Somali Women in Maine with Fatuma Hussein

We begin a new series on refugee women in Maine with a conversation with Fatuma Hussein of United Somali Women of Maine. She describes the challenges of resettlement for refugees fleeing war in their native countries, which she experienced herself as a teenager. We talk about what kinds of help these new Mainers need to rebuild their lives, and how her organization collaborates with social service agencies to ease this overwhelming transition. She also addresses the presumption that refugees have a negative impact on the state's economy and culture, and explains her vision for making Maine a more welcoming place of refuge.