Organizations that assist refugees with basic needs and play a role in welcoming them as new and valuable members of American society are currently under fire.
In late January, The U.S. State Department issued an order suspending federal funding for groups that assist refugees with tasks including enrolling their children in school, providing housing assistance and job placement.
In tandem, the Secretary of Homeland Security suspended decisions on applications for refugee status, effectively implementing a refugee ban. These things, in combination with a reimbursement freeze on assistance granted by organizations prior to Jan. 27, has already had a devastating impact on tens of thousands of refugee families and communities across the country.
Many organizations have been impacted, including the Hanan Refugees Relief Group, a group that provides both short and long-term relief to refugees in Wisconsin and beyond. When it comes to their work, Milwaukeeans might be familiar with names like Dr. Ahmad Nasef, a member of the Milwaukee Chapter of the HRRG and an avid “helper” who created businesses like Damascus Gate to provide employment opportunities for refugees before his passing in 2021. The organization has created a refugee scholarship program in his name.
To raise funds and create awareness for the work of Hanan and other groups of their ilk, Meagan Schultz, founder of the Cream City Dreams Podcast, and Nell Benton, Shorewest agent and former chef and restaurant owner, have organized a grassroots fundraising dinner.
Attend the dinner
The Wilcuma Dinner (derived from an old English term that means “a person whose coming is pleasing”) will take place at Amilinda, 315 E. Wisconsin Ave. on March 10 at 6 p.m. Proceeds will be donated to the work of Hunan Refugees Relief Group.
Participating chefs include Gregory León of Amilinda, Justin Aprahamian of Sanford, Dana Spandet of Flour Girl & Flame, Mary Kastman of Purslane, Gil Petrovic of Buckley's, Jennifer Grundy of Seven Swans Creperie and Nell Benton.
The six-course dinner will also feature:
- A welcome and introductions from Schultz;
- Valuable information from Sheila Badwan, Executive Director of Hanan Refugees Relief Group about the work they do;
- Insights on the current plight of refugees in Wisconsin from Bojana Zoric Martinez, Director of the Bureau of Refugee Programs with the Wisconsin Department of Children & Families as well as the Wisconsin State Refugee Coordinator. Listen to what Martinez has to say on the Cream City Dreams Podcast.
Tickets for the dinner can be purchased online for $150 per person (plus gratuity) and include six chef-driven courses. A cash bar will be available.
Can't attend the dinner?
Support the work: Donate directly to the work of the Hunan Refugees Relief Group online at hananrrg.org
Learn more: Listen to Today's Cream City Podcast, which confronts the issues facing refugees and the agencies that serve them.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
