New Staff Profile: Ta Porar
Ta may be one of the newest faces in the MCC Refugee Services office, but she’s not really new to Refugee Services. She started earlier this year working in partnership with MCC Refugee Services at North End Neighborhood Association (NENO), where she focused on reaching out to Karen-speaking families in need of support. Now, she has transferred to a Case Aide position based at the MCC Refugee Services office. Ta came to the US through the refugee resettlement program when she was just 9 years old. After living in a Thai refugee camp, Ta traveled to Texas with her parents and siblings. After a few years, they moved to St. Paul and made their home in Minnesota. She and her family just reached the 10th anniversary of their arrival in the United States! Ta has always had an interest in working with refugees, having experienced being a refugee herself. Before beginning her position with MCC/NENO, she was frequently helping other families in the Karen community connect to resources. She’s currently a student at Metropolitan State University studying Social Work, and commented on how her position with MCC Refugee Services is helping her better understand the systems that support refugee families. Her school schedule offers her enough flexibility to be work a few days each week at Refugee Services. She enthusiastically helps wherever needed, whether that’s interpreting for families in an employment program, greeting families at the airport, or helping new arrivals apply for Social Security cards. When she has free time, Ta’s favorite hobby is badminton. Her high school had a very competitive badminton program and she developed a love for the sport there. She also loves to travel. She loved her recent trip to Yellowstone National Park and is looking forward to traveling to Thailand as a tourist this winter.