"We haven't invested in our borough for a long time," says the Charleroi council president, "and now we are finally able to do that - it's because we have a need to."
Surrounded by retired power plants, railway lines and steel mills, Charleroi in south-west Pennsylvania was once the epitome of Rust Belt America. For decades, factories here and in the surrounding area closed and people moved away, its population falling by about 60%.
But in recent years, immigrants have descended on the town of 4,200 people, drawn by well-paying jobs and cheap housing. According to the 2020 census, for the first time in a century, more people chose to make this quiet community on the banks of the Monongahela River their home rather than flee it.
The first job Rodny Michel could find when he arrived in Charleroi four years ago was line work at a food-preparation company and, later, similarly gruelling work at an Amazon factory in a nearby town. Today, as the native of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, sees his community grow in Charleroi, his work day involves turning an empty, dated store on Fallowfield Avenue into a Caribbean restaurant that will serve the town's growing immigrant community.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 21, 2024 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 21, 2024 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Hurricane Oscar adds to Cuba crisis after massive power cut
Hurricane Oscar has dumped heavy rain across the eastern end of Cuba, adding to a list of woes besetting the Caribbean's biggest island, which was hit at the weekend by a massive power cut.
Female players demand Fifa scrap Saudi sponsorship
More than 100 professional female footballers have signed a letter calling on Fifa to end its sponsorship deal with the state-owned Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco, accusing Saudi authorities of \"brutal human rights violations\".
Silent treatment Arteta admits discipline 'issue' but won't discuss it with players
Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal have an issue with red cards but believes the remedy lies in not discussing the problem within the squad.
"There's no ceiling here': Cash hails Villa potential
Matty Cash has said Aston Villa \"has not got a ceiling\" under Unai Emery before the two-year anniversary of the manager's appointment, as the Spaniard outlined his wish to continue to \"break barriers\" by becoming Champions League regulars.
We must stick together - it's the only way to bring peace to Ukraine'
The big interview Oleskandr Zinchenko Arsenal full-back opens up on the pain of following the war from overseas and reflects on the belief instilled within him by Guardiola and Arteta
No review of Saudi Newcastle deal despite Bin Salman claims
The Premier League sees no reason to review the legality of Newcastle's takeover by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund after reports of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's extensive involvement in the deal.
VAR conspiracy theories are nonsense but stem from helpless fans' plight
Another weekend, another slew of wearying arguments about VAR and refereeing. At Bournemouth, Arsenal fans called the referee Robert Jones \"a cheat\" and chanted that the Premier League was \"corrupt\". On social media, the outrage was even greater. Fans have always complained about referees, of course, but traditionally they called them \"blind\" and dismissed them as \"wankers\" or \"bastards\". Then came the \"You're not fit to referee\" song; the cries of systemic corruption, though, are relatively new.
Van Dijk reveals he is in talks over extending Anfield career
Virgil van Dijk has revealed he is in \"ongoing\" discussions regarding a new contract with Liverpool but admitted he remains unclear about his future at the club.
Lopetegui not in imminent peril of being sacked
Julen Lopetegui is not in imminent danger of the sack despite growing alarm at West Ham about their poor start to the season. The club, languishing in 15th after losing 4-1 against Tottenham on Saturday, are keen to give Lopetegui time after appointing him last summer as David Moyes's successor.
Game nearing 'crisis point' in schools, new report warns
The Rugby Football Union has been warned it is facing an existential crisis and has been urged to make radical changes in schools rugby to avoid becoming a \"declining minority sport\" that could weaken Steve Borthwick's England side amid a damaging decline in participation.