THE REFUGEE RESPONSE

Since our founding in 2010 our programs – which have expanded from 3 to 8 – have offered Cleveland’s newest residents the support and tools they need to overcome obstacles, empowering them to improve and build thriving lives here. While the aforementioned central challenges faced by newcomers are largely the same as they were when we began our work, the number of refugees and secondary migrants, as well as the number of countries they come from has grown considerably. From 2020 to early 2023 our client base has more than tripled, and in 2022 we served 750 newcomers from over 12 different nationalities or ethnic identities speaking upwards of 20 languages and dialects across our programs. As we’ve grown to serve more newcomers, we’ve built new systems, programs, and capacities, and are currently making exciting systems-wide impacts. Our mission is to empower resettled families and individuals to grow roots, supporting them in becoming engaged, self-sufficient and contributing members of their communities. Our central goal is to help a growing number of refugees in Cuyahoga County thrive, moving beyond the challenges of arrival and acclimation to life in the U.S., and into spaces and positions of stability and growth.

The Refugee Response's strategy is to build responsive programs that fill the gaps newcomers most need support to navigate. Since our founding we've surrounded our program participants with concentric rings of support across central areas that include: formal and cultural education for youth and adult learners, job placement and training, support with enrolling and receiving social services and benefits, youth focused art, athletics, and extracurricular activities, emergency assistance when needed, and content production and dissemination about timely and important topics in up to 20 languages. We work collaboratively with public, private, and non-profit entities and partners to advocate for and build solutions for newcomers. We are currently working across two school districts with our in-school youth and teen programs, in direct partnership with Cuyahoga County on a new social services enrollment based program, and with the City of Cleveland on partnerships in athletics and co-managing a high level City employee who will represent New Clevelanders. Through our 8 program areas, and with new and expanding initiatives, our strategy is to make systems-wide changes for our clients while also engaging their basic and fundamental needs.

Our organization is well situated to do our work. We have a fully-financed office building that allows our staff to work and to conduct on-site programming. Our office is a hub for newcomers to come for programs, drop in benefit and social service enrollment support, and it is a space where we can fundraise, convene partner meetings, and collect materials and supplies for our clients. We have a staff of over 30 full-and part-time team members who come from many walks of life, professional backgrounds, and many of whom represent and are part of the communities we serve. In addition to our office we operate one of the most productive and largest organic urban farms in the country, Ohio City Farm, that runs a very successful Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and employs 7 full-time refugees at hourly wages significantly above the average farm wage and minimum wage in Ohio. The farm is a social enterprise that funds 90 % of its cost and activities through produce sales and sponsorships and represents an important model for both jobs and urban sustainability. We have a steadfast and supportive Board of Directors and have leveraged significant partnerships with public, private, and non-profit entities. The Refugee Response has built an ecosystem of interconnected programs, sites, and partnerships that are the bedrock of how we do our work here.

In 2010 our first three programs served close to 40 refugees from a small number of cultural groups annually. We've steadily grown to support more newcomers every year across more differing cultural and ethnic groups. Our program primary served the Burmese Karen community when we were founded and in 2022 we served over 750 individuals and families from over 12 different nationalities or ethnic identities speaking upwards of 20 languages and dialects across our programs. Our multilingual content -- online videos and animations that inform newcomers about processes and about urgent information -- has reached thousands of community members. Our progress is not just measurable through increased numbers we've served over the years, but in the deepening and expansion of program areas that serve families and individuals personally and systematically through expanded program areas.