Community, village, town, and city are all terms we use for groups of people living in somewhat close association, and usually under common rules. But not every community is the same. That’s because the people who make up that community define it with their thoughts, values, and actions. When someone’s house burns down, and they have nothing left and nowhere to live, neighbors step up and provide food, clothing, money, and a place to stay. That’s what communities do. It’s easy to see both the people who need help and how to help them.
But when the tragedy takes place on the global stage, like the recent war in Ukraine, it’s hard to know who needs help and even more difficult to know just how to help them. But when there is a human connection, it becomes so much easier. Luckily, there was a Topekan with a special connection to Ukraine who has helped bring several Ukrainian families to safety here in our Golden City.
Meet Yana Ross. Yana leads the Ukrainian Refugee Task Force created with the help of the Greater Topeka Partnership. Originally from central Ukraine, Yana earned her masters in English and moved to Topeka 16 years ago. She currently works as an insurance agent at Farm Bureau Financial Services. Naturally, she stays in touch with her family and friends in Ukraine. When Russian troops invaded Ukraine, many Ukrainians fled the country. Her grandmother, for instance, moved to Germany to live with Yana’s aunt, but there were friends who needed a safe place to stay.
When Biden announced that the U.S. would welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, the U.S. opened a special crossing for Ukrainians at the Mexican border. Yana and her Ukrainian friend, Luda Karnes, who also lives in Topeka, knew what they had to do. They immediately started making plans to meet their friends in Mexico and bring them to Topeka. On April 4th, Yana and Luda drove to Mexico City in a borrowed church van and then drove to Tijuana the next day where they met the families at a refugee camp. The trip took eight days in all, but they were able to bring back two families.
As you can imagine, a trip like that doesn’t just happen. That’s where the community part kicked in. Yana put a plea out on Facebook letting others know about the plan and asking for any help. The kind and caring citizens of Topeka answered that plea. They stepped up and donated over $3,100 to cover the food, gas, and hotels for the trip. “The Topeka community has been amazing,” Yana said. “We have received clothes, shoes, food, toys, and gift cards. First Baptist Church in Topeka bought, delivered, and assembled bunk beds.” Other local churches and individuals have donated as well. One local family, Brent and Tammy Thiessen of Thiessen Design Company even donated their Honda Odyssey SUV.
Iryna Nosok, Yana’s friend from college, lived in Kyiv with her husband, their 4-year-old son, Myroslav and 7-year-old daughter, Dasha. When the war started, her husband took her and the children to the Romanian border. They later met up with her mother, Tamara Basova in Poland before making their way to the U.S. All four have moved in with Yana. Iryna’s husband is in the military and stayed behind to fight. Iryna was the recipient of the Honda. She had to leave their small electric car behind when she fled with the children. In her Facebook post Iryna said, “I am still speechless!! I can’t believe it all happens to my family!!! The people here in Topeka are absolutely unique, the most generous and caring on entire earth. Thank you so much.”
Luda has taken in a family of four as well - Nataliia Pakhomova fled Dnipro, Ukraine, with her three daughters: Mariia Ratman, 26; Dariia Ratman, 14, and Olga Ratman, 12. Nataliia’s husband also stayed in Ukraine. One more family has since made their way to our Golden City. A mother, Nataliia, her two sons, Vadim, 19 and Vitaliy, 16, and a daughter, Dasha, 11.
“If you don’t have community involvement, it’s hard for refugees to adjust because they don’t know anything about their new surroundings,” Yana shared. “The community plays a big role for them. It provides a starting point and allows them to make connections, get jobs, and be successful. I am so proud of our Topeka community!”
Topeka Public Schools USD 437 and USD 501 have stepped up as well. “The school districts have been amazing,” Yana said. “They have arranged special transportation when needed and held warm welcoming parties for the kids. I think they are feeling the love.” Some of the children will attend Jardine Middle School as they have a newcomers program for students who do not speak English.
Yana said the families are adjusting well. The children have had physicals, been enrolled in school, and are getting used to this brand new life. Little Dasha Nosok has even been able to take ballet classes at Kansas Ballet Academy and is signed up for summer camp at Ballet Midwest and KBA. She had been dancing in Ukraine up until the war began and she missed it greatly. With as hard as the transition has been, and as much heartache as they carry with them, all of these families are so grateful to have a safe place to be able to settle into while they wait…and worry.
As of April 24th the U.S. is no longer allowing Ukrainians to cross the border. The government has announced Uniting for Ukraine. People fleeing the war in Ukraine must apply to come to the U.S. with the support of a sponsor. Yana said that there are two more families in the process of relocating to Topeka, but it will take a bit longer as the process is more complicated. If you’d like to make it possible for Ukrainian families to find safety in the United States, visit the website here: http://bitly.ws/qNTK. The site offers plenty of opportunities to help. You can sponsor a family, or donate money, essential goods, or airline miles. Become a host through Airbnb, volunteer in your city, or simply buy Welcome.US gear and post on social media to show your support.
The Greater Topeka Partnership, who originally reached out to Yana to lead the Ukrainian Refugee Task Force, is currently working with other organizations to create a sustainable system that simplifies the refugee placement process. Bob Ross, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communication for the Greater Topeka Partnership, said the solutions they are developing are proving to be quite effective. “This model is uniquely Topeka in its approach. From the way it is funded to the streamlined nature of the process, it will serve as a model for other cities and organizations,” he said. “We don’t get bogged down in bureaucracy or become suffocated in red tape.” In fact, Bob said investors from California are reaching out to support the network in Topeka because they recognize that their money will go further here than in their state.
“The Greater Topeka Partnership is just one small part of a community effort,” Bob stressed. “Many, many people from various places in the community have come together to make this a success.” City leaders including the Topeka City Council, the Center for Peace and Justice, and others have led the way. Local companies and nonprofit organizations including AIM Strategies, Sole Reason, Harvesters, and Sprout Creative, who is designing the website, have had a hand in helping. Local doctors, dentists, schools, churches, and small businesses have all enthusiastically stepped up as well. “The goal is to create a program that helps the refugees not only survive, but thrive,” Bob added. “The leaders, with the immense support of the community, are committed to creating a system that will work far into the future and serve as a model for other cities to be able to welcome refugees from all over the world.”
The citizens of Topeka should be proud to live in this community. From the companies and church groups to the students in the schools, to the individuals who have donated their time and money, this city is showing the world what community really means.
Iryna summed it up nicely on her Facebook page, “We hope that God will hear us and this war will stop soon, but we are so blessed to be here and we thank you, Topekans. Topeka and Kansas, it’s almost like a fairy tale.”
For information about how to help local refugees, email the Greater Topeka Partnership at info@supporttopeka.com.