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Volume 1, Issue 4
March 13, 2022
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Khabar, "news" in farsi, is Fresh Start's monthly newsletter. Have a story or photo of Fresh Start members making an impact? Please share them with our team and it will be included in the next issue.
February was a busy month for us at Fresh Start! We distributed donated items to refugees in our area, enrolled children into schools, served as advocates for vulnerable families, launched a new ESL program, provided cultural orientation training, and in partnership with Operation Code, took part in the launch of Project Rebuild!
The community’s support has given Fresh Start the ability to help over 300 individuals with direct resettlement efforts. We would like to thank you for the continued support that has made this possible and hope to continue these efforts as we strive to develop and implement more programs with our partners for the evolving resettlement needs of Afghan families. Whether you can help with linguistic needs, create resumes and line up jobs, or provide transportation, Fresh Start needs you! Visit our website and sign up to become a volunteer.
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5ive Pillars Organization |
We are proud to announce that Fresh Start Refugee Assistance Center will serve as a fiscal sponsor for the 5ive Pillars Organizations.
5ive Pillars Organization is an Afghan-American-led organization that aids in the resettlement of refugees in Northern California. Since its founding, the organization has provided vital support and rapid response aid to refugee resettlement agencies, local government agencies, and other regional stakeholders. The 5ive Pillars Organization began its emergency response in conjunction with the City of Hayward through the distribution of essential items for recent Afghan arrivals out of a jointly operated donation center located at the Matt Jimenez Community Center (also known as the Afghan Relief Donation Hub) in Hayward, California. The mission of the donation center is to provide recent arrivals with essential items, including but not limited to, clothing, houseware, hygiene items, school supplies, and gift cards.
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Fresh Start has been busy supporting families to integrate into our communities. Your donations continue to make a lasting impact on the families we serve. Thank you! |
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Our board members provided a cultural orientation to the Journey Church members who will be mentoring newly resettled Afghan refugees. |
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We are very grateful for a local donor who provided an in-kind donation of over 40 desktop computers! All computers have been refurbished and thanks to our friends at Rotary and Microsoft, we were able to update them with donated Microsoft Office licenses for a lifetime! These desktops will be distributed to refugees who enroll in our programs. |
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NOVA RAFT, Rotary International, and Fresh Start Refugee Assistance Center recently held a planning session to discuss our upcoming initiative focused on jobs, jobs, jobs!!!
Stay tuned to learn more about what we're planning to do to help refugees obtain a job and become self-sufficient!
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Co-leading Welcome.US Afghan American Working Group
Along with Afghan American Foundation & Welcome.US, we addressed resettlement issues amongst the several states Afghan American organizations have been receiving Afghan refugees as well as the Welcome Fund RFP, and Welcome Legal Alliance. Welcome Fund RFP was created by Welcome.US to ensure Afghans and others fleeing their homelands are supported and connected to welcoming communities across the United States. The Welcome Legal Alliance is a Welcome.US initiative to mobilize the nation's lawyers to ensure that Afghan evacuees have access to critical pro bono legal services to support, among other things, their immigration legal needs. February was the 6 month anniversary since the fall of Kabul and we dedicated this space for those who needed to reflect on what we have accomplished along with our Afghan American allies.
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Afghan Cultural Presentation at Calvary Church & Schools
Our Director of Advocacy gave a presentation on Afghan Culture to a Calvary Church in Southern California that is sponsoring Afghan Families.
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Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA) |
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According to USCIS, humanitarian parole is utilized to admit non-citizens into the United States in circumstances involving an urgent humanitarian reason or for whom there is a significant public health benefit. The utility of humanitarian parole is that it provides a two-year opportunity to allow for individuals to then apply to other immigration programs like asylum, refugee status, or a special immigrant visa. Majority of the Afghan individuals who have been granted humanitarian parolee will need to seek permanent residence in the US. Afghan Adjustment Act will allow parolees seek that permanent status. Please contact your congressional members and ask them to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act.
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RISE ESL Mentorship Program |
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In partnership with Refugee Inspirational Support Effort (RISE), we will be selecting candidates for the Refugee Mentorship & ESL program. Our partner RISE is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that will be offering mentoring, skill-building, and English language tutoring services for Afghan refugees. In addition, RISE seeks to use art, education, and skill-building as tools for addressing the ongoing mental health crisis amongst refugees and conflict-stricken populations.
For more information and to sign up for the program, visit our site here. |
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On the Road to Independence |
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Class is in session!
Our popular On the Road to Independence program in partnership with RAFT and Love NOVA is still collecting donations to support newly arrived Afghans obtain their driver’s licenses.
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Please join us on April 8th for the charity event Iftaar at the Beach Pt. 5! We are going to kick off the first week of Ramadan with one of the largest, free iftaar. Donated funds will benefit Fresh Start Refugee Assistance Center!
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Please consider donating to Fresh Start Refugee Assistance Center |
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