In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the terrible toll it’s taken on the the city of Chicago and especially on it’s black and brown residents, there’s one population whose plight has been severely exacerbated by the virus and yet who’s been virtually absent from the media headlines: recently resettled Rohingya refugees.
“For many, COVID-19 must feel like a reminder of the fear and isolation they hoped to leave behind,” said Michael O’Connor, secretary of FORA, a non-profit located in West Rogers Park that aims to empower refugees arriving in the US by providing them with educational resources such as tutoring and English lessons.