USCRI Vermont Newsletter  – March 2021

USCRI Vermont would like to thank Vermont Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray for the opportunity to advocate for refugee and immigrant Vermonters as a part of an ongoing public information series called ‘Seat at the Table’. This month’s session explored Equity in Public Health Access and highlighted the ways in which certain communities, specifically individuals with refugee and immigrant backgrounds, have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The discussion addressed the experiences of members of the New Vermonter community, lessons learned from local and statewide response, and opportunities for building a more equitable and culturally competent healthcare system. Presenters included Dr. Maria Mercedes Avila from UVM LEND, Thato Ratsebe from Association of Africans Living in Vermont, Public Health Specialist Dr. Jules Wetchi, and Dr. Pablo Bose, Director of Global Studies at UVM.

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USCRI Staff Profile – Noel Mukiza

Yambu (Hello), my name is Noel Mukiza and I am the Program Coordinator for the Wilson Fish-TANF Coordination Program also known as the EXCEL program here at USCRI Vermont. EXCEL stands for Excellence through Care, Empowerment, and Learning. I am originally from Burundi and arrived to Vermont with some of my family members in 2007. I have been a case manager with USCRI Vermont for 13 years and I absolutely love the work. Providing services to our clients is so meaningful to me and very fulfilling. As EXCEL Program Coordinator I connect clients with tools and resources that will help them build their lives and achieve self-sufficiency as they acclimate to their new surroundings. EXCEL programs and services include our new Digital Literacy courses, Financial Literacy education, mental health and wellness support groups, and Intensive Case Management in areas such as housing, social services, and employment training.

In addition to EXCEL, my work includes recruiting and enrolling clients in English language Learning courses, facilitating communication between the instructors and students, connecting clients to our interpretation and translation services, and making client referrals.

Coming from a refugee background myself, I can relate to what new arrivals and refugee families are going through as they resettle. I can identify with them in so many ways. My own experiences as a refugee have really helped me understand what my clients’ needs are, especially with the usual barriers and the added challenges of COVID-19. Overall, my passion is to help people and to find a way to get people the services they need, and as I look back on the last 13 years, I am always delighted to see our clients thriving here in communities throughout Vermont.

Program Update – New Digital Literacy Classes

USCRI Vermont launched its new Digital Literacy Program last fall in partnership with local IT service provider Technology for Tomorrow (T4T).

The Digital Literacy Program has been a huge success and included the distribution of over 120 free Chromebooks to USCRI Vermont clients over the last nine months, complete with multilingual video and written instructions on how to start using the computer and helpful hints. The multilingual sessions provide skills training in basic computer set up, how to access the internet, using email, enrolling in educational courses, and how to access online services. Digital skills training will be essential to delivering all USCRI’s future educational programming for adults and youth, in addition to providing parents with the supports they need to manage the online learning that their children are now expected to do for school. For more on the program, email Education Program Coordinator Jennifer Borch at jborch@uscrimail.org.

USCRI Alumni Profile – Pabitra Bhattarai

USCRI would like to acknowledge the important contributions of Pabitra Bhattarai, a USCRI Vermont alumni. Pabitra is a nurse at UVM Medical Center and a graduate of Norwich University in Vermont. Over her time living in Burlington she has become a valued Bhutanese/Nepali community liaison, facilitating connections in the community and providing expert knowledge, advice, and reliable assistance. In Winter 2020 Pabitra volunteered in Costa Rica, providing medical care to Nicaraguan refugees. Her joy of life, dedication to her family, and love of people infuses her work. Pabitra’s favorite quote sums up her commitment to her community: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Policy and Community Partnerships

On February 17th, USCRI Vermont Director Amila Merdzanovic joined a panel presentation hosted by Central Vermont Refugee Action Network (CVRAN) on “Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Immigrants in Vermont: Present Realities and Steps Towards a Brighter Future”. Vermont Congressional House Representative Peter Welch led the evening off with some of his own remarks on the subject. Other panelists  included Erin Jacobsen, Professor of Law and lead project attorney for the Vermont Immigration Assistance Project and Susan Sussman, retired immigration and civil rights attorney and former staff member for U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy.

USCRI Vermont is Hiring!

Mosaic of Flavor Cooking Series

Held monthly, the Mosaic of Flavor Cooking Series is a culinary collaboration between City Market Co-op and USCRI Vermont. On Wednesday, March 10^th from 5:30-7pm the series will feature Said Bulle for an evening of making sambusas and spicy bizbaz sauce. Originally from Jilib, Somalia, Said arrived in Vermont in 2005. He grew up watching his mother cook for the family restaurant and now owns Jilib Jiblets catering in Winooski. Said is also a founding member of the musical group, A2VT.

This livestream event will be held on the Microsoft Teams platform, and instructions for downloading the platform and a link to the event will be sent out to participants in advance. The event is free, but a suggested $10 minimum donation to USCRI’s efforts in VT is requested. To register, click on the Mosaic of Flavor class information link:

https://www.citymarket.coop/category/event-categories/mosaic-flavor

New Citizenship Test Prep Classes

Thank You to our Donors & Supporters

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We would like to thank all of our donors, partners, and ongoing supporters who make the services and programs we offer possible, including recent donors Sangha Studio, Tim Carter and Fleet Feet Shoes, Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors, Vermont Community Foundation, ImpactAssets, The Conant Family Charitable Fund, National Life Group Foundation, Bertha Church Apparel, United Church of Underhill, and the Turkish Cultural Center in Manchester, NH. To make a contribution, click on the Donate button below and choose “Refugees and Immigrants in Vermont” in the drop-down menu on the donation form.

Also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USCRIVT.

Your donation to USCRI Vermont helps refugee and immigrant families build new lives right here in our community. Please click below and make a gift.

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