Why is This TV Crew From Germany in Love With Utica?

Utica is home to many different cultures and ethnicities. Our hometown is seen as a quintessential example of unity, and harmony throughout the world.

Utica's ethnic and cultural diversity recently got the attention of some German television reporters so they decided to come for a  visit. They brought their cameras and microphones as well. The German media is fascinated with the success rate of individuals who move here from other countries and succeed.

Many of the refugees come here from war torn and poverty stricken areas. Thanks in part to the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, these people are achieving their dreams and living the lives that they had always imagined. According to WKTV, the refugees are thankful to be here:

Peter Reuther, the German videographer, says, "All of the refugees seem to tell us they're so grateful to be here in Utica and also in the United States. They just seem to be full of thankfulness for what America is helping them achieve here. I think they can really appreciate, they can really value what they have here because they came from a place that was much, much worse."

The Observer Dispatch Reports:

Utica schools have more than 9,000 students and an estimated 42 different languages spoken - mostly due to the high number of refugees transplanted to the area.

Here's this morning's Just Jen!