Happy Lunar New Year! 🐉

It’s the year of the wood dragon which represents courage and good fortune. May you and your loved ones have good fortune. May we all have the courage and safe space to stand in solidarity with one another, and against injustices and inequities.

 

RIT Adult English Class students at our Newcomer hub in Oakland, last December.

 

RIT welcomes and partners with refugees and immigrants from 40+ different countries around the world. We are inclusive of all newcomers’ document status, gender identity, migration journey, language, religious and cultural backgrounds. In our community, we hold space for all people, and share and celebrate knowledge, cultures, and languages together.

 

Top picture: Grace (right), RIT Staff, presenting about the Lunar New Year at RIT’s Community Hub in Oakland. Narcy (left), RIT Staff, translating for our Mam and Spanish speaking students.

Bottom picture: Sonia, RIT Staff, also shared about her family's immigration journey. 

 

For the Lunar New Year, RIT program managers Sonia and Grace held an activity with 70 students in our Adult English Classes in Oakland and San Francisco. Grace is a first generation immigrant from Hong Kong, and Sonia identifies as a third generation Chinese American. The adult class students have immigrated to the U.S. from Afghanistan, Algeria, Burma, Cameroon, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mongolia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

 

Grace, RIT Staff, presenting about the Lunar New Year to our San Francisco Adult English class.

 

Grace and Sonia did a Lunar New Year presentation to share about different communities and holidays in the U.S. They shared that being American is not synonymous with belonging to one race, skin color, language, culture, or experience. After the presentation, one of the students from Mongolia shared about her family’s Lunar New Year traditions. The celebration was completed with some delicious Lunar New Year treats. Some of the students were also inspired to attend the San Francisco Chinatown Lunar New Year parade last weekend. 

Happy Black History Month!

 

RIT Board Member, Deborah Samake, presenting about Black History Month and being African American to our Oakland Adult English Class.

 

Another cultural activity was held by RIT’s Board Member, Deborah. She came to our Oakland Adult English Class to present about identity and heritage, and the significance of the words and names we use to identify ourselves culturally and racially. Deborah shared what it means to be African-American in the U.S. both historically and in current times.

Through these presentations, RIT students learn about diverse racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds and identities in the U.S. These conversations and spaces provide an opportunity to collectively check and unlearn our own biases.

In the past year, RIT served 100+ newcomers from Africa and Afro-Caribbean countries. The top countries from these regions are Cuba, Haiti, Eritrea, Sudan, and Ethiopia. Students received services such as Adult English classes (including Vocational English) and case management from multilingual case workers.

 

Picture from Migration Policy Institute

 

Many newcomers from Haiti, Cuba, and other countries such as China and Russia are seeking asylum at the Southern Border. Most of their migration journeys are often dangerous through many countries in South America to get to the U.S. To learn more details about the migration journeys of Haitian refugees, please click this link to one of our newsletters published last year.

Building Community Partnerships

 

Augusto, RIT Staff, tabling at the Harmony of Heritage event, Oakland

 

This month, RIT also participated in Harmony of Heritage, a Lunar New Year and Black History Month celebration event hosted by Asian Health Services (AHS). RIT staff shared about our services and connected with local community partners. AHS plays an essential role in health care access and advocacy for Asian and Pacific Islanders, and their establishment in 1974 was influenced by Black Activists, particularly the Black Panther Party. The February event was in solidarity and recognition of social changes and influence that Black activists and communities have contributed to immigrant and marginalized communities.

“There are such things in the world as human rights. They rest upon no conventional foundation but are external, universal, and indestructible. Among these, is the right of locomotion; the right of migration; the right which belongs to no particular race, but belongs alike to all and to all alike.”
- Frederick Douglass advocating for Chinese and Japanese immigrant rights in 1867, Boston

We would also like to uplift the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) who provides legal services for Black immigrants. BAJI recently led a defensive asylum workshop at RIT's community hub for our Haitian students. 

Lastly, our long-time partner Burma Refugee Families and Newcomers (BRFN) is an African immigrant co-led Ethnic Community Based Organization. They focus on supporting Eritrean and Afghan newcomers with case management services.

As we celebrate Lunar New Year and Black History Month, we are also thinking of communities around the world struggling for freedom and safety. In particular, we’ve been thinking about these news:

  • We are concerned about the “border bill”: Significant inequities in immigration policies and laws that provide access to asylum for some migrants but not others. We saw this in discussions around the Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act (H. R. 815) (more info here). Acts like this violate the human right "to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution" (United Declaration of Human Rights, Article 14). At this time of increased polarization and politicization of border policies, we urge all to center these rights and the humanity of all.

  • 2 years of war in Ukraine: we reaffirm our support of those seeking refuge from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 10+ million people from Ukraine have been displaced. RIT provides case management services to Ukrainian refugees in the Bay Area in both Ukrainian and Russian. 

  • Political persecution in Russia: The death in prison of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny has brought worldwide attention to repression inside Russia, namely of people who speak out against the war and of LGBTQ individuals. Many Russians have crossed the Southern Border to seek asylum in the U.S. RIT stands against state violence all over the world, and in solidarity with asylum-seekers from Russia. 

  • 3 years since military coup in Burma: It’s been three years since Myanmar's military deposed the democratically elected government. Approximately 2 million people are currently displaced and pro-democracy voices in Burma remain severely persecuted, some of whom (including Gen Z student activists) have applied for asylum in the U.S.. RIT has been serving Burmese communities in the Bay Area for many years.

  • We demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza: It has been 141 days since the Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and kidnapped some 250 hostages. Since then, Israel's attack on Gaza has been non-stop. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, due to this war 29,195 Palestinians have been killed, 2.2 million are at imminent risk of famine, and 1.7 million are internally displaced (75% of Gaza).

 
 

Finally, we’d like to share some local opportunities to support displaced communities:

 
 

This rainy season we are collecting warm jackets and coats, winter gear (umbrellas, stroller covers, rain ponchos), and other essential school supplies. These items will be shared with immigrant and refugee students and their families at RIT's community hub and in our Afterschool Programs. If you can, please consider donating: bit.ly/rit-drive or scan the QR code in the flyer. Thank you for your generosity!

Thank you for your continued love and support!
RIT Team

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand

December 31st, 2023

Dear RIT Community,

As we close out one of the toughest years in recent times, we want to uplift one of our youth programs that gives us hope for a better future. 

RIT Youth Wellness Ambassadors at the end of the school year celebration, May 2023

We are proud to share with you our new Youth Wellness Ambassador Program at San Francisco International High School (SFIHS), a school serving newly-arrived immigrant and refugee students and an RIT partner since 2009. Building on our existing multilingual in-class support, RIT started a new initiative called the Youth Wellness Ambassador Program. Funded initially by the Governor’s new Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC), RIT has recruited 9 SFIHS students from Colombia, Yemen, and China to share messages in Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, and English about COVID and vaccines in order to keep other students and their families informed and safe. The Wellness Ambassadors even hosted a vaccine mobile clinic in partnership with San Francisco International High School, San Francisco Public Health, OCPSC, and Mission Neighborhood Centers.

The program has been expanded to cover information about Extreme Heat, Water Conservation, COVID, and Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Wellness Ambassadors meet weekly and partner with their peers to prepare presentations. They share knowledge and resources with approximately 222 SFIHS students in 9th to 12th grades annually. This program is just one example of the amazing work of RIT’s Youth Leaders.

COVID vaccination mobile clinic outreach by the Wellness Ambassadors at SFIHS

A Wellness Ambassador presenting about COVID, RSV, and Flu at one of the classes at SFIHS

For more information about RIT’s Youth Leadership Program, take a look at a recently published article entitled “Refugee and Immigrant Youth Leaders: Strengths, Futurity, and Commitment to Community” co-authored by several RIT team members. This article is based on a research study that looked at RIT’s Youth Leadership/Peer Tutoring Program in 2018. Read the article here.

Similar to what we’re finding in the Youth Wellness Ambassador Program, the research showed that peer-to-peer learning allows participants to co-learn and increase connections across cultures, languages, and people. It also found that newcomer youths not only want to succeed individually but also want to give back to their communities and families.

The Youth Wellness Ambassadors spoke at RIT’s recent Community-Centric Fundraising gathering which was hosted at our newcomer’s hub in Oakland. The theme for the event was WE: WEllness, WElcome, poWEr, and WEaving communities together. The Youth Wellness Ambassadors shared that providing information they learned is a way for them to give back to the community. 

Wellness Ambassadors speaking at RIT's Community-Centric Fundraising gathering in Oakland

Ammy, RIT Wellness Ambassador from Colombia, said “I joined the program because I want to create experiences for me and the immigrant students because as the school receives people from different places like China, Ukraine, Vietnam, Yemen, and many Latin American people, we have many languages the RIT program is helping… so I joined to help other students.” 

Another Wellness Ambassador, Reem, who came to the US in 2021 from Yemen, is learning English and said, “I wanted to learn about new things. Last year we learned about COVID-19. This year, we are learning about Extreme Heat and new things that I have never knew about….” 

To watch the Wellness Ambassadors’ full speech, please visit this link.

Wellness Ambassadors with RIT staff member, Grace, at RIT's event in October.

The Youth WEllness Ambassadors hope and dream to create a WElcoming and safe space for other immigrants where the newcomers feel safe to share their culture and language. They want to remind newcomers that we all have poWEr and belong in this country.

At RIT, our vision is to welcome and partner with newcomers who have sought refuge in the Bay Area, so we all collectively thrive in our shared community. Programs like the Youth Wellness Ambassador not only promote public health safety but also allow us to continue building on our collective vision. Additionally, programs like this nurture leadership, communications, and community-building skills for the newcomer youths and communities they impact.

We are grateful to community members like you and our dedicated staff and volunteers for your continued love and support. Please consider supporting RIT so that we can expand our Youth Leadership Programs and increase connections across cultures and people as well as provide opportunities for youth to co-learn and give back to their own communities. 

With gratitude,
RIT Team

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand

December 20th, 2023

Dear Friends & Supporters,

I remember when my family and I first arrived in the U.S. as refugees from Vietnam in 1979. I was 5 years old but I still remember how dazed everyone in my family looked and felt when we landed at the airport in Cleveland, Ohio, and when we walked into our new house which we now must adopt as our home. 

We had been through a full year that involved escaping from our homeland, sailing across the South China Sea, arriving in Hong Kong where the government there refused us entry, spending a month on the boat stubbornly refusing to leave until we were finally admitted into a refugee camp. We spent a year in the camp waiting and hoping that we would be adopted to a new country. When we finally got our wish and landed in the U.S., it wasn’t a feeling of pure joy. 

Huey Fong: the ship that Todd's family took

It was a feeling of relief but also fear of how we would survive and build a new life. We had no money, knew no one, did not speak English, and had little idea of how to get the money and support we needed to survive. But when we were in survival mode, the power of the human spirit emerged, and we found a way to not only survive, but to eventually thrive. 

Ultimately it is up to the power of that human spirit that propels refugees and immigrants. But not everyone makes it, and the journey involves years and years of intense struggle and perseverance. 

As this year comes to a close, it is estimated that 60,000 refugees will have arrived in the U.S. in 2023, only 48% of the annual ceiling set by the President for 2023. In general, the number of people in the U.S. who were born in another country, increased by almost a million last year, reaching 46+ million (a record high). Many are newcomers. 

Over the holiday season, every little we can contribute to newcomers will go a long way to helping our new neighbors survive and thrive in our shared communities. In this season of giving, perhaps the most valuable gift is assistance to help a family get through and get a better life. 

RIT’s vision is to see all newcomers thrive and become full, participating members of our shared communities. We provide Education, Family Engagement, and Community Leadership programs needed by refugees and immigrants as they settle into their new home.

This holiday season, if you can, please consider supporting RIT. Your contribution will support critical services, from helping build English and other essential skills, to connecting newcomers with healthcare, employment, and other resources. 

Thank you and we wish you a warm and happy Holiday Season! 

On behalf of the Board and Staff of RIT, 
Todd Tran
Refugee & Immigrant Transitions Board Member

To hear Todd’s full story of his journey as a refugee, watch this video of his speech at RIT’s Community Fundraiser: The Long Journey.

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand

November 22, 2023

On behalf of all of us at RIT, we'd like to express our gratitude to our friends and communities: clients, students, partners, volunteers, and supporters. We appreciate you all. Though there are a lot of dark things happening around the world right now, we still hope your day is filled with warmth and joy. 

We'd also like to use this space to honor Indigenous communities.

November is Native American Heritage Month, and the day after Thanksgiving is recognized as Native American Heritage Day. Thanksgiving itself has a complex history. According to Native Hope, "for many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning and protest since it commemorates the arrival of settlers in North America and the centuries of oppression and genocide that followed."

Last year we welcomed Rev. Shirley Montoya of the Navajo Nation in RIT's Citizenship class (read more here!) Only 2 questions on the citizenship test are about Native Americans, so we felt it important to share more about the history and cultures of Indigenous peoples and the land on which we live (and newcomers join). Rev. Montoya not only shared about the history of the Navajo Nation, but also taught students some of her language, Diné. At the time of colonization, there were about 300 languages spoken in the current territory of the U.S., and now there are only 175 (many of them are endangered).

This Thanksgiving, we invite you to support Indigenous initiatives such as the Sogorea Te' Land Trust. They are an urban Indigenous women-led land trust based in the San Francisco Bay Area that facilitates the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people.

One of the pillars of our work at RIT, is building solidarity and understanding among different communities and individuals.

Many people currently seeking refuge in the U.S. are Indigenous (from Guatemala and other Latin American countries). Families across the region have lost livelihoods due to climate change, agribusiness, large-scale development, and extractive industries. Violence (including state-sanctioned violence, organized crime, and gender-based violence) is another push factor. U.S. involvement in the region has played a major role in these migration causes.

In the past year, RIT was honored to work with 900+ program participants from Latin America, many of whom are Indigenous. Most program participants come from Guatemala.

We learn from the perseverance and resistance of Indigenous People through their linguistic diversity. Despite Spanish being the dominant language in Latin America due to colonization, there are 24 Indigenous languages in Guatemala (21 Mayan languages) that have been preserved, and many other Indigenous languages and cultures across the region. Several RIT staff members are speakers of Mam languages. These team members provide invaluable linguistic assistance to families in Oakland Unified School District, which has a large Mam-speaking community.

Thank you so much for supporting RIT and being part of this work.

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand

Updated on December 12, 2023

Since Oct. 7th, 1,147 Israelis have lost their lives, 18,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, and tens of thousands are in captivity, missing, or injured. We mourn for these lives lost, and we will continue to mourn the lives of other innocent people if this war does not stop right now. We demand a permanent ceasefire and a stop to the genocide!

Call for action:

Many of our community members have sought refuge in the Bay Area due to war, persecution, violence, ethnic cleansing, and genocide and are triggered by painful memories of flight, loss, and separation. We can not allow the violence to continue in Burma, Congo, Palestine, Ukraine, Sudan, and so many other countries. We must stop this cycle of violence that we know leads to more death and more displacement. While we talk about the right to migrate and the right to seek asylum, we must also uplift in this moment the right to stay home as well as the right to be human.

__

October 25, 2023

What is happening in Gaza and Israel is no less than horrific. 

We mourn the loss of lives in Israel and the entire region of Palestine and we mourn the loss of many more lives that will be lost given the current trajectory of continued war, militarism, bombardment and besiegement. We are frightened for the people in Gaza as we are also frightened for the people in Israel.

Many people have joined RIT's community as they have had to flee war, persecution, state-sanctioned violence, colonization, genocide and more in their homelands. Generations of conflict and oppression, the Holocaust, recent attacks from Hamas on Israel, Israel's state-sanctioned bombardment on and besiegement of Gaza, as well as conflicts that continue around the world and at home but have lost media attention, are triggering difficult memories and realities of flight, loss and separation; as they are also creating new realities of flight, loss and separation. This must stop.

While we talk about the right to migrate and the right to seek asylum, we must also uplift in this moment the right to stay home as well as the right to be human. As the organization, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom reminds us, "we hold multiple truths at any given moment". We must educate ourselves about root causes and the long, complex histories that inform today's actions; as well as chart a new way in which we see and center the humanity in one another. The world in which we live, abroad as well as on the land that we occupy, has become so polarized that as a society, it seems that we've lost our own humanity as we've lost seeing the humanity in others. As the Brazilian educator and philosopher Paulo Freire teaches us, "the oppressor-oppressed contradiction is superseded by the humanization of all people" i.e. "no longer oppressor nor longer oppressed, but human in the process of achieving freedom". In addition to a desperate call for an imminent ceasefire, we call on all of us to reground in the very basic principles and values of humanity to guide our own actions at home and towards one another. 

In truth, we feel deep rage, sadness and fear that many of you in our community are also feeling. But we cannot be led by that in times of conflict. We must be led by seeing the other as our own. We must have the foresight of what comes next by learning from what has happened in the past. We must stop this cycle of violence that we know leads to more death and more displacement. We again uplift the wise and grounding words of Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom:

"At this time, we have to choose compassion, which literally means suffering together and wishing to alleviate suffering. We must have compassion for all those who lost their family members, those who are in captivity and those seeking shelter from heavy artillery. Equally important is the feeling of compassion for each other and for our own tears, shock, pain, and fears."

Given the scale and speed of escalation in this conflict, we fear the loss of more innocent lives that can and should be avoided. We are desperately praying and hoping for a more peaceful path forward. We join widespread calls from the international community for a ceasefire as we also do what we know how to do best here at home–create shared communities of peace, welcome and belonging for ALL. As abstract or small as that might seem, we hope that in our own way, we are disrupting the cycles of violence people have experienced in the past in order to create more peaceful pathways forward. We hope you will join us in that collective journey for that better future.

- RIT Staff and Board of Directors

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand

March 31, 2023

In 1982, a home-based program in the Tenderloin of San Francisco was started to support newly arrived refugee women. 40 years later, the program has flourished to become Refugee & Immigrant Transitions (RIT). RIT now supports newcomers from 50 countries who have sought refuge in the Bay Area through our EducationFamily Engagement, and Community Leadership programs. 

RIT is a growing community tree, planted and cared for by countless women, often from refugee and immigrant backgrounds. 

As we celebrated Women’s History Month, we want to recognize women’s role in all aspects including fighting for freedom, advocating for newcomers rights, creating welcoming and safe spaces for immigrants and women, and leading the nonprofit. 

RIT is a mostly women-led organization, and we are very proud to introduce some of our inspiring RIT Women to you:

Not all RIT women are pictured here.

Watch this video to hear from some of the RIT Women:

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand

Feb. 28, 2023:

As Black History month wraps up, we invite you to join us to continue to celebrate and honor Black individuals, migrants, and communities. Throughout history, and even today, Black communities continue to shine a light on systemic oppression, racism, and inequity in our societies. Their fight for freedom, justice, and human rights extends beyond Black communities. 

Image from NBC News site

 


“There are such things in the world as human rights. They rest upon no conventional foundation but are external, universal, and indestructible. Among these, is the right of locomotion; the right of migration; the right which belongs to no particular race, but belongs alike to all and to all alike.”
- Frederick Douglass advocating for Chinese and Japanese immigrant rights in 1867, Boston

The US border and migration policies have a deep-rooted history of racism and systemic oppression. Black and brown migrants continue to face inhumane treatment, violence, and systemic barriers at the border and beyond. For example, in 2021, more than 15,000 Haitian migrants at the US-Mexico border were uprooted from their encampment and inhumanely displaced again from their temporary homes.

Honoring Haitian Migrants Journey

We would like to highlight the Haitian migration journey because it demonstrates the complexity of migration – colonialism, racism, climate emergencies, inequitable resources, and the physical journey itself. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Latin and Caribbean regions. One of the causes of Haiti’s poor economic status and unstable political structure is due to its history of colonial and foreign exploitations. Here’s a snapshot of decade long journey of thousands of Haitian migrants who arrived at the US-Mexico border:

Image from Migration Policy Institute

  • The 2010 earthquake took more than 217,000 lives and displaced 1.5 million from their homes. The 2014 FIFA world cup and summer Olympics in Brazil created economic opportunities for Haitians. 85,000 Haitians arrived in Brazil between 2010 and 2017. In 2020, the Haitian population in Brazil reached 143,000.

  • Due to declining economic opportunities and racism against Haitians and immigrants, 103,000 Haitians moved again to Chile between 2015-2017.

  • In 2018 Chilean government started requiring visas, but 69% of Haitian visa applications were rejected within two years. Due to anti-blackness and anti-immigrant policies, work permits became harder to acquire in Chile forcing Haitians to move again.

  • Haitian migrants were again forced to take one of the most dangerous migration journeys, crossing Darien Gap, before arriving at the US-Mexico border to seek refuge.

 

Love translated into different languages spoken by RIT staff members. We would also like to acknowledge that not all languages have written forms. <3

 

As we celebrated love, we also experienced immense losses locally and globally. Thousands of individuals continue to lose their homes due to natural disasters, war, and violence. We would like to uplift some of the movements, communities, and organizations, and invite you to support them:

  • African Advocacy Network's (AAN) mission is to make the African Advocacy Network an outstanding social and immigration legal service provider for African and Afro-Caribbean immigrants through the delivery of quality services by Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited staff in a culturally and linguistically- supportive environment.

  • Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) educates and engages African American and Black immigrant communities to organize and advocate for racial, social and economic justice.

  • Stand in solidarity with Iranians fighting for their freedom by signing this petition. Follow these on Twitter or IG accounts: Iranrights, Collective for Black Iranians, Iranian Diaspora Collective, Diaspora for Iran, 1500tasvir, and Bayarea4Iran.

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand
CategoriesRT News

December 30, 2022:

 
 

Happy New Year from Refugee & Immigrant Transitions! We wish you peace, health, and joy in 2023 and beyond.  

Please read on to see how our community welcomed newcomers in 2022 (including: a geographical expansion for RIT!) And if you haven't supported RIT yet, kindly consider a year-end donation. Thank you!  

In the year 2022...

  • RIT now supports a new area: Contra Costa County!

Many refugees have been settling there due to lower cost of living. RIT was called to fill in service gaps in the community. We've teamed up with local organizations and school districts to help new families enroll kids in school, complete critical paperwork, and access legal and other resources.

  • RIT grew youth services.

It's been a stressful time for youth and families. In addition to readjusting to in-person learning, our students often have to juggle school and work to support family, and (like many youth nationwide) face growing violence at schools and neighborhoods.

RIT's program at Fremont High School in Oakland has been building community for student wellness. We've been bringing in soccer and music partners, running support groups, and increasing our academic support and youth leadership.

  • RIT expanded adult education.

Our adult classes, whether Vocational, Women's, Citizenship, or General English, continue to be highly desired in the community. In addition, we're running a workshop series for Afghan women, on a very in-demand topic: passing the driver's knowledge test.

And last but not least, RIT celebrated 40 years of welcoming refugees and immigrants.

While there have been many challenges this past year, there's also been joy. We see this joy when we come together as a diverse and shared community. Exhibit A: RIT's 40th anniversary in Oakland (watch video below):

 
 

RIT welcomes and partners with people who have sought refuge in the Bay Area, employing strengths-based educational approaches and community supports so they may thrive in our shared communities.

Thank you for being part of our shared community!

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand
CategoriesRT News

Dec. 22, 2022:

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Last week, the Refugee & Immigrant Transitions team counted how many languages we speak collectively… we’re now at 20! 

Thanks to your support, in addition to education and leadership programs, RIT works with newcomer communities in their home languages. Read on to see what that looks like.  

Meet Maria, RIT’s Community Navigator supporting 60 schools in Oakland.

Like many immigrants from Guatemala, Maria speaks several languages: English, Spanish, and her native language, Mam (an Indigenous Mayan language). Mam speakers are a major and growing group of newcomers in Oakland Unified School District.

Pictured: Maria shared her culture and customs at RIT’s 40th anniversary (as part of Guatemalan performance collective, Rosendo Aguilar Group). Maria is in the center.

At RIT, Maria interprets for families and assists with all kinds of complex needs, such as “filling out enrollment forms, assisting parents in locating school options, parent teacher conferences, Special Ed meetings for students with learning differences, student therapy, Medi-Cal referrals, legal interpretation for lawyers working with unaccompanied minors,” and much more. “We make sure that our clients get clear information and create some level of confidence”, she says.

“One of the big challenges is that there is so much school paperwork to be completed and require their initials,” Maria highlights. “It is just impossible for any non-English speaker to do so without assistance in their own language.”

 

Pictured: RIT welcome sign

 

Language is powerful.

Language is connection, knowledge, humor, songs, parents, traditions. For immigrants, having someone in the community to speak one’s language, can bring comfort, connection to home, and a sense of belonging. 

In addition to Mam and Spanish, RIT delivers services in Burmese, Dari, Pashto, Cantonese, Mandarin, Arabic, and other common languages of Bay Area newcomers. And we continue to grow our language capacity. We are seeking to hire speakers of other languages, including Ukrainian. 

Together, we shape a more welcoming future. Thank you for being a part of it!

P.S. Have you seen RIT's 40th anniversary video? Please check it out (featuring Maria and Rosendo Aguilar Group's performance!)

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand
CategoriesRT News

August 16, 2022 - RIT supports newly arrived refugee and immigrant youth with school enrollment, academics, community, and more.

You can help youth start their studies in the U.S. more smoothly by supporting our supply drive:

When you purchase items from our wishlist, Amazon will recommend RIT's Oakland hub as the shipping address:

Refugee & Immigrant Transitions, ATTN: Kajal Shahali
1811 11th Avenue, 3rd floor, Oakland, CA 94606

For questions, please contact Kajal@reftrans.org. The drive is open until September 15th.

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand
CategoriesRT News
 
aloha run logo
 

August 16, 2022 - RIT are thrilled to be one of the agencies supported by the annual San Francisco Aloha Run for Peace (held by local organization, JCYC). This will be a fun community run, and walkers are welcome.

When: Sunday, September 25, 2022

Where: Crissy Field, San Francisco

What: 5k, 10k, or virtual run/walk

Vision: Aloha Run hopes "to contribute to a global movement for peace, equity, and unity by engaging runners and walkers across the country with uplifting messages of peace, inclusion, and hope for communities who are impacted by the war on Ukraine or targeted and marginalized communities in America."

For RIT's 40th anniversary this year, we hope to build a team of 40 members and collectively raise $4,040.40! Join our team today :)

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand
CategoriesRT News

August 9, 2022 - Just days ahead of the 1-year anniversary of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the launch of Operation Allies Welcome, both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives have introduced bipartisan legislation, the Afghan Adjustment Act, or AAA (HR TBD/S.4787).

The AAA will provide a long-awaited pathway to permanent residence for many people who were evacuated and brought to the U.S. from Afghanistan - please call Members of Congress & ask them to support this bill:

Following the U.S. military withdrawal, more than 70,000 Afghans were admitted to the U.S. as “humanitarian parolees” – a temporary status that does not confer lasting protection or a pathway to permanent U.S. residence. The Afghan Adjustment Act would allow eligible Afghans to apply for permanent status after clearing additional background checks.

Malaak Malikyar Sills, RIT’s Board Chair and advocate for refugees and immigrants, says:

“The Afghan Adjustment Act is urgent for Afghan Allies and their support communities. Thousands of Afghan evacuees have been separated from their families, culture, and homes. They arrived with limited resources and knowledge of our systems.

While being encouraged by welcomers of all affinities to resettle and transition to their new country, a ticking clock keeps them on pins and needles as the two-year limit to apply for asylum approaches. The uncertainty of a permanent pathway for resettlement only magnifies the trauma of separation and loss that our Afghan Allies have endured.

We appreciate Congress for recognizing our moral obligations and intention to keep our promise, and we must pass the Afghan Adjustment Act!

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand
CategoriesRT News

August 5, 2022 - We are grateful to the RIT community for welcoming refugees and immigrants, and we’d like to share a few highlights of our recent work.

RIT is in our 40th year of operations. Our programs are diverse yet united in their goal to welcome newcomer families & partner in their transitions to a new society.

Since July 1, 2021:

  • 400 adults attended RIT’s Adult Education program: English/ Literacy, Vocational English, Women’s Initiative, and Citizenship classes.

  • 800+ youth took part in Academic, Community Navigation, and Youth Leadership programs.

  • 300 newcomers received guidance and partnered with RIT case workers.

  • 200+ newcomers took part in RIT Wellness workshops, support groups, and family-friendly events.

  • RIT served 100 newcomers with vaccination clinics, 100 with vaccine sign-ups and guidance, and 500 with covid vaccine outreach.

Our community’s support has helped RIT:

+ grow our multicultural team: we now have 37 staff members, speaking 12+ languages, to better support participants;

+ expand our geographic coverage to Contra Costa County;

+ and keep on welcoming newcomer families!

We are grateful to all of our supporters and friends. Watch our slideshow video to see pictures of RIT’s work:

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AuthorAndrew Bogrand
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July 22, 2022 - Refugee & Immigrant Transitions' Adult Education Program is holding a book & educational supply drive for the new school year. Would you kindly consider contributing?

RIT's classes and 1-1 tutoring help refugee and immigrant neighbors adjust to their new community in the U.S. Last year, our classes such as English & Literacy, Vocational English, Women's Initiative, Citizenship Class, and DMV Test Prep welcomed 400 adult students!

When you purchase items from our wishlist, Amazon will recommend you RIT's Oakland hub as the shipping address:

Refugee & Immigrant Transitions, ATTN: Sonia Wong
1811 11th Avenue, 3rd floor, Oakland, CA 94606

For questions, please contact Sonia@reftrans.org

Thank you so much!

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AuthorAndrew Bogrand
CategoriesRT News

June 23, 2022 - Message from Malaak Malikyar Sills, RIT Board Chair:

This month, we commemorate Juneteenth, Pride, and World Refugee Day. These events highlight the strife and fundamental dignity of humanity.

The United Nations Refugee Agency has shared that over 100 million people are forcibly displaced right now. This devastating record is driven by the invasion of Ukraine and other displacement crises, such as those in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Guatemala.

Refugees are more than numbers. They are people seeking safety for themselves and their loved ones.

If you are reading this, it is because you have chosen to care and be moved to action. To volunteer. To give. To advocate. We thank YOU.

With your support, RIT provides welcome, education, hope, and relief. We came together in Oakland last week, to commemorate World Refugee Day with our East Bay Refugee & Immigrant Forum partners. It was a soulful family-friendly event with food, kids’ activities and traditional dances. It reminded me that even in dark and turbulent times, we have the power to bring each other warmth and joy.

Check out the event pictures below:

 

Pictured: RIT Board Chair, Malaak Malikyar Sills (second from left) with colleagues

 
 

Pictured: Afghan dance performance

 

In Solidarity,
Malaak Malikyar Sills
Refugee & Immigrant Transitions, Board Chair
Refugee & Immigrant Advocate

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AuthorAndrew Bogrand
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PLEASE NOTE: The situation in Ukraine continues to be very fluid. While we are doing our best to update this page with resources shared by partner organizations and community members, this is NOT an exhaustive list. This is for information purposes only and we cannot guarantee any outcomes from the use of these links.

Last updated on June 15, 2022:

Statements from RIT:

February 24, 2022: RIT stands with all victims of war & forced migrants

March 25, 2022: Letter from RIT Board Chair: Please Support People Seeking Refuge from Ukraine

Government Officials Announcements:

March 3, 2022: Homeland Security: Secretary Mayorkas Designates Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status for 18 Months

March 24, 2022: The White House: The Biden Administration Announces New Humanitarian, Development, and Democracy Assistance to Ukraine and the Surrounding Region (Fact Sheet)

Data:

UNHCR: Refugees fleeing Ukraine

Resources for family and loved ones locally:

Office of Refugee Resettlement: Benefits for Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees, Factsheet

Red Cross Updates:

March 2 update link
March 17 update link

  • Tracking missing person

  • Family reunification inquiries:

    • Contact your local Red Cross, or call the national RFL Hotline at 1-844-782-9441.

    • Online link: redcross.org/reconnectingfamilies

    • ACCEPTED: requests regarding persons believed to be in Ukraine or Russia

    • NOT ACCEPTED: requests for persons on the move to other locations

    • Only cases related to separation due to the current and recent situation are being accepted.

    • Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens should call the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 (from US or Canada) or +1-202-501-4444 (from overseas). More information can be found at http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies.html

USCIS: Emergency assistance for the US citizen and their families in Ukraine

Donate:

Voices of Children: Psychological and psychosocial support to children

Choose love: Ukraine Crisis Fundraiser

International Rescue Committee: Crisis in Ukraine

Nova Ukraine: Their donation page

Welcome.US: Welcome Fund, Airbnb, and Donate Airline miles

UNICEF: Health, education, protection, water and sanitation supplies

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand

March 25, 2022 - Message from Malaak Malikyar Sills, RIT Board Chair

Dear Community,

The world is four weeks into the relentless invasion of Ukraine. Each day of destruction and human suffering makes me recall my own experience of fleeing war, running on foot for days to seek refuge in another country. We must stand up for Ukraine and the 10,000,000 Ukrainians and others in the region who have been forced to flee their homes, either across national borders or within their own country.

Yesterday, the Biden administration announced that the U.S. would accept “100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia’s aggression”. In addition, thousands of Ukrainian people at the Mexico border are seeking pathways into the U.S. Not all Ukrainians will come through the U.S. refugee program; additional people will arrive on family-based visas or humanitarian parole, as thousands of Afghans did.

Please consider giving to our partners at Choose Love campaign who are supporting displaced populations now in Ukraine and surrounding countries.

Many have been asking what RIT’s role has been. At the moment we are not yet serving people who’ve sought refuge from Ukraine, but we expect to as arrivals ramp up. The work we are doing now with Afghans and many other newcomer communities helps to strengthen our collective community, so that we can continue to welcome and support all who seek refuge in the Bay Area today and into the future. And we are ready.

At RIT, we represent and partner with people who have sought refuge from 50 countries. Every immigrant, refugee, and asylum seeker is equally welcomed into our beloved community, regardless of their race, nationality, identity, or religion. Please help us reinforce and expand our programs in whatever way you can, as RIT serves as a bridge during a critical time of transition.

In Solidarity,
Malaak Malikyar Sills
Refugee & Immigrant Transitions, Board Chair
Welcome.US, Advisor

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AuthorAndrew Bogrand
CategoriesRT News

February 24, 2022 - Like the whole world, we at Refugee & Immigrant Transitions are horrified at the unfolding Russian invasion of Ukraine. We stand against war, and are hoping for the swift de-escalation of this conflict.

All wars create death and violence, destroy families and communities, and uproot people forever from their homes. Many of us at RIT, whether program participants or team members, have come from families who have fled war, or have even experienced war first-hand. The heartbreak is incalculable and lasts generations.

We send our love, solidarity, and concern to all who are fleeing war, or worrying for their loved ones right now.

For the past 40 years, RIT has been helping war survivors from all over the world adjust to their new home in the Bay Area and find community. Refugee resettlement is a long process, but we expect that some of the people fleeing Ukraine, might eventually arrive to the Bay Area. They will find a welcoming community here at RIT.

Over the years, RIT has been adapting our services to the needs of our neighbors from all over the world. Last year, the tragedy in Afghanistan informed many of our service offerings, and these efforts are continuing. We work with communities long-term, as we also stand ready to welcome others.

It's an extremely scary time right now. We know that our community will come together, as it always has, to get through this. Thank you for supporting each other.

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AuthorAndrew Bogrand
CategoriesRT News

December 22, 2021 - Message from RIT Board Chair, Malaak Malikyar Sills

It is difficult to put into words what the last 4 months have been like since the Taliban took over Afghanistan.

What I can say is this: it has been awe inspiring to see our community rise to the occasion to support new Afghan neighbors.

 

Picture: two Afghan children going to school for the first time in America

 

Together with volunteers, supporters, and partners, RIT ramped up operations and filled critical service gaps. Some of the major things we’ve been doing:

  • Supporting newly arrived Afghan families, enrolling children in schools.

  • Providing school supplies (thanks to our supporters).

  • Partnering with local agencies to supplement resettlement services.

  • Expanding our multi-language case management. (We’ve hired a full-time case worker who speaks Dari and Pashto!)

  • Increasing enrollment of Afghan women in Wellness groups and English classes.

Plus, in partnership with Oakland Bloom, our first cohort of eight women has received food handler certifications! The women held an event at RIT’s community hub where they cooked meals for 40-50 newly arrived Afghans. Our amazing volunteers delivered these meals to families (with goodie bags for kids!)

 

Picture: Afghan women’s cooking event

 

All of these programs are continuing and responding to increased numbers of arrivals. We need your support. Please remember that many are still seeking refuge.

In addition to Afghans, RIT works with people who’ve sought refuge from 50 countries - such as Burma, which has experienced a brutal military coup, and Guatemala, where many have been dispossessed of their land’s resources. Many are still in transition, navigating a new land.

RIT’s education, family engagement, and community leadership programs support newcomers long-term in their transitions to a new society. Our vision is to see all newcomers thrive and become full participating members of our shared communities.

Thank you for your support!

You can use the form below to make a gift to RIT.

 
 

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you a happy holiday season.

In solidarity,

Malaak Malikyar Sills
Refugee & Immigrant Transitions, Board Chair
Welcome.US, Advisor

P.S. Our Afghan women’s cooking event has been highlighted by KQED - click here to see!

Posted
AuthorAndrew Bogrand
CategoriesRT News