When Jasenka arrived in the United States as a refugee from Bosnia in 1996, she understood firsthand what it meant to leave home, spend years in another country, and begin again in an unfamiliar system. That experience would become the foundation of a remarkable career helping immigrants and refugees find safety, stability and belonging.
Jasenka joined Lutheran Community Services Northwest in 1998 as a Refugee Case Manager and later became an Immigration Counselor with Safe Route Immigration. To this day she remains deeply connected to the work and to the people the program serves.
What has kept Jasenka engaged for nearly three decades is the knowledge that trusted guidance can change a person’s life. Immigration systems can be complicated and overwhelming, and she has seen how much it matters to have someone explain the process, answer questions, and help clients understand their options.
One family’s story has stayed with her. A woman from Africa came to the United States alone after leaving four young children behind, hoping to build a safer future for them. Because of the immigration priority-date system, the family waited years to reunite. Jasenka helped support the mother through that long journey until her children were finally able to join her in the United States.
“Behind every immigration case is a person, a family, and often years of sacrifice, uncertainty and hope,” Jasenka said. Helping families reach moments of reunion remains one of the most rewarding parts of her work.
Immigration services have transformed since Jasenka began her career. Her early work relied on typewriters, books, paper files, and telephones. Today, staff use specialized software, digital systems, online applications, and electronic communication, with the ability to serve clients remotely. Although technology has made many processes faster and more accessible, policies, procedures and tools continue to change.
Through every shift, one need has remained constant: knowledgeable, compassionate people who can help clients navigate the system. Jasenka wants potential clients to know that Safe Route Immigration is a place where they can ask questions, understand their options, and receive affordable, accessible support.
Jasenka also credits the welcome she received at LCSNW and Safe Route for her longevity. She found a sense of belonging in the organization’s diversity, supportive leadership, and close-knit team. Over time, the relationships and teamwork became much more than part of a job; they became a community and a family.
Program Director Alma Jean described Jasenka as a foundational member of Safe Route Immigration whose influence extends beyond Vancouver across the agency. “For many decades, Jasenka has led her team with grace and kindness,” Alma said. “She has treated her staff and members of our immigrant community as she would her own family. She’s deeply respected in the community, and we are lucky to have her.”
For Jasenka, what began as a job became a career and a way to give others the welcome she once needed. We are grateful for her 28 years of service, the families she has helped, and the compassion she continues to bring to LCSNW every day.
Request a consultation with Safe Route: www.saferoute.org
