On February 4, President Biden signed an executive order to restore the nation’s refugee resettlement program. As of October 1, 2020, the government capped resettlement at only 15,000, the lowest in modern history. The Biden administration has begun the work of rebuilding the country’s capacity to resettle refugees, may increase the cap this year, and has committed to increasing the cap to 125,000 next year.

A century ago, NCJW NY established an agency at Ellis Island to support and aid immigrant families, with partner offices in 250 cities providing job training and legal aid for immigrant women. Our work to support refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers continue to this day. During the previous administration, NCJW vociferously opposed measures to limit refugee resettlement and consistently called for restoring the program to full strength and admitting as many refugees as possible. 

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/163280737

NCJW Greater Long Beach & West Orange County is excited to host a virtual panel discussion about reproductive health, rights, and justice. Dr. Michele Bratcher Goodwin will discuss the shocking, wrongful criminalization impacting women of color in all aspects of reproductive health and motherhood in the U.S., as described in her book “Policing the Womb.” Shannon Olivieri Hovis will talk about legislative priorities around reproductive justice for 2021. And Nourbese Flint will discuss Black women’s health issues, and struggles for access to care for low-income and women of color. We will learn how we can be allies and advocates for reproductive justice.

NCJWebinar (open to the public) 

Join NCJW CEO Sheila Katz and NCJW Scholar in Residence Danya Ruttenberg and advocates from across the country for a feminist Purim celebration! We’ll nosh some Hamantaschen (bake your own at home) and hear an English megillah reading focusing on Vashti as our original Time’s Up whistleblower and Esther as our original #MeToo shero. Register here.

Church Shelters will soon House 24 Immigrants:  Three shelters are currently housing nine (9) immigrants, mostly asylum seekers who have never lived in the USA. Three others will soon welcome an additional fifteen (15) immigrants released from Adelanto.

Needed items:

Contact Section member Naomi Steinfeld at [email protected] or

(657) 235-2511 to arrange pick up or drop off by Feb. 28.

Each year, in consultation with the California Sections and with key partner organizations, the State Policy Advocates (SPAs) select legislative priorities, which Rapid Response Team members then support by responding to SPA-requests for contacts with legislators, a legislative committee, or the Governor in the form of emails or telephone calls. Serving on the Rapid Response Team is an easy way to contribute to effective advocacy activities without a major commitment of time or effort.

You can sign up here: https://forms.gle/Um1pfsWp9wUUMpeW9

Questions can be addressed to [email protected]

A community event on the topic of housing/homelessness co-sponsored by NCJW and League of Women Voters Long Beach Area is planned for March 21, 2021 4-6pm. Speakers will include representatives from United Way of Long Beach and Orange County, affordable housing providers and community services. For further information email [email protected] or phone (657) 235-2511.