*Who*: Students from the Jackson School Applied Research Program, led by Jessica Beyer *What*: Expanding financial inclusion for Seattle-area immigrants and refugees
*Where*: EEB 037 *When*: Noon-1pm, Tuesday, 5/29 *Abstract:* As immigrants and refugees migrate to new home countries, many experience difficulties adjusting to their new home nation’s financial systems. Issues relating to language, education, and cultural sensitivity contribute to these populations’ barriers to entry. As a result, many immigrants and refugees remain unbanked or underbanked. To ensure their successful integration to financial systems and the establishment of financial well-being, a team of researchers from the Jackson School of International Studies Applied Research Project team seeks to understand how populations of immigrants and refugees interact with the financial systems in the Greater Seattle Area. The report begins by examining established legal definitions of different types of immigrants. It then explores the demographic makeup of people arriving in Washington State and the Greater Seattle Area before examining the existing financial systems in Seattle. The report concludes with an in-depth overview of the various obstacles to financial inclusion for specific target populations by examining three case studies: the Somali population, Eritrean and Ethiopian populations, and Latino communities. This project was completing in collaboration with the University of Washington Computer Science and Engineering department. *Bio:* *Jessica Beyer,* *Faculty Lead*: Jessica Beyer is a Research Scientist in the Henry M. Jackson School for International Studies and the Technology & Social Change Group in the Information School. Jessica holds her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Washington. *Allison Anderson, ARP Program Manager*: Allison Anderson is a Ph.D. student at the Jackson School of International Studies. Her research interests are centered around gender, development, and information and communications technologies (ICTs) in the Arab world. *Grant Dailey, Senior Research Fellow*: Grant Dailey is currently enrolled as a concurrent degree candidate pursuing a Master of Public Administration with the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, and a Master of Arts in International Studies with the Jackson School of International Studies. *Nabilla Gunawan*: Nabilla Gunawan is a junior pursuing a B.A. in International Studies with an emphasis on Political Economy and Development. *Mardav Jain*: Mardav Jain is a junior pursuing a BA in Economics and International Studies with a focus on Foreign Security and Diplomacy. *Sertseleul Kebede*: Sertseluel D. Kebede is a senior at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies majoring in International Studies. *Jinyong Um*: Jinyong Um is currently a junior at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies studying Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Peace and Security. He also is an Informatics minor. *Jaime White*: Jaime White is a second-year master's student at the Jackson School of International Studies. Her research focuses on narrative and rhetoric in Hindu and Buddhist movements, and communal violence in South
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