QC AIR gives hope to immigrants and refugees - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

QC AIR gives hope to immigrants and refugees

By: Jillian Wilson

jwilson@cbs4qc.com

Since 2010, more than 500 refugees have made the Quad Cities their home. QC AIR is giving them the tools to start fresh.

"Since I came to the US, I've been safe even though I lost all my property back at home, but I'm starting up building up my life again," says Morten Wabyaombe.

Morten left the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved here in 2010.

"I lost my family back in my country for some persecutions," says Wabyaombe.

And Morten's just one of hundreds trying to make it in the US.

"Compared to my country, we don't really have these opportunities. So this is the American Dream for us," Nana Ouro-Agoro, from Togo, West Africa.

Last year, the Quad City Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees was founded to build a better community for all of us.

"We want to embrace the celebrations and customs of the other immigrants and refugees that are more recently come to the United States," says Ed Hanna, President, QC AIR.

It's the one stop shop for immigrants to get access every program the qc has to offer.

The organization helps connect immigrants with English learning programs, federal funding, and of course culture celebration.

"This is a new country for us. So with QC Air, it will give us an opportunity to live better in the Quad Cities," says Ouro-Agoro.

This weekend, 8 different ethnicities celebrated those differences...

"Coming here helped me to originate with some of my culture stuff that I lost," says Wabyaombe.

If you are an immigrant who needs a little help you can come on down to the safety building or call QC AIR at (309) 786-2995.