A south side church is being converted into a community center for Rohingya refugees in Milwaukee, believed to be home to one of the largest populations of Rohingya in the U.S. after they fled decades of systemic repression in their native Myanmar.
On Friday, the nonprofit Burmese Rohingya Community of Wisconsin bought a church building in Clarke Square. Founder Anuwar Kasim hopes it will be a place for his people to gather, practice Islam and get help with everything from English language learning to housing and food. There is a lot of needs for my community, Kasim said. This community center can assist them.