Resettlement re-cap: a periodic report from the Cuban Refugee Center, March 1967

              SPONSOR CUBAN  REFUGEES
Fulfill Their Faith in Freedom
MARCH  1967
RESETTLEMENT RE-CAP
FOR   ADMINISTRATIVE   USE
A PERIODIC REPORT FROM THE CUBAN REFUGEE CENTER — FREEDOM TOWER, MIAMI 32, FLORIDA
U.  S.   DEPARTMENT OF  HEALTH,  EDUCATION,  AND   WELFARE     —    WELFARE  ADMINISTRATION
U.S.  CUBAN   REFUGEE  PROGRAM JOHN FREDERICK THOMAS, Director, Washington, D. C.
HOWARD   H.   PALMATIER,   Assistant   Program   Director
ERROL T. BALLANFONTE, Director of Center HARRY   B.   LYFORD,   Editor
A FRIEND OF REFUGEES IN INDIANAPOLIS AREA DOESN'T KNOW OF ANY CUBAN WHO HAS 'GONE BACKWARDS'
SHE RECOMMENDS SEWING MACHINE AND TV
Cuban refugees young and old find a welcome in the beautiful
home of Mrs. Ropkey near Indianapolis.  The center of interest for these teenagers at the moment is the tone  of a
music box of yesteryear -- parlor organ to some.  Oscar Sardinas winds the spring motive power.  Standing are Amado
Sardinas, John Pazos and Ana Maria Gutierrez.  Seated are
Mr. and Mrs. Mario Viller and Esther Garmendia.  Mrs. Ropkey
is nearby somewhere making certain there is no end of entertainment.  -- Photo Courtesy Indianapolis STAR.
SETS TO HELP NEWCOMERS GET STARTED
"I consider a treadle sewing machine a must for
every Cuban refugee household," writes Mrs. Frederick
Noble Ropkey from the Indianapolis area where she has
been helpful to resettled Cubans. "The things Cuban
women can do with used clothing given to them is unbelievable. "
"Most of the women sew very well and I have been
able to convince personnel managers that this finger
dexterity makes for good workers on assembly lines,"
Mrs. Ropkey continues.  "When they can speak English
my task is easier.  Besides a sewing machine, a television set is important.  It helps wonderfully in the
learning of English.
"I am very proud of !my' Cuban families.  Indianapolis is fortunate in the types who have come here.
They are facing reality.   They had the courage to
leave the more familiar scenes in Miami and come to
an alien climate away from Spanish-speaking associates.  They are putting roots down solidly.  Most of
the families are buying their homes.  They have good
cars, are well dressed and hold their heads high.
They are part of the community.  Several of the older children are in college or are planning to go.
"I do not know a single Cuban who has gone backwards.  All they need is someone to lend that first
helping hand, someone to
run interference for them.
But they must carry the
ball and score the victory, and they do.'"
In cooperation with members of her Second Presbyterian Church and other interested friends, Mrs. Ropkey arranged help to meet varying needs.
"For those who came as a family group and had nothing we paid the rent on a
house and furnished it with the necessities, paid for utilities, furnished food
and clothing, and secured jobs," relates this friend of Cubans.  "In other cases
where the newcomers could be with relatives  or friends the first month we provided clothing and jobs.   In every case in which I had part the family was on
its own after the first month, except when real emergencies developed.  The
job was of prime importance and always one or two members of the family were
working within a week. When possible I had appointments set up before the family arrived and tried to fit the person into something for which he had knowledge or talent."
Between 300 and 500 Cuban refugees are now believed to be in the Indianapolis
area.  Mr. and Mrs. Alberto Diaz have become American citizens since arriving
there soon after the Castro takeover.  Since they came over five years ago they
have brought to the Indianapolis area 41 members of Mrs. Diaz1 family.'  Mrs.
Ropkey's interest in helping Cubans dates from 1961.  Says the Indianapolis STAR:
"The more successful the early attempts to settle refugees were, the more absorbed Mrs. Ropkey became.  She soon was helping every Cuban family, whether
they were sponsored by her church or not."
Alert to see that her Cuban
refugee guests are well entertained is Mrs. Ropkey,
seated before a desk.  When
small children are included
in the company, they are
usually on her lap.  One
baby has been named after
her -- Marjorie Delia Hernandez, though Marjorie is
not a Cuban name.
CUBAN REFUGEES ARRIVING REGULARLY?  YES, ON TWO AIRLIFT FLIGHTS DAILY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY