CLICK HERE to watch the fundraiser recording!
“Home is not something I should have to earn. Humanity is not some box I should have to check.”
—Jose Antonio Vargas, “Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen”
On Thursday, October 29th, 7 to 7:45 pm, join us for “World of Difference”, a virtual fundraiser to support Refugee & Immigrant Transitions. Admission is free. We are honored to welcome Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, as our keynote speaker. Register below, or scroll down to learn more!
Pictured: Jose Antonio Vargas
When he was an eighth grader, Jose’s life was transformed by Toni Morrison: “one of the greatest writers in the English language, a Black woman whose grandfather lived in a time when it was illegal for African Americans to read.” Her books taught him the concept of “master narrative”, or dominant stories. In his own work, Jose has courageously challenged the unwelcoming storyline about immigration and undocumented Americans--by coming out as undocumented through NY Times magazine; bestselling memoir Dear America; and nonprofit Define American.
The work of Jose and Define American inspires all of us at Refugee & Immigrant Transitions. It’s especially relevant today, when the U.S. is closing its doors on those fleeing persecution, and devaluing the lives and contributions of immigrants. There’s a need for new narratives, those with welcome, dignity, justice, and learning at their core. These values inform and guide RIT programs.
Your support enables RIT to foster welcoming communities, deliver high-quality virtual education, and forge strong support networks. Today’s uncertainty and the acute social isolation caused by the pandemic has increased the urgency of our work.
Our Presenters (Click + to read bio)
+ Jose Antonio Vargas: Keynote
Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and Tony-nominated producer. A leading voice for the human rights of immigrants, he founded the non-profit media and culture organization Define American, named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company. His best-selling memoir, Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, was published by HarperCollins in 2018. Most recently, he co-produced Heidi Schreck’s acclaimed Broadway play What the Constitution Means to Me, which was nominated for two 2019 Tony awards, including “Best Play.”
In 2011, the New York Times Magazine published a groundbreaking essay he wrote in which he revealed and chronicled his life in America as an undocumented immigrant. A year later, he appeared on the cover of TIME magazine worldwide with fellow undocumented immigrants as part of a follow-up cover story he wrote. He then produced and directed Documented, an autobiographical documentary feature film that aired on CNN and received a 2015 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Documentary. Also in 2015, MTV aired White People, an Emmy-nominated television special he produced and directed on what it means to be young and white in a demographically-changing America.
Among accolades he has received are the Freedom to Write Award from PEN Center USA and honorary degrees from Emerson College, Colby College, and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Passionate about the role of arts in society and promoting equity in education, he serves on the advisory board of TheDream.US, a scholarship fund for undocumented immigrant students.
A product of the San Francisco Bay Area, he is a proud graduate of San Francisco State University (’04), where he was named Alumnus of the Year in 2012, and Mountain View High School (’00). An elementary school named after Vargas opened in his hometown of Mountain View, California in August 2019.
+ Luoteng Elvis Lin
Elvis was born in China and immigrated to the U.S. in 2012. He was a Peer Tutor in Refugee & Immigrant Transitions’ after-school tutoring program during his Junior and Senior years in San Francisco International High School. He continues to work with RIT as an Alumni Tutor after graduating from high school. He also works with the San Francisco Unified School District as an in-class tutor. He graduated from San Francisco State University in August of 2020 with a B.S. degree in Business Finance.
+ Kalsang Tashi
Director of Strategic Partnerships, Community Partners International (CPI); Refugee & Immigrant Transitions Board Member
Kalsang serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Community Partners International (CPI), a resilient non-profit with a track record in driving change in communities affected by conflict, violence, and displacement, in remote and hard-to-reach contexts. Prior to CPI, Kalsang spent about a decade at Give2Asia supporting individual donors, corporations and private foundations with their philanthropic giving across Asia.
Kalsang's Tibetan refugee roots exposed her to philanthropy at a young age. A generous philanthropic scholarship made it possible for her to attain a liberal arts education in the US. She studied economics, and peace & conflict resolution studies at Brandeis University.
As part of the Tibetan immigrant community in San Francisco Bay Area, Kalsang played an active role in the establishment of a Tibetan community center. She was also on the board of a private foundation that supported nomadic communities in Tibet. Kalsang joined the RIT Board in 2020.
+ Laura Vaudreuil
Refugee & Immigrant Transitions Executive Director
Laura Vaudreuil has been honored to serve as Executive Director at Refugee & Immigrant Transitions since 2003, and to be part of the organization since 2001. With a passion for human rights and education, Laura provides leadership for Refugee & Immigrant Transitions, partnering with an amazing team to welcome people who’ve sought refuge and expand services responsive to their needs. She works closely with a dedicated board of directors, diverse staff, and hundreds of committed volunteers to help our students get on pathways to education, citizenship, and employment opportunities. Under Laura's leadership, Refugee & Immigrant Transitions has forged strong partnerships with school districts, nonprofits, and city and county agencies throughout the Bay Area. This has led to the development and expansion of the agency’s education programs serving young children, youth, and adults; leadership opportunities for community members; wellness programs; and family support services.
Laura holds an undergraduate degree in international relations with minor degrees in economics and Spanish from the University of Minnesota, as well as a Master's degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages from San Francisco State University. Laura has worked in education since 1998, and has taught English and citizenship at City College of San Francisco as well as pre-university preparation and writing in the multilingual composition program at San Francisco State University.
Laura loves her work at RIT! She takes inspiration from our students and community members and continues to learn so much from them.
+ Jyoti Gurung
Refugee & Immigrant Transitions Development and Program Coordinator
Jyoti immigrated to the U.S. in 2009 from Nepal as a Bhutanese Refugee. She went to Oakland International High School and was a Peer Tutor/Youth Leader in Refugee & Immigrant Transitions’s after-school tutoring program. After graduating from OIHS, she continued to join forces with RIT as an Alumni Tutor and Intern. She graduated in May 2016 from San Francisco State University with a B.S. degree in Business Management. She began to work as a Development and Program Associate in June 2016. She assists with fundraising and communications, as well as adult, youth, and volunteer programs. Jyoti is a recipient of the 2017 Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Award for Youth Leadership.
+ Ganesh Senchuri: Music
Special Music Performance
Ganesh Senchuri is from Nepal. He grew up in Nepal and became fascinated with music at an early age. Upon moving to the US in 2011, while in High school, he chose to join in choir group and learned more about music. Even though he is going for software Engineering in college, he enjoys making music and providing music classes for kids from his Nepali community during the summer. You can hear Ganesh's songs at Ganesh Music on Youtube.
If you are unable to attend, we hope you will consider supporting RIT today:
What You Support: RIT Services During COVID-19
Thank you for Sponsorship!
This year, we have named our sponsorship levels after historic trees. They symbolize endurance, resilience, and optimism--attributes commonly associated with the experiences, journey, and aspirations of immigrant communities. Trees are life-giving, majestic, and rejuvenating. They provide refuge, sanctuary and relief.
Top Tier Sponsorship: “Sequoia”
Sponsorship: “Redwood”
Sponsorship: “Ponderosa Pine”
Sponsorship: “Sitka Spruce”
