Midlands African Chamber (midlandsafricanchamber.com/about) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 27 to celebrate the grand opening of the Heartland Integration Center’s facility located at 1941 S 42nd St., STE 300. HIC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in reaction to the reality that many immigrants and refugees never fully integrate into the communities in which they now dwell. The majority operate on the margins of society, creating a class of second-class citizens. Pierre Lefebvreur and Paul Ajuoga are two brilliant men behind the Heartland Integration Center.
As a former refugee and immigrant, Pierre understands how stressful and frantic settling into a new country can be. He believes that adequately integrating immigrants and refugees into our American culture will help build more robust and better communities.
Paul is a psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience. Licensed in the State of Nebraska, his areas of expertise include trauma experiences and related cultural issues. He provides services including PTSD, early childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, domestic violence, teen suicide, children in crisis, and ADHD.
Heartland Integration Center believes in an integrated diversity model in which immigrants acquire a new language, culture, rights, and responsibilities as new citizens while educating others about their own culture to foster acceptance and alleviate the “Us vs. Them” mentality that frequently fuels cultural and racial tensions. Learn more at hicnebraska.org.
Founded in 2020, the Midlands African Chamber is a membership-based organization that exists to enhance the robust African and African American business climate in Nebraska and across the Midwest. For more information, please see the contact info@midlandsafricanchamber.com / (402) 881-0343 or visit midlandsafricanchamber.com/about.