HAZEL PARK—There is a strong sense of community belonging at INVEST Roosevelt High School in Hazel Park, where more than 90 percent of the students identify as Iraqi Catholic Chaldeans. 

According to INVEST RHS Principal, Asaad Kalasho, 50 percent of the Chaldean students were born in the United States, and the other half were born in Iraq.  

“Everyone is like a family here. That is exactly it,” said Joseph Mezy, a senior at INVEST RHS.  

Many of the students told The Arab American News they chose to attend INVEST RHS instead of schools closer to their homes. Its ethnically diverse staff and student body make the social and learning environment more welcoming. 

“There are no fights. We don’t get bullied here. We get more respect,” Nick Korkis, a senior at the school said. 

INVEST stands for International Network for Vocational Educational Skills Training. It is part of a non-profit company founded by Kalasho in 2002.  

Grace Elementary and Middle School in Hazel Park is also part of the INVEST school system. 

Over the years, INVEST schools have served ethnic and underprivileged communities.  INVEST RHS has 280 students, and Grace Elementary and Middle School serves 200. 

Since the start of the 2003 U.S. led invasion of Iraq, roughly 30,000 Iraqi refugees have resettled in southeast Michigan, making the mission of INVEST schools even more vital. 

Because of the increase in immigrant youth, INVEST focuses widely on helping transition ethnic students into mainstream schools. Many public schools have experienced difficulty in adjusting and providing adequate services to foreign students. 

INVEST RHS has paraprofessionals available to instruct students who have difficulty learning English, and most of its staff members are bilingual in both Arabic and Chaldean. 

INVEST schools employ highly qualified certified teachers who have dedicated their lives to young learners, include small class sizes, and a nurturing and supportive atmosphere. 

Some of the students at INVEST RHS experienced difficulty at the schools they previously attended, but are now progressing.  “I am a believer of giving the people who fail a chance,” Kalasho said.

To many of the students, Kalasho has become a mentor and positive figure in their lives. 

“You can be anything you want, all it takes is hard work. America is the land of opportunity, and if you give it effort, you can succeed. This is not like the Middle East where you are so limited. There is no limit here. I am blessed to have you and lead you,” Kalasho told a classroom of students. 

He frequently brings in guest speakers to lecture students in hopes of enhancing their self-confidence and pushing them to chase after their dreams. 

Many of the speakers are Chaldean and include Klint Kesto, the first Chaldean to serve in the Michigan State Legislature, and Dr. Nick Najar, the first Chaldean to reportedly attend Harvard Medical School, among several other working professionals. 

Today, many of the graduates from INVEST schools have went on to pursue college careers at leading institutions such as Lawrence Technological University and Wayne State University.

“A lot of the students come up to me and say, ‘Mr. K you changed my life.’ Some of the parents come in and say, ‘what have you done to our child.”’

Kalasho, a Chaldean American, is a longtime community activist. His position at INVEST is allowing him to continue contributing to the development of his community. In 1991, he started an educational center on 7 Mile Road to help Iraqi refugees. 

Some of the foreign students at the school escaped Iraq following the 2003 U.S. led invasion of the country, because of religious persecution and political turmoil.  Its staff is able to help students cope with many issues.  “We are more than a school for the newcomers,” Kalasho said. 

Sarah Suleiman, a student at the school, says it was only a year ago when she first turned to her principal crying and asking when she would learn English.

“I was worried when I first came here that I wasn’t go to learn English, but I know it now,” she said. 

The learning environment at INVEST Schools is also very disciplined. 

“There is no cussing, no swearing, no pushing or bullying. This is a very disciplined school, and we want to make sure the students are well mannered,” Kalasho said.  

INVEST Schools also focuses widely on charitable efforts. It has a scholarship program that awards the top students from each school, recognizing hard work, dedication, highest markings, and great conduct. Recipients are awarded $1,000, which is used for school resources as they continue to further their education. It even holds an annual turkey drive, partnering up with large corporations to benefit some of the students and their families during the holidays. 

For more on INVEST schools and its locations, visit www.investschools.org.