Black History Month: Honoring Haitian Migrants Journey

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.

Loss and Love

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.

• It has been a year since the invasion of Ukraine. Nova Ukraine is at the frontline supporting Ukrainian refugees. Please consider making a donation to Nova Ukraine.

• 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.

Happy New Year & 2022 In Review

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!

20 languages & counting! Support RIT this holiday season

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!)

RIT Back to School Drive 2022

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:

Click here to download the flyer.

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.

Run with RIT! San Francisco Aloha Run for Peace

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 :)

Speak Out for Afghan Adjustment Act

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!”

• Please ​​call your Senators and Representatives and request that they support the AAA.

• Updated AAA Explainer here.

RIT Programs & Impact 2021-2022

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:

Support RIT's Supply Drive for Adult Education

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

Click here to download flyer.

Thank you so much!

Commemorating World Refugee Day 2022

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

Ukraine Crisis Resources

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

Letter from RIT Board Chair: Please Support People Seeking Refuge from Ukraine

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

RIT stands with all victims of war & forced migrants

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.

Letter from RIT Board Chair: Please Help sustain programs for Afghans and others who've sought refuge!

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!

Global & Local Neighbors: Join us for a virtual community gathering and fundraiser on Nov. 10

On Wednesday, November 10, 2021, 7 to 7:45 pm, we invite you to join Refugee & Immigrant Transitions’ virtual community gathering: “Global & Local Neighbors.” Register today, and scroll down to learn more!

This past year has underscored both the global and local dimensions of our work. RIT’s community members come from 50 countries. Many still have families and friends in those places, including Afghanistan, where the Taliban took over after a multi-generation war that started in 1973, and Burma, which is experiencing enduring effects from a military coup.

Many of our students, colleagues, and neighbors from these and other countries, are connected to struggles in their places of origin. RIT is part of this ecosystem of shared struggles and communal support.

On November 10, our community members will share about RIT’s response to current events, and the solidarity efforts that are taking place. RIT is continuing our longstanding, impactful programs and expanding them in response to emerging needs. Join us as we mobilize support for RIT’s work and community!

Please consider additional ways to support:

• Invite friends and networks to support RIT! (Using social media or a platform such as gofundme).

• If you’re comfortable, consider gathering your friends to watch the event together and raise funds for RIT.

If you are unable to attend, we hope you will consider supporting RIT today: 

What we do: RIT services during covid

Thank you for the Sponsorship!

Top Tier Sponsorship: “Sequoia”

Sponsorship: “Redwood”

Sponsorship: “Ponderosa Pine”

Sponsorship: “Noble Fir”

Stand with the People of Afghanistan

Our mission is to welcome and partner with those who have sought refuge, employing strengths-based educational approaches and community supports so they may thrive in our shared communities.

Statement from RIT Board Chair, Malaak Malikyar Sills:

August 19, 2021 - Dear RIT Community members, I write to you in a difficult time with a message of hope and solidarity.

My family and I fled Afghanistan when I was 5 years old and so my heart weighs heavily as I witness images of people attempting to flee the country right now. Even as an Afghan, it is difficult to comprehend what is happening and what I can and should be doing. Many caring people are reaching out to ask what they can do, and we are all asking one another for direction. As a survivor, the guilt of being on the safety raft while the ship is sinking tears me apart - I tend to see myself on the raft while others are drowning in these situations. I used to see that as a curse, but in doing this work and doing it with you, I am reminded of the collective strength of the Refugee & Immigrant Transitions (RIT) community. I can attest to the hope you have given me as the once helpless voice in my head now tells me that I can and must do something. I am reminded of our commitment to support one another and I feel our power. 

As I write this, we are preparing for the arrival of hundreds of vulnerable Afghans as part of an emergency evacuation effort. At this moment, we are being called on to step up quickly at an unprecedented scale for our agency. We have developed strong systems, programs, and partners over the years and with multilingual and multicultural staff, teachers, and volunteers, we are preparing to quickly expand existing capacities. This means that we need to scale our operations in the days and weeks to come, along with our partners and resettlement agencies with whom we are working closely. If you are able, we ask that you consider donating to Refugee & Immigrant Transitions or to one of our partner organizations, such as Burma Refugee Families & Newcomers with whom we co-locate at our Newcomer Hub in Oakland. Your support helps ensure that we are ready to welcome and support newly-arriving Afghans and other newcomers seeking refuge, and continue to support local Afghans as they try to help their families evacuate.

RIT works with refugee and immigrant newcomers from 50 countries around the world. The Afghan community is the second-largest community we serve, the first being from Guatemala (future post about Guatemala forthcoming). One of the beautiful things about RIT is the partnership we form with communities who seek refuge. One of our programs, the Women’s Initiative, was developed in response to the growing number of Afghan women in the Bay Area experiencing language and social isolation. The Women’s Initiative has now grown to include women-only language/literacy classes with simultaneous childcare for young children, family support/case management, and a wellness program for women from a number of places of origin. And we will be ready to receive newly arriving Afghan women in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

The work ahead will be extensive and global. Here are other ways you can help right now:

• If you are trying to get a family member out of Afghanistan, here are some helpful resources. Also, “U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell, who represents parts of the Bay Area, is offering assistance to Afghan families who want to check on their Special Immigrant Visa status” (Kron 4). More information from his office can be found here. Please call his office first to check for available times. Or register here for a virtual Afghan American Townhall with Congressman Eric Swallwell tomorrow, August 19 at 11:00AM.

• Pathways out of Afghanistan currently are limited to a set of priority designations as defined by the U.S. Government. To advocate for more pathways out, especially for women and girls, please contact your members of congress.

• To support women and girls in Afghanistan, consider supporting Afghan Institute of Learning (founded by human rights educator, Dr. Sakena Yacoobi’s), or Women for Afghan Women.

Welcoming and partnering with people seeking refuge is at the heart of what we do at RIT. The pain we feel in this moment is felt by many in our community and we are doing all that we can to support one another and ready ourselves for what is to come. As a former staff member at RIT, a refugee advocate, a former refugee, and now the Board Chair of RIT, I thank you for standing with the people of Afghanistan and ALL people seeking refuge.

In solidarity,
Malaak Malikyar Sills
Board Chair

Exciting changes in RIT leadership: Serving community through collaborative leadership

Message from Laura Vaudreuil, Co-Executive Director:

July 7, 2021 - To all RIT friends and supporters, we are immensely grateful for your ongoing partnership and support, especially given the extraordinary challenges of this past year. I’ve had the honor of serving as RIT’s Executive Director for the last 18+ years, and feel extremely grateful to work with a team committed to welcoming and partnering with those who have sought refuge, employing strengths-based educational approaches and community supports so they may thrive in our shared communities. This past year has emphasized the importance of this mission and the need to invest in collaborative models that serve the collective community.

I am thus thrilled to share that Jane Pak, who has been a part of RIT’s staff and board for 9 years, will be transitioning from her current role as Board Chair to join me in our new roles as Co-Executive Directors! 

Jane returns to our staff team after receiving a doctorate in International & Multicultural Education/Human Rights Education (with a Critical Refugee Studies lens) from the University of San Francisco (USF). In addition to her lived experiences as a child of parents who fled a country (North Korea) when young, her scholarship is informed by her ongoing work as an adjunct professor in the Master in Migration Studies program at USF.

I am excited to continue leading RIT’s education, family engagement and community leadership programming. Jane will grow our community research efforts to inform our community education and solidarity work around refugee and migrant issues. For us, community research means listening deeply to and learning from people with lived experiences related to migration, and ensuring that this learning informs all our work at RIT. As author, adrienne maree brown says: "Those in the center are those whose lead we should be following - they know the truth of oppressive impact and they know the brilliance of survival against numerous odds."* 

To further strengthen our team, I am delighted that Malaak Malikyar Sills will be serving as our new Board Chair.

As an asylee from Afghanistan, and a representative of an underserved refugee community, Malaak has been a part of RIT’s community for 4 years. Malaak’s work focuses on forming community partnerships to spread cultural awareness & build alliances in an effort to end stigma and discrimination, promote wellness, recovery, resiliency and social inclusion. 

Please join me in welcoming Jane and Malaak!

None of this could happen without you, our community. So THANK YOU again for the vital role you play! Whether as a program participant, staff member, volunteer, board member, or donor--you are ALL critical partners in creating this beloved community.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Laura Vaudreuil             
Co-Executive Director   

*Quoted from adrienne maree brown, “Holding Change: The Way of Emergent Strategy Facilitation and Mediation (Emergent Strategy Series)”

Support RIT's Relief Fund on World Refugee Day!

June 20, 2021 - On this day 70 years ago, in Geneva, Switzerland, the United Nations adopted a momentous document: the 1951 Refugee Convention. It was a key legal document that set the global framework for the rights of refugees.

The Refugee Convention’s anniversary is commemorated every year as World Refugee Day. This is the day to take action in solidarity with all people who’ve sought refuge - globally and in our local communities.

At RIT, we see how this legacy of welcoming refugees has manifested in a culturally rich and diverse Bay Area. While honoring the courage and fundamental dignity of all who have sought refuge, we recognize that many have been forced to flee their beloved homes due to extremely painful and unjust circumstances. This includes circumstances not yet recognized by the 1951 Refugee Convention, such as climate change and economic dispossession.

For us, “welcoming” means seeing the full story of seeking refuge, and supporting community members’ safety and wellbeing. Here locally, newcomers continue to face systemic barriers and inequalities as they adjust to life in the Bay Area.

During the covid crisis, people who’ve sought refuge in the U.S. have been on the frontlines. Many are essential workers, preparing food, delivering groceries, taking care of elders, and providing other critical services. That has often entailed increased covid risk, low pay, and uncertainty if the work would be there tomorrow. Some of the essential workers have been school-age refugee and immigrant youth, who have had to prioritize work over school due to covid-related family hardship.

Last year, our community raised $30,000+ for RIT’s Relief Fund. It provided critical financial support to families who were experiencing hardship, and were not eligible for other forms of assistance. RIT’s Relief Fund addresses this systemic gap that persists today.

On World Refugee Day, please consider contributing to RIT’s Relief Fund for refugee and immigrant community members. Please write “Relief fund” in the donation form, so that we know it’s for the relief fund. Thank you!

AMPLIFY ON SOCIAL MEDIA/EMAIL: June 20 is World Refugee Day! Please contribute to Refugee & Immigrant Transitions' Relief Fund for community members who've sought refuge in the U.S. Many in the community, including essential workers, have been struggling during covid, and unable to access financial relief. Join RIT in providing direct financial assistance to families: reftrans.org/give (please write Relief fund in the donation form).

DOWNLOAD FLYER

RIT stands with the Afghan people! Hear from local Afghan neighbors

June 2, 2021 - Our thoughts are with RIT students and colleagues from Afghanistan. RIT has been honored to welcome and partner with hundreds of Afghan community members in the past 10 years. Many of our new neighbors coming to the Bay Area are Afghans who have received Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) for putting their lives at risk to work with the U.S. government. Read on for community testimonials and action items.

The U.S. military is continuing its planned troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, after a devastating war that lasted 20 years for the U.S. and its allies. Afghanistan has been in a multi-generation war since 1973.

People anticipate more events like the recent school bombing that took the lives of 85, mostly schoolgirls from the persecuted Hazara ethnic minority.

“Afghanistan citizens have been suffering from a long unwanted war that took 20 years for NATO and West, and never ended. All tribes from any ethnicity have been targeted tragically and have been killed, from top tribal leader to innocent school students.

Specially in the recent years Hazara students, who are identified as the country’s most hard working, intelligent, and brilliant in different area in Afghan society, starting with sports and being gold medalists to scoring in most high levels educational programs. However, unfortunately they have lost their lives to a crucial and unknown enemy who have held many attacks.

Such as the most recent one happened in west of Kabul, when the Hazara students were let go by the end of their classes, and a targeted bomb blast happened. While some were injured, the remaining were trying to escape the scene, and the second and third blast happened in row. It killed over 80 and injured 157 others. This tragedy reminded hundreds of families in sorrows of their loved ones.

The victims of this crucial act will be remembered forever. Our hearts and minds go to all those families who can only keep the memories of their children and can never see their angel faces anymore."

-Ali Pirzad, Afghan community member

Taliban has denied involvement in the school bombing, but their record on women’s rights is abysmal (during their rule, schooling for girls was banned). Heather Barr of Human Rights Watch has said in an NPR interview: “I think this attack is going to push thousands of girls out of school.”

"My heart goes out to those beautiful and innocent souls of the latest terrorist attack on Saidul Shohada School in Kabul. The world may compromise with a group that never gives mercy to our children, but humanity will never forget this cruelty."

-Aria, 5th grade

"Women have paid a heavy price during the political and social life of Afghanistan, but seem to get traction to access some of their fundamental rights such as education. But we saw how fragile that tends to be after the recent attack on the girls school.

No words or any other actions can compensate for those lives lost. They are the burnt pages of our country with millions of others and counting. Their life stories are heartbroken and sad lyrics sung by their ashes released to the wind of destruction, that humanity forgets in a matter of a moment.

The Afghan nation's book is on fire and won't survive unless we find our pathway to justice and equality, and those cannot be achieved unless we learn how to define our coexistence with others."

-Anonymous (fRumi)

We need to welcome more SIV holders!

According to Vets for American Ideals, there are more than 17,000 applicants (plus their families), who are waiting in Afghanistan to be processed for Special Immigrant Visas. Lawmakers introduced a bill to increase SIV to 8,000 (from 4,000), however, advocates are urging for many more.

“SIV program is extremely essential program. The US government/US Army must keep their promises to those who worked for the US Government or on behalf of the US Government. Their lives are in great danger after the US withdrawal. As the SIV clients are still immigrating to Northern California because of security situation is getting worse in Afghanistan day by day, specially with the withdrawal plan of the United States of America. The SIV newcomers are willing to stay together with their families and friends in every locations. One of the popular location is the Bay Area.”

-F.Y., Afghan community leader

Please join RIT in taking solidarity action:

• Advocate for immediate evacuation of Afghan allies

• Support Afghan women and children:

www.awchef.org

https://womenforafghanwomen.org/

• Support RIT’s multilingual programs for Afghans and other newcomers, including the Women’s Initiative: reftrans.org/give

Picture credits for this post - Afghanistan landscapes:

(1) UN Photo. (2) seair21. Both pictures protected under Creative Commons. No changes made.

AAPI Heritage Month: Support Our Friends, Asian Refugees United

May 10, 2021 - This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, RIT is hosting a solidarity fundraiser! We invite you to kindly donate to our partner and friends: Asian Refugees United (ARU).

ARU is an organization led by refugees, and focused on refugee power-building. They are raising funds for their annual Leadership Camp to bring together ~25 leaders, activists, and artists from the Bhutanese refugee community in the U.S. ARU are aiming to raise $10,000 to fund the camp - will you help them reach their goal?

The camp will allow community members to learn from each other, address the current issues that the Bhutanese refugee community is facing, and build power to uplift the community.

AMPLIFY ON SOCIAL MEDIA: This Asian Pacific Heritage Month, amplify refugee power! Support Asian Refugees United, who are working to raise $10,000 for their Leadership Camp. ARU builds intergenerational and interethnic power for positive lasting changes through sharing art, healing, culture and political engagement. Donate here: tinyurl.com/aru-leaders

Download flyer for social media

About Asian Refugees United:

In 2016, leaders from the Vietnamese and Bhutanese refugee community came together in solidarity to fight for fair labor rights for nail salon workers in California. Since then, Asian Refugees United was founded to continue centering the voice and leadership of Asian refugees who’ve resettled in Oakland, California and beyond.

Today, Asian Refugees United builds intergenerational and interethnic power for positive lasting changes through sharing art, healing, culture and political engagement.

We envision Asian Refugees as thriving, healthy community leaders who have the knowledge, voice, and power to be active agents of change in their neighborhoods, alongside marginalized African American, Latino, and other immigrant communities.

Our work primarily focuses on three areas: Leadership Development, Arts and Healing, and Civic Engagement. These three areas are the 3 pillars of Asian Refugees United.

Learn more about our past, current, and future projects/programs here: www.asianrefugees.org

Thanks to Robin Gurung and ARU Team for sharing this fundraiser with RIT!

RIT on NPR!

April 27, 2021 - Over the pandemic, Refugee & Immigrant Transitions students, volunteers, and staff have made a huge effort adjusting to distance learning. This past weekend, one of our staff tutors, Ramiro Lobo was featured in NPR's Weekend Edition, sharing his perspective on virtual tutoring for refugee and immigrant students!

Pictured: RIT School-based Coordinator, Ramiro Lobo (left) with one of his RIT students

Ramiro says: "A lot of times, it gets overlooked that many of the students that I work with - they've come here alone to a new country, are learning a new language, are trying to learn all these new concepts in their classes, are trying to navigate technology, are trying to get a job to support themselves and also to support their families who might be back home. I wish people just understood, how hard they work and just how amazing they are as people and as members of our community and just how brave and strong they are through all of that."