| USCRI Vermont October 2021 Newsletter |
 As we enter a new phase of resettlement over the coming months, USCRI Vermont is moving quickly to bring on new staff, expand our current case management services and programs, launch new initiatives like refugee mental health programming, and work alongside community groups and civic leaders to welcome refugees in Rutland and surrounding communities in southern Vermont. USCRI is very encouraged by the Biden Administration’s increase in the refugee cap to 125,000 for FY22. In addition to welcoming Afghan parolees to our beautiful state, we’re grateful for the passage of the Continuing Resolution by Congress, which includes important benefits for Afghans arriving into the United States. USCRI has been a strong advocate for the expansion of resettlement services and other benefits for Afghan parolees and is pleased to see that Afghan families will qualify for many state and federal assistance programs when they arrive in Vermont. The need to build capacity to meet this growing demand for refugee placement and resettlement work continues and we’re so grateful to our supporters, partners, volunteers, and donors for your generous help – Thank you! |
| Welcome to the Team, Georgette! |
| “Hello, my name is Georgette Niyokindi, one of USCRI Vermont’s new Case Managers. My role here is multifaceted; when new refugees come from overseas, I am the first person they usually see at the airport. Another aspect of my role is to be in touch with refugees and immigrants once they begin to settle, and see how they’re adjusting to their new environment. I hope to be a social worker one day, which I know is all about working with people. That’s one of the reasons I was first interested in working with USCRI, because of the great work they do with people. My work is very important to me and others because it helps new arrivals to have hope and answer their questions. I hope to work very hard and help people wherever help might be needed, and learn new experiences every day! As a refugee myself, I know how big of an impact it makes to be greeted with warmth and a helping hand when first coming to a completely new place. The warmth we were first greeted with by our USCRI case manager many years ago made my family and I feel like Vermont was our home surrounded by good people.” |
| Help USCRI Vermont Welcome Refugee Families |
 Click on the link below to donate – Thank you! https://refugees.org/donate-uscri-vermont/ |
| Meet John Linden, Our New Housing Coordinator |
| We’d like to extend a warm welcome to USCRI Vermont’s new Housing Coordinator, John Linden. For the past two years, John worked at The Crate Escape in Richmond, VT as Animal Care Team Lead and Front Desk Attendant. Before that, he had a summer gig doing wildlife tracking, and also worked as a Member Services Representative at the YMCA of Greater Burlington. John earned a BA in Environmental Studies with Global studies minor from Saint Michael’s College. He spent a semester in Tanzania and took Swahili lessons. While at St. Michael’s College, John worked with the Vermont Ibutwa Initiative, and nonprofit whose mission is to rebuild the lives of women who have suffered from sexual violence in Eastern Congo. John enjoys traveling, hiking, skiing and music. “I’m excited to work with our clients to find them a new home in our community and am really looking forward to helping resettle families in the Green Mountain State.” |
| Thank You Burr & Burton’s Global Citizenship Club! |
 USCRI Vermont is honored to be selected as a recipient of a $1,000 donation from Burr and Barton’s Global Citizenship Club in Manchester, VT. The student-led club chooses a local and international project to support with fundraising efforts each year and chose USCRI Vermont this fall to receive the generous gift. The club raised the money by organizing a tug of war tournament, and also by having each advisory at the school collect and donate spare change. The advisory with the most change won doughnuts! Congrats, and thank you so much for the support and wonderful donation! |
| Free Citizenship Preparation Classes |
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| Mosaic of Flavor Cooking Series |
| The Mosaic of Flavor Cooking Series is back! This month learn how to make two traditional dishes from Iraq. Our instructor Sundus Altameemi will teach us how to make roz mah green bakllah w djaj, a green bean and rice dish flavored with spices and chicken, and fattoush salad, made by combining vegetables and fresh herbs with toasted bread and a dressing. Sundus is excited to share her recipes and her love of Iraqi food with us! This livestream event will be held on the Microsoft Teams platform, and instructions for accessing the platform and a link to the event will be sent out to participants in advance. The Mosaic of Flavor cooking series is a collaboration between City Market and USCRI Vermont.  Tickets are donation-based, with all ticket fees going to USCRI to aid in their mission. To register: https://www.citymarket.coop/calendar/2021-10-13/mosaic-flavor-livestream-iraqi-roz-mah-green-bakllah-w-djaj-and-fattoush |
| USCRI Vermont Needs Volunteers! |
| We will be hosting a series of online Volunteer Orientations on Zoom on Wed, Oct 20th at 12:30pm and Thurs, Oct 21st at 5:30pm. To access the Zoom link, email: volunteer@uscrivt.org or lstavrand@uscrivt.org Volunteer Opportunities include: Family Friend English Tutor Youth Mentor Administrative assistant In-Kind Donations (pick up or organize) Apartment Set Up Transportation (client appointments) Intern |
| Thank You to All Our Donors & Supporters! |
| A big Thank You to all of our donors and ongoing supporters who make the services and programs we offer possible, including the Shelley Family Foundation, Paul Kendall and Sharon Rives, Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester VT, Susan & Thomas Fillion, Vermont Glove, Charles and Diana Bain, Lisa Mihan, City Market Onion River Co-Op, Coastal Building Maintenance VT, and the numerous donors who have dropped off dozens of beds, furniture, and essential household items for our families and new arrivals. |
| Click on the Donate Now button below or click on the link to donate on our new webpage. https://refugees.org/donate-uscri-vermont/ Thank You! Donate Now |