Anyone living in Buffalo, particularly the West Side, can speak to its ethnic diversity and burgeoning refugee and immigrant populations. These residents breathe new life into our city, raising our awareness of other cultures, exposing us to new cuisines, and adding depth to our neighborhoods.
Each person’s story of how they came to Buffalo is unique, but many share the same challenges in assimilating to the rhythm of our city and the American way of life. “There is, of course, the shock of the winter weather in Buffalo, but having very limited English proficiency makes life very difficult and brings a lot of uncertainty,” said Ba Zan Lin of the Burmese Community Support Center, a West Side post-resettlement agency whose mission is to promote and enhance the quality of life for refugees from Burma living in Buffalo.
Burma is a Southeast Asian nation of over 60 million people, comprised of 8 major ethnic groups and 135 smaller ethnic groups that speak several languages and practice many religions. “Many who come from urban areas speak and understand Burmese, but ethnic minorities who live in rural areas don’t necessarily speak Burmese at all,” Lin said. “We need to be cognizant when dealing with people from Burma, they don’t necessarily speak Burmese.”
Currently there are about 8,000 people from Burma living in Buffalo. The main reason that many choose this city is the access to four major resettlement agencies, as well as the affordable housing and low cost of living. With a Burmese community already established here, it is easier for immigrants and refugees to assimilate.
According to Lin, many in the Burmese community are refugees who come to Buffalo to escape tyranny, ethnic insurgencies and civil war in Burma. Most have spent a minimum of three years in a refugee camp, and some their entire lives.
It’s important to consider that refugees’ life experience prior to arriving in the U.S. was not only extremely difficult, but also very limited. “Many have lived their entire life in a refugee camp, where life is mundane and monotonous. There are no job opportunities and very limited educational opportunities,” Lin said. Thus, many refugee children struggle in Buffalo schools, having never received formal instruction.
“Refugee agencies are providing financial and social support, getting children in school, getting refugees benefits, and helping them learn to use public transportation,” Lin said. However, many who are from rural areas of Burma find some of the most fundamental parts of American life to be completely foreign. “Simple things like learning how to use a toilet or electricity, or taking the bus – even though these things are very mundane for people living here, it can be a tremendous challenge for refugees,” he said.
Lin says that language has proven to be the largest obstacle for newcomers in Buffalo’s Burmese community. Coming from a nation ruled for many years by a military dictatorship, most are innately fearful of government offices, which is amplified by their inability to communicate. “When they don’t have that language ability, they can easily get intimidated or depressed because they can’t convey what they want to the people who are important, who provide services, who take care of their health, and who can provide the supports to help them live their life,” Lin said. “It’s really a significant challenge.”
It’s hard to imagine missing medical appointments because you don’t have an interpreter or giving up on calling the police because you won’t be able to explain the emergency. We don’t understand how crucial it is to communicate until we can’t.
The Partnership for the Public Good is currently working with the major local refugee resettlement agencies – International Institute of Buffalo, Journey’s End Refugee Services, Jericho Road, and Jewish Family Services – as well as Catholic Charities, Buffalo Public Schools Multilingual Department, Buffalo Immigrant Refugee Empowerment Coalition (BIREC) and the Burmese Community Support Center to push for the City of Buffalo and Erie County to create and implement a Limited English Proficiency Plan.
“The law defines an LEP individual as any person who does not speak English as their primary language and has difficulty reading, speaking, writing, or understanding the English language,” said Melinda Mizell, coordinator of the Language Access working group led by PPG. “An LEP Plan is a policy that outlines a set of minimum standards of providing language services within an organization to the Limited English Proficient (LEP) population.”
According to Lin, some government agencies do have language support measures in place, but it’s not a universal practice. This would ensure that all residents – including immigrants and refugees – receive meaningful access to government services as required by federal and state civil rights laws.
“It’s also good for government agencies because once they (LEP individuals) ready themselves, they can move on with their lives and become contributing members of this American society as a whole,” Lin said. “We really do want to be part of this community and help this region move forward.”
To learn more about the Language Access plank and other resources, visit the Community Agenda page on the PPG website.