“Burlington is where the most services are located, so Chittenden County is the hub,” says Dunkley. 

She will be surveying employers’ perceptions about hiring new Americans and identifying some of the barriers that may prevent newcomers from getting jobs.
In preparation for her summer activities she is working with the Association of Africans Living in Vermont, a Burlington non-profit that helps new Americans gain independence in their new communities, and New Farms for New Americans, a community-based gardening and agriculture program for refugees and immigrants.

By the end of the summer, Dunkley will complete a resource guide for employers and potential employers of new Americans.

“It will be a best practices guide—a resource for employers—to help them understand ways they can bridge the cultural gap and connect with workers who are really hard-working and committed to building new lives.”