HOW A LOCAL COMPANY IS GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
THROUGH HIRING AFGHAN REFUGEES In August 2021, U.S. military forces began leaving Afghanistan. The Taliban began ramping up attacks on Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. The Taliban arrived in Kabul and took control of Afghanistan, which marked the beginning of over 74,000 Afghans fleeing to the United States. Approximately 1,800 refugees have entered into Oklahoma, the third most in the country after California and Texas. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the evacuation is the largest since the Vietnam War. One local Edmond company is helping to support the Afghan refugee community in Oklahoma by offering employment opportunities. Jetta Corporation, a manufacturer of high-quality acrylic bathtubs located in central Edmond, in partnership with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma, began employing Afghan refugees in mid-December 2021. Jetta Corporation now employs over 14 Afghan refugees to work within their production facility and warehouse. “We are delighted that members of the Afghan
6 THE VOICE
community have joined the Jetta family,” said Sarah Fields, president of Jetta Corporation. “It has been an honor to partner with Catholic Charities and offer employment to Afghan refugees. I hope they all love working for Jetta as much as I do.” Catholic Charities worked to match Afghan refugees with Jetta Corporation after Mona Sasser, human resources manager for Jetta Corporation, reached out to Catholic Charities to express interest in hiring and initiated the employment program within the company. Catholic Charities then conducted a plant tour and determined that Jetta would be the perfect fit for their Refugee Resettlement Program. According to Catholic Charities, more than 100,000 Oklahoma City residents, or 8% of the population is foreign born. Jetta Corporation is on the forefront of initiating refugee employment programs in the city of Edmond, which adds to the growing diverse cultural experience of our state.
