Saturday, June 5, 2010 is the Twin Cities World Refugee Day Celebration.
Projects
Church & Volunteer Outreach
Community support an integral component of all Refugee Services projects. Incorporating volunteers serves to more abundantly support clients, while providing opportunities for the community to better understand the refugee experience. Volunteer opportunities range from providing a one time material donations, to providing extensive services to a newly arrived refugee family for three months through a refugee sponsorship. Refugee Services recruits, trains, and supports volunteers, interns, and churches to be involved in this ministry of hospitality. In addition, staff is available to speak to groups on refugee issues.
List of volunteer positions
Community Garden
The Minnesota Council of Churches partners with the Rolling Hills Apartment Complex in St. Paul to create a community garden for refugees. Helping refugee families to start community gardens at apartment complexes where refugee populations have chosen to settle a unique way to help families connect with their neighbors and other gardeners around the metro area. Read more
Computer Lab
Refugees in need of computer education can participate in ongoing training classes hosted at the Minnesota Council of Churches building on Franklin Avenue. The computer lab offers both basic and intermediate computing courses. The one-month basic computing skills course addresses all of the essentials for using a computer, from turning the computer on to searching for information on the internet. The one-month intermediate computing class includes instruction about using Microsoft Word, Excel and accessing job applications on the internet. For more information, contact Kristin Ginger at Kristin.Ginger@mnchurches.org or (612) 230-3221.
Job Readiness Workshop
The Job Readiness Workshop offers refugees and asylees in the Match Grant and REN Employment Programs an opportunity to learn and practice vital job seeking and workplace skills. The workshop is intended to alleviate anxiety about the job search process and prepare participants to confidently fill out job applications, interview, and start their first job in the United States. Participants will be empowered by not only receiving feedback on interviewing from the instructor, but also by giving and receiving feedback to and from other participants. Participants learn and practice filling out job applications, interview behaviors, common interview questions, workplace standards, and job search/work terminology. During a series of mock interviews, participants have a chance to practice and improve in a realistic interview setting.
New Arrivals Workshops
Monthly, twelve hour workshops provide new refugee and asylee arrivals orientation classes each month which cover a broad range of topics, including: public transportation, education, housing, public benefits, safety, finances, personal information and cultural values.
Healing Resources for Refugees
Being a refugee is hard. Refugees may have experienced frightening, sad or stressful experiences in their past that has caused them to be refugees. Leaving one’s own country and resettling in a new country is highly stressful. It is important that refugees stay strong in body, mind, heart and spirit as they work to resettle and adjust to this new culture.
The Healing Resources for Refugees on-line database provides information about services, programs, activities and places that can help a refugee when he/she has emotional, psychological or spiritual healing needs. It is intended to be used by anyone serving refugees. Visit Healing Resources for Refugees.
Refugee Services is building a referral pool of mental health professionals who are willing to accept referalls of refugees needing mental health services. Learn more about the Refugee Healing Practices training developed to support professionals in this referral pool.
Refugee Speakers Bureau
The Refugee Speakers Bureau is a collection of refugees and asylees that are excited to educate Minnesota through sharing their powerful life experiences. Presentation opportunities are open to all classes, groups, churches, businesses and organizations that are interested. Refugee Services will coordinate and provide these presentations for free! Find out more
Refugee Sunday
For the past 5 years, churches have observed Refugee Sunday in the fall as a way to honor, celebrate, and support refugees. Click here for more information and planning resources.
Twin Cities Immigrant Orientation Guide
The Refugee Services program developed an on-line guide for new immigrants to the Twin Cities and the US available for download. It is available in English, Somali and Spanish.
View or download the guide
Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) Project
Refugee Services created an Immigrant and Refugee Resource Network which places 12 VISTA volunteers at immigrant and refugee serving agencies in Minnesota. VISTA members work full time for one year and are eligible for a living stipend and health insurance while working, and an educational award after completion of one year of service. Current placement sites in the network include: Minnesota International Health Volunteers, Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, Lutheran Social Services Refugee Services and Employment Program, Migration and Refugee Services of Catholic Charities in St. Paul, Catholic Charities in Rochester, and the Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Services Program. MCC provides orientation, training, and ongoing supportive services to all 12 VISTA members and administers the contract for the program.
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