{"product_id":"we-thought-it-would-be-heaven-9780520379053","title":"We Thought It Would Be Heaven","description":"\u003cb\u003eResettled refugees in America face\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e a land of daunting obstacles where\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e small things—one person, one encounter—can make all the difference in getting ahead or falling behind.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Fleeing war and violence, many refugees dream that moving to the United States will be like going to Heaven. Instead, they enter a deeply unequal American society, often at the bottom. Through the lived experiences of families resettled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Blair Sackett and Annette Lareau reveal how a daunting obstacle course of agencies and services can drastically alter refugees’ experiences building a new life in America.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e In these stories of struggle and hope, as one volunteer said, “you see the American story.” For some families, minor mistakes create catastrophes—food stamps cut off, educational opportunities missed, benefits lost. Other families, with the help of volunteers and social supports, escape these traps and take steps toward reaching their dreams. Engaging and eye-opening, \u003ci\u003eWe Thought It Would Be Heaven \u003c\/i\u003ebrings readers into the daily lives of Congolese refugees and offers guidance for how activists, workers, and policymakers can help refugee families thrive.","brand":"Blair Sackett","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48275245662459,"sku":"9780520379053","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0779\/3917\/9771\/files\/CoreSourceHub_ec6a65de-72ce-41a6-b030-3f3f0da4f00b.jpg?v=1771273340","url":"https:\/\/indiepubs.com\/products\/we-thought-it-would-be-heaven-9780520379053","provider":"IndiePubs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}