Two IWR supporters are organizing a Fall jewelry sale to benefit Ithaca Welcomes Refugees. The sale will take place on Saturday, November 30 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. in the community room at the First Baptist church of Ithaca. Jewelry donations are now being collected for the sale.
Below, please find a message from the organizers:
Greetings all,
Please let us introduce ourselves, Yvonne Fogarty and Debbie Benzer. We are organizing a fundraising jewelry sale to take place November 30th, 2024 to benefit Ithaca Welcomes Refugees.
All jewelry sold at the sale is gently used and donated by people like you. EVERYONE has jewelry they don’t wear anymore or inherited and never wore! What a wonderful way to pass it on to fund an organization that works so hard to help settle refugees into our community.
If you or your friends have jewelry to donate, this is an excellent time to get it cleaned and organized.
We accept all items, such as necklaces, earrings, bracelets, hair pins and barrettes, rings, pins, tie pins, watches, ankle bracelets, cuff links, and anything I’ve forgotten!
If you have the inclination… it is lovely to have the items separated by category in whatever containers you choose, ex: bags, small boxes etc. Necklaces can be tied with a twist tie, so they don’t get tangled. If you are donating items that are more valuable, PLEASE include a note alerting us to them so they can be priced accordingly. We work with jewelers to appraise them. We do have places that buy random pieces of gold or silver, ex: broken chains or only one earring from a pair.
There are a number of ways for you to get jewelry to us so give one of us a call and we can figure out what works best for you.
This is the 10th year we have organized jewelry sales to benefit local or national non-profit organizations. It is always a fun event. If you’d like to work with us, please let us know.
Any Questions? Please call Yvonne at 607 592-2799 or Debbie at 607 279-7174.
Ithaca Welcomes Refugees is raising funds to help a refugee family seek justice for their father and husband, who was killed in a traffic accident last year.
In July 2023, we created a Crisis Fund to help people served by IWR in times of exceptional need. The decision to start this fund was made in response to the tragic passing of a man from Afghanistan, whom we had helped to resettle locally with his wife and four school-aged children just weeks earlier. The deceased, who was the sole income earner in his family, lost his life in a traffic accident in Ithaca. He had worked as a translator for the US military before fleeing Afghanistan with his family. As his family grieved, they also found themselves in an immediate crisis without an income or means to support themselves.
Thanks to the generosity of community members, we raised $72,470 for the Fund. As a result, we have been able to support the family over the past year with critical monthly expenses such as household bills, medical expenses and a travel loan repayment to the US government for the cost of the family’s flight to the US when they first arrived. The fund is enabling us to continue to support the family while they still need assistance. We are heartened to see how, despite such a challenging start to their new lives in the US, the children are rapidly learning English and have made friends through shared interests at school.
An update to the case now brings us to open a new public appeal for donations to the Crisis Fund. The authorities recently concluded their investigation, and found insufficient evidence to press charges against the driver of the vehicle that caused this tragedy. The family would like to pursue a civil case against the driver and are able to count on the support of a lawyer in the community who is representing them pro bono. However, an anticipated $5,000 is needed to pay for out-of-pocket costs to proceed with the case, including fees for subpoenas and depositions. We are asking community members to help us raise this sum to cover the family’s legal fees and pursue the compensation and closure that will help them move on. If you can help, please donate here or send a check to Ithaca Welcomes Refugees at 315 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca, N.Y., 14850 and note ‘Crisis Fund’ in the memo.
In creating the Crisis Fund last year, we recognized that while this family’s predicament was exceptional, there are likely to be future occasions when unforeseeable events land community members already coping with adjusting to a new country in a situation of special need, beyond what can be covered by our existing programs.
Only three months after we launched the fund, we were saddened by news of a second tragedy in the IWR community. A man we had helped after he migrated alone to Ithaca from Iraq unexpectedly died of natural causes. To honor his memory and give closure to the family he left behind, we drew on the Crisis Fund to transport his remains to them in Iraq.
“You could make the case that every family and individual IWR works with is in crisis, otherwise they would not have had to leave their home behind,” said Casey Verderosa, IWR’s executive director. “Our Crisis Fund is a crucial support when additional tragedies or emergencies befall our new neighbors, allowing IWR to provide meaningful aid without delay.”
A year after its successful launch, we remain grateful to those who generously contributed to the Crisis Fund. As we all deal with uncertainties in our lives, we reflect on the importance of being able to be there for some of the most vulnerable in our community when the worst adversities do arise.
When Ithaca Welcomes Refugees (IWR) performs outreach to volunteers, donors, and the community in preparation for arriving refugee families, it is natural to think of short-term needs; beds, cookware, and towels are generally required to help make a new living space feel more like home. Quietly waiting with open arms, however, is a steady second home for families with young children.
Global Roots is an international, play-based preschool that serves children in Ithaca aged 18 months to 5 years. Its founding director, Bronwyn Losey, shared that the preschool was formed in 2017, when several refugee mothers to toddlers needed affordable childcare in order to attend their English courses. Julie Coulombe – a longtime ESL teacher (whom Open Doors English: The Julie Rudd Coulombe Language Program is named to honor) and Julie Petrie, IWR’s former board chair – met about this barrier, and the idea of Global Roots was born. “We received funding,” Bronwyn recalled, “And I said, ‘Great! We can run for a month!’ And we’ve steadily grown from there.”
Bronwyn, armed with twenty years’ worth of experience in early childhood development, has helped cultivate an environment she calls “a soft landing” for immigrant and refugee families settling in Ithaca. For some families, the school remains a place where their children can be cared for while they attend English classes; for others, including native Ithacans, it is an intentional choice for international exposure for their children. For all, it is a child-focused environment that serves the entire family in a trauma-informed manner. Bronwyn emphasized that staff need to be emotionally available for families, and ready to serve as a steady, welcoming environment amidst a significant amount of change for many students. This specialized skillset and mission are two of the many reasons why funding the school with a living wage for educators is critical.
In painting the picture of a soft place to land, Bronwyn shared the story of a refugee who was father to a young Global Roots student. The student had significant difficulty saying goodbye in the morning, so his father would stay with him during the day, providing additional support for him. Bronwyn recalled seeing the father napping on the couch in the classroom on several occasions, and felt grateful to be able to be a support for both him and his son. She further described the classroom as a common meeting spot for parents, where community can be developed.
Global Roots operates downtown, in a space that previously housed a church-based preschool. The classroom is a peaceful spot, with colorful workspaces. Nearby, students play in the gymnasium or outside on the playground. During my visit, language differences did not appear to be a significant barrier to relationship development: I observed pool noodles serving as a stimulus for uproarious laughter among several pockets of students, who Bronwyn pointed out spoke different languages from one another. Students often attend the part time program alongside their siblings. The curriculum is play-based, meeting children where they are developmentally, and the school summarizes its educational beliefs with the following pillars: (1) Children are capable. (2) Children are unique learners. (3) Children learn through relationships. (4) Play is essential, as a natural mechanism for learning. (5) We are part of a community caring for children.
Global Roots gratefully receives donations. Particularly in advance of a school year, a monetary donation goes furthest. Financial support from donors allows IWR to support Global Roots’ great mission, including funding current teachers whose individual backgrounds are as varied as the families they serve. As Global Roots embarks on its annual fundraising effort this school year, IWR hopes that this peek behind the proverbial schoolhouse gate leaves you inspired to help support its efforts.
Our Back to School campaign for Global Roots is now live and will run from August 26 to September 13. As a fresh school year begins, help us keep alive this nurturing space and welcome in our youngest new arrivals and their families! To make your contribution or become a fundraising champion, visit the Back to School campaign page.
IWR’s annual picnic affords its community members the opportunity to gather and celebrate one another. IWR hosted its 2024 picnic on June 22, on an afternoon marked by both figurative and literal warmth: the 88-degree day followed a week-long heatwave, but attendees smiled, laughed, and hugged anyway.
There were plenty of activities for attendees to enjoy, thanks to Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) and other volunteers. Children seemed to particularly enjoy one of CCE’s activities where they built marshmallow sculptures (though some marshmallows mysteriously went missing following their architectural endeavors). Meanwhile, a kung fu clinic was hosted by a CCE staff member, young children worked with blocks, and groups of attendees played lawn games in the shade. Laughter and cheers transcended any language limitations: it turns out everyone shouts when a cornhole beanbag goes in.
Eventually, the smell of food tempted attendees to a meal together. New Delhi Diamond’s, the CCE, and some attendees generously donated delicious fare to the picnic, and soon the pavilion was filled with refugees, volunteers, and staff members, getting to know one another and eating.
Beyond the fellowship, food, and activities, this year’s attendees were able to participate in a workshop on household money management. Topics included the use of checking and savings accounts at a bank, debit and credit cards, tips for enhancing financial health and credit history, and the creation of a household budget. In recognition of the numerous backgrounds of refugees and immigrants at the picnic, there were tables set up with interpreters for speakers of Haitian Creole, Pashto, Spanish, and Ukrainian, to help facilitate nuanced dialogue around these important topics. Seventeen participants joined this program, while many of their children meandered away towards the nearby games and activities.
In reflecting on this hot but warm day, Leila Wilmers, IWR’s new Development Director, summed it up beautifully, noting, “There was a wonderful energy to this event. It gave me a real sense of the shared spirit of community that IWR creates through its work.”
I meet Lilli and Michael in mid-November, almost four months to the day after their arrival from Nicaragua. As they share their story with me, their three children, ages 9, 10, and 14, are never far from the plotline. “They love the weather,” Michael says, as I stifle laughter. I make a poor attempt at a joke about Ithaca’s winters in Spanish, and Michael smiles and shares that his family wants to be part of this community. His response is genuine and gentle, traits both he and his wife reflect throughout our conversation.
Caring for a family of preteens is not easy for most families; acclimating to a new country and language at the same time makes Lilli and Michael’s current situation even more daunting. But while we speak, their focus remains on the positives of their experience. They speak with excitement and humble pride about their youngest children, who are quickly learning English at school. Although they share that their older child has had more difficulty due to the rigors of academics, they are quick to give him credit for his success in math. Lilli also shares that he is ready to mow lawns this summer, a departure from the previous summer in Ithaca, which he spent at camp. Ithaca Welcomes Refugees helped make up for the gap between a scholarship the children received and the remainder of the tuition so that their parents could identify work opportunities and pursue English instruction while they settled in Ithaca.
Lilli and Michael’s original connection to Ithaca stems from Michael’s cousin, Alejandro. Alejandro and his family came to Ithaca in 2016; five years later, they were able to sponsor Michael’s family. Having navigated many of the new circumstances of the United States personally, Alejandro has been able to orient Lilli and Michael to their new community and also reached out to IWR to request additional assistance. IWR partnered with a local landlord to secure housing at a discounted rate near Alejandro, so the two families’ children can attend the same school.
Alejandro looks at his cousins Michael and Lilli (whose faces are concealed due to privacy concerns).
After a few months’ wait, Lilli and Michael now both have work authorization and are actively seeking employment within their fields, as an agronomist or in the water sector, and in childcare, respectively. IWR volunteers have assisted with their resumes, while they diligently attend English classes with Open Doors English four times a week. The family recently obtained a used car, which has helped tremendously for the practical difficulties of getting to and from the laundromat and grocery store.
In our conversation, Lilli and Michael reflected on how the community has welcomed their family. IWR and the Ithaca College VITA Tax Clinic hosted their family for a tax information session in November and the family received winter coats and accessories during IWR’s winter clothing drive.
Even some dental trouble had a silver lining. Their oldest child had braces put on only a few months before leaving Nicaragua and began experiencing mouth pain soon after their arrival in Ithaca. A local orthodontist agreed to see him and, much to Lilli and Michael’s surprise, the doctor offered to complete the child’s entire treatment, free of charge.
On the horizon for our new neighbors is their continued pursuit of work within their fields while supporting their children as they complete their first full year of school in Ithaca. Michael shares that he feels very aware of the community’s willingness to help and is grateful for the network his family has grown in such a short amount of time.
“We have felt welcomed since our arrival,” Lilli says, “And the generosity of this community has exceeded all our expectations.”
Ithaca Welcomes Refugees (IWR) is seeking a half-time Development Director to work with a vibrant and diverse volunteer team on the development of this small but growing organization. The IWR Development Director should have a personal commitment to the goals and objectives of IWR.
About Ithaca Welcomes Refugees (IWR): IWR is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that partners with newly arrived refugees and immigrants as they rebuild their lives in Tompkins County. IWR began as an all-volunteer organization and now has a small, part-time staff. Up to this point, development duties have been filled by volunteers and the Executive Director, and communications duties have been filled by volunteers. IWR currently receives county funding, grant monies from local community foundations, and contributions from private donors. Volunteers and other staff will continue to provide development and communications support to the person who takes on this role. IWR’s work environment is defined by teamwork. We strive to contribute to other staff and volunteer efforts, to lift one another up, and to re-prioritize when needed, in service of helping our new neighbors realize their resettlement goals.
About the Development Director position
To empower Ithaca Welcomes Refugees to carry out our mission-driven work, the Development Director will obtain funds from existing sources, expand IWR’s funding from grants and private donors, and create external communications regarding activities and needs of IWR and the newcomers we serve to the community. This position reports to the Executive Director.
This is a half-time, non-exempt, 20-hour-per-week position with an hourly rate of pay of $30-35, depending on experience. IWR requires that all personnel having direct contact with IWR clients and/or donors undergo a background check through our vendor, including this position. This is a hybrid remote/in-person position. Most work can be performed from home but most meetings will occur in person. The person filling this position can make their own schedule as long as they can find common meeting times with staff and volunteers, often on weekday mornings. Paid time off benefits are included.
Duties
Grants:
Identify grant opportunities that expand IWR’s funding
Write and submit grant applications and reports in collaboration with the Executive Director
Publicly acknowledge grant funders (e.g., write press releases, incorporate acknowledgements into other public communications)
Private Donors:
Draft twice annual mailers (spring and year-end), with support and direction from Executive Director and development volunteers
Cultivate and manage donor relationships (e.g., outreach to expand donor pool, personalized communication with existing donors)
Ensure donors receive tax receipts and donation acknowledgements
Communications
Create or assign mission-driven content for IWR’s blog
Proofread content created for IWR’s website, blog, and newsletter
Schedule content for IWR’s newsletter and publish the newsletter monthly
Assign content to Communications volunteers to post to IWR’s social media accounts
Lead IWR’s efforts to meet annual fundraising goals
Plan a small number (1-2 annually) of fundraising and/or community events, with support from staff and volunteers
Other assignments and tasks as needed
Required qualifications
Compassion and sensitivity
Commitment to IWR’s mission, and to diversity, equity, and inclusion
Ability to work independently
Excellent communication and organization skills
Ability to maintain confidentiality of refugee client and donor information
English fluency
Computer literacy
Experience
Required experience:
Grant-writing experience
Experience writing for publication
Preferred experience:
Prior experience working in a development capacity for a nonprofit organization
Familiarity with donor databases
Prior experience working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds
How to apply
We welcome individuals who are passionate about helping refugees in Tompkins County to apply for the Development Director position. IWR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Individuals with lived experience as a refugee or immigrant are strongly encouraged to apply. Please submit a cover letter and resume to IWR Executive Director Casey Verderosa at caseyv@ithacawelcomesrefugees.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
The Cornell Bhangra dance team will hold its 21st annual PAO Bhangra event on Saturday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m. in Barton Hall. Tickets cost $3 and are available for purchase online. Proceeds will benefit Ithaca Welcomes Refugees (IWR).
Cornell Bhangra is a student organization that practices the vibrant and energetic style of folk dance from the Punjab region of Pakistan and India. PAO Bhangra is the largest Bhangra showcase in the United States. Five teams from across the country will perform. “We know that they will bring energetic performances to the stage, filled with colorful uniforms, expressions, and more,” PAO Junior Director Asmita Mittal said.
In addition to the dance performances, there will be samosas and mango lassis available for purchase.
Cornell Bhangra has been supporting IWR since 2019. The group made a $5,000 donation in 2023. They also gave a special performance for children who attend IWR’s Global Roots Play School and their families.
“With their high energy and visual bursts of color, Cornell Bhangra’s performances are stunning and joyful,” said IWR executive director Casey Verderosa. “IWR is thankful for our partnership.”
Cornell Bhangra Captain Amulya Puttaraju said that her organization is becoming more well-known on the Cornell campus and around Ithaca.
“As Bhangra gains traction, we want to use that to propel IWR forward,” she said.
The U.S. Congress and the Biden Administration are currently negotiating an immigration reform bill that could limit the president’s ability to allow refugees to enter the U.S. under humanitarian parole. As a humanitarian organization, Ithaca Welcomes Refugees (IWR) strongly opposes any bill that would weaken humanitarian parole.
Established as part of the Immigration and Nationality Act, humanitarian parole allows certain individuals to temporarily stay in the U.S. for “urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.” Over the decades, the program has been used by both Democratic and Republican administrations. The Biden administration has used humanitarian parole to admit refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine, and other countries experiencing conflict or humanitarian disaster.
Since 2021, the majority of refugees welcomed to Ithaca by IWR have come under humanitarian parole, including 38 people from Ukraine, 13 from Afghanistan, 5 from Burma, 5 from Nicaragua, 3 from Haiti, and 1 from Cuba.
In recent weeks, humanitarian parole has been a subject of debate as the White House and U.S. senators negotiate a potential immigration bill. According to news reports, the proposals discussed include “putting numerical caps on parole grants and barring migrants paroled into the country from asylum to try to ensure they leave the U.S. once their parole period expires.”
Restricting the number of people receiving humanitarian parole and barring parolees from seeking asylum would leave many people seeking refuge from conflict or disaster without the option of finding safety and community in the U.S. As a temporary measure, humanitarian parole is not perfect, but it is necessary.
As an organization dedicated to partnering with newly arrived refugees and immigrants as they rebuild their lives in Tompkins County, IWR supports humanitarian parole and opposes measures to restrict it. We hope that you will stand with us by contacting your representatives in the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House to tell them not to restrict humanitarian parole.
Contact your representatives
Residents of Tompkins County are in New York’s 19th Congressional District, represented by Marc Molinaro in the House of Representatives and Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand in the Senate.
You can use the letter below to contact your representatives via phone or email. Phone calls are the most impactful method of contact.
Congressman Marc Molinaro Local phone number: (607) 242-0200 Washington, D.C. phone number: (202) 225-5441 Email form
Senator Chuck Schumer Local phone number: (607) 772-6792 Washington, D.C. phone number: (202) 224-6542 Email form
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Local phone number: (315) 448-0470 Washington, D.C. phone number: (202) 224-4451 Email form
Since becoming aware of Congress’ consideration of restrictions to our humanitarian parole policies, I have felt the need to reach out and express my disapproval. Walking this policy back will not only severely limit the number of people that can be admitted into the United States, it will deny vulnerable individuals and families the ability to apply for asylum while living within our borders.
In the 19th Congressional District and across the country this policy has had a life-changing impact, most recently for those fleeing the Taliban reconquest of Afghanistan and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Between 2021-2023, 65-100% of all refugees resettled in Tompkins County by Ithaca Welcomes Refugees were able to flee instability and persecution through parole, arriving from countries such as Ukraine, Haiti, Nicaragua, Burma, and Afghanistan.
Congress has not seen fit to restructure our outdated immigration policies in over 34 years, leaving those who would seek asylum or flee dangerous situations dependent upon humanitarian parole to find safe haven in the United States. Limiting parole would only serve to further hamper our convoluted immigration system and prevent those fleeing persecution from seeking asylum. Furthermore, short-sighted rollbacks on executive powers will limit every following presidential administration from admitting vulnerable individuals and families into the U.S. indefinitely.
As a citizen of New York State and a constituent within the 19th Congressional District who cares for our domestic and global community, I urge you to reconsider the push by Republican lawmakers to limit the executive power of parole and oppose further restrictions to reasonable immigration policies. Thank you for your time.
When tragedy struck a family of Afghan refugees three weeks after they had arrived in Ithaca in June 2023, they were left in an immensely difficult situation. The patriarch of the family of six was killed in an automobile accident, robbing the family of a cherished loved one who was also expected to be the household’s sole income earner. The question of how they would make ends meet was daunting.
In the weeks following the tragedy, IWR established a crisis fund to assist the family and build a reserve to handle any future crises. Thanks to a generous $25,000 donation, along with $25,000 in matching funds and widespread community support, IWR has raised $73,452 for the fund to date. The fund has since been used to help the family with household and health care expenses.
The family is also receiving assistance from other organizations and community groups, including a local mosque. Thanks to that additional aid, IWR anticipates that it will be able to provide them with long-term support.
“The outpouring of support for this family that has come from Ithaca, Tompkins County, and beyond has been truly heartening,” IWR Executive Director Casey Verderosa said. “It has exceeded our expectations, allowing us to plan to provide the family with long-term support beyond our initial estimations.”
A portion of the crisis fund will be held in reserve so that IWR can assist other refugee families who experience an emergency event after resettlement. In October, IWR helped cover the cost of sending the remains of a recently deceased refugee to Iraq for burial.
“The initial impetus for the creation of the fund was one family’s tragedy, but we know that crises may arise for other families in the future,” Verderosa said. “The fund will ensure that IWR is able to respond immediately to such families’ extraordinary needs.”
IWR Programs Coordinator Leigh Bacher. (Photo by IWR)
In April 2023, Ithaca Welcomes Refugees (IWR) welcomed its newest staff member, Leigh Bacher. Leigh works as IWR’s first programs coordinator, a role that touches on many aspects of the organization’s work. After a few months on the job, Leigh sat down with communications volunteer Catherine Muskin to discuss her role at IWR and her hopes for the IWR community.
What is your role at IWR? I serve as programs coordinator, which is a brand-new position for the organization. Others have performed the functions I now perform, but this wasn’t a formal, comprehensive position until this past spring. Among other tasks, I work to support and develop our volunteer base, coordinate resources for new refugee arrivals, and assist the efforts of the response teams and Welcome Home team.
Why did you pursue this work? I retired from working as a psychology professor and knew I wanted to pursue part-time work in a humanitarian cause in which I believed. Given current events, I was drawn to the refugee crisis and discovered IWR.
What has been the biggest surprise to you in this role? I’ve been delightfully surprised at the generosity of this community. When a need is expressed to the IWR community about an incoming refugee family, the response is truly overwhelming, in the most positive way. There are very giving and generous people in the Ithaca community and that has been a real treat to discover.
Another great surprise about the role is that I get to speak with so many different community members and learn about community resources. Ithaca is full of generous, talented people who want to use their skills to give back.
What are you looking forward to the most about this role? I’m most looking forward to seeing families successfully integrate into our community, and cheering them on as they do. I am eager to walk alongside them, recognizing that there will always be opportunities to improve our systems and learn from each family. I am eager to support volunteers as they develop relationships with families.
What are your goals for this role? One important goal is to support and develop our volunteer base. We have a growing staff and volunteer population and I’d like to help coordinate efforts to strengthen our network and fabric of support. Another concrete goal of mine is to develop a resource database for volunteers and families so that refugees and their response team can together determine where someone can go to find resources to meet goals. I also am eager to build bridges within our community; to connect IWR with existing resources within Ithaca.
Any parting thoughts for the IWR community? Please write to me! I want to build our networks and resource base so I can match it with needs we’ve identified.
I am extremely grateful and enthusiastic for this opportunity. My husband and I returned to the area after 25 years away because we loved Ithaca and my return here has been so positive. IWR is a great match for me and I am thrilled to be part of an amazing team.
