Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries

Eight faculty members from San Joaquin Memorial High School descended upon FIRM on Wednesday, January 4th with blessings of high energy and heart! They came as a part of a “Morning of Service,” where all teachers spread to locations throughout the city to kick off the beginning of the school’s calendar year by sharing generously through service. At FIRM, the teachers boxed and stored Christmas decorations, raked leaves off the preschool roof, playground and courtyard, travelled to pick up, load, and unload donations of furniture, and filled a MASSIVE pothole in FIRM’s main gate entrance!!

From their first moment on FIRM’s campus, it was evident that this work group came to work hard. “You guys attack work projects like my beagle attacks her dinner bowl!” said a very pleased FIRM Director Rev. Stanley. FIRM is a “near neighbor” to the Catholic Diocese office and to San Joaquin Memorial High School, which are located less than a half mile south of the FIRM office location.

FIRM is pleased to support the local Hmong Christian community by serving as fiscal agent and encourager for the upcoming and first ever Hmong Marriage Seminar. The seminar is scheduled for Saturday, February 4, and will provide a variety of morning and afternoon topics to strengthen Hmong marriages and families. The conference is financially supported, in part, by The California Endowment. Pre-registration costs are $40 per couple, or $30 per single. Lunch is included.

Download flyer in Hmong
Download flyer in English

For the past two years, FIRM has partnered with Asian and Pacific Islander leaders from around the state in the “California Reducing Disparities Project.”  The project is funded through the Mental Health Services Act.  FIRM and partners have been working to review the levels of health disparities within refugee and other Asian communities, evaluate promising models for culturally competent health and mental health care, and conduct focus groups for grass roots input to improve care.  Professional skills provided by culturally knowledgeable staff who speak languages of communities served were noted as especially effective. Programs that effectively use multi-language media, offer advocacy and community organizing support, and use culturally relevant skills (such as community gardens) were also highly valued.

After participating in multiple statewide and regional gatherings, FIRM attended its final Central Valley meeting of the project last week in Stockton.  (See picture.)  Regional colleagues include the Hmong Health Collaborative Coordinator, Susan Vang, along with partners from Fresno Center for New Americans, Merced and Stockton Lao Family organizations, Healthy House in Merced, and Southeast Asian Assistance Center and Hmong Women’s Heritage organizations in Sacramento.

A full 200 page report of the project is currently being drafted, and is expected to be published and made available online in early 2012.  It will include focus group findings, and evaluations and contacts of promising programs throughout the state—including FIRM’s Therapeutic Horticulture Project!

On Tuesday, Dec. 13, ten Hmong leaders joined 20 other community leaders from our 6 Building Healthy Community partners and many agency partners at the final meeting of the Downtown Neighborhoods Community Advisory Council. The meeting took place in the Fresno City Council Chambers.

After 4 hours of talking, our leaders stayed engaged and prepared to share their stories with council members to advocate for jobs. Our support for local hiring, affordable housing, funding for parks, a more open appeals process, funding for street lighting, and more ensured that new language on ALL our asks WERE included in the plan.

FIRM has been at a number of local churches and mission fairs lately!  Pictures below are from University Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church, both in Fresno.  We were also at First Presbyterian in Turlock. Check out these photos!

At Westminster Presbyterian Church, Fresno

Sharon Stanley leading worship at First Presbyterian, Turlock

Sharing a lunch at University Presbyterian, Fresno

We previously reported on the October 11 Building Healthy Communities meeting about Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan with Mayor Ashley Swearengin and other elected officials.

The Fresno Youth Empowerment Studio is another BHC partner who trains and employs youth to create media pieces for government, education and nonprofit sectors. The youth recorded this event and produced this short highlight piece. We are excited to share our media piece highlighting the entire event, including Mayor Swearengin’s commitment to our priorities, implementing the plans as written, and helping us address these priorities with other relevant Fresno institutions.

As we gather to sit down at holiday tables tomorrow, here is some food for thought from our partners at at the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC):

In 1620, a group of refugees left Southampton, England for Plymouth, Massachusetts seeking religious freedom.  These refugees are of course who we refer to today as Pilgrims.  On Thursday, we commemorate the “First Thanksgiving” between the Pilgrims and a group of Native Americans.  Millions of Americans will sit around dinner tables across the country feasting on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie.  Many will even go around the table saying what they are thankful for in 2009.  Refugees are especially thankful for the opportunity to embrace American values such as freedom and to be safe from harm, which many of them were not able to do in their countries of origin.

However, with the current economic climate, this holiday season there will be people who are unable to fill their plates with hearty Thanksgiving meals.  Immigrants and particularly refugees have been especially hit hard by the recession.

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are currently 348,776 refugees and asylum seekers living in the U.S.  In fiscal year 2009, the U.S. admitted 74,652 refugees including 18,833 Iraqi refugees.  As the Iraq war continues, the U.S. has pledged to take in a “substantial” number of refugees, pushing these numbers even higher.

While there are many agencies that assist in resettling refugees the economic downturn has taken a toll on charitable giving, and they are not able to accommodate the increased need for services.   Additionally, the economy has left scores of refugees unemployed, homeless, and hungry.  They are faced with repaying loans from companies that were contracted by the U.S. to assist in resettling them.

So, as you sit down for Thanksgiving dinner this week, remember to thank God for all of the blessings bestowed upon you and say a prayer for those who are less fortunate this holiday season.

This fall FIRM has begun a new program called “Family Advocacy Services”.  The program is designed to assist individuals who may be struggling emotionally, along with their family members, with the goal of improving overall health.  Support groups help people talk about their struggles and staff are also available to help with a variety of other needs that can help improve stability such as applications for food or income support or immigration assistance.  For more information, please contact Teng Moua or Sophia DeWitt.

On Friday, November 4, FIRM was pleased to host about 40 members of Church Women United for their annual World Community Day Celebration.  FIRM staff shared Lao cultural music and dance as part of the day, and were also pleased to provide a Lao lunch!  We love having church groups come to learn about our ministries.  If a group from your church would like to schedule a time to learn more about FIRM’s ministries, please contact Sharon Stanley.

On Wednesday, about 70 community members and supporters gathered on FIRM’s grounds to officially celebrate the community garden on FIRM’s property and the role it plays in promoting health and wellness in the community.  Part of the Horticultural Therapuetic Community Centers program funded through the Mental Health Services Act, the goals of the garden are to help prevent serious mental illness by reducing depression, isolation and anxiety, particularly among the elderly.  The gardens also provide a non-threatening pathway to education about mental health issues and further treatment, as necessary.

Invited guests from the Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health, City Councilman Clint Olivier’s office and the Fresno County Mental Health Advisory Board, among others, were on hand to provide congratulations and encouragement to FIRM and the gardeners.