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A NATIONAL PACEMAKER AWARD NEWSPAPER
VOL. 31, No. 3 The student publication of Washtenaw Community College
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 www.washtenawvoice.com
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Afghan refugees arriving in Washtenaw County Resettlement agencies and legal services describe the challenges facing refugees. By Elinor Epperson Contributor
It has been months since the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan crowded headlines and social media posts, but for thousands of refugees, the story is just beginning. Former Afghan nationals are moving into new cities and neighborhoods across the United States with the help of the U.S. government and local nonprofits. “They’re going to need some extra support,” says Devon Meier, chief development director at Jewish Family Services. JFS is the only resettlement agency in Washtenaw County. The agency works with the Department of State to provide housing and financial support for newly arrived refugees until they can receive Social Security cards, find employment and apply for
permanent residence (also known as a green card). About 1,300 refugees are expected to come to Michigan--so far. Since Michigan was one of the top states for refugee resettlement in the past ten years, that number could go up. An estimated 120,000 people evacuated from Afghanistan in August, with more trickling through after the Taliban seized power. JFS learned of the need to resettle refugees in late August, not long before the last planes left Kabul. They have agreed to house 300 people, understanding that the number could increase, and this does not include 500 refugees from other countries that JFS had already planned to resettle this fiscal year, which started in October. Meier says JFS employees and volunteers have been working “diligently, around the clock” to prepare for the
influx of refugees en route. So far, 180 people have arrived in Washtenaw County in need of housing. Meier says that several refugees arrive with nothing more than “a grocery bag’s worth” of possessions. After leaving Afghanistan, evacuees stay on a U.S. military base while the U.S. government vets them. Refugees are tested for and vaccinated against COVID-19; they also receive any vaccines required to enter the U.S. Once they have completed the vetting process, they are assigned to a resettlement agency and leave for their new home. Meier describes a “gap” between when refugees arrive in the states and when they receive their Social Security numbers, which qualify them for a host of benefits. This “waiting game” presents another challenge for refugees and resettlement agencies: Newly
arrived individuals are in a “holding pattern” where they cannot apply for employment or benefits but are still responsible for living costs. Because of this, JFS is focused on two challenges: Safe, affordable housing and funding. JFS provides fully furnished residences, including pantries filled with culturally appropriate food. Meier says JFS is unique among resettlement agencies because it provides a variety of other services under their auxiliary programs, such as transportation, senior services, and counseling. These benefits are invaluable for Afghan refugees, as many will not qualify for the same benefits as other refugees because of their immigration status. While some refugees entering the U.S. from Afghanistan arrive with special immigrant visas, most will start resettlement as humanitarian parolees. continued on A6
Devon Meier (left) and Ruby Robinson, JFS employees who help Afghan refugees in Washtenaw COURTESY OF MEIER AND ROBINSON
How to help JFS is in need of : • furniture donations • grocery store gift cards • volunteers who can move furniture. If you want to help please call: 734-769-0209 or email info@jfsannarbor.org
WCC’s Chief of Public Safety Resigns Scott Hilden, leaves for a new job By R.J. Hunt Editor
WCC part-time faculty, the Honorable J. Cedric Simpson, sits in his chambers
COURTESY OF J. CEDRIC
Judge Simpson honors WCC A story of compassion, commitment, and community. by James
Cason
Deputy Editor
The DNA of WCC series welcomes The Honorable J. Cedric Simpson to the spotlight. Simpson, the first African American male to sit on a Washtenaw County bench, serves as a judge in the county’s 14A District Court and has been a part-time law professor at WCC for over 20 years. Simpson recently spoke with The Voice to talk about his connection and adoration for WCC’s institution and its people. Simpson’s earliest association with WCC is dated to the early ‘70s when he and his family moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor. His father, Willie J. Simpson, became a counselor at WCC. When Simpson occasionally went to work with his dad he remembers being fascinated by WCC’s one-building school. “It was one building,” said Simpson. “It was a little cafeteria, and all of the offices were in the building. Everybody was in that building. The classrooms were all in that building.”
Simpson’s father was always found walking the college’s hallways. Young Simpson asked his dad why he rarely went to his office. “My father said, ‘you can ask students to come meet you where you are, but you’re much more effective if you meet them where they are,’” said Simpson. Simpson’s mother, Dorothy Jean Simpson, taught a class at the college and was instrumental in forming the school’s former daycare center, where she also worked. Simpson’s parents advocated for young mothers who didn’t have an opportunity at education; the daycare was a way to break that barrier. Simpson remembers his mother’s joyful moment. “I can recall the pride in her face the day the center opened, and she was there,” said Simpson. “She would teach students who were part of the early education program because part of their curriculum was working in the daycare. So, in that way, she was also teaching them and contributing.” Simpson’s youngest sis-
ter, Delphia T. Simpson is continuing the family legacy. She is currently the chief public defender of Washtenaw County and has just partnered with WCC to provide an internship opportunity for WCC students in the Public Defender’s office. Simpson’s motivation to study law Simpson was determined to be a veterinarian. That changed at age 13 when he was shot in the eye with a pellet gun by young kids in his Ann Arbor neighborhood. Simpson later had surgery. “I watched him pump (the gun) 10 times. That thing was coming at me, and there was only about a neighborhood street width away from him,” said Simpson. Simpson’s parents only desired an apology from the two boys: the owner of the gun and the shooter. They got one. The young man’s family who owned the weapon apologized, while the shooter’s family said he was never at the scene. Simpson’s parents hired an attorney. His case later went to trial and was settled.
“As I’m proceeding through the court process, I just became absolutely fascinated with the law. It was that experience that I knew this is what I wanted to do,” said Simpson. From high school to the bench, to WCC Simpson lost his dad at age 16; his mom steered him and his three siblings through losing their father while also ensuring they went to college. After graduating high school, Simpson attended the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, a historically Black college. After that, he received a full-ride scholarship to The University of Maryland Law School and obtained a J.D. degree in 1986. Afterward, Simpson returned home. “If you want to talk full circle, I come back, and the firm that hired me was the firm of the attorney that represented me when I was shot in the eye,” said Simpson. Simpson practiced law for 13 years in Michigan and took the bench in 1999.
continued on A6
After five years as the chief of public safety for WCC, Scott Hilden is leaving the position for a new job opportunity. Prior to working at WCC, Scott Hilden had a 25year career in Canton Township. While in Canton, Hilden spent some time as a school resource officer. As he became eligible for retirement, the opportunity at WCC presented itself. Instead of retiring he decided to join WCC’s safety team back in November 2016. Hilden recalls when he first got to WCC; it was a security team without any police officers. Hilden was instrumental in initiating WCC’s own police department. After months of discussion, the trustees voted to approve of the new police department. In November 2017, the department became official, with Scott Hilden being the first sworn police officer. Today the department is home to seven full-time police officers and 20 additional public safety staff that help provide service. Scott remembers how there was a time people didn’t want police officers on campus because of the police misconduct issues that had taken place. “We worked really hard to try to build relationships and trust to engage the community as much as possible; wanted to look like partners
of the community instead of enforcement,” says Hilden. He feels that doing that and earning the trust of those in the community was a huge part of his success at WCC. The day-to-day life for Scott Hilden varied based on the reported events on campus that he and his team handled. Hilden’s proudest situation is an incident that happened shortly after the department first began. The incident dealt with a young female student who a male acquaintance was stalking. The male was following the young female around campus and he kept trying to talk to her. He had knives in his possession, so campus safety was called. They were able to talk him down and arrest him with no one getting hurt. “I was very proud to see how great our team worked right out of the gate,” said Hilden. Hilden had a message for the WCC community by saying, “In order for WCC to be the safest environment that it needs to be, the entire community needs to participate in that safety.” Scott Hilden said how he really is going to miss his time at WCC by saying, “I had a really, really good five years here. I really had no plans to leave here.” Hilden is leaving for a new position; he will be the new chief of police for Northville Township. “It’s an opportunity I couldn’t refuse,” said Hilden.
Scott Hilden, chief of public safety, is pictured with his mask on. WASHTENAW COMMUNITY COLLEGE