CASN Community News, February 2026

February, 2026: CASAN’s asylum-seeking families arrive in Vermont after many months and often years of trauma, having fled warfare, gang violence, persecution

due to their identity or other factors. They have had to sever ties with family, their

communities, and flee to another country just in order to survive.

A few years back one such woman, Ms. G, arrived alone in Vermont with her young

child seeking asylum, a status she qualified for. Her husband had been killed by

gunfire. She had no idea what had happened to the rest of her relatives - were any

even still alive?

Imagine then that one afternoon recently while out shopping, she strikes up a

conversation with another woman who appears also to have come from the African

continent (and she had, arriving through the refugee process). As they chat, they

discover they are actually from neighboring countries - Ms. G’s mother had grown up

in the newcomer’s country but moved away when she married a man from the other

country. As they continue talking, they realize that Ms. G’s mother had come from the

same town that this newcomer was from, and they had family names in common. And

then to their amazement – they discovered that their mothers were sisters! They are

cousins! The cousin got in touch with her mom, Ms. G’s auntie overseas, who

sobbed with joy that her niece was alive and well.

Suddenly, instead of being all alone here in Vermont, far from kith and kin, Ms. G.

finds she has family after all – including right here.

CASAN rejoices with this young woman and her unexpected reunion with family!