Staff Spotlight: Zoe Zollman
Zoe Zollman joined Exodus in January 2023! She is celebrating her one year anniversary of helping refugees arrive here in our community. As the Bloomington office’s Pre-Arrival & Housing Coordinator, Zoe is in charge of all of the steps that are needed to help clients get ready to resettle in Bloomington! In her role, Zoe sets up housing for clients, sets up client transportation from the Indianapolis airport to Bloomington, sets up welcome meals for newly arrived families, and makes sure the entire Bloomington team is aware of any unique needs refugee families may have. After clients arrive, Zoe assists them in learning how and when to pay bills, teaches them about their new housing, and helps them understand the ins and outs of renting a home in the United States.
We asked Zoe a few questions about her role.
What is your favorite part of your job?
This job is different all of the time. In the morning I could be setting up utilities for a family that’s soon to arrive, and in the afternoon I could be taking someone to a new home. Then the next day I could be helping someone learn how to use a new washer and dryer. I love getting to see something from someone’s eyes for the first time and see how people with different backgrounds may experience the same thing in a completely different way.
What is one thing that has surprised you about your job?
I was surprised to see how resilient clients are, no matter what they go through before they get here—and even after they arrive. Resettling in a new country is hard, but our clients are so strong and brave. It’s been surprising in the best way to see them succeed despite all they have overcome.
What are some challenges you face in your role at Exodus?
Housing can be difficult to find, so sometimes we aren’t able to move clients into their homes immediately, even though that is their goal. Often we don’t know when housing will become available and we have move quickly when it does become available. That means we may have to do housing setups without much notice, which can make it difficult for us to recruit support from community volunteers.
How could the community support you in your role?
There are a few things we always need help with! For example, we are always in need of furniture. We are working on getting a storage unit and that would allow us to take donated furniture such as dining room tables, beds, dressers, couches, chairs, and rugs. Hopefully we will have one by the end of January and can start accepting more of these donated items.
Also, when I work with volunteers in housing set ups, one thing that they can really do is help the apartments we set up feel like homes. I can put everything in an apartment, but volunteers do such a good job of making an apartment feel homey and welcoming. They find ways to arrange furniture, set up kitchens, and make bedrooms feel cozy. I really appreciate when volunteers take the time to do that so we can help refugees feel welcome.
Is there anything else you think people should know about you or your role at Exodus?
It’s such an honor to welcome people to the Bloomington community. I love the Bloomington community! Part of why I do this job is that I think this is a great place to live and I love getting to contribute to making it more diverse and inclusive. And that’s a huge part of the job—welcoming people and making them feel integrated into the community. Doing this work is a real honor.
