orientation, case management, and citizenship preparation. They also host events and make presentations to build inclusive and mutually respectful relationships between foreign-born newcomers and all community members.

Here are links to three local stories that I've compiled about immigrants who have made a difference in our community with the support of IISTL and other community organizations.

Mina Hadzialic: https://www.iistl.org/bosnia/

Barbara E: https://www.iistl.org/united-kingdom/

Umutoni Sebunyenzi: https://www.iistl.org/congo/

One of the effects of Covid-19 has been the transition to virtual learning. While Saint Louis public schools are now providing summer school online, students must possess the necessary technology to access and engage with their courses and teachers. Learning loss over long breaks from school — known as the “summer slide” — is a perennial concern for educators. With an added two months to that break because of school closures and the limitations of virtual learning for low- income students, there’s a fear that there will be even more ground to make up. English Language learners are particularly affected because many of these immigrant and refugee students rely on summer school to help supplement their English learning. The cancellation of school and summer school could put these students even further behind.

This June, the International Institute will host their Teen Summer Learning Program for refugee and immigrant students. This program is designed to provide supplemental math and English practice after the students attend summer school and before the students return to school in August.

With tablets, the International Institute would be able to continue this program virtually—which is vital to ensure that our English Language Learners don’t fall behind in their classes.

After the program concludes in July, the tablets could be used at the After- School Program for students to use. We anticipate that schools will continue to put a majority of classwork and assignments online.

More information about the International Institute of Metropolitan St. Louis (International Institute of St. Louis): To help immigrants and their families be productive Americans and to champion ethnic diversity as a cultural and economic strength.