CENTER FOR REFUGEES

AND IMMIGRANTS OF TENNESSEE

ANNUAL REPORT

CRIT Emerges to Serve More During Critical Time English & Citizenship Classes in High Demand

1

1

Service for Refugee Vic-tims of Crime Expands to DVD and TV

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Diabetes, Cardiovascular Health Screenings Begin

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Drivers Education Classes at CRIT a key to integrat-ing New Americans

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School Impact Program and Education Services Reach Refugee Youth

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Center’s Work Recognized in National, Local Media Annual Financial Picture Meet the CRIT Staff

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Inside this issue:

Center’s Services Needed More Than Ever, Economy Hits Refugees & Immigrants Hard

Nationally Recognized for Integrating Refugees

Annual Report 2009:

Activities from July ‘08-July ‘09

The Center for Refugees

and Immigrants of Tennessee

(CRIT) evolved and expanded

during the past year from its

former role as the Somali

Community Center of Nash-

ville. It now addresses grow-

ing challenges facing addi-

tional vulnerable populations.

The increase in need occurs

at a time when the agency

needs much greater public

support and grant funding for

programs.

Refugees and immigrants served by CRIT originate from Somalia, Burma, Central Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia and elsewhere. They face a finan-cial necessity to integrate into Nashville and Middle Tennes-see during the worst recession since at least the Reagan ad-ministration, when unemploy-ment hit 12%. They take jobs

in production, cleaning, hos-

pitality, landscaping, and

anywhere else they can be

hired. Layoffs at manufactur-

ers and in hospitality have

hurt the most, since this often

is the first U.S. employment

the foreign-born obtain.

Community Development Program Manager Kerry

Foley strengthened CRIT’s relationships with various leading employers, including Elwood Staffing, which places workers in temporary openings in factories. Sphe-rion and other temporary ser-vices have placed some of our clients at Dell Computers, Asurion and other companies. CRIT also initiated a rela- (Continued on P. 3)

PHOTO: Prog. Assistant Sahra Roble, seated, and Community Development Dir. Carter Moody, standing, assist a Burmese refugee (foreground), with interpreter Rev. Roger Kung, left. Photo by Sadia Yalahow.

Demand Grows for CRIT’s English & Citizenship Classes A record number of 110 refugees and

immigrants received English language

instruction at the Center since July 2008.

Dollar General Literacy Foundation pro-

vided the second year of two-year fund-

ing. Partner agency Tenn. Foreign Lan-

guage Institute’s Angela Harris directed

the program. Four levels off ESL are

taught, including Literacy A and B, and

two levels of ESL for speech, writing,

and enhanced workplace literacy.

Classes for the U.S. Naturaliza-tion Test resulted in 90% of our stu-dents passing and becoming citizens.

Family Tree created by ESL Class member. Citizenship teacher Allie Gray, after students decorated her in traditional Henna design. Photo by Carter Moody

Center for Refugees and Immigrants of Tennessee Leads Healthcare Partnership, Vine Hill Community Clinic Holds Cardiovascular & Diabetes Screenings, Accepts Referrals

Nationally Recognized for Integrating Refugees Annual Report 2009: Activities from July ‘08-July ‘09

Page 2

The Center for Refugees and Immigrants (CRIT), as lead agency, and University Community Health Ser-vices’ Vine Hill Community Clinic (VHCC) are provid-ing education and screenings to detect and prevent diabe-tes and cardiovascular dis-ease (CVD). The large Limited English Proficiency (LEP) African-origin population of the Nashville area is particularly vulnerable, especially after

adopting a U.S. diet and more sedentary lifestyles. Refugees also endure stress from past traumas of war and dislocation. CRIT and VHCC are grateful to the support of a major Mid-dle Tennessee foundation for making this program happen, although the donor at this time prefers “quiet giving” and will be recognized at another time. The partners’ outreach effort draws refugees into community-based health education classes, teach-in groups, health fairs,

directly between student and instruc-tor and are conducted on non-classroom training days (usually in 2-hour slots). Dual-controlled cars al-low the instructors to provide added safety during on-the-road driver training. The Center and the students are fortunate to have a courteous, patient and expert instructor in Mr. Jose Gonzales. Multi-lingual staff at CRIT offer interpretation during the class as needed, especially for specific legal and technical terms.

Drivers Education Partnership with Workforce Essentials, Inc. a Big Hit

healthy shopping tours and a robust referral procedure be-tween CRIT and VHCC. One screening in June had a long waiting line. Refugees are also given pedometers. Refugees using these services increase their knowledge of how to prevent/treat diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and make greater use of preventive health care with culturally com-petent providers, improving their quality of life. Bilingual Food Pyramid at CRIT

illustrates basics of healthy diet.

The Center for Refugees and Immi-grants of Tennessee is hosting one of the only Drivers Education classes offered in Nashville. The program is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Safety and consists of 30 hours of classroom and 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction. Workforce Essen-tials, Inc., a one-stop career center serving mid-state counties, provides the classes at CRIT for participants age 15 to senior citizens. The 'behind the wheel' driving ses-sions are conveniently scheduled

Programs for CATV Help Refugees Access 9-1-1 & Domestic Violence Services

The “Campaign to Link African Refugee Victims of Crime With Services” has been an important program, funded by the U.S. Depart-ment of Justice from 2006-2009. CRIT produced Commu-

nity Access TV programs

on domestic violence, for airing on Comcast Channel 19, and on how to use the 9-1-1 emergency line. The project has also translated

educational flyers into So-mali on topics such as do-mestic violence and proper conduct during police stops. The Center held commu-

nity education activities in-forming refugees of the rights and services available for vic-tims of crime (including ser-vices from police and legal re-sources). Staff also help victims com-municate with police and fill out victim compensation appli-cations when they are eligible. CRIT staff provided cultural trainings for the Nashville Cul-tural Competency Domestic Violence Group and to the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter staff. These meetings assist local agencies in better serving refugee clients.

CRIT prepared a Community Access TV program for local Comcast Channel 19 “Know Your rights as a Victim of Domestic Violence.” A similar program was taped in the 9-1-1 call center, thanks to their assis-tance. Members of the community volunteered to portray victims, attor-neys, perpetrators and police in the half-hour Public Service Announce-ment. Above are Roland Frye, and “Shakria.”

Drivers Education instructor Jose Gonzalez of Work-force Essentials trains a class of 20 drivers with CRIT’s Sadia Yalahow, July 2009. Photo by Carter Moody

(Continued from Page 1)

tionship with Nashville Op-portunities Industrialization Center (OIC), which provides job training, job coaching and job placement services for hard to place individuals. OIC has access to “hidden jobs” not widely advertised. CRIT’s Deputy Director Ab-dullahi Farah has interpreted for Goodwill Industries at its Nashville plant, helping Goodwill explain to refugee staff the company’s new rules and regulations regarding work, production, safety, and ethics. Goodwill offers train-ing and job placement ser-vices, including access to hidden jobs. Both OIC and Goodwill are partners in a pending federal grant pro-posal, to expand the capacity of all three agencies in serv-ing more workers. AllPro/Staffnet, a staffing company which hires nurses/certified nursing assistants, as well as general labor and factory jobs, is located in the same office park building as CRIT. Our staff can easily accompany clients to AllPro/Staffnet’s office and help them fill out applications. Walden Security, a security company next door to CRIT’s office, is interested in hiring refugees able to document their education (high school, or preferably college), and meet other requirements. Results of this multi-faceted effort include tempo-rary positions as well as di-rect hiring that includes health insurance, at compa-nies such as Dell Computers, Genco, Inc., Asurion, a local cell phone company, and Netflix. One client was also placed at Freshpoint Tomato,

while another client is work-ing in quality control at Quanta Computers. Clients have also been placed as care-givers. Finally, a client got a direct hire, professional job with benefits as a Resource Specialist at Tennessee Maxi-mus, helping welfare recipi-ents find jobs and remain in compliance.

_____________________

CRIT also conducts Cultural Orientation

sessions for organiza-tions that solicit our

assistance. _____________________

In order to ensure that par-ticipants are able to fully concentrate on their employ-ment, the program also ad-dresses social adjustment issues. This direct assistance includes: referrals to afford-able doctors and attorneys, assistance accessing social services (unemployment, affordable housing, Families First, TennCare, etc.), and assistance accessing educa-tion/training. One refugee in a severe family situation was assisted throughout the past year to increase her self-confidence and regain stability. She now has permanent employment and stable housing. Staff also assist participants with applications to college, for financial aid, and coun-sels them about the best op-portunities. CRIT staff conduct Cul-tural Orientations for organi-zations who solicit our assis-tance. These include discus-sions of refugee diets, social

customs and health concerns.

Community Development Program Assists Families Struggling in the Recession Individual and Group Services Aid Careers, Staff Leverages Capacity From Partnerships

Nationally Recognized for Integrating Refugees Annual Report 2009: Activities from July ‘08-July ‘09 Page 3

CRIT Services Provided to New Clients

from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009

ESL &

Cit izenship

41%

Education

Casework &

Tutoring

18%

Social

Adjustment

25%

Housing

Assistance

1%

Legal

3%

Other

5%

Health Educ. &

Screening

7%

Assisting refugees with education, social adjustment, and health issues comprised most of the services documented in 2008-2009 at CRIT. Adults and youth are served.

Refugee Students, Parents and Schools Assisted CRIT operated two programs in the 2008-2009 school year utilizing proven strategies this agency has devel-oped to assist refugee students, their parents and the teachers and staff of targeted inner city schools. The Refugee School Impact program, funded by the Tennes-see Office for Refugees, focuses on educational informa-tion (translated when needed for refugee families); refu-gee cultural information provided to school personnel; facilitating communication between parents and their children’s teachers; intervention/case management if problems occur with students; advocacy on behalf of refugee families; and after-school tutoring to enhance academic performance. This program is recognized in the Summer 2009 Spotlight by Bridging Refugee Youth & Children, at www.brycs.org. CRIT also was contracted by the Tenn. Dept. of Education to provided Supplemen-tal Education Services for students needing constructive after school services.

Refugee students’ gradua-tion celebration, May 2009

CRIT is located at: 295 Plus Park Blvd.,

Suite 102, Nashville, TN 37217

Web: www.centerforrefugees.org

Welcoming You and Others to the

Center for Refugees & Immigrants:

CRIT staff are on hand to help refugees and

immigrants develop independence. Shown in

photo above are (L to R): Sahra Roble, Pro-

gram Assistant; Abdirizak Hassan, Exe. Direc-

tor; Kerry Foley, Program Manager; Abdullahi

Farah, Deputy Director; Carter Moody, Devel-

opment Director, Sadia Yalahow, Program As-

sistant. Photo by Khadra Yusur.

Phone: 615-366-6868

Fax: 615-360-9696

Email: center@centerforrefugees.org

C E N T E R F O R R E F U G E E S A N D I M M I G R A N T S O F T E N N E S S E E A N N U A L R E P O R T

CRIT’s staff, board and clients express our gratitude to funders who have supported the agency from July 08-July 09: U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement; U.S. Dept. of Justice; Dollar General Literacy Founda-tion; Tenn. Office for Refugees; Tenn. Dept. of Education, and “quiet-giving” major donors. As a nonprofit, we en-courage private donations as well. See also: GivingMatters.com CRIT deeply appreciates Technical Assistance provided by the International Rescue Committee’s Danielle Rosario-Mullen and Danya Pastuszek (New York) and Sharron Darrough (San Diego. The Tenn. Foreign Language Institute’s Taunia Rice provided quality ESL in-struction. Citizenship Teachers Allie Gray and Kori Parvin are also invaluable. Web Design of centerforrefu-gees.org by: SkinnerGraphics.com Cover photo of Nashville skyline by Danielle Pack, International Rescue Committee, New York (from 2005).

Deputy Director Abdullahi Farah, second from right, and CRIT board member Amal Adam, far right, assisted PBS affiliate WNPT-TV, sponsor HCA, and the refugee community in the “Next Door Neighbors” TV series on Somalis and Kurds living in the Nashville area.

CENTER FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS OF TENNESSEE

Statement of Financial Activities, Agency Fiscal Year Jan. 1-Dec. 31 2008 PUBLIC SUPPORT AND REVENUE Governmental grants and contracts 204,222 Foundation grants, private contributions 60,109 Program Income 23,789 TOTAL REVENUE AND SUPPORT 288,120 EXPENSES Program Services 214,134 Management and General Expenses 67,955 Fundraising 10,421 TOTAL EXPENSES 292,510 Change in Net Assets in 2008 (4,390) Prior Period Adjustment (2,400) NET ASSETS: BEGINNING OF 2008 61,306 NET UNRESTRICTED ASSETS END OF 2008 $ 54,516

From Jan. 2008 through

May 2009, 1,616 refugees

were received by resettle-

ment agencies in Tennes-

see. Of these, most have

arrived from: Iraq, 423 or

26%; Burma (Myanmar),

396, 24.5%; Bhutan, 224,

14%; Burundi, 112, 7%. In

2008, the state settled

1,012 refugees. By May 31,

2009, 604 individuals had

arrived. Nashville, Knox-

ville and Memphis are the

primary destinations.

Center’s Work Gains National and Local Recognition

This Center’s work is being highlighted

in local media and in nationally-distributed

print and online outlets. A Feb. 3 2009

Page 1 Tennessean article describing

CRIT’s outreach to Burmese refugees was

picked up by AP and by the Interna-

tional Herald Tribune, circulated world-

wide.

The Summer 2009 issue of Refugee-

Works’ newsletter also spotlights CRIT in the context of its special issue on “Finding Work in Hard Times,” with an article by Community Development Di-rector Carter Moody. Program Manager Kerry Foley published an article in the Fall RefugeeWorks newsletter. The Center’s staff are frequently called to join discussion panels for docu-mentaries, at civic and business groups and to speak at schools and universities.