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Issue #8  April 17, 2017
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Lexington Refugee Assistance Program

In This Issue

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       I live very close to the Battle Green in Lexington.  Every Patriot’s Day I get woken up by musket fire as the reenactment takes place at 5:30.  It always reminds me that for many generations in America, we have not experienced war in our home towns and cities.  
     The other day, I saw an ad on TV for the UN Refugee Agency – it was the first I have seen.  The current numbers they follow are mind boggling: 65.3 million men, women and children are currently displaced from their homeland, 21.3 million refugees – and 50% of them are children; the average number of years a refugee is uprooted from their lives is 17; and 34,000 people flee their homes very DAY.  At every LexHAB meeting someone asked what is a refugee – here is the UNHCR definition: A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries.
     Even with the travel ban challenged and overturned (though still in the court system) – the current administration’s executive order has stopped the flow of refugees for the remainder of this federal fiscal year.  This has put a terrific strain on agencies that help with resettlement because their funds are tied directly to the numbers of people they resettle.  In addition, the crackdown on those people in the US who are undocumented, has created stress and anxiety among all people who may not speak English perfectly or may have skin color darker then Donald Trump’s.  LexRAP continues to focus on refugees but understands that it is hard to separate many of these issues and that even with UN definitions – there is overlap. 
     It is easy to get overwhelmed with the numbers in need and immobilized by the political divisiveness in the country.  I keep saying to folks who find LexRAP and ask where to start, “One person at a time, one family at a time.”  Recently I told someone who is hosting a Syrian family in their home, “Imagine the impact on your small town that this family will have if you can keep them in town.  Each Syrian child will change the lives of their classmates forever because they will know someone torn from their home and embraced by your community.  And with your success, you can shout out to other towns – ‘Where is your family?”  If we can’t change the world, we can certainly change a small corner of it.  If you read all the way to the bottom...you will see some good news.  We all need good news!!

LexRAP  Steering Committee meets monthly.  These meetings for those people most actively involved and those who want to explore becoming actively involved! The next meeting of the Steering Committee is Thursday  May 15th  at 7:15PM the Church of Our Redeemer on Meriam St.  (Please come early to meet new people.)   
                         Marianne


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LexRAP Activities looking for Participants

Fostering Unaccompanied Minors LexRAP is hosting three meetings with Ascentria to recruit foster families for unaccompanied minors.  These meeting will be held at Lexington Community Center 39 Marrett Road in Lexington from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.  Here are the dates and times for the remaining two meetings:
May 4 (Room 217) and June 8 (Room 221)
Contact Bruce for more information.
 
Refugee families that are at risk of ending up in homeless shelters. We're in contact with one such family right now.  Do you have an in-law apartment or be willing to host a family in your home? A six month commitment should be considered to help stabilize the family.  There are many things to consider regarding hosting: language, schools, jobs, access to transportation, etc.  Immediate need for housing and a job for a Syrian mother and two kids – optimistic plans for them starting in August in local subsidized housing.  Children are 9y.o. and 3 y.o,  Contact Marianne.To discuss, contact Marianne.
 
Transportation – Rides:   There are times when refugee familes or asylees need to be driven or even accompanied to a medical appointment or some other appointment.  If you can volunteer, when you email, say where you live and how far you are willing to drive.  This is an intermittent need – not weekly commitment.  Contact Francesco

Outreach:   LexRAP will be doing two presentation, “How do refugees get to the U.S and what is LexRAP doing to help with their resettlement?”  One is on March 26, at Sacred Heart Parish and the other on April 07 at 9:30AM at Cary Memorial Library in Lexington for the First Friday Event sponsored by the Lexington League of Women Voters.  If you have a group or a faith based organization that would like a presentation, CONTACT TOM. To see the PowerPoint presentation, Click HERE

Opportunities to Tutor -
1. Families with both parents and kids needing ESL – new tutors teams will be formed – particularly looking for team leaders.
2.  Helping unaccompanied minors with homework and enrichment.  Currently we have 6 tutors being paired with youths. - Contact JANE

Mentoring - Refugee Immigration Ministry(RIM) has launched a program for mentoring asylum seekers and refugees.  To sign up and help, Contact ALAN
 
Laptop Drive - We are still taking laptops to refurbish.  You can find the specs on our website HERE
Contact JANE to donate.
 
Refugee Dinners
Interested in helping to organize a dinner to welcome refugee families resettled by IINE in Lowell?  This is an opportunity for locals and guests to socialize and mingle.  Contact JILANA
 
Still looking for ways to be involved? Lynn would be happy to answer questions and see where there might be a fit!! Contact Lynn
 

 
"FUNraising" for LexRAP
and our Partner Agencies


 

Patriot’s Day Pancake Breakfast.  Monday April 19, 2016 - 6:00 AM until 10:00 AM Please come join us at the Church of Our Redeemer, 6 Meriam Street, Lexington for the annual Patriots’ Day Pancake Breakfast. Church of Our Redeemer  will be giving all proceeds to LexRAP to support refugees. Share fun, fellowship and a great breakfast of pancakes, sausages, juice, hot chocolate and coffee. $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for kids.

Join the RIM (Refugee Immigration Ministry) Walk for Refugees    
  This year's Walk for Refugees with be held May 20, 2017 at Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA. Gathering and Registration will begin at 9:30am with the walk starting promptly at 10:00am. To register for the walk, you can download a registration form HERE  or you can sign up online. You can also download a pledge sheet here.  Be sure to indicate that your pledge will go to LexRAP.  Donations pledged LexRAP walkers will go straight to LexRAP!  Organizing for the LexRAP group are Abdu and Peter.

Monroe Center Fundraiser
There will be a Fall fundraiser for LexRAP sponsored by Munroe Center for the Arts Sept. 2017.   Artists and musicians and storytellers will create a performance with a focus on refugee issues.  If you would like to help, Contact BRUCE

Fundraiser for IINE
Suitcase Stories:  Fundraiser for IINE (International Institute of New England).   Story telling (similar to Moth radio hr. ). April 05, Umbrella Community Arts Center, Concord. (tickets $35.-$200)      May 7, Regent Theatre in Arlington,  June 1, Lowell.  June 22,  Needham. 
https://iine.org/suitcasestories/

Grant Writing
If you know of grant sources for funds, we are interested in providing no interest loans to refugees for retraining and education. We are particularly interested in getting funding for educational loans, retraining, school books and curriculum for children with NO education in their first language, and summer programs for children. We're looking for somewone with Grant Writing experience to help us with this.  Contact Pat Moyer
 
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Some Successes and Good News!
We have put in place a tutoring team for the Syrian family in Carlisle.  LexRAP used the model created for the Iraqi family in Lexington where each child will have a tutor and specialists will augment those tutors.   The Carlisle public schools have been fabulous and the kids – and family -  already feel welcome and that plans are being created to help the children. This story will be on Chronicle on Channel 5, ABC  (WCVB). 
There was also a news story on  Channel 4, CBS on this: CLICK HERE
 
Possible housing in Arlington Lynn presented information about Arlington Housing Corporation. They are discussing partnering with LexRAP and setting aside one or two units for refugees.  LexRAP will discuss how it could subsidize rents and make this work.   There is one family of 4 that would be excellent for this and being closer to most of our volunteers, LexRAP could offer more support to the family.
 
Both asylum seekers being hosted by LexRAP families have been granted the right to work!  This is a very positive step.  One also had their first hearing and it went well.  Both are on the long and hard road to prove and gain refugee status in the U.S.
Help us get this Newsletter to more people
Please tell anyone you know who cares about the fate and well-being of the thousands of refugees currently living in our area about LexRAP to learn about the work that we do. Subscribe here.
 
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LexRAP · 10 Grant Place · Lexington, MA 02420 · USA

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