In a 1957 short film, actor Marlon Brando urges viewers to assist refugees fleeing the Hungarian Revolution by making a donation to the International Rescue Committee.

Refugees and asylum seekers aren’t numbers, but people with lives you would recognize. They are mothers, fathers, daughters and sons. They are neighbors, teachers, students, employees and business owners. They are also your closest friends. We asked refugees resettled in the U.S. and their neighbors how they became friends, what they learned from each other and why more Americans should welcome newcomers. Explore more stories.

Sifa, a refugee who escaped violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, had not seen her husband Kakule in 7 years—until now.