Introduction

One of the fastest global public health crises of the current decade involves the stark increase in forcibly displaced people around the world. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recently announced the surpassing of over 100 million displaced people worldwide through forced migration due to conflict, violence, fear of persecution, and human rights violations, representing the most displaced people globally since World War II (UNHCR, 2022). These recently displaced communities have been forced to flee from situations such as the ongoing civil war in the Tigray region in Ethiopia (France 24, 2020), the forced eviction of Shia Hazaras and the wave of human rights violations with the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan (Amnesty International, 2022), and Russia's invasion of an unprepared Ukraine, with a lack of resolution from global powers (Global Conflict Tracker, 2022). In my own community-based research alongside refugee populations in the United States, I can attest to the significant impacts of displacement, impacting the individual (developmental), family, and community levels (Doron, 2005). Most commonly displaced by war, genocide, or ethnic cleansing (Reebs et al., 2017), refugees are migrants who have been persecuted or have reason to fear persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group (American Immigration Council, 2021). Refugees are thus “resettled” (relocated) to another country that has agreed to legally admit them and ensure international protection and residency (UNHCR, 2023). Considering the international contributions and perspectives from our symposium authors, refugee resettlement occurs worldwide, with widely varying policies and processes (Bahar & Dooley, 2020); while some countries provide newcomers with full rights and access to services, others provide limited accessibility or restrict eligibility, leaving a majority of care and support in the hands of nonprofit organizations or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) (World Health Organization, 2018). Most displaced people remain in their initial country of asylum (usually a neighboring or nearby country); however, when refugees are in dangerous situations or have unmet needs in the country where they have fled for protection, these individuals are then resettled to a third host country (UNHCR, 2023) such as the United States or Australia, as showcased in the current symposium. Although most exemplars in the symposium focus on this third host country experience, it is important to note the larger context of global migration: although much global conversation (led by developing countries) focuses on the integration challenges within such countries (Bahar & Dooley, 2020), only 1% of all refugees are actually resettled in third host countries (UNHCR, 2023). Without noting that the majority of refugee resettlement discussion occurs among developed countries, we ignore the fact that most hosting responsibilities and corresponding integration challenges fall on developing countries of initial asylum (Bahar & Dooley, 2020), where low- and middle-income countries have consistently hosted around 85% of the world's refugees (UNHCR, 2018). Since the U.S. Refugee Act in 1981, the United States has admitted more than three million refugees, although the admittance of refugees has generally followed a decreasing trend annually since its inception from 200,000+ in 1980 to around 11,000 in 2021 (Klobucista et al., 2022). Before the Trump administration made significant cuts to the U.S. refugee resettlement program (the lowest cap of admitted refugees since the program's start), the United States was the world's top nation for third host country resettlement (Klobucista et al., 2022). With the escalation of recent conflict and internal turmoil in places such as Afghanistan and Ukraine, the U.S. Biden administration has recently since pledged to expand the country's program to meet the influx of displaced peoples (Klobucista et al., 2022), doubling the U.S. ceiling for the 2022 fiscal year to 125,000 refugees admitted (The White House, 2021). Regardless of which country refugees are resettled, third country hosts have the responsibility to provide refugee newcomers with legal and physical protection, alongside access to civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights (UNHCR, 2014). Unfortunately, many refugee admission programs have been in crisis (Martin, 2005). Social services are inadequate and in constant threat of elimination (Habana-Hafner et al., 2000), leaving refugees with a multitude of issues, including peaking levels of homelessness, unmet basic human rights, limitations for economic development, lack of civic engagement, barriers toward self-sufficiency, further ethnic segregation and isolation, lack of education, a perpetuation of poverty, among other outcomes (Human Rights First, 2012; International Rescue Committee, 2013; Kposowa & Tsunokai, 2003; Maat, 2009; Spencer & Le, 2006). Considering the trauma pre- and postdisplacement, refugee populations experience ongoing stressors and pressures from adjustment while in transit (Martin, 1994; Schmidt et al., 2008). Upon resettling into their host countries, a majority of refugee communities experience cultural alienation and isolation while they navigate between maintaining their own culture and adapting to their new culture (Weng & Lee, 2016), hindering their ability to build community and become actively engaged members in their new host communities (Habana-Hafner et al., 2000). The increase of migrant communities into historically homogenous communities that are both unfamiliar and ill-equipped to navigate ethnically, linguistically, and religiously diverse populations has created significant challenges for both migrant populations and their host communities (Briggins, 2010). Refugee populations are not always supported by their host society, often being accused of problematic behaviors such as bringing disease, criminal activity, and perceived “stealing of jobs” (Amisi, 2006; Spencer & Le, 2006). Due to these assumptions, many policy makers further tighten migration resources and exclude refugee populations from employment, social welfare, and protection services (Amisi, 2006). Although it is essential to highlight the aforementioned brokenness of global resettlement systems, which create significant barriers to self-sufficiency and a lack of access to basic human rights, community leadership (and therefore the discussion among the symposium) seeks to also empower and acknowledge the strengths and capacity that lie within refugee communities. Upholding a leadership framework in this global migration dialogue acknowledges an essential shift in this common narrative, influencing “the way hardship is viewed” (Doron, 2005, p. 187), from individuals solely victimized by political turmoil to also include the individual and community resilience and agency in overcoming adversity (Hampshire et al., 2008). The shift in the narrative, toward a more resilient community and individual members, is essential to community leadership, creating positive outcomes for its members as well (Greene et al., 2002). Individuals or communities with a stronger resilience have been shown to cope better with loss or grief (Bonanno et al., 2002) as they transition throughout the resettlement process. For example, through his work alongside refugee families from Southern Lebanon to combat long-term stress from their forced migration from Israel, Doron (2005) suggested that strengthening refugee community resilience also supports the community's grieving process and empowers the community to come to a resolution and think futuristically. Contributing to the shift in narrative also has the potential to impact international discussions surrounding migration. Global discourse contributes to a deficits approach, stressing the costs and burdens of integration, with limited to no discussion on the gains and value to host countries and communities (Bahar & Dooley, 2020). A more “nuanced view” has the potential to shift international policy and perspective on the global migration crisis, acknowledging the political costs alongside the valuable gains—seeing migration as an opportunity (growth, trade, human capital) versus a fundamental risk (Bahar & Dooley, 2020). Community leaders can develop an approach that enables the community to challenge the trauma, keep the hardship in perspective, [and] … show that trauma is part of any community's life, and the community must recognize what has happened and move forward (Doron, 2005, p. 187). Leadership skills of community leaders have the potential to not only enhance community resilience, but also significantly influence political, economic, and social outcomes of their community members (Brown, 2006); not only can leaders support their community members in meeting the goals of the community, but they can also provide motivation, guide identity building, and enhance community belongingness (Doron, 2005; Maat, 2009; Mansouri et al., 2011; Weng & Lee, 2016). Considering the difficulties with navigating previous identities with current host country cultural practices (Weng & Lee, 2016), leadership provides an outlet for positive identity development among a community and its members. Refugee community leaders must be able to see a crisis in the context of a community's identity and use the crisis to rebuild and challenge the community's (and possibly society's) narrative of itself (Doron, 2005). Additionally, considering the cultural alienation and isolation that refugee communities experience post-resettlement (Weng & Lee, 2016), community leadership presents opportunities to enhance a sense of belonging and empower commitment among its members (Doron, 2005). Through their in-depth interviews with Muslim refugee community leaders in ethnically diverse suburban areas in Australia and France, Mansouri et al. (2011) found that leaders affirmed their community's identity and belonging. This identity development and belongingness occurred as community leaders worked to disperse cultural stereotypes, combat discrimination, and Islamophobia, strengthen social networks through partnerships with local government, and empower voices of marginalized members of their community (Mansouri et al., 2011). What does this “shifting in narrative” mean for the current symposium and its contributions? While most readers of the Journal of Leadership Studies agree that the study of leadership is not new, as the international community becomes more globalized, additional transdisciplinary, intersectional, and culturally sustaining approaches for effective leadership must continue to evolve (Gill, 2006). As such, the contributions of the symposium attempt to speak to such unique approaches to community leadership, drawing from the resiliency, agency, and assets of migrant populations. Therefore, the present symposium draws from socially just leadership research, narratives, and practices to showcase community leadership among migrant and refugee populations pre-, during, and post-resettlement. Aside from a few studies (i.e., the Center for Immigrant & Refugee Community Leadership & Empowerment [Habana-Hafner et al., 2000] and the Refugee Women's Network [Briggins, 2010]), the symposium hopes to combat the extreme scarcity of studies and scholarship examining community leadership development among migrant populations (especially among compounding vulnerable identities, like gender with migrant women) (Briggins, 2010). Building on the minimal literature, the symposium showcases the impact of community leadership on refugee and migrant population's belongingness, resiliency, and well-being worldwide. Of special note is the hope of the symposium to also contribute to the previously discussed shift of the current refugee and migrant narrative. Instead of focusing solely on challenges, deficits, and victimization (Weng & Lee, 2016), the symposium seeks to empower and acknowledge the strengths, capacity, and leadership that lie within refugee communities, highlighting their influence, resilience, and agency in overcoming adversity (Hampshire et al., 2008). The aim is clearly evidenced through Lightfoot's asset-based community leadership perspective: Strengthening refugee communities by building upon their cultural assets. Through community-based participatory research among a local Somali refugee population interested in improving its community's health, Lightfoot emphasizes the importance of partnering alongside community members in order to identify and draw from cultural assets to promote community health and well-being. Despite host community's promise to newcomers of protection and access to basic rights (UNHCR, 2014), the breakdown of supportive systems and insufficient policies have left migrant populations in further vulnerability, contributing to a woefully insufficient legal system and white majority systems of power. Barry's Movement lawyering to empower leadership from subordinated communities: Examples of alternative visions of our concepts of justice contributes to the discussion of the inadequacies of migrant policies and legal services. Through practices that support migrant rights, movement lawyers can act in supportive, empowering leadership roles in social movements by equipping community members with legal knowledge and generating resources (Ashar, 2017). Although impactful for migrants and their families, Barry acknowledges that systemic and structural shifts are ultimately needed to provide sufficient resources to enable migrant communities to thrive. Alternative to common narratives of victimhood and dependence, Barry thus highlights several immigrant-led community organizations and social movements that showcase the shift of power and leadership of migrant communities. While the legal system is one dimension of successful integration, economic and social processes have also been shown to contribute to migrant well-being (Crisp, 2004). While a significant amount of previous literature has focused on the role of social capital as it relates to migrant civic engagement, belongingness, social connectedness, and trust (Stolle et al., 2008)—including several discussions within the symposium—Ndagijimana's piece, The critical bridge of refugee community leadership to enhance belonging in Australia, provides a unique perspective, including direct experience, to this dialogue. Ndagijimana presents the cultural tensions that arise for refugees when navigating the stark contrast of expectations from western, industrialized host countries. Ndagijimana contributes to the growing literature that suggests that through supportive institutional systems like higher education (i.e., Arar, 2020; Arar & Orucu, 2022) alongside strong, empowering community leaders, populations from refugee-related backgrounds are more equipped to navigate the complex social systems in their new host country. Shifting the narrative toward migrant strengths and resiliency must involve an intersectional approach (Bletscher & Spiers, 2023), which has been examined in migrant literature in recent decades to combat the complexity of integration (Guruge & Khanlou, 2004). Without looking beyond static demographic categories, practitioners and policy makers run the risk of ignoring the complex histories and social of identities that go into community formation, including a sense of belongingness and the creation of essential social networks to access resources, ultimately impacting migrant health and well-being (Aberman, 2014; Bletscher & Spiers, 2023; Guruge & Khanlou, 2004). Therefore, McIntire Miller and Atwi's Migrant and refugee women: A case for community leadership contributes greatly to the limited discussion and corresponding research on the gendered impacts of displacement by highlighting the strengths of refugee and migrant women through resilience, social capital, and leadership. While migrant women provide one social identity of significant value to their community, refugee youth can also provide a unique and essential leadership role within their communities, due to their language fluency and cultural knowledge (Morland, 2007). Morrison and her colleagues provide clear examples of youth community leadership through their contribution of Youth capacity building and leadership through CBPR and conflict transformation with the Montagnard refugee-origin community. Their research and corresponding discussion highlights how youth, through a holistic and culturally sustaining Conflict Transformation approach, can present opportunities for positive relationship development and contribute to social change within their community. Historical context must be considered when unpacking community leadership among migrant populations. Previous migrant literature has confirmed that historical components, dictating regional, cultural, and social contexts are essential when understanding the integration process among migrant communities (Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, 2019; Langer, 1990; Spoonley et al., 2005). With this in mind, it is essential to note that the necessity of community leadership has only been exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. For example, in their mixed-methods cross-sectional study, Seruwagi et al. (2022) explored local perceptions of COVID-19 risk/exposure, alongside knowledge, attitudes, and practices held among Ugandan urban and rural settlements. Although significantly underutilized, the authors suggested that community leadership through social work partnerships could have increased guideline adherence and prevented further vulnerability. This Ugandan case study is just one example of a more holistic approach to community leadership in order to address community response in crisis (Seruwagi et al., 2022). Healey and Andrich's The wise follow the wise: Harnessing the wisdom of community leaders in shaping public health messaging among refugee populations contributes to the recent and emerging literature by stressing the informal role of community leaders as essential agents of information exchange and accessibility amid a very isolating global health crisis. Lastly, how might we ensure the next generation may be further equipped and prepared to critically address the injustices and challenges associated with global migration? How might we develop leaders that are able to empower their communities to develop culturally sustaining solutions? How might we shift the conversation of leadership to consider the “bigger environment” and our culturally oppressive systems? How might we instill a default in community leaders toward critical self-reflection and -awareness? Fraser-Nash and Sowcik's Developing cultural humility in leadership education programs to promote community leadership provides tangible best practices to address these questions. The concluding piece to the symposium presents best practices for leadership educators to consider in their support of cultural humility development among their students. Caitlin G. Bletscher is a Scholarly Associate Professor and Community Development Extension Specialist at Washington State University Vancouver in the Department of Human Development. Followed by many years of nonprofit and NGO expertise in refugee resettlement and international development, Dr. Bletscher received her PhD in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication at University of Florida. She received her MA in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University, and her BA in Organizational Communication and Spanish from George Fox University. Her passion is to further the conversation of global awareness, responsibility, and citizenship. At the higher education level, her research looks at the assessment of intercultural competencies and leadership skills developed among students through international education, innovative teaching, and co-curricular programming. At the community level, she has worked with refugee and immigrant communities domestically and internationally, exploring their social networks and capital that provide and inhibit access to resources of support and well-being. Communications can be directed to [email protected].

Fetched live from OpenAlex and de-inverted. Abstracts are not stored in this database: the inverted indexes are 8.6 GB of the frame’s 9.3 GB of text, and the host has 13 GB free.