June 14, 2024
June is Immigrant Heritage Month! While we honor immigrant heritages this month, we would also like to think of the 117.3 million people who have been forcibly displaced from their homes, according to the recently published figures by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). That is 1 in every 69 people. They are fleeing their homes due to persecution, conflict, war, violence, and human rights violations.
Over the past decade, RIT has been honored to work with 10,000+ newcomer refugees and immigrants from 50+ countries.
It has been a very difficult few years for immigrant communities, human rights advocates, and humanity in general with all the atrocities like the forced evacuation of Aghans, military oppression in Burma/Myanmar, gender apartheid in Iran, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, war in Sudan, genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, displacement of Indigenous communities in Guatemala, Honduras and many other places. In addition, President Biden issued an executive order last week that poses significant barriers and restrictions to people’s right to seek asylum at the Southern Border. Yet one more push towards inhumanity. At RIT, we are all feeling deep sorrows and anger because these are not just foreign news, but events that personally impact many community members and our families. It is easy to lose hope in these moments. However, being IN COMMUNITY with newcomers reminds us of our collective strength and responsibility and gives us hope for possibilities for a better future for all.
To address some of these concerns, how this is affecting immigrant & refugee communities, and how RIT is creating spaces of joy and possibilities in these times, we will be holding a “conversation series” starting this month and through the end of the year. Please fill out this form if you’d like more information and save the date for our first conversation that will be held on Thursday, June 27 from noon - 1 pm online.
RIT End of the School Year Celebrations
“School celebrations are an important way for students to recognize the milestones they've made in studying English. It is hard work, and they have to prioritize class and studying in their busy lives. Getting that recognition with a celebration and certificate mean so much to them! Many students choose to dress in fancy and often traditional clothing. They bring dishes they are proud of to share. Some have been hired to cater RIT events after showcasing their cuisine at these types of events! Most of all, I love to see the pride and joy on students' faces on celebration day. At school celebrations, I get to see and hear from students how much the class and community really means to them. For me, that is the best part.” - RIT Teacher, Dion
RIT Adult and Childcare Programs (RIT Community Hub, Oakland)
At RIT's Community hub in Oakland, we have Adult English classes, Women Wellness Group, childcare, and Case Management services where newcomers receive holistic and well rounded support.
To celebrate the students’ hard work and wrap up the academic year, we hosted a community potluck, certification ceremony, and graduation ceremony for childcare students as some of them will be moving on to Kindergarten in the fall. Many programs have already come back for summer sessions already.
Community potluck: Afghan, Cuban, Eritrean, Guaatemalan, Haitian, Yemeni, and beyond food, desserts, and drinks (not all pictured).
RIT Adult English Language Program (San Francisco)
RIT also offers English classes at the Good Samaritan Family Resource Center (Good Sam) in the Mission district in San Francisco. To wrap up the program for the current school year, the classes went to Crissy Field for their field trip. The field trip was in partnership with Good Sam, Golden Gate National Parks, and RIT where a bilingual Spanish-speaking Park Ranger, Fatima, shared her knowledge about the park and wildlife with the students. The park also provided a free shuttle to our students, which made accessing the park easier for our students. We are grateful for this opportunity. At the end of the field trip, we shared delicious home-cooked meals and gifts in honor of Mother’s Day. Their program also had a graduation/certification ceremony after the field trip.
RIT Youth Daytime Classroom Support Program (San Francisco)
At San Francisco International High School, RIT has a Daytime Classroom Support program and a Youth Wellness Ambassador program. We hosted a gathering for our Daytime Classroom Support (site-based) volunteers, staff, and interns. On this joyous end-of-year celebration the team reflected on the achievements and talked about exciting possibilities for the new school year!
RIT Youth Leaders from After-School Program (Oakland)
RIT’s Youth East Bay Team is honored to have worked with four incredible Youth Leaders who supported our team in running the Newcomer After-School Program at Fremont High School. These exceptional leaders, students from Guatemala and Honduras, worked diligently from January to May of this academic year, assisting their peers with homework, quizzes, projects, and assignments. They also served as RIT's ambassadors in all their newcomer classes.
To celebrate their hard work and dedication to their communities, RIT staff and volunteers organized a special trip to the Santa Cruz boardwalk. The day was filled with fun activities, including games, delicious food, thrilling rides, and the joy of experiencing the ocean. For some of our leaders, this was their first time visiting a beach in the United States; for others, it was a welcome escape from Oakland and work. We enjoyed good music on the way to and from Santa Cruz, making the day even more memorable.
We are immensely proud of our Youth Leaders and grateful for their contributions. This trip was a small token of our appreciation for their unwavering support and commitment.
Thank you for being a part of our shared community!
RIT Team