Since the 1970s, thousands of refugees from countries such as Iraq, Congo, Burma, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Somalia have started new lives in Idaho. As a Carnegie Visiting Media Fellow, I teamed up with Blue Chalk Media and went to Boise, Idaho's state capital, to document how the Boise Police Department is working to support these refugees. The documentary weaves together three stories: the groundbreaking efforts of the officers to integrate and mentor refugees; the determination of a former Iraqi translator for the US Military who dreams of becoming a police officer; and the story of Boise, itself, showing refugees from war-torn Africa and the Middle East that, in America, a united community can conquer tragedy and hate.
As a Carnegie Visiting Media Fellow, I worked with Blue Chalk Media to document how the Boise Police Department is supporting refugees.
Since the 1970s, thousands of refugees from countries such as Iraq, Congo, Burma, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Somalia have started new lives in Idaho. The short documentary weaves together three stories: the groundbreaking efforts of Boise police officers to integrate and mentor refugees; the determination of a former Iraqi translator for the US Military who dreams of becoming a police officer; and the story of Boise, itself, showing refugees from war ravaged corners of the world that, in America, a united community can conquer tragedy and hate.
Won a 2019 NW Regional Emmy Award
Premiered on Idaho Public Television, March 2018