MINNEAPOLIS — It's a Friday morning at the Ukrainian American Community Center in northeast Minneapolis and the front room is packed.
As people grab more chairs, staff decide to switch to a larger room.
"We're really excited to be here," says Carrie Mann, an instructor with the International Institute of Minnesota. "Who would have thought so many people are excited about paying taxes?"
This tax class is put on by the Institute as part of its Community Orientation Workshop which covers topics such as using public transportation, searching for employment and how to access the U.S. health care system.
The International Institute of Minnesota, which has been serving the state's refugee and immigrant community since 1919, began teaching the classes at UACC when an influx of Ukrainians moved to Minnesota to find safety during the war with Russia.
"I know you have W-9, W-2, 1099 and I'm a little bit confused about all of these," said Nataliia Renhevych, who fled Kyiv and has been living in Minneapolis for the past year.
Renhevych is now an independent contractor, working remotely as an executive assistant for nonprofit organizations.
"Everything that we have to know in U.S., everything is very new for us. All documents, all forms, all bureaucracy," she said.
Staff at the UACC understand those challenges better than anyone. Iryna Petrus, UACC community engagement manager, is a refugee herself.
"I came here a little bit over a year ago. I did volunteer for the Center for a couple months prior to getting this job. So for me to understand refugee needs was very similar because I went through this journey," Petrus said.
The Center sees a high demand for their services. They are assisting Ukrainian refugees who, starting in February 2022, came to Minnesota through the United for Ukraine program.
According to the Department of Human Services, more than 170,000 Ukrainians have come to the states through the program which allows refugees to stay here for up to two years.
"Main thing they need... it's housing and job... because this is most important thing. How do you support yourself?" said Ivanna Klym, a family assister.
The UACC also has family coaches who work with kids to young adults.
"Right now, we are working close with the kids from kindergarten to 12th grade. We're helping them to adjust to the American educational system, helping them with adaptation and behavioral problems. Also just trying to help them to have as happy life as it can be," said Victoria Solntseva, a family coach.
According to Iryna Borbol, she and Solntseva are the only two family coaches doing this type of work for the entire state of Minnesota.
Borbol also fled the war.
"You know... what challenges they meet, what hardships and what goals they need to achieve to have success in this society," Borbol said.
Petrus said their work goes beyond making sure basic needs are met.
"Later on we understood that people need to establish their life here. They have to be productive and they have to get employment. They have to settle and think how to not only survive, but how to have life here. Most of the people that come here are single moms with kids," Petrus said.
"We hold weekly seminars that help people get oriented to American culture," said Walter Anastazievsky, UACC director of refugee services. "This week the demand is kind of an amazing thing. Typically, we might have 25 each week. This week I think we have closer to 80 because of the taxation subject."
Anastazievsky said refugees are now facing new challenges as any Ukrainians who arrived in the U.S. after October 1 are not eligible for federal benefits. However, according to Anastazievsky, there are still some state benefits available.
Saturday marks two years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"The first book that I read when I flew here was a Dalai Lama book about joy. And that book says... if you experience a very deep pain, do not concentrate on yourself. Concentrate on someone else who is experiencing similar pain or even deeper. I didn't understand the meaning... until now," Petrus said. "So helping others did help me much more than what I did for them."
The International Institute of Minnesota's Community Orientation Workshop is offered in partnership with the Minnesota Council of Churches with the support from the MN Refugee Program Offices (MN DHS).
The UACC hosts these seminars with an interpreter every Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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